NAC News – Edition 616 (Sherburne)
Your weekly national and international naval news for the week of May 9th, 2025
Edition: 616 HMCS Shelburne/RCN Barracks Shelburne/CFS Shelburne Quote: “To that point in the War, the capture of Vimy Ridge had been the greatest British Victory. Not only had the Canadian gained the Ridge, with its commanding position, but they had captured 54 guns, 104 trench mortars, 124 machine guns, and more than 4,000 prisoners. The Canadian Corps had demonstrated that proper planning could lessen the rate of casualties. The psychological effects of the victory were clear, and it gave a boost to the whole Empire effort.” Barry Gough: From Classroom to Battlefield – Victoria High School and the First World War, Heritage House Publishing Company Ltd., 2014
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
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.
NEW 21 June 2025 Noon Ottawa time. NAC AGM For review here is the 2025 AGM webpage (note – info is good, but the documents at this site haven’t been populated yet) and last year’s 2024 AGM Link.
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
Canada’s allies are wondering if they can still shelter under the U.S. nuclear umbrella
27 lives per kilometre: How Russia took record losses in Ukraine in 2024
Is the promise of military icebreakers political theatre or sensible policy?
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CANADA
Royal Canadian Navy Commemorates 80th Anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic & La Marine royale canadienne célèbre le 80e anniversaire de la bataille de l’Atlantique
La bataille de l’Atlantique 80e anniversaire & The Battle of the Atlantic 80th Anniversary (Editor – RCN 1:06 min video) hence Monument in London, Ont., honours Canadians who served in WW II’s Battle of the Atlantic (Editor – BZ NAC and HMCS Prevost) and Battle of the Atlantic veteran at ceremony to mark 80 years since the battle’s end
Veterans Affairs Canada and the Department of National Defence mark 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day & Anciens Combattants Canada et le ministère de la Défense nationale soulignent le 80eanniversaire du jour de la Victoire en Europe
Remarkable scenes of gratitude greet Canadian war veterans in the Netherlands
South Korea wants to be Canada’s new military supplier (Editor – 4:20 min video)
CGAI: Cold Waters and Steel Hulls (Editor – David Perry discuss the transition from building DeWolf-Class (AOPS) to Fraser-class Destroyers in a 53:01 min podcas
CDAI: What’s Stopping Canadians from Joining the Military? (Editor – 29:45 min podcast)
How to make a functional check on a Bofors 57mm gun (Editor – RCN 1:26 min video) & Comment faire la vérification d’un canon Bofors de 57mm
Comment effectuer un changement d’huile sur une frégate canadienne (Éditeur – 2:01 min vidéo) How to perform an oil change on a Royal Canadian Navy frigate
Women Veterans Needed for Research on Women’s Health and Well-being
“My favourite thing so far has been getting tours of all the different classes of ships”. (Editor – 1:00 min RCN video)
As Trump Tariffs Sink in, Canadian Companies Pivot From US to New Markets
CCG reports progress on MSC Baltic III salvage operation
Fire on derelict vessel in Mission, B.C., leads to shelter-in-place order
Lookout: 5 May 2025 Volume 70 Issue 9 (English) (Française) with article “Demystifying Service Under the Sea” with the CSF’s First Female Coxswain on page 3.
Trident: Monday 5 May 2025 Volume 59, Issue 09 (Bilingue)
NAC Naval Affairs In case you missed this excellent document Canadian Naval Encyclopedia (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: May 5, 2025
Peru, S. Korea to Jointly Develop Lima’s New Submarine
A Made-in-Canada Solution for U.S. Coast Guard Ice Class Ships
Sea Launched Cruise Nuclear Missile to Deliver in 2034, Says Admiral
Hegseth orders elimination of 10% of general, admiral jobs
US shipbuilding challenges a matter of national defense (Editor – insightful 8:23 min video) however Trump Administration’s bold plan to revive US shipbuilding will kill American exporters instead (Editor – 10:04 min video)
CORE POWER: SHIPS for America Act will inject capital into US shipbuilding, nuclear technologies
Japan’s Mitsubishi Shipyard Completes Largest Overhaul Contract for US Navy
Bollinger, Edison Chouest Offshore Team to Pitch Coast Guard Arctic Security Cutter Designs
US Navy Tests Sea-Based Hypersonic Missile Using ‘Cold Launch’
Maersk Containership Drifting Off Bermuda After Engine Room Incident, Three Crew Injured with Salvage Tug Will Take Another Week to Reach Disabled Maersk Ship
World’s Largest Battery-Electric Ship Launched
Commonwealth LNG Signs Major 20-Year LNG Supply Deal with Asian Buyer
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INDO-PACIFIC
Why does Australia need submarines?
