NAC News - Edition 453 - Naval Association of Canada

NAC News – Edition 453

Your weekly national and international naval news for the week of March 18th, 2022

Edition 453 “Canadians hate war whole-heartedly, as they have the best reasons for doing. But we live in a world where several powerful states are declaring by word and action that they intend to make war the instrument of their aggrandizement, with reference particularly to the capture of sparsely populated territories.” Edmonton Bulletin 1937

Rod Hughes – Editor NAC News rhughes@shaw.ca (Comments 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. Contact David Soule executivedirector-nac@outlook.com if you wish someone to be added to the NAC News email distribution. (Influencer or good candidates to become a NAC member, and note the first year’s NAC & Branch membership dues are waived)

NOTICES

NEW 2022 NSNAC Naval Bursary Application

NEW 31 March 2022 12:00 pm Ottawa time. “Canadian Naval Art and War” VAdm Craig Baines, Cdr RCN) invites you to consider attending the upcoming RCN Distinguished Speaker “Virtual” Presentation (via Zoom). The speaker will be John Horton, OBC, Naval War Artist (Bio). To register email LCdr Kray Robichaud.

UPDATE 2022 BOA Gala Dinner – Regrettably this event has been cancelled. Notwithstanding that the COVID situation appears to be abating, there are still too many pandemic related issues to overcome, particularly for hosting and ensuring the success of events the size of a BOA Gala Dinner.

17-19 May 2022 Niagara Falls, ON. Mari-Tech 2022 Conference and Exhibition titled Industrial Revolution Making Wave. Mari-Tech was created by the Canadian Institute of Marine Engineering (CIMarE) in 1976 and is the premier event for the marine engineering community in Canada. Held annually, Mari-Tech is hosted in turn by each of the CIMarE’s seven branches; the 2022 edition is hosted by CIMarE’s Great Lakes Branch overlooking Niagara Falls. The conference has earned a respected position as a neutral, non-political event devoted to engaging the private sector, government, and academia. Connect with hundreds of leading professionals from across the world, including Industry leaders, Government policymakers, Innovators, consulting firms, Academics, Communications and government relations professions, and young professionals and the next generation of marine engineers.

14-16 November 2022 The MSC organisers have decided given the ongoing COVID-19 environment to postpone MSC22 which was originally scheduled for March 2022. The team announced that the in-person MSC22 will now take place in Victoria, BC. The draft program for this November’s MSC22 is now posted on the MSC website and is available on the MSC social media channels.

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THIS WEEK’S SIGNIFICANT ARTICLES

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has created NATO’s watershed moment and Parliament gave Zelensky a hero’s welcome. He gave us something else: a cold dose of reality

Justin Trudeau among 313 Canadians banned from Russia

Russia’s Naval Blockade May Starve Millions and Ukraine war to hit global grain supplies

Russia’s military operation in Ukraine develops successfully, goes to plan — Putin (Editor – latest fantasy and disinformation coming out through TASS, shocking really, and Canada’s response CRTC bans Russian state-controlled TV channels RT, RT France from Canadian airwaves)

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CANADA

Prime Minister, MND and CDS travel to Europe to further strengthen Canada’s solidarity

Canada looks to reinforce Arctic sovereignty through diplomacy, military, says minister

Mitch Heimpel: Want to fix Canadian military procurement? This is what it’ll take (Editor – an Opinion piece of relevance)

Federal budget will be a ‘back to basics’ document responding to the chaos in Europe, sources say

CGAI: If Only Warships Grew on Trees: The Complexities of Off-the-Shelf Defence Procurement

HMCS Vancouver prepares to deploy

Operation Nanook-Nunalivut sees military personnel meet and exceed challenge

GOLDSTEIN: Trudeau delays billions in military spending while touring NATO

Canadian warship intercepts, destroys shipment of cocaine off Central America

Highlighting the role of engineers in the Royal Canadian Navy

Korean War veteran remembers the ‘forgotten war’

Canadian Armed Forces misconduct allegations put spotlight on hostile sexualized culture

