military discount 20% off draught beer 10% off 612 windmill rd. dartmouth authentic southern bbq 163641 Monday, February 11, 2019 Volume 53, Issue 3 www.tridentnewspaper.com Working with RAPTOR From RAPTOR, the CH-148 Cyclone helicopter embarked in HMCS Toronto, OS Matthew Shinner is lowered to the ship’s flight deck during training while on Operation REASSURANCE, January 23, 2019. MCPL MANUELA BERGER, FIS HALIFAX HMCS Ville de Ships depart for Bell Let's Talk at Sailors deploy to Ukraine for Québec returns Pg. 2 West Africa Pg. 5 CFB Halifax Pg. 9 Op UNIFIER Pgs. 12-13 We have all your shopping needs. VISIT WINDSOR PARK Now Open SUNDAYS 1200 - 1700 CANEX.ca 163642 2 TRIDENT NEWS FEBRUARY 11, 2019 HMCS Ville de Québec welcomed home after six months in Mediterranean By Ryan Melanson, Trident Staff After 190 days at sea and nearly 33,000 nautical miles sailed, HMCS Ville de Québec made its triumphant return home on January 19, with about 250 personnel ready to start the new year with friends and family after a long deployment. The ship was participating in Operation REASSURANCE, which is Canada’s contribution to NATO as- surance and deterrence measures in the Mediterranean sea. The six-month sail included a number of operational patrols as part of Standing Nato Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2), interop- erability training with partner navies, and participating in NATO exercises, including TRIDENT JUNCTURE in Norway, NATO’s largest multinational exercise in years. “I am incredibly proud of the hard work and accomplishments of the crew of HMCS Ville de Québec over the past six months. Since deploying in July 2018 as part of Operation REAS- SURANCE, we conducted highly ef- fective patrols and participated in key NATO exercises in the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean, and the Norwegian The same CH-148 Cyclone that accompanied Ville de Québec on its six-month deployment provided a flyover as the ship approached and North Seas,” said Cdr Scott Robin- HMC Dockyard for its return home. son, the ship’s Commanding Officer. MONA GHIZ, MARLANT PA “On behalf of the entire crew, I extend a heartfelt thank you to the to be home,” MS Chatterton said to “We’ve had a chance to bring this and procedures to fit the Cyclone’s families of all our sailors, soldiers reporters on the jetty. modern tool to the fleet. It’s the job advanced technology and capabilities. and aviators who supported us during Op REASSURANCE deployments in we’ve been doing for years, but now In total, the 21-person Cyclone crew this six-month deployment.” the Mediterranean have been continu- we get to do it with equipment that’s flew 185 sorties through the deployment, And hundreds of those family ous for the RCN since 2014, with the delivering real new capabilities to accumulating 525 hours of flight time. members were anxiously awaiting the NATO mission serving as a response the ship,” said Maj Erik Weigelin, “This deployment marked a historic ship’s arrival at the jetty on the cold to Russian actions in Ukraine at that the Commander of Ville de Québec’s moment for both the Royal Canadian morning, with plenty of hugs, kisses time. This tenth rotation, however, Helicopter Air Detachment. His crew Navy and Royal Canadian Air Force,” and tears to go around as members had the added significance of being was able to begin integrating the new Cdr Robinson added. of the crew began disembarking. The the first operational deployment for aircraft with the Halifax-class frigate Ville de Québec’s replacement on traditional first kiss lottery was won Canada’s new maritime helicopter, during the trip, as well as validating Op REASSURANCE, HMCS Toronto, by MS Scott Chatterton, who was met the CH-148 Cyclone. Ships that pre- the interoperability of the new equip- departed Halifax on January 19, along on land by his wife Erin Dawe and his viously deployed on Op REASSUR- ment with NATO allies and other with its own Cyclone crew, and has son Clarence. ANCE were accompanied by Sea King partners at sea. They also began refin- already joined NATO SNMG2 allies in “It was a good trip, but I’m happy helicopter crews. ing and improving existing tactics the Mediterranean. Some of the first sailors to disembark HMCS Ville de Québec make their way down the MS Joseph Willock is reunited with family following HMCS Ville de Québec’s return gangway to meet friends and family. to Halifax on January 21. MONA GHIZ, MARLANT PA MONA GHIZ, MARLANT PA FEBRUARY 11, 2019 TRIDENT NEWS 3 CH-148 Cyclone and RCAF HELAIRDET complete NATO deployment By the RCAF firsts for the Cyclone. For example, the HELAIRDET’s technicians carried out After six months away on Op Reas- the first-ever 400-hour inspection. This surance, 21 members of the Royal would have been impressive if they Canadian Air Force who deployed as had conducted the inspection while the