NAC News – Edition 612 (Avalon/St.John’s)
Your weekly national and international naval news for the week of April 11th, 2025
Edition: 612 HMCS Avalon/RCN Barracks St. John’s Quotes: “The departure of His Majesty’s Canadian Ship Ville de Québec represents the culmination of thousands of hours of effort and dedication from the ship’s company and supporting staff ashore. This deployment through Europe to the Indo-Pacific region will see the ship and its crew sail with our UK allies and work alongside Indo-Pacific partners, developing necessary global relationships and furthering Canada’s international interests. I know the ship is more than ready to rise to the challenge ahead. Fair winds and following seas Ville de Québec, and a safe and successful deployment.” Rear-Admiral Josée Kurtz, Commander Maritime Forces Atlantic
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 a NAC member – note, the first year’s NAC/Branch membership dues are waived)
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NOTICES
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.
19-22 June 2025 Halifax Fleet Week. Naval vessels from Canada and Allied nations will gather for public tours and demonstrations. The event features educational programmes, community activities, and a showcase of modern naval technologies, celebrating maritime heritage and international cooperation in Halifax Harbour.
26-27 September 2025 The Canadian Maritime Security Network (CMSN) will host a conference on the future Canadian Seapower 2025. Venue – University of Calgary. Today, Canada faces a more complex and dangerous security landscape than at any time since the Second World War. The country is at an inflection point, facing two great power competitors, a complicated ecosystem of malign non-state actors, persistent pressures eroding the rules based international order, and an uncertain partnership with the U.S. Registration opens 1 May 2025.
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THIS WEEK’S SIGNIFICANT ARTICLES
9 April 2025 Presidential Executive Orders – Restoring America’s Maritime Dominance
Top US admiral at NATO removed amid Trump’s growing military firings
CDA Institute: Canada in Dangerous Times: Strategic Outlook 2025 (Editor – 57:02 min podcast. A reminder that NAC is a member of the Conference of Defence Associations, and CDA has an excellent webpage related to defence issues and the coming election. The CDA Institute is a non-partisan registered charity organization with the mission to advance informed debate on national security issues, particularly those that pertain to national defence and the Canadian Armed Forces. CDAI possesses influential board members. CDAI (read “us” in this) is seeking 10,000 signatures for the petition to call upon the major political parties to hold a special leaders’ debate focused on the subject of Canada’s national security and foreign policy.)
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CANADA
Canadian Navy declares Victoria-class submarine HMCS Corner Brook ready for Indo-Pacific deployment and Canadian submarine returns to sea after more than $700M in repairs (Editor – CBC News 2:30 min video)
HMCS Ville de Québec departs for Operation HORIZON & Le NCSM Ville de Québec quitte le port en vue de l’opération HORIZON (Editor – VDQ will join HMS Price of Wales in the United Kingdom’s (UK) multinational Carrier Strike Group (CSG), see articles in Europe section)
Military pulls search and rescue planes from B.C.
An armchair tour of HMCS Haida with Jared Shawcross
Some voters say B.C. oil tanker ban must be lifted for national unity. Others warn it will reopen an old fight (Editor – historical Bill to restrict oil tankers in northern B.C. waters passes in Senate)
CNMT: HMCS Sackville – Cold Move to Downtown Berth, Thursday 1 May 2025
Canada Minister Wants LNG Canada Doubled, Eyes Western Pipeline Upgrade
Cruise season sails back into Greater Victoria (Editor – full schedule)
Lookout: Volume 70, Issue 7, April 7, 2025 (French) (English)
Trident: 7 April 2025 Volume 59 Issue 07 (Bilingual)
NAC Naval Affairs The Kingston-Class Patrol Ships (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: April 7, 2025
CMSI Translations #16: Tracking Their Wake: How Strong Is the U.S. Navy Today?