Beartrap Designer Passes Away at 95

LNG Canada project in Kitimat reaches new milestone

Canada’s 56-Year-Old Heavy Icebreaker Goes for Another Life Extension

Ottawa urged to pause proposed B.C. port expansion, consider alternative plan

Legion commends government funding: a crucial step for Veterans

Legion decries decision over Platinum Jubilee medal

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USA & AMERICAS

USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker: March 14, 2022

U.S. Navy CNO Says Light Destroyers Are Possible In Future Fleet and Six questions with the US Navy’s top officer, Adm. Mike Gilday

SECNAV Del Toro: Navy Will Not Need to Build Fuel Facilities to Replace Red Hill Fuel Depot

U.S. Navy Has a Nuclear Submarine That Could Destroy Russia and China in Minutes (Editor – 8:03 min video)

Huntington Ingalls Delivers Attack Submarine Montana, Amphibious Ship Fort Lauderdale to Navy

Torpedo Stuck in Ice #shorts (Editor – short video)

Navy Will Install Hypersonic Missiles Aboard Zumwalt Destroyers Without Removing Gun Mounts

Conrad Wins US Navy Barge Building Contract

Taking a toll: Inchcape helps shipping beat the rush on tricky Panama Canal transits

Port of Long Beach Reports Record February Amid Efforts to Clear Docks of Containers

Construction Kicks Off on North America’s Largest Cruise Ship Terminal in PortMiami (Editor – given everything going wrong in the world doesn’t this seem incongruous?)

Evergreen Containership Aground in Chesapeake Bay

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INDO-PACIFIC

Carrier Aircraft Operate Over Yellow Sea in Response to North Korean ICBMs

PM announces $4.3bn investment in naval shipbuilding capability and RAN bases to support US, UK operations: PM

Japan Again Raises Concern Over 10 Warship Russian Navy Surface Group

Japanese submarine collides with fishing vessel off Kobe City

Indonesian Navy Commissions Teluk Bintuni-class Tank Landing Ship KRI Teluk Palu (523)

US shipyard buy sparks suspicions in Philippines

Why Defence must tackle its digital skills crisis with ferocity

Container Rates Climb On China Lockdowns

ReCAAP: Ten Robberies in Singapore Strait in First Seven Weeks of 2022

Coast Guard Cutter Crews Conclude Operation Aiga in Oceania

Off by a Mile: Royal Navy Fixes Charted Location of a Pacific Island (Editor – not something you see everyday)

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EUROPE

Ukraine sub-section:

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is illegal under international law: suggesting it’s not is dangerous

Russian losses mount as Ukrainians put up unexpected fight (Editor – includes a 27 sec video) and War in Ukraine: how could this end? | The Economist (Editor – 8:08 min video)

U.S., Chinese delegates meet over Ukraine as Russia denies asking China for military equipment and China Says It Wants to Avoid U.S. Sanctions Over Russia’s War

Russian Navy conducts missile strikes, blocks Ukraine’s Black Sea coast and Ukraine says Russian naval forces fired “huge amount of ammunition” at Odessa coast

Canadians among ‘most numerous nationalities’ in Ukraine’s foreign legion: spokesperson

International Ship Classification Body Withdraws Russia’s Membership (Editor – the impact over time will be staggering with Class societies start pulling out of Russia.) then ABS terminates class services to Russian vessels, assets and companies

IMO Council Addresses Dangers to Shipping and Seafarers During Emergency Meeting on Ukraine and War in Ukraine Puts Shipping’s Recovery in Jeopardy

PODCAST: Cyber war and the invasion of Ukraine (Editor – a not well understood aspect of modern warfare in a 42:07 min podcast) and not a maritime article but germaine to the war Russia: West misreading power of state media

Blockade Of Ukraine – Did Turkey Put NATO Shipping At Risk?

NATO Warns Ships Away From Russia’s Largest Port

Russia’s State-Owned Fleet of Oil Tankers Is Coming to a Standstill

Russian-Owned Super Yachts Going Dark to Avoid Sanction Seizure

French NGOs Plan to Sue TotalEnergies Unless It Leaves Russia (Editor – pressure builds from many places) yet the reality is that Naftogaz’s CEO Calls for Nord Stream 1 Sanctions. Says Russian Gas Will Keep Flowing Through Ukraine

Europe General:

Germany’s €100 billion defence pivot

What is the Joint Expeditionary Force?

