NAC News – Edition 620 (Stadacona/RCN Barracks Halifax)
Your weekly national and international naval news for the week of June 6, 2025
Edition: 620 HMCS Stadacona/RCN Barracks Halifax Quote: “Over the eight years of war from 1793 to 1801, the Royal Navy would capture or destroy 361 French warships, plus more than 200 belonging to other enemy nations. It would also take or destroy 796 French private men of war and more than a hundred belonging to the Spanish and Dutch – a total of more than 1,500 warships, mostly captured.” The Frigate Surprise, Brian Lavery and Geoff O’Brien, W.W. Norton & Company, New York London. 2008.
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
The Memory Project (Editor – The Memory Project is a volunteer speakers bureau that arranges for veterans and Canadian Armed Forces members to share their stories of military service at school and community events across the country. This is such a natural fit for our membership and the goals of NAC. Please Become a Speaker)
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.
21 June 2025 Noon Ottawa time. NAC AGM is the 2025 AGM webpage (Editor – info is good, but the documents at this site haven’t been populated yet).
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
The time when foreign invasions were impossible is over, former diplomats tell defence conference and Russia may attack Nato in next four years, German defence chief warns
Nato leaders discuss defence spending at summit | BBC News (Editor – 3:49 min BBC Video)
Marc Garneau, 1st Canadian astronaut in space, dead at 76 and Marc Garneau died after ‘short but very difficult battle’ with cancer, former staffer says (Editor – a terrific naval engineering officer who accomplished much…BZ for a life well lived)
L’ancien astronaute et ministre Marc Garneau rend l’âme à 76 ans
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CANADA
German, Norwegian officials urge Canada to join ‘familiar family’ in buying new submarines and Royal Canadian Navy get an offer for acquisition of 212CD class submarines from tkMS (Editor – 2:07 min video)
Le NCSM William Hall saisit des stupéfiants illicites dans la mer des Caraïbes & HMCS William Hall contributes to significant seizure of illegal narcotics on Operation CARIBBE
Journey beyond the Antarctic Circle | CBC in Antarctica (Editor – excellent CBC article while aboard HMCS Margaret Brooke in a 45:53 min video)
La première expédition canadienne en Antarctique de retour à Halifax
Canada orders MT30 gas turbines for primary propulsion on Canada’s new River-class destroyers (Editor – 1:47 min video)
Why Canadian military’s Cyclone helicopters were grounded for 27 days in May
Seaspan Returns HMCS Calgary to Royal Canadian Navy After Docking Work Period
How they’re building new parts for old ships (Editor – follow on CBC article 1:56 min video)
Ceremony marks 25th anniversary of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Navy Bike Ride is Back Raising Funds to Help CAF Personnel, Veterans and Families
B.C. government approves new LNG pipeline with terminus near Prince Rupert
Canadian technology could be used to mine the deep seas, but there’s growing alarm over the risks
Rare black iceberg spotted off Labrador coast has social media buzzing
The power of pensions (Editor – helpful perspective!)
VAC – Salute May 2025 & Salut! Mai 2025
The Nautical Institutes – The Navigator June 2025 Watching out for whales
Lookout – 2 June 2025 Volume 70 Number 11 (English) (Française)
Trident – 2 June 2025 Volume 59, Issue 11 (Bilingue)
NAC Naval Affairs (Editor – This is topical with HMCS William Hall deployed for Op Caribe) The RCN and Counter-Narcotics Operations (Editor – given the Baltic situation a hot topic of interest) (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: June 2, 2025
Navy Deploys Destroyer USS Sampson to NORTHCOM
US Navy To Field ‘Game-Changer’ Anti-Ship Tomahawk By September
U.S. Coast Guard’s New Arctic Icebreaker USCGC Storis Sets Sail on Maiden Voyage
Inside the World’s Most Advanced Radar Factory (Editor – 12:20 min video) and US Navy awards RTX’s Raytheon follow-on contract for continued support of SPY-6 radars
USS Delaware submarine launch and recovery of Yellow Moray
US Navy awards contract to dismantle USS Enterprise
SECNAV Tasked to Rename USNS Harvey Milk; Report Says Other Ship Renamings Under Consideration (Editor – how absurd)
Pentagon Weapons Testing Office Budget to be Cut by 80%, Staff Reduced
Panama Defends Its Ship Registry Amid Accusations of Aiding Iran’s Sanctions Evasion and Panama Claims 650 Ships Removed from Registry Over Sanctions
Port of Corpus Christi reaches ‘key’ channel expansion project milestone
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INDO-PACIFIC
Australia asks China to explain ‘extraordinary’ military build-up
SHANGRI-LA: U.S. ‘Will Not be Pushed Out of This Critical Region,’ Says SECDEF
Chinese forces patrol Scarborough Shoal in South China Sea to ‘defend sovereignty’ and Chinese Carrier Strike Group Sails East of the Philippines in Deployment Record
USS Tripoli Enroute to New Japanese Homeport
Chief of Navy 2025 Essay Competition opens (Editor – for NAC members so inclined to enter this Australian competition!)