Indian and Pakistani Navies Remain at High Readiness Amidst Tensions with INS Vikrant: A moments reach to Karachi Gateway thus Pakistan Navy under high stress as Indian Navy is at its highest readiness to attack Pakistan with ‘Enter at your own peril’ – Indian Navy’s firing drills in Arabian Sea send strong signal to Pakistan
Philippine Coast Guard Says China Ship Conducting Illegal Survey Within EEZ
PLA blocks Philippine warship in move Manila calls ‘reckless’
Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems Receives Order Extension for 2 Additional Submarines from Singapore
India to soon get 2nd advanced stealth frigate from Russia amid hostilities with Pak
Dual ship commissioning celebrates maritime capability
New Zealand to Replace Old Helo Fleet for $1B, Boost Defense Spending
Why the US is reviving WWII bases to counter China (Editor – 20:23 min video)
Indian Navy trials advanced underwater naval mine (VIDEO)
U.S. Moves to Designate Six Ships in UN Bid to Expose North Korea Sanctions Evasion
What Happened at This Secret Air Force Base? (Editor – piece of history being resurrected 11:23 min video)
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EUROPE
Ukraine:
It’s finally out: the story of how the Russian missile cruiser Moskva sank in fire and smoke || 2025 (Editor – 8:59 min video) and more to the story: the horror of Russian sailors during the sinking of ‘Moskva’ || 2025 (Editor – a disaster for Russia on many levels, a 9:24 min video)
First Image Of Ukraine’s Sidewinder-Armed Magura V7 Surface Drone
Swedish Saab CB90 Fast Attack Boats Donated to Ukraine Deliver Advanced Combat Capabilities
General:
UK carrier strike group begins multi-national exercise Med Strike
U.K., Italian Carrier Strike Groups Team Up in Ionian Sea
DÉCRYPTAGE. Peu chères, disponibles, efficaces… La marine teste les munitions téléopérées
UK Carrier Strike Group shadowed by Russian intelligence gathering vessel in Mediterranean
A British carrier group is coming to the Pacific—with doubts looming over it
France could officially order Europe’s largest nuclear aircraft carrier by the end of 2025
The New, Secret Cocaine Superhighway Under the Atlantic | WSJ (Editor – astounding 7:49 min video)
Exercise Moves Strategic Cargo in Baltic Demonstrating Escort Capabilities
Denmark to field unmanned vessels for monitoring busy shipping routes
Royal Navy’s newest submarine officially names in Barrow (Editor – Nelson’s much-beloved)
Lords demand ‘drumbeat’ of orders to revitalise shipyards
Professional head of the Royal Navy, Admiral Ben Key has resigned, citing personal reasons
DEFEA 2025: RAMSYS Invests in New Missile Generation to Counter Emerging Naval Threats
NATO Allies Conduct Joint Anti-Submarine Warfare Drills off Iceland and NATO Strengthens Anti-Submarine Defenses in North Atlantic as Russian Naval Presence Grows
Sweden Orders Lightweight Torpedoes From Saab
Guerre secrète sous-marine : « La France a tous les outils pour faire face »
IAI to equip Greek Navy with autonomous submarine
First sea trials of the Vlissingen, first mine countermeasure vessel for the Dutch Navy
Shadow fleet plays name game in Arctic waters
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MIDDLE EAST
Red Sea:
Trump says US to stop attacking Houthis in Yemen as group has ‘capitulated’ however US-Houthi Ceasefire Deal Does Not Include Israel
Super Hornet Goes Overboard During Failed Landing on USS Harry S. Truman, Crew Safe explanatory U.S. Pilot Misses ARESTOR CABLES on Aircraft Carrier! (Editor – 11:48 min video)
General:
Iran to Begin Sea Trials of Second Oil Tanker Converted into Combat Drone Launch Ship
US Sanctions Terminals and Captains Targeting Iran’s Oil Exports to China
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GLOBAL INTERESTS
Attenborough at 99 delivers ‘greatest message he’s ever told’
Why Should We Care About Dark Fleets | WGOW Shipping on Why Should You Care About the Indo-Pacific? (Editor – great explanation in a 52:00 min video)
Next decade pivotal for defining role of nuclear power in maritime industry, study says
Damen delivers third multi-mission inshore patrol vessel to SAN
Africa’s first submarine museum is officially open
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SCUTTLEBUTT
Titanic to Dunkirk: The Incredible Story of Charles Lightoller (Editor – extraordinary story in a 13:20 min video)
Titanic’s Fourth Officer, Joseph Boxhall – BBC Radio Interview (1962) (Editor – must see 18:44 min video)
Deadly Effective: US Subs vs the Imperial Japanese Army-with Rich Frank – Episode 501 (Editor – 1:09:48 min video) and one other USN success Shōkaku and Cavalla, a Confrontation of the WWII Pacific Theater (Editor – 15:19 min video)
S-Boats – Guide 438 (Editor – 8:32 min video)
How an 18th Century Sailing Warship Works (HMS Victory) (Editor – awesome detail in a 25:28 min video)
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THIS WEEK IN RCN/MARITIME HISTORY
10 May 1942 SS Kitty’s Brook (Newfoundland registry) – 9 crew killed when hit by one torpedo from U-588 and sank 35 miles southeast of Cape Sable, Nova Scotia.
11 May 1898 Canadian brothers Harry and Willard Miller born in Noel Shore, Nova Scotia. while serving as USN sailors on board the U.S.S. Nashville in Cuban waters, both earned the US Medal of Honour. During a ship’s boat undersea cable-cutting operation and facing the heavy fire of the enemy they both displayed extraordinary bravery and coolness throughout the action.
11 May 1922 the Royal Naval College of Canada was closed, and for the next twenty years the training pf the Dominion’s professional naval officers was carried out in the Royal Navy. The reduction of naval strength during the 1920’s made a separate Canadian institution impracticable, and the small need of officers for a minor force was satisfied by periodically sending a handful of candidates to the United Kingdom as “special entry” cadets. This policy persisted until the fall of 1942, when the training of naval cadets was resumed at the Royal Canadian Naval College.
11 May 1942 SS Nicoya, sailing from Montreal to Liverpool, UK is the first merchant ship sunk in the Battle of the St. Lawrence. The British merchant ship is struck by two torpedoes from U-553 off Cape des Rosiers, Gaspé, sinking in a few minutes. Six merchant sailors were killed.
11 May 1945 German submarine U-190 surrendered to HMCS Victoriaville and HMCS Thorlock and was later escorted into Bay Bulls, Newfoundland.
12 May 1940 HMCS Ypres while operating the harbour entrance “gate” was accidently rundown by HMS Revenge. She was the first loss of the RCN during WW2. There were no casualties, it is said that the next time HMS Revenge passed through the boom the crews of both gate vessels took up abandon-ship stations. Ypres was a one of 6 Battle-class trawlers built during WWI that were employed as gate vessels in the Halifax area. The gate was back in operation by the 16th. Another old Battle-class trawler, HMS Arleux, replaced Ypres. She was also rammed later in the war by the giant liner RMS Queen Mary, although she was not sunk.