first Helicopter Air Detachment operating at their home base. But these (HELAIRDET) to operate and main- technicians were also faced with the tain a CH-148 Cyclone during de- unique challenges associated with op- ployed operations returned to Halifax erating in the constrained environment on January 21, 2019. of the hangar of a warship at sea. Last July, the CH-148 Cyclone from “It has been an incredible and re- 12 Wing Shearwater, Nova Scotia, warding opportunity to share the expe- embarked in HMCS Ville de Québec rience of the first CH-148 deployment along with the ship’s HELAIRDET. during Operation Reassurance,” says The detachment comprised eight MWO Shane Ringer, the HELAIRDET’s aircrew, one mission support member, maintenance crew chief. “I am very and 12 technicians from the aviation proud of what the HELAIRDET has systems, avionics systems, aircraft achieved specifically, ensuring that the structures, and air weapons trades. CH-148 capability was readily available Ville de Québec’s embarked Cyclone The CH-148 Cyclone Helicopter detatchment onboard HMCS Ville de Québec as she to Ville de Québec Command, and that flew more than 500 hours, and 170 mis- departs Halifax in July 2018 to participate in Op REASSURANCE. the Cyclone program as a whole will sions that included surveillance and MCPL ANDRE MAILLET, MARPAC IMAGING SERVICES benefit from our experiences. maritime security patrols, anti-sub- “The HELAIRDET and its close marine and anti-surface warfare sor- the Fleet’ was a great honour.” set a strong foundation for 12 Wing to working relationship with 12 Wing, ties, passenger and cargo transfers, Op Reassurance is Canada’s con- build upon as we continue to develop the weapons system manager, the and general-purpose machine gun tribution to NATO’s assurance and the capacity of the aircraft and, more in-service support contractors, and firing proficiency, as well as training deterrence measures in Central and importantly, has shown us that the fu- Sikorsky personnel have proven that for the HELAIRDET and for various Eastern Europe. Ville de Québec, the ture of maritime helicopter aviation hard work, dedication, and determi- teams from across many of the ship’s HELAIRDET, and CH-148 Cyclone in Canada is looking great.” nation enable extraordinary accom- departments. (call sign Avalanche) were assigned to This deployment was a collection of plishments.” “This first operational deployment Standing NATO Maritime Group 2. In of the Cyclone has been a great experi- October, they participated in Exercise ence for the members of the HELAIR- TRIDENT JUNCTURE, which provid- DET and myself, as we have all been ed the opportunity to work and train involved in the Cyclone project for with naval ships, submarines, heli- many years,” says Maj Erik Weigelin, copters, and fixed-wing aircraft from NAME GRADY, STANLEY // the ship’s HELAIRDET commander. Canada, Norway, Spain, Japan, the ENROL DATE 1971 // “The Maritime Helicopter community United States, and the Netherlands. RETIRED AS SERGEANT // has long been waiting to finally see the “To achieve this level of success and 1 RCR, 3 CDO CAR // Sea King replacement in action. The interoperability with our Allies on the DEPLOYMENTS UNFICYP (CYPRUS) – 1973 Cyclone has performed beyond our first operational deployment of the 4 CMBG (GERMANY) – 1975–1981 // expectations for a first deployment, CH-148 Cyclone is outstanding, and re- and that success is a direct result of flects the collective results of years of LOCATION HALIFAX // TITLE SECURITY GUARD // the motivation and dedication of the hard work,” says LCol Cory Kwasny, SERVICE 1989–PRESENT // members of the detachment. To be the 423 Maritime Helicopter Squadron’s ones who deliver the new ‘Wings for commanding officer. “The detachment WE KNOW THE VALUE OF A VETERAN Join Canada’s largest private sector employer of veterans HMCS Ville de Québec’s CH-148 Cyclone, Avalanche, hovers while performing a foc’sle transfer, while sailing in the Atlantic Ocean during Operation REASSURANCE on beyondservice.ca January 12, 2019. 163644 MCPL ANDRE MAILLET, MARPAC IMAGING SERVICES 4 TRIDENT NEWS FEBRUARY 11, 2019 www.tridentnewspaper.com Community Calendar Publication Reunion and event notices must be submitted by email. Schedule [email protected] include the sender’s name and phone number. for 2019 A notice will not be published if the event is to happen more that one year from publication date. Submissions may be edited. January 14 — MFRC & Money Matters January 28 February 11 — MFRC February 25 March 11 — MFRC & Posting Season March 25 615 (Bluenose) Royal Canadian how she has used her various posi- Date: Sunday, February 24 April 8 — MFRC & Spring Automotive Air Cadet Squadron tions to combat racism and advance Location: Halifax Central April 22 — Battle of the Atlantic May 6 — MFRC & Spring Home and Garden Time: 6:15-9:15 p.m.