North Korea Pulls Capsized Warship Upright After Botched Launch, Report Says
Japan Exhibits Design for Kongō, Murasame Destroyer Replacements
India’s defence shipyards ready to speed up submarine construction
Australia to Give Maldives New Patrol Boat to Tackle Maritime Crimes (Editor – what a great way to establish and cement relationships)
India, EU set to carry out joint naval exercise in Indian Ocean
Hanwha Ocean KSS III Batch 2 and Future Submarine at MADEX 2025 (Editor – Canada mentioned in a 5:10 min video)
LIG Nex1 New Combat USV and Suicide USV at MADEX 2025 (Editor – 5:30 min video)
Southeast Asia Joins Europe’s Calls To Defend Subsea Cables
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EUROPE
Ukraine:
To attack Russian air bases, Ukrainian spies hid drones in wooden sheds
Russia’s Northern Fleet Not Targeted by Massive Ukrainian Drone Attack Contrary to Initial Reports
Ukraine Launches Underwater Attack on Russia’s Kerch Strait Bridge
The Booming China-Russia Drone Alliance
Ukraine Needs 500 Million Euros To Rebuild Critical Port Facilities Damaged By Russia
CIMSEC: Small craft, big impact: Ukraine’s naval war and the rise of new-tech warships
Ukraine to Prosecute Russian Captain for Causing Kerch Oil Spill
Baltic:
Sweden Tightens Controls on Baltic Shipping Targeting Shadow Fleet (Editor – this could prove interesting given the Russian intention to “protect their shipping”)
Baltic Fleet to take part in dozens of exercises during summer period
Poland, Baltic states eye new submarines, attack boats to deter Russia
General:
Finland’s president responds to Russian military activity along border (Editor – plain talk in a 90 sec video)
Michael Clarke analysis: NATO countries’ defence spending compared to the US (Editor – an interesting perspective in a 4:16 min video)
BALTOPS 2025: NATO Warships Gather in Germany 50 Warships Join BALTOPS 2025 in Baltic Sea | AH15 (Editor – 3:52 min video)
Russia’s Northern Fleet contains growing threats from unfriendly nations — Kremlin aide
UK SDR’s ‘NATO First’ Posture Underscores Royal Navy Role in Deterring Russian Threat
UK to build up to 12 new attack submarines and Government commits to building 12 SSN-AUKUS submarines
UK Integrates DragonFire Laser on Type 45 Destroyers at the Core of its Next Generation Air Defence
More than 1,000 migrants cross Channel in a day
Russia launches landing ship ‘Vladimir Andreyev’ at Kaliningrad
Naval Group launches HS Formion, third Greek FDI
Portuguese Navy eyes new submarines from South Korea to modernize coastal patrol capabilities
Royal Navy Monitors Russian Spy Ship Loitering Near NATO Exercise
Swiftsure’s fin removed as retired sub leads Navy’s world-first recycling project
Finland’s Navy Just Got a HUGE Upgrade – Meet the Pohjanmaa-Class! (Editor – 8:12 min video)
British Navy uses Puma drone to guide Merlin helicopter in first joint operation
Russia’s ‘Shadow Fleet’ Loads First LNG in Eight Months Signaling Breakthrough in Search for Buyer
Russian Containership Captain Pleads Not Guilty in Fatal Tanker Collision Off UK Coast
Western Oil Tanker Firms Flock Back to Russia After Price Plunge
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MIDDLE EAST
Red Sea:
HMS Prince of Wales Enters Indian Ocean After Red Sea Transit
Red Sea Shipping Traffic Rises After Houthis Narrowed Targets
General:
EDGE Signs $2.45 Billion Naval Contract with Kuwait Ministry of Defence
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GLOBAL INTERESTS
Ocean Economy Hits $2.2 Trillion as Environmental and Trade Tensions Mount, UNCTAD Reports
India and South Africa wrap up first joint submarine training programme
Extreme Constructions: The Suez Canal | The New Suez Canal (Editor – detailed 51:40 min video)
Inside the World’s Biggest Container Ship Ever Built (Editor – 10:13 min video)
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SCUTTLEBUTT
Soviet Carrier Moskva – A Terribly Unstable Mess
1942 Battle of Dutch Harbor (Editor – intriguing 19:51 min video)
The US concrete battleship : Fort Drum (Editor – 60 sec video)
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THIS WEEK IN RCN/MARITIME HISTORY
7 June 1942 The US merchant ship Coast Trader torpedoed by Japanese Navy submarine I-26 in the Strait of Juan de Fuca inside Canadian waters; the vessel had set off from Port Angeles, Washington, bound for San Francisco with a cargo of 1,250 tons of newsprint in its hold; wreck discovered in 2013 survey by the Canadian Hydrographic Service, organized by Titanic discoverer Robert Ballard, using a remote-controlled robotic submarine; the same Japanese submarine will shell the Estevan Point lighthouse a few days later.
