NAC News – Edition 623 (Matsqui)
Your weekly national and international naval news for the week of June 27, 2025
Edition: 623 Naval Radio Station Matsqui Quote: “Through the National Shipbuilding Strategy, we’re building Canada’s fleet of the future while revitalizing our marine industry, creating skilled jobs and fostering innovation. The Arctic and offshore patrol ships and River-class destroyers are generating economic growth in Atlantic Canada and across the country. These highly versatile vessels will ensure that the Royal Canadian Navy and the Canadian Coast Guard have the operational readiness to carry out their important work.” The Honourable Joël Lightbound, Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement 26 June 2025 (Editor – This year marks the 15th anniversary of the NSS)
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
NEW This is the last days that our Executive Director Kevin Goheen will be at his desk as he is leaving the organization as of 30 June. On behalf of the NAC membership, we thank Kevin for his time at the helm and his efforts helping move the NAC forward. BZ and good luck in your future endeavours. Efforts are underway to determine who his replacement will be, in the interim the executivedirector@navalassoc.ca emails will be monitored should members need assistance.
NEW Editor – Self-congratulatory, this edition marks my 400th edition of NAC News. J Please keep pointing out pertinent articles for inclusion in the weekly editions!)
NEW The Royal Canadian Legion asked NAC (and others) to share their “OurCare Survey” with the NAC membership. You can find the link to their 2025 OurCare National Survey here. The survey is designed to inform policy makers and provincial healthcare systems to address the primary care needs of CAF Veterans and RCMP officers, as they are an under-represented population within Canada’s primary care system. The survey takes 10-15 minutes and is available on-line until 9 July 2025.
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.
21–22 October 2025 ABCMI’s Business Opportunities Conference & Trade Show at the Vancouver Convention Centre, this flagship event brings together leading companies from across Canada in the marine and defence sectors. Tickets are selling quickly; exhibit spaces are sold out, and the discounted hotel room block is almost full.
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THIS WEEK’S SIGNIFICANT ARTICLES
Why Mark Carney Is Talking like It’s 1939
US Uses B-2 Bombers and Deception in Iran Air Strikes (Editor – great summary in a 5:08 min video)
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CANADA
NATO’s 5% benchmark would cost Canada $150B a year, Carney says
Canada opens the door to deeper European defence and security partnership and EU and CANADA Sign $1.2 T Defence Deal, Ahead of NATO Summit: Breaking the American Defence Tie? (Editor – 8:53 min video)
The nine Nato countries that missed their defence spending targets and the definition of what is counted Defence expenditures and NATO’s 2% guideline
Seaspan Victoria Shipyards delivers HMCS Calgary back to Royal Canadian Navy (Editor – Seaspan refit summary 4:09 min video)
Le gouvernement du Canada célèbre des étapes importantes de la Stratégie nationale de construction navale à Irving Shipbuilding & Government of Canada celebrates National Shipbuilding Strategy milestones at Irving Shipbuilding
MLI: Polar Power: The Northern Sea Route in Russia’s strategic calculus
La Garde côtière canadienne commence sa saison estivale en Arctique pour 2025 & Canadian Coast Guard begins 2025 Arctic Summer Season
HMCS Charlottetown/NCSM Charlottetown has been awarded the Battle Honour LIBYA, 2011. This prestigious recognition commemorates the ship’s exemplary service during Operation MOBILE in 2011.
Our Navy Today Volume 8 Issue 4 & Actualité de notre Marine Volume 8 Numéro 4
The Canadian Armed Forces announces the creation of the Paramedic and Combat Medic Occupations & Les Forces armées canadiennes annoncent la création des groupes professionnels de professionnels paramédicaux et de personnel médical de combat
More Canadians want to join the military, but current members keep leaving
Series of failures at B.C. dry dock damaged Canada’s most advanced submarine
60 Seconds With Major-General Scott Malcolm, CAF Surgeon General, on mental health (Editor – 1:25 min video) Soixante secondes avec le major-général Scott Malcom, médecin général des FAC, qui aborde la santé mentale
Le gouvernement du Canada investit dans une nouvelle école de navigation au Musée maritime de l’Atlantique & Government of Canada invests in new Boat School at Maritime Museum of the Atlantic
RCN Recruiting portal: Naval Combat Information Operator
LNG Canada Produces First Liquefied Natural Gas For Export
Seaspan carving out domestic market for LNG as fuel for ships in B.C.