USS Gerald Ford Works Out Its First-In-Class Kinks Ahead Of Deployment
First Columbia-class Sub, Two Aircraft Carriers Face Delivery Delays, Navy Officials Tell Senate
Trump Signs Executive Order to Revitalize U.S. Shipbuilding Amid China’s Maritime Dominance with CIMSEC: Break China’s grip on shipping with the multilateral maritime alliance (Editor – ironic…the US needs “partners”)
Top Marine’s deployment plans face familiar wrinkle: Inert US Navy ships
U.S. vs. Denmark: Inside the Battle to Defend Greenland | WSJ (Editor – background in a 8:26 min video)
U.S. Withdraws from Critical IMO Climate Meeting, Threatens Retaliation Over Emissions Pricing
Navy Commissions Virginia-class Attack Boat USS Iowa
Austal Christens Sixth US Navy Navajo T-ATS Ship
Copperhead Torpedo-Like Underwater Kamikaze Drones Rolled Out By Anduril
US Navy receives first two Lionfish SUUVs from HII
Naval Shipbuilder HII Signs Agreement with South Korean Shipyard Hyundai Heavy Industries
The INSANE Engineering Behind FIGHTER Jets Takeoffs and Landings at Sea (Editor – eye-candy in a 11:44 min video)
Tracking the world’s major cocaine route to Europe – and why it’s growing
U.S. and Panama Agree to Counter Chinese Influence in Panama Canal
End of a Growth Era: U.S. Container Imports Set to Plunge as Sweeping Trade Tariffs Take Effect and The West Coast Epicenter for Trump’s Trade Tariffs: LA Ports | WSJ (Editor – 3:10 min video)
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INDO-PACIFIC
INDOPACOM CO Paparo Outlines Risk of Western Pacific Conflict (Editor – sage words)
MND Tells the Philippine Side:“Relying on Foreign Support to Make Waves at Sea” Will Backfire
Murky Waters – Navigating the Risks of China’s Dual-Use Shipyards (Editor- excellent explanation)
US Secures 99-Year Rent-Free Access To Strategic Naval Base At Diego Garcia
China Coast Guard Cutter Nearly Hits Philippine Patrol Vessel Head-On
Why China’s Man-Made Military Islands Are a Disaster (Editor – curious perspective in a 19:08 min video)
Seabed sensors and mapping: what China’s survey ship could be up to
AUKUS n-sub program on track however Exclusive: AUKUS nuclear submarine sale under scrutiny as Trump tariffs rattle Australia
Indian Navy proposed 2nd aircraft carrier to bolster self reliance in defence capabilities and Cabinet Committee on Security approves $7-billion deal to procure 26 Rafale Marine jets from France
Guided Missile Frigate BRP Miguel Malvar Joins Philippine Navy
New Zealand confirms replacement of entire fleet of SH-2G Super Seasprite maritime helicopters
Stealth Frigate INS Tarkash undertakes Passex with New Zealand Navy in Gulf of Aden
Hobart-class destroyer combat system upgrade launches
Breaking News | Japan to test a new variant of electromagnetic railgun on JS Asuka experimental ship
Australia to reclaim strategic Darwin port from Chinese ownership amid rising security fears
Chinese Military Opens New Overseas Base
Russian Oil Stuck On India-Banned Ship Finds New Tanker
How do China’s new ‘Water Bridge’ ships work? (Editor – 3:39 min video)
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EUROPE
Ukraine:
Zelensky claims 155 Chinese fighting for Russia in Ukraine
General:
UK’s Type 45 destroyer shatters drone swarm threats in live-fire exercise (PHOTOS) and
Watch as Royal Navy warship takes down Hammerhead swarm drone attack (Editor – love to know the various systems effectiveness 2:14 min video)
Russia accelerates the construction of its largest warship since the Cold War after Ukraine sank the Moskva and Russia’s New Helicopter Carrier Is Taking Shape In Crimea
Groenland : la mémoire coloniale réveillée, selon Marine Duc
Russian, Chinese Gray Zone Threat in Northern Europe Prompts New Defense Planning, NATO Panel Says
U.K. Carrier HMS Price of Wales Set for Pacific Deployment plus Carrier Strike Group to trial drones for delivering supplies during Far East deployment and Carrier Strike Group 25: The ships strengthening European security (Editor – 2:50 min video – note Ville de Québec will integrate into the strike group)
Aselsan completes upgrade of Turkish Navy’s Barbaros-class frigate
VIDÉO. Cinq choses à savoir sur la frégate Amiral Ronarc’h qui va rejoindre la Marine nationale
Les dessous commerciaux des escales de la Marine nationale
Type 212CD maintenance facility to support nine submarines
UK officials urge stronger deterrence against hybrid threats
Royal IHC to integrate Elwave’s Octopulse sensor aboard seabed crawler
Ultra Maritime unveils Sea Spear, ‘first-of-its-kind’ lightweight deployable sonar system
Former Italian Cassiopea-class patrol vessel Libra becomes Albania’s strongest naval ship
Sea ice reaches this year’s maximum extent and it’s the lowest on record
Greek Ships Go Thousands Of Miles Further To Deliver Russian Oil
Cargo Pumped Off of Damaged Tanker Stena Immaculate
Rhine Shipping Costs Rise as River Level Falls Further
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MIDDLE EAST
Red Sea:
Houthis Shot Down U.S. Drone – BIG MISTAKE (Editor – 11:17 min video)
General:
Second US Aircraft Carrier Has Reached Middle East
Iran says it is ready for nuclear deal if US stops military threats
Iran Has Thousands of Ballistic Missiles. Here’s Where They Are.