12 May 1942 The German submarine U-553 sinks the British freighter Nicoya and the Dutch steamer Leto 16 kilometers off the Gaspe coast between Gaspe and Anticosti island. Most of Nicoya’s 87 crew and passengers got safely away, however Twelve of Leto’s 43 passengers and crew perished. The sinking of Nicoya and Leto did not, as conventional wisdom would have it, signal the commencement of the German attack on Canadian shipping: that had been going on for a while. But it did signal the start of a campaign that brought the shooting war into the church halls and kitchens of coastal communities and deposited the flotsam and jetsam of war along their shorelines. It was impossible to stop tongues from wagging, the press from bleating and Parliament from debating the deep penetration of the enemy into Canadian waters. Most wanted to know how the Royal Canadian Navy could have let it happen.
12 May 1945 HMCS Victoriaville (frigate) escorts the surrendered U-Boat 190 into Bay Bulls, Newfoundland (not yet part of Canada).
13 May 1943 HMCS Drumheller commanded by Lt Leslie P. Denny, RCNR, HMS Lagan, and an aircraft from the Royal Canadian Air Force’s 423 Squadron combine to sink the German submarine U-753 in the Atlantic Ocean.
13 May 1945 German submarine U-899 officially surrendered to the RCN near Shelburne, N. S. becomes the only German sub to surrender in Canadian waters during Second World War. Canadian ships, alone or in company with other ships and planes, sank a total of twenty-seven U-boats during the Second World War. Despite the undoubted and ongoing U-boat successes during the 2,060 days of war, 25,353 merchant ship voyages carried 181,643,180 tons of cargo from North American ports to the United Kingdom under Canadian escort. Over the bridge which the navy helped to build and maintain 90,000 tons passed daily towards the battlefields of Europe. In the Canadian ships lost, there were 1,797 Canadians who lost their lives, 319 were wounded, and 95 became POW’s. They paid a price yet created an achievement which would have been flatly dismissed as impossible before the war.
14 May 1914 The Royal Naval Canadian Volunteer Reserve (RNCVR) is authorized as part of the RCN. Nine years before the 1923 creation of the RCNVR, the Canadian government of Robert Borden embarked on the creation of a naval reserve. The RNCVR was to consist of 1,200 men who agreed to serve in wartime with the RN or the RCN. It was organized in three divisions: Atlantic, Lake or Central, and Pacific. The cap tallies bore the initials RNCVR, a crown or crown & anchor and the name of the division. Rank stripes of officers as well as the stripes on sailors’ collars were wavy. The government, however, did little to organize the RNCVR and once WW1 broke out, did nothing on the grounds that any trained men who could be used as instructors would be urgently needed elsewhere. Local initiative led to the creation of a half company in Victoria and a full company in Vancouver. During WW1 8,000 officers and ratings joined the RNCVR for service at home or overseas, including those in the Overseas Division. The RNCVR crewed 160 vessels, mainly patrol vessels protecting the shores around Canada and convoy escort duty.
14 May 1917 Lieutenant (RN) R. Leckie (eventual Chief of Air Staff of the RCAF), but at the time was Royal Naval Air Service, flying a Curtiss H-12 flying boat shoots down the German Zeppelin L.22 over England.
15 May 1940 HMCS Prince Henry (ex-North Star, ex-Prince Henry) purchased from Clarke Steamship Company for $606,740, and preparations were begun to convert her to an Armed Merchant Cruiser (AMC). The Washington and London Naval Treaties placed limits on the number of cruisers that could be built by the participating nations. Canada was governed by the limits placed on the Royal Navy. An important role of heavy cruisers was service on distant stations and as the ‘patrolman on the beat,’ keeping watch over the trade routes of the world. By late ’42 to early ’43, the AMC’s were being withdrawn from escort service and converted to troopships, a vastly less costly and complicated process as well as a more important role.
15 May 1941 Ten corvettes in UK shipyards are formally commissioned as RCN ships. HMC Ships; Trillium, Arrowhead, Mayflower, Fennel, Spikenard, Hepatica, Quesnel, Snowberry, Bittersweet, and Windflower. The transfers were part of an exchange that eventually never happened, but Canada retained the ships.
16 May 1945 HMCS Matane is sent to escort 14 surrendered U-Boats from Trondheim to Loch Eriboll.
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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