Sea Trials begins for CCGS Naalak Nappaaluk, CCG’s new Offshore Oceanographic Science Vessel
INSIDE Our Dive with HMCS Corner Brook – A Canadian Navy Attack Submarine | Go Bold (Editor – great look at a boat and her crew in a 26:38 min video)
Federal transportation minister slams B.C. Ferries deal with Chinese company (Editor – principal conflicts with reality in a 2:27 min video) starting in 2029 B.C. shipyard contracted to build federal vessels but not local ferries (Editor – 2:07 min video)
First named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season forms
CNMT Action Stations Volume 44 Issue 1 Spring 2025
NAC Naval Affairs Naval Tactical Operations Groups (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 23, 2025
Aircraft Carrier USS Gerald R. Ford Leaves Next Week for Deployment
FY 2026 Budget: Navy Wants 6,000 More Sailors, Marine Corps End Strength to Shrink Slightly
U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Healy Departs Seattle for Months-Long Arctic Deployment
Norfolk admiral tapped for Chief of Naval Operations (Editor – 3:12 min video)
U.S. Coast Guard, USS Sampson Conduct Drug Interdiction In Eastern Pacific
The Marines’ Secret Weapon in a Pacific Fight: Lightning Carriers (Editor – quirky but informative 14:50 min video)
US Navy Starts Building 400kW Laser to Fry Drones and Hypersonic Threats
US Navy Seeks Ultra-Large Submarine Drone With Extended Endurance
US Navy to boost Virginia-class submarine production with new $987 million contract
Austal USA: US Navy’s LCS USS Pierre completes sea trials
Sikorsky and CAE bring digital Magnetic Anomaly Detection capability to MH-60R maritime helicopters
Car Carrier Morning Midas Sinks in North Pacific After Three-Week Fire Battle
Russia Says Ready To Supply LNG To Mexico
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INDO-PACIFIC
Why a US aircraft carrier’s voyage to the Middle East is causing ripples around Taiwan
MND: US Military Aid and Arms Sales Mislead Taiwan into Flames of War
Top Chinese general ousted from body that oversees China’s military (Editor – VAdm Miao Hua, senior admiral for the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) navy)
U.K. Aircraft Carrier HMS Prince of Wales Arrives in Singapore
Philippine Offshore Vessels Face Chinese Cutters and Water Cannons at Scarborough Shoal
China’s New Fujian Aircraft Carrier Set to Enable Swarm Attack Capability Creating but a long way to go before PLAN can do this US Navy Super Hornets Launch History’s Largest Airstrike (Editor – 10:13 min video) another key capability ALERT: China Nears Operational Deployment of KJ-600 Carrier-Based Airborne Early Warning Aircraft to Rival U.S. E2D
India to Commission Last Foreign-Built Warship in July
CIMSEC: Why the U.S. Should Support South Korea’s Naval Expansion
Chinese Platforms in the Yellow Sea’s South Korea-China PMZ
Costly blunder: Pakistan Navy’s dependence on faulty Chinese warships endangers maritime security
China Coast Guard operates Z-20 helicopter for first time on its largest patrol vessel Nansha (Editor – Why does the Chinese Z20 helicopter resemble the US-built Blackhawk? 4:111 min video)
China criticises UK warship’s patrol in Taiwan Strait and UK naval ship brushes off Chinese threats—again
Coast Guard Cutter Stratton Arrives in Kagoshima, Leads Joint Operations with Partner Coast Guards (Editor – something new with USCG, JCG, and PCG)
CIMSEC: Exposed Undersea: PLA Navy Officer Reflections on China’s Not-So-Silent Service
Indian Navy: Steel cut for fourth FSS at HSL
Tripoli Arrives in Sasebo, Japan
Australia to reinforce maritime surveillance operations with new HMAS Arafura offshore patrol vessel
Hugh White: why the AUKUS ‘dream’ was never realistic and is likely to die
HD HHI Completes Overhaul of ROK Navy Submarine ROKS Yun Bong-gil
Limited Use of Diego Garcia Reflects its Diminished Value after Handover
