Monday August 10, 2020 Volume 54, Issue 16 www.tridentnewspaper.com Welcome to HMC Dockyard The first Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship (AOPS), HMCS Harry DeWolf, was delivered to the Government of Canada on July 31, 2020, in Halifax. This is an historic milestone for the RCN, as it is the first ship in the largest fleet recapitalization in Canada’s peacetime history. MONA GHIZ, MARLANT PA 2 TRIDENT NEWS AUGUST 10, 2020 Members of HMCS Harry DeWolf formed up on the new jetty at HMC Dockyard before boarding their ship for the first time. MONA GHIZ, MARLANT PA Next generation of RCN ships begins with delivery of HMCS Harry DeWolf By Ryan Melanson, Trident Staff The Royal Canadian Navy’s Arc- in an age of profound climate change. various small vehicles and deployable on board, and will continue working tic and Offshore Patrol Ship (AOPS) As these ships begin getting delivered, multi-role rescue boats and landing with simulators to get accustomed to program, as well as the wider National there will be much work for them to craft that are new to the RCN. The the new integrated bridge system, all Shipbuilding Strategy, has reached its do.” class also brings new technology in while preparing to go to sea. Harry De- most significant milestone yet. HMCS In addition to the first crew of Harry the way of weapons, firefighting sys- Wolf’s first sail will be a short 10-day Harry DeWolf, the first ship of the DeWolf and Navy leadership, the deliv- tems, and bridge integration, meaning training mission in the local area. new Harry DeWolf-class of AOPS, was ery ceremony was attended by work- the new crew, who have been busy “That’s when we’ll put all those officially delivered from Irving Ship- ers and executives from Irving’s Hal- preparing for this moment, still have lessons to work, and as time marches building to the Government of Canada ifax Shipyard, as well as government considerable work to do before being on, we’ll add new capabilities,” Cdr on July 31 during a ceremony at HMC representatives, including Halifax MP fully comfortable with the new plat- Gleason added, mentioning tools like Dockyard. Andy Fillmore. form. the AOPS platform’s new small boats This is the first ship in the largest Along with ice-breaking capabilities “Bringing a ship into service isn’t an and new 22 millimetre gun. fleet recapitalization in Canada’s from a strengthened hull that allow easy thing,” said Cdr Corey Gleason, “Right now we’re building doctrine peacetime history, the Navy’s first for operation in up to 120 cm of first- the first Commanding Officer of Harry and learning how to operate these purpose-built Arctic ship. and signi- year sea ice, the Harry DeWolf class DeWolf. Before the ship is formally systems. We’ll do that slowly initially, fies the start of a long and exciting comes with extra space to efficiently commissioned next year, his team but then we’ll really start projecting road for the RCN, with many more transport cargo, can accommodate a will spend time training alongside, forward.” ships to come as part of the future Cyclone helicopter, and will sail with learn how to respond to emergencies The new ships will be at the core of fleet. an enhanced Arctic presence, and can “Today’s delivery of the first AOPS provide critical reconnaissance and is very exciting not only for currently surveillance operations in the region serving members of the Royal Cana- above that of other warships, and the dian Navy, but moreover, it is also reinforced hull will allow the RCN to inspiring for our aspiring shipmates, sail in the Arctic for longer periods of seeking state-of-the-art technology to time during the June-October naviga- form new experiences in and expand ble season. Outside of that season, the their professional horizons,” said AOPS will be capable of taking part in VAdm Art McDonald, Commander a wide variety of other international RCN. He added that these new class- operations, such as anti-smuggling, es of AOPS, and eventually the new anti-piracy, international security and Canadian Surface Combatants, along stability, and humanitarian or disas- with the changing realities of global ter relief missions. security, mean that the RCN’s fleet Three additional AOPS ships are will remain relevant and vital to Cana- currently in production, with delivery da’s interests for decades to come. of the second ship, HMCS Margaret “This is an era when the oceans are Brooke, expected to be delivered in playing a central role in global affairs. 