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GLOBAL INTERESTS
Nothing this week…apart for the impact of the US tariffs with the repercussions that could ripple for years. Trump Tariffs on China Now at Least 145% as Trade War Ramps Up
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SCUTTLEBUTT
The Ghost Fleet of Mallows Bay (Maryland Ship Graveyard) (Editor – something different in a 15:37 min video)
HMS Glowworm – Guide 434 (Editor – 8:24 min video)
The Ocean’s Most Dangerous Vessel (Editor – SMS Emden’s WW1 cruise in a 26:52 min video)
Disaster at the Dardanelles (Editor – USNI Naval History Magazine 43:28 min video)
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THIS WEEK IN RCN/MARITIME HISTORY
14 April 1828 The 18-gun sloop HMS Acorn missing, presumed foundered off Halifax with the loss of 115 men.
14 April 1943 HDC 15 (Harbour Defence Patrol Craft), off Saint John, NB, was lost in bad weather with all 6 of her crew lost.
14 April 1944 HMCS Swansea commanded by A/Cdr Clarence A. King, D.S.O., D.S.C. & Bar, M.I.D., RCNR with HMS Pelican combined to sink the German submarine U-448 in the North Atlantic. Swansea’s second kill in less than six weeks.
14 April 1944 British freighter SS Fort Stikine caught fire and was destroyed in two giant blasts, scattering debris, sinking surrounding ships and setting fire to the area, killing around 800 to 1,300 people. Some 80,000 people were made homeless, and 71 firemen lost their lives in the aftermath. The ship was carrying a mixed cargo of cotton bales, timber, oil, gold, and ammunition including around 1,400 tons of explosives with an additional 240 tons of torpedoes and weapons. Fort Stikine was one of the 198 Fort Class cargo ships built in Canada during WW2 for use by the UK under the Lend-Lease scheme.
15 April 1814 Kingston Navy Dockyard launched two of the three ships that were the most powerful British warships built in Upper Canada during the War of 1812. HM Ships Prince Regent, and Princess Charlotte; under Commodore Sir James Yeo, they will blockade the American fleet in Sackett’s Harbour and capture Oswego, restoring Canadian control of Lake Ontario in the War of 1812 and ending the threat of US invasion. Once the war was over, most vessels of the Lake Ontario squadron were no longer needed following the terms of disarmament in the 1817 Rush-Bagot Agreement, and these ships were eventually sunk. The wrecks attest to the presence of the British fleet based in Kingston and the magnitude of the arms race between the Americans and the British and its role in determining the outcome of the war.
16 April 1945 German U-Boat U-190 torpedoes and sank the Bangor Class minesweeper HMCS Esquimalt 5 miles off Chebucto Head near the Halifax lightship; 44 of her ship’s company are lost in the last Canadian Warship loss of the War; U-190 will surrender 11 May and will be sunk ceremonially on 21 October 1947 where she had destroyed the Esquimalt.
17 April 1944 A Canso from RCAF Squadron 162 sank U-342 southwest of Iceland. By the end of the war, RCAF planes were credited with sinking 19 German U-boats. Coastal Command, which included many RCAF crews flying British planes, accounted for more than 200 U-boat kills.
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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