NAC News – Edition 606 (Massef)
Your weekly national and international naval news for the week of February 28th, 2025
Edition: 606 HMC NRS/CFB Masset Quotes: “Our command is a small cog in a system focused on interdicting illicit trafficking on the high seas,” Ward said. “This is a team effort, and this bust would not have been possible without the support of the 46 nations who make up the Combined Maritime Forces.” Ward noted that every bust we make reduces the flow of finances to terrorist organizations. “This is why we’re here, to contribute to maritime security and protect the rules-based international order,” he said. Commodore (RNZN) Rodger Ward, new Commander CTF 150, 11 January 2025.
(Editor – CTF 150 is one of five task forces under Combined Maritime Forces, the world’s largest international naval partnership. CTF 150’s mission is to deter and disrupt the ability of non-state actors to move weapons, drugs and other illicit substances in the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman.
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 Kevin Goheen executivedirector@navalassoc.ca if you wish someone to be added to the NAC News email distribution. (Influencer, or good candidates to become an NAC member – note, the first year’s NAC/Branch membership dues are waived)
NOTICES
5-6 March 2025 CDAI: Ottawa Conference on Security and Defence Celebrating its 93rd edition in 2025, the Conference at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier Hotel stands as Canada’s premier defence and security assembly. The conference centers its discussions around a wide spectrum of security and defence matters, orchestrating a sequence of impactful keynotes, presentations, and dialogues led by distinguished experts in the fields of security and defence from Canada and across the globe. Impressive speakers!
25-26 March 2025 Symposium canadien sur la maintenance navale – Canadian Naval Maintenance Symposium Hôtel Mortagne 1228 Rue Nobel, Boucherville, QC
15-16 April ABCMI & Coast Innovation Forum, Vancouver Convention Centre – Registration can be done at ABCMI & COAST Innovations Forum
3 May 2025 Battle of the Atlantic 80th Anniversary Gala, London ON. The Gala will be hosted at the beautiful Hellenic Centre (133 Southdale Rd, London, ON) on Sat 03 May and the unveiling of the Wall of Honour at the Battle of the Atlantic Memorial will be held the next afternoon (Sun 04 May) at HMCS Prevost, during their annual Battle of the Atlantic Parade. Gala Tickets are sold online through “Ticket Tailor” and can only be purchased through that site by clicking the link below (you cannot “search” for the event on Ticket Tailor, or “Google it”, you can only get to the purchase point through these two links.) https://buytickets.at/boagala2025 The BOAM Website under the “event page”
15–18 May 2025 CNMT has graciously extended the invitation to all NAC members who may not be CNMT trustees to join them for the 80th Anniversary of VE Day & Battle of the Atlantic Commemoration at Londonderry. There are events and activities planned for each day. If you plan to attend, please reach out to Gary Reddy at co@cnmt.ca. He will point you in the right direction for further details. The City Hotel Derry is offering special rates for attendees: Double/Twin B&B: £159 per night or Single B&B: £149 per night. To book your room, please call the hotel.
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THIS WEEK’S SIGNIFICANT ARTICLES
Can Europe still count on the US coming to its defence? (Editor – last edition I included an article where the CDS said that our military to military relationship with the US was still on solid ground…only time will tell)
Chinese Defense Ministry warns Taiwan DPP authorities: ‘will come and get you, sooner or later’
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CANADA
Starshell Winter 2025 (Editor – a packed latest edition, enjoy! Note NAC regalia shop info on page 4 for those in need)
Editor – I’m interested in how many members were awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal. Could you please email if you did or know of a member who was so awarded. I’d like to publish a list in recognition of these wonderful members!