UK’s HMS Glasgow is Here—Now It’s Australia’s Turn? (Editor – 3:14 min video)
SK Oceanplant Launches Second FFX Batch-III Frigate ‘ROKS Gyeongbuk’ (Editor – impressive frigate)
CIMSEC: Sea Control 578: Chinese amphibious warfare with Andrew Erickson (Editor – 1:17:26 hr podcast)
Maersk Names First of Six New 17,480 TEU Methanol-Powered Containerships
Australia Targets Russia’s Shadow Fleet with First-Ever Sanctions on 60 Vessels
U.S. Launches First Offshore Mineral Lease Review in 30 Years Near American Samoa
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EUROPE
Ukraine:
Belgium and the Netherlands transfer MCM vessels to Ukraine
Baltic:
Sweden Considers French Defense Frigates to Strengthen Naval Power in Baltic Sea
Drone integration on multipurpose ship BSAM enhances France maritime surveillance in Baltic
Task Force X Baltic and the Future of NATO Maritime Vigilance
Denmark starts first mission with US-made Saildrone Voyager maritime drones to secure Baltic Sea
General:
MLI: Frozen Assets: Russia’s ambitions to exploit the Arctic Ocean seabed
The UK nuclear deterrent: what now? (Editor – very experienced author and strategic points to ponder)
Russian naval ship ‘disguised’ itself while passing through English Channel (Editor – fake AIS number)
Dutch launch operation Orange Shield to keep NATO summit safe
Italian Navy PPA Giovanni delle Bande Nere participated in Polaris 2025
French Navy orders five underwater gliders from Alseamar
Building the Royal Navy’s silent hunter: Type 26 frigate programme update
Britain’s Carrier Crisis: UK’s $2B Carrier Upgrade Plan (Editor – interesting dilemma explained in a 13:17 min video) and background for UK eyes carrier-launched drones to boost strike power
Russian Nuclear Icebreakers Clear Path For First LNG Delivery of the Year to Asia via Arctic with Sanctioned LNG Carrier Approaches Russian Arctic Export Plants Following Nine-Month Freeze while Samsung Cancels Order For Icebreaking Gas Carriers For Russia’s Sanctioned Arctic LNG 2 Project
New contract for Fincantieri: Italian Navy orders two new Multipurpose Combat Ships
U.S. in Talks to Buy 15 Icebreakers from Finland, Trump Says at NATO Summit
thyssenkrupp Marine Systems becomes TKMS – New brand, new claim and new colors
Watch: Sunken British superyacht raised from seabed (Editor – 44 Sec video)
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MIDDLE EAST
Red Sea:
Maersk Suspends Haifa Port Calls as Tensions With Iran Intensify
Houthi’s Response to US Attack “Only a Matter of Time”
General:
US strikes did not destroy Iran nuclear programme, says intelligence assessment while the CIA director says Iran’s nuclear sites ‘severely damaged’
5 U.S. Ballistic Missile Defense Destroyers Now in the Mediterranean Sea while U.S. Navy Used Up Missiles at “Alarming Rate” to Defeat Iranian Strikes (Editor – a significant lesson from recent conflicts is that weapon/systems stockpiles are insufficient, as is the ability of nations to spool up replacement production)
Here’s the role an Ohio-class submarine played in the strikes on Iran
How Did Israel Strike Iran with F-35s Without Mid-Air Refueling? | Modified F-35I Adir (Editor – Israeli invocation in a 3:15 min video)
U.S. Central Command Nominee Cooper Outlines Risk of Strait of Hormuz Closure to Senate Panel and Iran may isolate some of US Navy warships in Persian Gulf — NYT
Greece Tells Ships To Reassess Hormuz Journeys After US Strikes and a refresher What Is The Strait Of Hormuz And Why Is It So Important For Oil?
The Strait That Never Shuts: History and Markets Defy Iran’s Latest Hormuz Threat thus
Oil Sinks After Iran Targets U.S. Base—Not Tankers however Middle East Conflict Drives Spike in War Risk Insurance Costs
Constant GPS Jamming Disrupts Navigation in Strait of Hormuz (Editor – I wonder what the effect is on local air traffic?)
