NAC News - Edition 473 - Naval Association of Canada

NAC News – Edition 473

Your weekly national and international naval news for the week of August 5th, 2022

Edition: 473 “Even good troops tend to lose their morale when they feel that they cannot match their enemy’s weapons. Under modern conditions superior machines and the ability to produce them constitute the decisive factor in warfare. In 1936 Canada possessed more men than weapons, despite the small size of her military forces. This deplorable situation had been repeatedly drawn to the attention of the Canadian Government by the General Staff, but the money miracle never occurred. No government moves far in advance of public opinion, and Canadian public opinion was not prepared to tolerate the expenditure of funds on arms during the 1920’s and early 1930’s.’ Canada’s Soldiers 1604-1954 The Military History of An Unmilitary People, pg. 333/4, George F.G. Stanley, 1954

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

10 August 2022 – 15h00 (3:00PM) PDT MSC Virtual Series 11. “How the Russia-Ukraine War is Changing Russia’s Maritime Warfare”. Presented By: Dr Michael Petersen, Russia Maritime Studies Institute, U.S. Naval War College. To register.

14-16 November 2022 Registration for Maritime Security Challenges 2022 in Victoria BC is open! The past two years have seen an explosion of major events and trends that are shaking the world: a once-in-a-century-pandemic; a land war in Europe; international energy and food crises; the rise of authoritarian political movements and governments; more dramatic weather; and decades-high inflation. Many of these issues are playing out at sea, as shipping costs soar, navies modernize to protect their national maritime claims, and state rivalries flourish in the maritime domain.

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THIS WEEK’S SIGNIFICANT ARTICLES

World just one misstep away from ‘nuclear annihilation,’ UN chief warns and for fun the ever cheery latest Doomsday Clock assessment.

Putin Identifies United States as Russia’s Primary Naval Opponent

Canada thinks of it military as peacekeepers, not fighters: Report yet Liberals miss 5-year timeline for UN peacekeeping promise, give themselves extra year

Ukraine Declares Ports Ready with UN Preparing First Grain Shipments and a key often forgotten element Lloyds To Insure War Grain Ships In Ukraine Sea Corridor then For 1st time since war began, Ukrainian grain ship leaves Odesa, bound for Lebanon and Three More Grain Ships to Set Sail from Ukraine on Friday

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CANADA

Editor – significant events occurred this coming week in RCN history, please see the “This week in RCN/Maritime History” section.

Canadian warships deployed to Arctic for two-month, multinational mission and HMCS Margaret Brooke completes warm weather trials ahead of Op Nanook deployment

Navy’s joint support ship taking shape at Seaspan shipyard (Editor – great pics and a 51 sec aerial video included)

Defence Minister Anita Anand announces deployment of Canadian Armed Forces to train Ukrainian soldiers in the United Kingdom

HMCS Regina welcomes new Commanding Officer

Called to serve: Celebrating the 80th anniversary of the Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service and an associated 9:11 minute video

Former shipmates work together again at RIMPAC22

Defence Team News | 3 August 2022 (Editor – CAF Task Force Poland in a 2:14 min video)

The Close-In Weapon System

Termination notices sent to over 1,100 employees at Arctic Canadian mine on Sunday

Battle of the St. Lawrence: Diving the wartime wrecks of Bell Island

National Naval Reserve Monument Renewal Project 2022-2023

World Military Sailing Championships / Championnat du monde militaire de voile

Commemorating the Centennial of the Canadian Naval Reserve in Victoria BC for all former and current naval reserve officers and officer cadets. Opening Tuesday 9 May 2023 at 1830. Go to www.untd.org and click on the banner.

Citizens Sailors Virtual Cenotaph – The goal of the CSVC project is to flesh out the life stories of the 1,769 Canadian Naval Reservists who perished in WW2, to tell their story of sacrifice, and to “repatriate” them to their home division. These stories are being developed by volunteer researchers from across the country. You can find links to the completed stories on the new CSVC home page here, and the French CVMC page here.