Lithuania to ramp up military spending, PM says

British aircraft carrier leading massive fleet off Norway

Norwegian P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft follows two Russian ships and Russian Navy announces firing near NATO Arctic exercise

Airspace and GPS restricted for carrier visit to Scotland and UK Royal Navy installs atomic clock on HMS Prince of Wales

HMS Richmond leaves NATO exercise for Baltic Sea

Turkish Navy Test-Fires New AKYA Heavy Weight Torpedo

Poland announces plans to order more Kormoran II MCMVs this year

Spain cleared to buy $950M worth of MH-60R helicopters

Russia’s New Project 02670 Oceanographic Vessel Starts Sea Trials

E-2D Advanced Hawkeye to make first landing on French aircraft carrier soon

Type 32 Frigate to focus on operating drones

VARD Transfers Norwegian Coast Guard’s Newest Vessel to Norway

Portuguese Navy Assists in War on Drugs

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MIDDLE EAST

Navantia Royal Saudi Navy Avante 2200 Corvette Program at WDS 2022 (Editor – 3:38 min video)

Couach New 2200 Fast Patrol Boat for Royal Saudi Navy at WDS 2022 (Editor – 4:41min video)

IRGC Navy gets smart submarines, other advanced defense hardware

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GLOBAL INTERESTS

Tanker Carrying Russian Cargo Bound for U.S. Sails to North African Coast (Editor – an example of the complexities involved)

Obangame Express 2022, West Africa’s largest multinational maritime exercise, is underway

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SCUTTLEBUTT

How Shackleton’s Navigator Saved the Crew of the Endurance

Vladimir Putin – KGB Agent (Editor – 8:21 min video)

A Failure in the Falklands

With Worden in the Monitor . . . and Beyond. (Editor – “After serving in command on board the U.S. Navy’s first ironclad, two Civil War heroes and 13 other officers formed a society that continues to shape the Sea Services today.”)

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THIS WEEK IN RCN/MARITIME HISTORY

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”, The Naval Service of Canada, Its Official History Vol 1-3, NAC member Roger Litwiller’s excellent web site, encyclopedic guidance from NAC member Fraser McKee, the Uboat.net site, and anywhere else I can find credible information. For the merchant ship history, I thank NAC member Bill Dziadyk for his able assistance and detailed work. A comprehensive list of the staggering merchant losses – sunk, damaged, or lost – Canadian Merchant Ship Losses of the Second World War, 1939-1945 by Rob Fisher {Revised June 2001}, and for the loss of individual personnel RCN Ship Histories, Convoy Escort Movements, Casualty Lists 1939-1947)

19 March 1941 Lt R.J.C. Pringle, RCNVR, appointed C.O. of HMCS Suderöy V, first RCNVR officer in command of an HMC Ship, a requisitioned Norwegian trawler.
20 March 1943 World War II – UK destroyer commissioned into RCN as HMCS Griffin; 3 weeks later, renamed HMCS Ottawa; second of four now so named. Halifax, NS.
20 March 1945 HMCS New Glasgow commanded by LCDR Ross M. Hanbury, RCNVR was rammed by accident by U-1003 while snorkelling. The boat severely damaged her snort and conning tower, and part of New Glasgow’s hull plating and her port propeller. U-1003 limped seaward, but by the next morning of 21March had to abandoned and the crew took to the life rafts, where they were found the next day.
22 March 1944 SS Watuka (Nova Scotia Steel & Coal Company, New Glasgow, NS) with a cargo of 1998 tons of coal, was one of five ships transiting from Sydney, Nova Scotia to Halifax in an unescorted convoy SH-125. The five ships departed Sydney on 21 March. The ships were approaching Halifax when U-802 fired a spread of three torpedoes at the overlapping ships and an acoustic torpedo was fired at one of the ships. Three detonations were heard but only Watuka was hit, and she sank 15 nautical miles SE of Halifax. Two crew members were killed, however, the master, 22 crew members, and two gunners were picked up by the trawler HMCS Anticosti.
23 March 1965 Fifteen RCAF aviators are killed when their Argus patrol plane goes down in a night exercise off Puerto Rico.
24 March 1941 The Rush-Bagot Agreement of 1817, which restricted the number of naval vessels allowed on the Great Lakes, is modified to allow both American and Canadian naval vessels to operate on the Great Lakes in greater numbers.