CBC News team travelling aboard Royal Canadian Navy ship to Antarctica and Canadian scientists head to Antarctica to search for climate clues (Editor – two CBC videos about HMCS Margaret Brooke’s voyage to Antarctica)
Le NCSM Margaret Brooke entame sa première expédition en Antarctique
HMCS Protecteur – Joint Support Ship Tour at Seaspan Shipyards (Editor – first-rate 6:30 min CDR video)
A New Era for Recruitment? (Editor – CGAI 22:11 min podcast)
The 2024 Northeast Pacific Deep-sea Expedition wrap-up video! (Editor – 4:03 min video pointed out by NAC member Doug Bancroft who is President and CEO of Canadian Scientific Submersible Facility. The ROPOS ROV is one of his company)
Long-promised Nanisivik Naval Facility’s opening date still unknown
CDR magazine article: NSS Update Ice Pact and More
DFO inducts two new patrol vessels aimed at enhanced conservation and protection program
MSC Baltic III Grounding: Hull Breaches Confirmed, But Fuel Tanks Holding For Now
Military now accepting recruits with asthma, ADHD and other conditions amid staffing shortage
Canadian submarine returns to sea 14 years after collision
UNE PAGE D’HISTOIRE A ÉTÉ ÉCRITE: Tous les huit navires-écoles de la classe Orca NAVIGUENT ensemble! & HISTORY WAS MADE: All 8 of Orca-class training vessel’s SAIL together! (Editor – MRC/RCN 6:11 min videos)
Honouring the Unknown Solider: Canada’s new commemorative coin
Legion Command Services Officers (Editor – The Legion’s Command Service Officers are allies, providing invaluable advocacy and making a significant, positive impact on lives. They can be reached at 1-877-534-4666 or via email at veteransservices@legion.ca please also see NAC Veteran’s Corner page if you have issues)
Lookout: Volume 70, Issue 4, February 24, 2025 French and English versions available
Trident: 24 February 2025 Volume 59, Issue 04 (Bilingual) (Editor – with videos above this article is noteworthy on page 11 “Forging Antarctic ties: HMCS Margaret Brooke meets with Argentinian allies”)
NAC Naval Affairs Uncrewed Technology in the RCN (Editor – NAC Naval Affairs Papers, Briefing Notes, Niobe Papers, and much more. Please share with anyone you think may benefit from the knowledge, after all, that’s what our naval affairs programme is all about – enlightening Canadians)
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USA & AMERICA
USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker: Feb. 24, 2025
General Atomics Expands MQ-9B SeaGuardian’s Role in Anti-Submarine Warfare (Editor – game changer?)
Kongsberg Delivers Underwater Drone Prototype for US Navy Deep Water Project
Who Really Controls the Panama Canal? The Truth Behind Trump’s Claims (Editor – so what is all the fuss about?!)
USTR Floats $1.5m Charge to Chinese-Built Ships Entering US Ports
How This Aircraft Carrier Feeds 7000 Sailors at Sea! (Editor – 14:33 min video)
Panama Canal Advances Rio Indio Reservoir Project to Secure Water Supply After Historic Drought
US East and Gulf Coast Dockworkers Ratify New Six-Year Contract
Captain ‘lost for words’ after witnessing a super pod of more than 2,000 dolphins
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INDO-PACIFIC
PLA discloses Philippine’s two illegal intrusions, warning clumsy attempt to promote illegitimate claims doomed to fail with South China Sea: Chinese military says 3 Philippine aircraft expelled from Spratly Islands
Philippines, Japan Pledge Further Defense Cooperation Amid South China Sea Spats
Chinese navy drill forced 49 Australian flights to divert then China Chides Australia For Reaction To Live-Fire Naval Drills no advance notice! Australian aviation authorities first informed about Chinese live firing drill by Virgin pilot then New Zealand Says Chinese Navy Held 2nd Live-Fire Drills In International Waters well Have the Chinese warships off Australia’s coast broken any laws?
Massive WWII B-29 Bomber Base Fully Reclaimed For Future Pacific Fight
Taiwan detains Chinese-crewed ship suspected of cutting undersea cable (Editor – too many incidents all over for it all to be accidents…)
Chinese Warships, Fighters Hold Snap Live Fire Drills 40 Miles Off Taiwan, Say Officials
What are the key features of DRDO proposed P-76 submarines
Northrop Grumman and Hanwha Partner to Modernize Mine Countermeasures in South Korea
Russia Signs Memorandum To Build Port In Myanmar
Indian Navy to induct INS Himagiri, INS Udaygiri under Project 17A
Iranian Naval Vessels Call in Malaysia for the First Time
Australia Seizes and Burns Two Illegal Fishing Vessels
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EUROPE
Ukraine:
Russia ‘Reactivates’ Secret Soviet-Era Submarine Base In Occupied Ukraine
Russia paying in blood and money as Putin counts the cost of invading Ukraine (Editor – and all for what?)
How much has the US given to Ukraine? and for perspective Canada announces new military assistance for Ukraine
Ukraine’s homegrown drones have become increasingly lethal, critical tools in war with Russia
Guerre en Ukraine : quels enseignements pour la Marine nationale après trois ans de conflit ?
Oil Tankers Calling in Russia Get Mine Checks After Mystery Blasts
General:
Why Russia and China May Be Sabotaging Baltic Sea Infrastructure | WSJ (Editor – 6:13 min video) A Timeline of Suspected Underwater Sabotage Incidents in the Baltic Sea and Finland, Sweden Investigate New Cable Incident Baltic Sea
Limpet Mines Eyed as Likely Cause of Blasts on Two Tankers in Mediterranean Sea
USS Harry S. Truman Back Underway After Repairs Following Collision
France pushes to procure three more frigates for Marine Nationale
Watch: French Navy Conducts First Shock Test on Combat Ship in 30 Years (Editor – a Wow 40 sec video included)
Accelerating innovation, collaboration and delivery in undersea defence
Lecornu confirme l’objectif de doter la Marine nationale de 18 frégates de premier rang
Airbus building comms network for French air and naval forces
Type 26 frigate builder BAE Systems signs MoU with Norwegian shipyard
Royal Netherlands Navy’s future support ship formally named
Nuclear Reactors on board of Russian Cruiser Admiral Nakhimov activated
Unknown Saboteurs Are Targeting German Navy Warships then German Navy Thwarts Another Sabotage Attempt
Brooking Institute Where did Russia’s shadow fleet come from?