Scammers Try Out “Safe Passage” Extortion Scheme for Strait of Hormuz
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GLOBAL INTERESTS
Ships to the Scrapyard Could Double to 16,000 Vessels over Next Decade
Nigerian Navy Seizes 76 Vessels in Two-Year Crackdown on Oil Theft
Greece Deploys Navy to Monitor Migrant Vessels off Libya
This Is Why No Ultra Large Container Vessels Are Sailing to the U.S (Editor – another quirky but informative 22:26 min video)
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SCUTTLEBUTT
Barents Sea – The Battle that broke the Kriegsmarine (Editor – heroics in a 36:19 min video)
Battle of the Atlantic: The True Story of HX-229 and the Wolfpack (Editor – 6:31 min video)
The Most Mind-Blowing Submarine Discovery of WW2 (Editor – Enigma in a 16:20 min video)
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THIS WEEK IN RCN/MARITIME HISTORY
28 June 1922 The National Defence Act is passed, incorporating the Department of the Naval Service, the Department of Militia and Defence and the Air Board as a new Department of National Defence.
28 June 1977 HMCS Huron (2nd) represents Canada at the Silver Jubilee naval review at Spithead.
28 June 2001 Governor-General Adrienne Clarkson officially dedicates the National Military Cemetery of the Canadian Forces at Beechwood Cemetery, Ottawa.
29 June 1992 HMCS Halifax is commissioned as the first of the new Canadian Patrol Frigates
30 June 1921 HMC Submarines CH-14 and CH-15 are paid off. They were Canadian members of the British “H” class, two of ten built during the First World War at Quincy, Mass. They were presented by the RN to the RCN in Feb 1919, and commissioned at Halifax in Jun 1919. Taken out of service in June 1922 because of budget cuts, CH-14 and CH-15 lay rusting in Halifax’s Northwest Arm alongside the paid off light cruiser HMCS Aurora until 1927, when all three vessels were sold for scrap.
30 June 1941 HMCS Wasaga is commissioned, becoming the first Canadian-built Bangor-class minesweeper.
30 June 1944 A Canso from RCAF Squadron 162 sank U-478 north of the Shetlands.
30 June 1950 The Canadian Parliament supports the government motion to assist the United Nations in its position on the Korean situation.
1 July 1923 The RCN barracks in Halifax, known as HMCS Stadacona, is commissioned.
1 July 1934 Commodore Percy W. Nelles becomes the first Canadian-born and Canadian-trained Chief of the Naval Staff.
1 July 1954 The destroyer HMCS Iroquois sailed for her third and final tour of duty in United Nations Korean operations.
2 July 1931 The first ships built for the RCN, Saguenay and Skeena, complete their maiden voyage to Halifax.
2 July 1944 Canadian MTB 460 (Canadian Motor Torpedo Boat) struck a mine in the English Channel. The commanding officer and 10 men of a crew of 17 were lost.
2 July 1940 861 German and Italian prisoners of war are rescued by HMCS St. Laurent after their transport ship was torpedoed on its way to Canada.
3 July 1944 Four Canadian motor torpedo boats sink two German merchant ships and damage other vessels in the English Channel.
3 July 1970 HMCS Bonaventure was decommissioned at Halifax and sold for disposal. The vessel was purchased by Tung Chen S Steel Company of Taiwan for scrap and broken up in 1971. Components from Bonaventure’s steam catapult were used to rebuild the catapult aboard Australian aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne, another Majestic-class carrier. One anchor is preserved at Point Pleasant Park in Halifax as the Bonaventure Anchor Memorial. The monument was dedicated in 1973 initially to aircrew lost at sea, but later to all naval personnel who died in service. While Bonaventure was being decommissioned, the aviation fuel tanks were emptied and cleaned, but one of the tanks did not vent properly; two sailors were overcome by the fumes and another two lost their lives during the rescue attempt. The monument consists of the anchor and chains, along with a small chain running from the monument into the water to make the connection between monument and the sea. The anchor faces the mouth of the harbour. The names of navy and air force personnel who died during peacetime are etched into plaques beside the anchor. Her starboard anchor, donated by Maritime Command on 6 May 1998, is on display at Royal Military College Saint-Jean. Her two saluting guns are mounted at HMCS Discovery in Vancouver’s Stanley Park. The ship’s bell is preserved at the Shearwater Aviation Museum in Dartmouth, which also hosts a large model and exhibit about the carrier.
4 July 1943 Canadian vessels of the 29th and 65th Motor Torpedo Boat Flotillas conduct raids on the French coast near Cherbourg.
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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