2021, followed by the future HMCS The world’s commerce still moves Max Bernays, HMCS William Hall, across oceans, great power politics are VAdm Art McDonald, right, Commander RCN, officially accepts the delivery of HMCS Frédérick Rolette, and HMCS again playing out at sea, and oceans HMCS Harry DeWolf to the Government of Canada from Irving Shipbuilding Robert Hampton Gray. are central to the health of the planet President Kevin McCoy on July 31. • With files from RCN Public Affairs MONA GHIZ, MARLANT PA TRIDENT NEWS AUGUST 10, 2020 3 HMCS Fredericton returns after difficult Op REASSURANCE deployment By Ryan Melanson, Trident Staff After 141 days at sea that brought spoke with the crew to privately thank pany displayed tremendous resilience, vices remained available through the unexpected difficulties and tragedy, them for their work under excep- a positive attitude, and unwavering deployment, Cdr Brown said, as the HMCS Fredericton and her ship’s tionally difficult circumstances. Gen commitment to that mission,” Cdr ship worked to slowly introduce the company were finally reunited with Vance also took the step of awarding Brown added. day-to-day business of life at sea while their families, friends and colleagues Fredericton the CAF Unit Commen- Others who were present at the jetty they mourned and remembered their as they arrived back in Halifax on dation for their extraordinary work for the arrival included family mem- shipmates. July 28. carrying out their deployment in the bers of Fredericton’s fallen sailors and The homecoming ends a long period “We all know we’re returning to a face of both the COVID-19 pandemic aviators, who received flowers and of relative isolation for the crew, who very different world than when we left and the tragic loss of six of their col- condolences from Cdr Brown and oth- were unable to enjoy the usual port Halifax six months ago, but I can’t tell leagues. er members of senior RCN and CAF visits and time away from the ship you how great it is to be back on Cana- On April 29, Fredericton’s CH-148 leadership in attendance. that would come with a six-month dian soil,” said Cdr Blair Brown to a Cyclone helicopter, codenamed Stalk- “The loss of our shipmates and the stint at sea. Access to the ship was also small crowd at HMC Dockyard and to er 22, crashed during operations off crash of Stalker had a profound im- extremely limited beyond Fredericton thousands who watched online as the the coast of Greece, Six CAF members pact on all of us… It was felt by every personnel, with only rare exceptions ship came alongside. Rather than hav- lost their lives – Capt Brenden Ian single one of us on board every day, being made for critical work. ing a large gathering of family mem- MacDonald, Capt Kevin Hagen, Capt and it’s left a space in our hearts that “The crew has been isolated, they’ve bers waiting as sailors disembarked, Maxime Miron-Morin, MCpl Matthew will remain there for the rest of our been away from their families, and the crew was bussed to Windsor Park Cousins, SLt Abbigail Cowbrough and days. I extend my deepest sympathies they’re happy to be home,” Cdr Brown after arriving to meet with families SLt Matthew Pyke. Despite the loss of and condolences,” Cdr Brown said. said. in a way that complies with physical their friends and shipmates, the crew In the aftermath of the crash, Freder- As part of Canada’s ongoing com- distancing guidelines. carried on with their mission through icton embarked a padre and two social mitment to Op REASSURANCE HMCS Before reaching shore, the ship was an uncertain, and sometimes frighten- workers, and worked to thoroughly Toronto has now joined NATO allies met at sea by Chief of the Defence Staff ing, COVID-19 environment. interview each member of the ship’s and continues the mission of ensuring Gen Jonathan Vance and Minister of “Our role in Operation REASSUR- company to help them process the stability and security in Central and National Defence Harjitt Sajjan, who ANCE was vital, and our ship’s com- traumatic event. Access to those ser- Eastern Europe. HMCS Fredericton arrives home from deployment to Op REASSURANCE. LS BRYAN UNDERWOOD, FIS 4 TRIDENT NEWS AUGUST 10, 2020 www.tridentnewspaper.com HMCS Fredericton returns after difficult Editor: Virginia Beaton [email protected] Op REASSURANCE deployment (902) 427-4235 Journalist: Ryan Melanson [email protected] (902) 427-4231 Editorial Advisor: Margaret Conway [email protected] 902-721-0560 www.tridentnewspaper.com Trident is an authorized military publication distributed across Canada and throughout the world every second Monday, and is published with the permission of Rear Admiral Brian Santarpia, Commander, Joint Task Force Atlantic. The Editor reserves the right to edit, condense or reject copy, photographs or advertising to achieve the aims of a service newspaper as defined by the Interim Canadian Forces Newspapers Policy dated April 11, 2005.