Summer 2022 edition of Starshell contains the papers presented at our June Conference on “Submarines: Canada’s Strategic Requirement”.

Lookout Volume 67 Number 30 | August 1, 2022 (Editor – note page 7 “ NPTG welcomes commander of new HMCS Venture”)

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USA & AMERICAS

UPDATED: USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker: Aug. 1, 2022

US Senate votes overwhelmingly in favour of Sweden and Finland joining NATO

Why US Navy Can’t Have 10 Aircraft Carriers (Editor – 10:32 min video)

US Navy’s aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford successfully completes new operational step

Battleships Are Back! Navy Abruptly Boosts DDG/CG Building Targets For 2045

USS Delbert D. Black under Way for First Deployment

Bollinger Shipyards delivers Sentinel class Cutter William Chadwick to US Coast Guard

U.S. Navy Begins Testing its First Full-Size Autonomous Ship

Boeing to Integrate Payload Delivery System on Orca Drone Submarine

U.S. Navy Commissions USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28)

US Navy Holds UAS Wide-Area Mission Demonstration

Mothers Deserve Better from the Navy

Bipolar General: What Can We Learn?

CIMSEC: Sea Control 367 – to risk it all with Adm (ret) James Stavridis (Editor – 34:56 min podcast)

Panama Canal welcomes transit of largest vessel by cargo capacity

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INDO-PACIFIC

US warning on sovereignty violations and an interesting map of Japanese islands Chinese Ships Spotted Near Senkaku Islands, India Takes Carrier Delivery

Pelosi in Taiwan says world faces a choice between democracy and autocracy

Editor – leading up to the visit China puts on show of naval force ahead of Nancy Pelosi’s possible Taiwan visitand UPDATED: Carrier USS Ronald Reagan, F-35B Big Deck Operating Near Taiwan as Pelosi Arrives in Singapore; China Renews Threats map and pics in this article Chinese TANKS flood beaches opposite Taiwan as Pelosi lands in Taipei: Beijing warns America will ‘pay price for undermining China’s sovereign security interests’ – as four US warships lie off island’s east coast

Chinese Navy sends two aircraft carriers in the Taiwan Strait

Chinese and Russian Ships Sailing Near Japan, Japanese MoD Says

3rd Fleet boss proposes new group to coordinate Pacific security

G7 Foreign Ministers’ Statement on Preserving Peace and Stability Across the Taiwan Strait

PLA Navy commissions destroyer

Indian Navy Ships on Sail to Celebrate 75th Independence Day on Six Continents

Navy’s all-women aircrew creates history by carrying out surveillance mission over North Arabian Sea

What Would an Australian Sovereign Nuclear-Sub Program Look Like?

China’s Military Steps Up Development of Ship-Based Warplanes to Keep Up with Aircraft Carrier Advances

RIMPAC 2022 Officials Reflect on Lessons Learned, What to Change for RIMPAC 2024

HMCS Vancouver Supports TAPA during RIMPAC 2022

MQ-9B SeaGuardian UAS participates in RIMPAC exercise and RIMPAC Testing Will Inform the Fate of Medium Unmanned Surface Vehicle

EX-USS Denver SINKEX RIMPAC 2022 An Honorable End (Editor – remarkable mix of weapon’s in a 6:38 min video) and HMCS Winnipeg fires harpoon missiles during RIMPAC 2022 plus Four ways to kill a ship: How US Marines are focused on controlling the seas

USNS Grasp Conducts Target Towing in Support of RIMPAC 2022

Military Sealift Command Tankers Support RIMPAC 2022

Indian Navy receives two MH-60 multi-mission helicopters from US

Chinese Yuan Wang class tracking ship visits Sri Lanka despite India’s objections

