naval affairs

NAC News – Edition 429

NAC News – Edition 429

Your weekly national and international naval news for the week of October 1st, 2021

Edition – 429   “Not every ally or partner has to be in every coalition.  Are the members relevant to the particular subset of issues?  Are the members ready?  Do they have the resources?”  16 September 2021 | Tanvi Madan, Nikkei Asia

Rod Hughes, Editor NAC News rhughes@shaw.ca (Comments always welcome to help improve this service.)

Links to keep in touch with the NAC and RCN can be found at the bottom of this email.

NOTICES

  • Editorial Comment – last Wednesday 29 Sep, NABC arranged for the former Ambassador to Afghanistan VAdm Glenn Davidson, and a NAC(O) member, to speak at a virtual event “Thoughts on Afghanistan”.  It was a superb and insightful presentation and I wholeheartedly thank NABC for making it possible.  I was however disappointed at our membership’s relatively low turnout for such a current topic presented by such a stellar member of NAC.  The price was right, the venue couldn’t be more convenient or comfortable, and after all we are in the throes of a pandemic!  I encourage you all to take advantage of future presentations as they are wonderful opportunities to stay current or expand your knowledge.
  • 4 October – Monday at 1900 (Ottawa time) – NAC Ottawa GoToMeeting presentation  “Saving HMCS Haida” – features Peter Ward who was one of the key individuals involved in ensuring this ship was preserved. Registration required. Details at the link.
  • 19-20 October 2021 – Arctic Workshop/Conference – Due to pandemic restrictions the two-day workshop in Halifax that was planned for 19-20 October has been postponed until next spring or early summer.  Details to follow.
  • 28-29 October 2021 0800-1700 (Ottawa time) Deep Blue Forum: Canadian submarine design and technology considerations: today and 20 years into the future.  Keynote speaker Admiral James G. “Jamie” Foggo USN (Ret.).  A virtual event, to register http://vanguardcanada.com/deepblue2021
  • In 2021 the NAC Endowment Fund disbursed $48,000 in grants, and the requests exceeded the amount available to meet.  The 2021 Spring/ Summer STARSHELL summarizes the 2021 EF grants (pg 8). This is your fund and all members are encouraged to make an annual donation. This is the only way your fund can meet a growing demand.  NAC Branches are also encouraged to identify and promote suitable projects for Endowment Fund grant proposals.  NAC Endowment Fund

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THIS WEEK’S SIGNIFICANT ARTICLES

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CANADA

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USA & AMERICAS

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INDO-PACIFIC

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EUROPE

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MIDDLE EAST

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GLOBAL INTERESTS

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SCUTTLEBUTT

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SIGNIFICANT RCN DATES – OCTOBER

(If you see any omissions or errors, please inform me, and any more modern significant dates are also welcomed.  The list draws primarily from the Directory of History and Heritage’s comprehensive “Significant Dates in Canadian Military History”, the now defunct “Canada Channel”, “Legion Magazine”, historical website “The Second World War – A Day by Day Account”, and Roger Litwiller’s excellent web site, encyclopedic guidance from Fraser McKee, and anywhere else I can find credible information)