Départ de la mission Jeanne d’Arc 25
Atlantification ushering in new era of sea ice loss in the Siberian Arctic
US, Russia Mull Cooperation on Arctic Shipping and Exploration and U.S., Russia hold Istanbul talks, Arctic development briefly raised: Kremlin spokesman
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MIDDLE EAST
Red Sea:
Egypt Says Dozens Of Ships Return To Suez Canal After Ceasefire
General:
CTF153 and USS Stout ‘Ready Together’ for Red Sea Maritime Security
Royal Navy’s Peregrine drone makes operational debut in Gulf security mission
Offshore Patrol Vessel PNS Yarmook at Heart of Pakistan’s Naval Strategy at IDEX 2025
U.S. Treasury Cracks Down on Iran’s Shadow Fleet with 13 Additional Ships Targeted
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GLOBAL INTERESTS
MV Ocean Giant Conducting Cargo Offload to Support Operation Deep Freeze 2025 (Editor – article for you Duke aboard MV Ocean Gladiator)
French Mission Jeanne D’Arc 2025 Begins Atlantic and Arctic Deployment
The world merchant fleet (Editor – “In 2023, more than 106 700 merchant ships had been sailing around the world, over 11% [12,309 vessels] of them carrying oil.”)
Sudan says plan for first Russian naval base in Africa will go ahead
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SCUTTLEBUTT
The Air Battle Canada Fought Alone in WWII (Editor – the title is misleading. Battle of Atlantic begins about halfway through this 47:26 min video)
The Incredible Wartime Pipeline Beneath the English Channel… (Editor – 15:23 min video)
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THIS WEEK IN RCN/MARITIME HISTORY
1 March 1928 HMC Ships Champlain and Vancouver are commissioned into the RCN, replacing HMC Ships Patriot and Patrician.
2 March 2011 HMCS Charlottetown heads for Libya to provide humanitarian assistance.
3 March 1921 HMC Submarines CH-14 and CH-15 are commissioned into the RCN. The submarines are H-Class ordered by the RN and built in the US. They did not see action during WWI and were eventually gifted to Canada. They were both scrapped and broken up in 1927.
4 March 1943 HMC Ships Shediac commanded by Lt John E. Clayton, RCNR with St. Croix commanded by LCdr A. Hedley Dobson, DSC, RCNR sank the German submarine U-87 off the coast of Leixões in Portugal.
6 March 1944 HMC Ships St. Catharines commanded by LCDR Herbert C.R. Davis, RCNR, HMCS Chilliwack commanded by LCDR Clifton P. Coughlin, RCNVR, HMCS Gatineau commanded by LCdr Harold V.W. Groos, RCN, HMCS Fennel commanded by A/LCdr William P. Moffat, RCNVR, and HMCS Chaudière commanded by A/LCdr C. Patrick Nixon, RCN, assist Royal Naval warships in the sinking of the German submarine U-744 in the North Atlantic.
6 March 1945 The SS Green Hill Park was one of about 400 freighters built for the allied merchant navies by the Park Steamship Company which was owned by the Government of Canada. On the 6th of March 1945, the Green Hill Park exploded, and burst into flames, in Vancouver harbour while loading cargo at the Canadian Pacific Railway pier. The ship’s cargo included 85 or 95 tons of sodium chlorate, commonly used as a fertilizer. One of the fertilizers, under certain conditions, could be a powerful high explosive. Observers saw three explosions, and, initially, it was believed that portions of the ship’s cargo of sodium chlorate exploded. However, it could have been due to ignition of fumes from the barrels of overproof whiskey located in her holds. Her cargo also included six tons of flares. Six longshoremen, and two seamen, lost their lives. The ship was badly damaged but repaired. After the war, she sailed under the Panamanian flag as the SS Phaeax II and later as the SS Lagos Michigan until scrapped in 1967.
7 March 1945 HMC Ships La Hulloise commanded by LCdr John Brock, RCNVR, with HMCS Strathadam commanded by LCdr Howard L. Quinn, RCNVR, and HMCS Thetford Mines commanded by LCdr John A.R. Allan, DSO, RCNVR sank the German submarine U-1302 in St. George’s Channel (Irish Sea).
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)
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