Taiwan Conducts Han Kuang 2022 Large-Scale Exercise

Shanghai Handles a Record 4.3 Million TEU in July

World’s Largest Containership Floated Out for MSC at Chinese Shipyard

To Expand U.S. Reach, Station a Coast Guard Cutter at American Samoa

Video: Japanese Container Feeder Capsizes at the Pier (Editor – Oops, 47 sec video)

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EUROPE

Ukraine:

Russian Navy declares control of north-western part of Black Sea in Ukraine (Editor – define “control”)

Ex-top investor in Russia explains what’s really driving Putin (editor – not a naval subject but an interesting perspective in a 7:50 min video)

First Grain Ship Leaves Ukraine Since Start of Russian Invasion and Russia takes measures to prevent provocations along route of first ship coming from Odessa

Photos: Romanian Navy Destroys Drifting Mine Near Seaside Resort

General:

Putin Signs New Russian Naval Doctrine

NATO ships train with U.S. Navy Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group

USS Kearsarge to arrive in Helsinki for a port visit – American vessels and Marines exercise in the Northern Baltic Sea with the Finnish Navy

Naval News Monthly Recap – July 2022 (Editor – 3:47 min video)

UK’s first Type 26 frigate to hit the water later this year

English Channel Migrants Are Still Crossing In Record Numbers

ARA Libertad Arrives in Dublin for a Port Call July 29th

Drought Threatens Major Rivers in the U.S. and Europe

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MIDDLE EAST

US and Israeli Navies start maritime exercise in the Red Sea

AI brings to light new naval radar for OPVs

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GLOBAL INTERESTS

Seafarer Happiness Improves but Remains Fragile

DNV: Momentum Builds for LNG-Fueled Vessels with More than 500 Orders

Unbelievable Here’s How to Install Giant Propellers – Modern Shipbuilding Industry (Editor – 20:44 min video)

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SCUTTLEBUTT

When Speedboats Crippled the Russian Fleet – Raid on Kronstadt Documentary (Editor – 3 VC’s, in bold raids I hadn’t heard about in a 15:27 min video)

Beartrap: The Best Way To Land A Big Helicopter On A Small Ship At Sea (Editor – 10:25 min video)

The Biggest Battleship Fleet Ever Assembled (Editor – spot the Canadian content in a 20:15 min video)

British Naval Small Arms of WW1 – with C&Rsenal (Editor – surprisingly diverse 41:10 min video)

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THIS WEEK IN RCN/MARITIME HISTORY

6 August 1942 RCN destroyer HMCS Assiniboine commanded by A/LCDR John H. Stubbs, RCN, pursues and rams German submarine U-210 in the fog, finally sinking her with a 4.7 inch shell. While Assiniboine was maneuvering to ram the U-Boat Assiniboine’s Coxswain RCNR A/CPO Max Bernays ordered his telegraph operators who were giving orders to the engine room to leave, as the fire began to surround the wheelhouse. Bernays manned the helm and did the work of the two telegraph operators while the CO gave orders to ram U-210. As the gun battle grew in intensity, Assiniboine rammed U-210 abaft of her conning tower, crippling the submarine. 38 of the 48 German crew were rescued. Assiniboine’s had one killed and 13 wounded. Bernays, although nominated for the Victoria Cross, was awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal for his heroic actions. HMCS Max Bernays is named in his honour.

7 August 1975 Pierre Trudeau announces that Canada will seek agreement to set up 370 km (200-mile) economic coastal zone.

8 August 1813 US Commodore Isaac Chauncey’s ships Hamilton and Scourge capsize in minutes in a heavy gale off Forty Mile Creek on Lake Ontario, and 53 sailors drown; the ships were putting on extra sail to escape British Captain James Yeo’s fleet, and sank from a shift in weight of the guns; largest loss of life suffered by the United States Navy in the war. Yeo did not see the disaster happen and did not press his advantage.