7 June 1944 Escort Group 11, including HMCS Ottawa with CO Cdr James D. Prentice, DSO, RCN, and Kootenay with CO A/LCdr William H. Willson, RCN sink U-678 after a 13-hour hunt.
7 June 1958 HMCS Restigouche is commissioned as the first of a class of destroyer escorts meant to replace the St. Laurent class.
7 June 1965 Department of National Defence replaces navy, army, and air force commands with six functional commands: Maritime, Mobile, Air Defence, Air Transport, Materiel, and Training. Naval shore establishments, army camps and air force stations became either Canadian Forces Bases or Canadian Forces Stations, depending on size. Navy, army, and air force headquarters were moved from Ottawa and established respectively in Halifax, Montreal (St-Hubert) and Winnipeg. The umbrella name for the new organization was the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). It later became the Canadian Forces (CF) before reverting to the CAF in 2013. By 2014, many of Hellyer’s changes had been reversed. The three services are once again known as the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army, and Royal Canadian Air Force, and its members wear distinct service uniforms; former rank names and designators for the army and navy have also been reinstituted.
8 June 1893 Steamship Mower arrives in Victoria B.C. from Sydney, Australia: first steamer of the Canadian Australian Line.
8 June 1944 RCAF Flying Officer Kenneth Owen (K.O.) Moore and his crew of 9 flying a B-25 Liberator of RAF Squadron 224 from St. Eval, Cornwall, England while patrolling after the D-Day landing in the English Channel depth-charged and sank U629, then went on to sink 10 minutes later in a similar attack U373. His concise report of the attacks “Sighted two subs, sank same” became famous.
9 June 1789 Spanish captain Estebán José Martínez captures trader John Meares’ schooner Northwest America in Nootka Sound near Vancouver Island.
9 June 1944 HMCS Haida commanded by Cdr Harry G. DeWolf, DSO, RCN, HMCS Huron commanded by LCdr Herbert S. Rayner, DSC, RCN, and other destroyers from the 10th Destroyer Flotilla sank the German destroyers ZH1 and Z32 in the English Channel.
10 June 1803 Warship HMS Dart carries the so-called Garrison clock (“old town clock”) to Halifax, N.S.; ordered by Prince Edward, it will be installed October 20 in a building built for it on the eastern slope of Citadel Hill.
10 June 1878 Fort Rodd Hill built to protect Esquimalt in the event of a war with Russia.
10 June 1910 Rear-Admiral Charles E. Kingsmill, RN (Retired), is appointed the Director of the Naval Service.
10 June 1931 HMCS Skeena commissioned at Portsmouth-one of the first ships built for the RCN.
10 June 1940 The Canadian government declares war on Italy. The Italian owned S.S. Capo Noli, with Canada now at war with Italy, was trying to escape down the St. Lawrence river below Rimouski, pursued by the slower HMCS Bras d’Or (Lt. C S Hornsby, RCNR). She was sighted by Fl.Lt. Leonard J. Birchall (later Air Commodore) in his Stranraer, who threatened to bomb her. Her Master then ran her ashore and set fire to his ship. Shortly Bras d’Or caught up, told the crew to re-board & put out the fire and took command. Re-named Bic Island, the ship was later sunk in the Atlantic by U-224 on 28 Oct 1942.
11 June 1813 Nova Scotia privateering vessel, Liverpool Packet, owned by Enos Collins and associates, is captured by American privateer schooner Thomas; the schooner is re-named the Portsmouth Packet, until it is regained by HMS Fantome and HMS Epervier after a 13-hour chase, in October 1813.
11 June 1940 While evacuating personnel from le Havre, France, destroyers HMCS St. Laurent and Restigouche engage German artillery and fire the first shots of the war by Canadian warships.
11 June 1944 A Canso from RCAF Squadron 162 sank U-980 southwest of Norway.
11 June 1944 HMCS Sioux commanded by A/LCdr Eric E.G. Boak, RCN with Polish destroyers sank (schnellboot) S-136 off Normandy.
11 June 1999 The United Nations contribution to the International Force in East Timor (INTERFET) and the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) was a peacekeeping mission. It included 600 Canadians consisting of HMCS Protecteur with a Sea King helicopter, including construction engineers, an infantry company of the Royal 22e Régiment, and a tactical airlift detachment of 100 Air Force personnel and two CC-130 Hercules aircraft from 8 Wing Trenton to support the mission in East Timor. During the follow-on phase, Canada contributed staff officers who worked at UNTAET Headquarters in Dili, East Timor. Operation Toucan helped organize elections, support the new government, and re-established the rule of law.
13 June 1941 Newfoundland’s sea defences are brought under Canadian control with the appointment of Commodore L.W. Murray, RCN, as the commander of Newfoundland Force.
13 June 1944 A Canso from RCAF Squadron 162 sank U-715 east of the Faroes.
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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