  • 1 October 1910 Captain E.H. Martin, RN (Retd.), is appointed Officer-in-Charge, Halifax.
  • 2 October 1952 A tunnel near Songjin on the main rail line carrying war supplies from Russia to North Korea was frequently shelled and under constant repair.  It was the target for about two hours as HMCS Iroquois worked to keep repair crews from bringing the line back into operation.  During a lull, Iroquois was hit in “B” gun turret by shore artillery batteries.  LCdr John Quinn was killed, as were AB’s Elburne Baikie and Wally Burden.  PO’s Emilien Fortin, Gerald Jamieson, and Edward Moslin, plus AB’s Adam Aimee, Waldo Berggrenn, Gilbert Dynna, Joseph Gaudet, Edwin Jodoin, Eugene Riley, Walter Wrigley were seriously wounded or suffered splinter wounds.  These were only battle casualties suffered by the RCN during the Korean conflict; however, it should be mentioned that five other sailors were lost at sea during the War.
  • 5 October 2004 HMCS Chicoutimi a diesel-electric submarine during its maiden voyage under command of the RCN, a fire caused severe damage, resulting in the death of Naval Technical Officer Lt(N) Chris Saunders, and eight other crewmembers being injured.  Chicoutimi would not sail again for almost 10 years.
  • 4 October 1944 HMCS CHEBOGUE (frigate) is torpedoed by U -1227 800 miles west of the British Isles.  The ship is towed 1,400 kilometres to Wales.
  • 8 October 1944 HMCS Mulgrave strikes a mine off Le Havre, is beached and becomes a total loss.
  • 8 October 1992 The Governor-General, the Prime Minister and other dignitaries unveil the Peacekeeping Monument in Ottawa.
  • 8 October 2001 Minister of Defence Art Eggleton announces the details of Canada’s contribution to the campaign against terrorism.  Canada’s initial commitment involved 2000 personnel from the Canadian Forces and included the deployment of ships, aircraft and a small contingent of soldiers.  It is the biggest mobilization of the armed forces since the Korean War.
  • 9 October 1943 German sub U-220 lays 66 magnetic mines 24 kilometres off St. John’s Harbour.
  • 13 October 1710 The defenders of Port Royal surrender to a British naval expedition.
  • 13 October 1910 Her Majesty’s Dockyard, Halifax, is transferred to Canadian ownership by a British Order in Council.
  • 14 October 1944 HMCS Magog (frigate) is torpedoed and badly damaged by U-Boat 1223 in the St. Lawrence River off Pointe des Montes.
  • 16 October 1915 An Order-in-Council gives the Hospitals Commission authority to provide retraining and rehabilitation for disabled veterans.
  • 16 October 1944 HMCS Annan A/LCDR Charles P. Balfry,  RCNR, sank the German submarine U-1006 south of the Faeroes.
  • 17 October 1944 HMCS Prince Henry and HMCS Prince David engage in landing liberation forces in Greece (17-18 Oct).
  • 19 October 1940 Patrol vessel HMCS Bras d’Or foundered in the early morning while keeping the Romanian freighter Ingener N Vlassopol under surveillance in the Gulf of St. Lawrence near Anticosti Island.  The two ships traveled down the St. Lawrence River together but in the Gulf of St. Lawrence they ran into a storm and heavy seas on the night of 18/19 October and are eventually separated and the Bras d’Or disappeared with her 30 crewmen.  Investigation determines that the Bras d’Or was not rammed as there is no damage to the freighter.  A report from the mate on the Romanian freighter stated that the lights on the Bras d’Or were extinguished at 0350 hours local, 19 October.  It has been suggested Brad d’Or foundered due to icing conditions that were prevalent at the time.  A search is later made but nothing is ever found of the ship nor were any bodies (5 officers and 25 crew).
  • 19 October 1943 British ore carrier Penolver and American freighter Delisle hit mines laid by U-220 off St. John’s Harbour.
  • 20 October 1940 HMS Windflower, the first corvette built in Canada, is commissioned into the Royal Navy with a Canadian crew.  She is turned over to the RCN in 1941.
  • 21 October 1910 HMCS Niobe arrives in Halifax, the first Canadian warship to arrive at her base in Canada.
  • 21 October 1942 HMCS Royal Roads becomes the Royal Canadian Naval College and commences training cadets.
  • 21 October 1943 HMCS Chedabucto sank after night collision with the cable vessel Lord  Kelvin, 30 miles from Rimouski, Quebec.  She is later beached and becomes a total loss.
  • One officer was lost.
  • 21 October 1944 HMCS Uganda (later Quebec) is commissioned, becoming Canada’s first cruiser since Aurora was paid off in 1922.
  • 22 October 1914 HMCS Niobe makes her first operational patrol off the Strait of Belle Isle.
  • 22 October 1940 Canadian destroyer HMCS Margaree is lost in collision with merchantman SS Port Fairy as she escorts Liverpool-out convoy OL8 450 miles to the west of Ireland.  Cut in half the forward half of the ship sinks immediately, the after half remaining afloat is eventually sunk by gunfire from the Port Fairy.  She sinks with 142 casualties, but 31 crew survive.  Compounding the tragedy, 86 of those lost are survivors of the Fraser disaster.  Margaree is the second destroyer lost due to collision within four months.
  • 23 October 1939 HMCS SAGUENAY (Destroyer) intercepted the German tanker Emmy Friederich which scuttled herself.
  • 23 October 1969 A major explosion occurred aboard HMCS Kootenay.  The blast and intense engine room fire would become known as one of the worst peacetime accidents in the history of the RCN, with nine of her crew killed.  Three years later, six crew members received medals honouring their bravery during the incident.  Chief Petty Officer V.O. Partanan and Petty Officer 2nd Class Lewis John Stringer were both posthumously awarded the Cross of Valour.  They were the first recipients of the newly initiated Canadian Cross of Valour which is our highest decoration for bravery in non-combat circumstances.  The Star of Courage was awarded to Sun-Lieutenant Clark Reiffenstein (posthumously) and Petty Officer Clement Bussiere.  The Medal of Bravery was awarded to Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class Robert George and Petty Officer 1st Class Gerald Gillingham.
  • 24 October 1949 A programme for the construction in Canadian shipyards of anti-submarine destroyer escorts for the RCN was announced by the Minister of national Defence in Parliament.
  • 25 October 1944 HMCS Skeena was wrecked in a storm, and grounded near Reykjavik, Iceland. Fifteen lives were lost.
  • 26 October 1952 HMCS Crusader destroys a North Korean supply train near Songjin: RCN gunners account for the destruction of eight enemy trains during the conflict.
  • 28 October 1955 HMCS St. Laurent (second of name) is commissioned as the first warship of all-Canadian design and construction.
  • 29 October 1952 HMCS Athabaskan leaves Esquimalt, B.C., on its third tour of duty in Korea.
  • 30 October 1918 HMCS Galiano was lost, with all her crew of 39 and one female passenger, in Barkley Sound, Vancouver Island.  HMCS Galiano and her crew of Royal Naval Canadian Volunteer Reservists was the only Canadian Naval vessel lost during WWI – only 12 days before the armistice to end the “war to end all wars”.
  • 30 October 1942 A RCAF Hudson of No. 145(BR) Squadron destroyed U658 with a salvo of depth charges 320 miles out of St. John’s Newfoundland.  Later that same day, a Digby of No. 10(BR) RCAF Squadron sent U520 to the bottom far out in the Atlantic.

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