8 August 1944 German U-boat U-667 torpedoes and sank RCN Flower Class corvette HMCS Regina off Trevose Head, Cornwall, UK; thirty of her ship’s company were lost. Between 1939 and 1945, 36 Flower-Class corvettes were lost between the four navies operating them, of which 22 were torpedoed by enemy U-boats. They accounted for 51 enemy submarines sunk (47 German boats plus 4 Italian).

9 August 1941 HMC Ships Assiniboine and Restigouche escort HMS Prince of Wales, with Prime Minister Winston Churchill aboard, into Placentia Bay, Newfoundland.

9 August 1945 Temporary Lt (RCNVR) Robert Hampton Gray VC, DSC was shot down and killed in a dive-bombing raid at Onagawa Bay as he attacked and sank a Japanese destroyer; serving with the Royal Navy as a Corsair pilot aboard HMS Formidable Gray; he was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross. As Gray’s remains were never found, he was listed as missing in action and presumed dead. In 1989, in Sakiyami Park, Japan, Gray became the first member of the Allied Forces honoured by the Japanese with a memorial and it is the only memorial dedicated to a foreign soldier on Japanese soil. Of Canadian VC recipients, although they were all serving in or with the RN, Lt Gray was the only actual member of the RCN and one of the two Canadian born naval personnel to receive the VC during the Second World War. Lt Gray was tragically one of the last Canadians to die during World War II and was the second to last Canadian to ever be awarded the Victoria Cross. Lt Gray is the most highly decorated pilot from BC, a history now recognized at North Saanich’s BC Aviation Museum with a three-piece monument following a campaign led by a group of former navy members and members of the Naval Association of Canada. It is fitting that among Canadian men and women who acquired 1,677 British and 64 foreign decorations, that this highest recognition should have gone to one of the many Canadians who spent much or all the war apart from the main body of the RCN. Altogether some 4,000 men and women served for varying periods “on loan” to the Royal Navy. HMCS Robert Hampton Gray is named in his honour.

10 August 1813 Sir James Yeo’s forces capture American schooners USS Julia and USS Growler in an engagement near Twelve Mile Creek on Lake Ontario; the British rename the schooners Confiance and Hamilton and will use them as troop transports until Isaac Chauncey recaptures them near False Ducks Islands on 5 October. New York State.

10 August 1941 US President Franklin Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill have their second meeting at Placentia, on a British warship; four days later they will issue the Atlantic Charter setting forth eight goals for the world; a document that will serve as the basis for the United Nations Charter. Placentia Bay, Newfoundland.

10 August 1990 Canada to send three ships and 800 sailors to the Persian Gulf as part of multinational force to force Iraq to withdraw from Kuwait.

11 Aug 1914 The RCN led the world in commissioning the first WWI naval hospital ship, His Majesty’s Canadian Hospital Ship Prince George. The female nurses receiving RCN naval appointments for war service on Prince George were the first women in the RCN, first female officers in the RCN, and first female naval officers to serve at sea.

11 August 1954 HMCS Venture is commissioned in Esquimalt, British Columbia, as a naval cadet training establishment.

12 August 1814 Royal Navy Capt Alexander Hobbs, commanding 70 seamen and marines, attacks three U.S. armed schooners supporting Major General Jacob Brown’s Fort Erie campaign; masquerading as American supply boats, the British board and seize USS Somers and USS Ohio while USS Porcupine escapes; the vessels are renamed Huron and Sauk; last naval engagement on Lake Erie in the war.

12 August 1917 HMCS Shearwater and submarines CC-1 and CC-2 are the first Canadian warships to pass through the Panama Canal. They arrive in Halifax 14 Oct but are deemed unfit for transatlantic crossing and remain in Halifax.

12 August 2010 HMCS Winnipeg intercepts a Thai ship, the MV Sun Sea carrying Tamil refugees from Sri Lanka, off the coast of British Columbia. BC.

SIGNIFICANT RCN DATES – 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, a special thanks to NAC member Bill Dziadyk for his able assistance and detailed work. The RCN lost 1,965 men and 24 ships during the War, most of them in the Atlantic. 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)