NAC News – Edition 636 HMCS Chatham
Your weekly national and international naval news for the week of September 26, 2025
Edition 636 HMCS Chatham Quote: “Many of the people who are manning the boats are low-level traffickers, low-level mules. They are dispensable. They risk their lives anyways. They face a variety of threats, and there are tens of thousands of them available. So it’s hard to see how actions around Venezuela could produce deterrence effects to reduce the flow of drugs into the United States.” 17 September 2025. Vanda Felbab-Brown, NPR
Rod Hughes: Editor NAC News rhughes@shaw.ca (Comments welcome to help improve this service.) The content of this bulletin includes articles from entities not subject to the Official Languages Act. Consequently, these articles may be provided by the institution in only one official language, including the links, and we do not have the copyright to modify or translate them. Links to keep in touch with the NAC and RCN can be found at the bottom of this email. Contact naccoordinator@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)
NOTICES
RECEPTION added. 29 September 2025 HMCS Whitehorse, Saskatoon, and Brandon will be paid off at B Jetty, HMC Dockyard Esquimalt. A reception will follow at the wardroom. RSVP to MARPACevents@forces.gc.ca Dress Military 1A(Medals)/Civilian Business attire. Guests are asked to park at the Canteen Rd parking lot. A shuttle bus will begin transporting guests to the ceremony starting at 1000. That evening a NRAC gathering (everyone welcome) Naden C&PO’s mess 1900 – 2200.
RECEPTION added. 3 October 2025 HMC Ships Kingston, Glace Bay, Goose Bay, Shawinigan, and Summerside will be paid off at Jetty NB, HMC Dockyard Halifax. A reception will be held at HMCS Scotian. Registration is required at: MARLANTSOVP@FORCES.GC.CA Dress Military 1A(Medals)/Civilian Business attire. 1300 Entry through HMCS Scotian for pre-ceremony tea/coffee, with guests to proceed to NB Jetty to be seated by 1345. Guests are asked to park in the Dockyard parking lot Zone located at the southern end of the lot accessible via the Barrington St Roundabout. That evening a NRAC gathering (everyone welcome) Stadacona C&PO’s mess from 1900 – 2200.
15 October 2025 (8:00 – 2:15 Halifax time) Chief Heads of Navy – Alliances and Partnerships in Shifting Geopolitical Landscapes, to be held at Saint Mary’s University, Halifax, Loyola Academic Complex 290. The Canadian Maritime Security Network is pleased to partner with the RCN to welcome the Chief of Heads of Navy of Germany, New Zealand, Norway, and Pakistan to Saint Mary’s University for a public event. VAdm Angus Topshee will provide a Keynote followed by two panels of the Chiefs of Heads of Navy. This event will focus on the challenges posed by rapidly shifting geopolitics and the growing importance of strengthening global partnerships. For more information email: rdean@stfx.ca
NEW 16 October 2025 CDAI: National Marine Workforce Development Conference (9:00-17:00 local) at the George Brown Waterfront Campus in Toronto, ON. The Conference will be followed by a reception aboard the HMCS Margaret Brooke which will be docked at Sugar Beach. The National Marine Workforce Development Conference is designed to address the critical workforce shortage in Canada’s marine sector. Through a dynamic format that includes plenary sessions, interactive breakout discussions, and networking opportunities, participants will have the chance to actively engage with leaders from government, industry, and education.
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. See the website for our draft Programme and list of Exhibitors. Tickets are selling quickly; exhibit spaces are sold out.
4 November 2025 7.30 – 18.30 Ottawa time Deep Blue Forum 6th Annual Conference. Theme: The Future of the Submarine Enterprise – People Harnessing Technology, in a System of Systems. The National Arts Centre, 1 Elgin Street, Ottawa Today is the last day that the Super Early Bird Registration is Open! Contact The ticket discount code for NAC members is DB25_NAC Keynote Speaker, Paula Folkes – Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Defence and Marine Procurement.
NEW 25 November 2025 CMSN: Northern Maritime Security – Threats In, To, and Through the Arctic and North Atlantic. Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa. Conference program coming soon
24 February 2026 ShipTech Forum 2026, The National Arts Centre, Ottawa.
1 Elgin Street, Ottawa, ON K1P 5W1 (Editor – NAC helps sponsor this event)
15 May 2026 HMCS Sackville – Re-commissioning. Details to follow!
THIS WEEK’S SIGNIFICANT ARTICLES
Navy commander says he wants a ‘Canadian from the core’ corvette fleet (Editor – background The Evolution and Need for the Continental Defence Corvette and Why a Dedicated MCM Vessel Still Matters)
CANADA
Dialogue and Diplomacy in a Dangerous World
Canadian ships join major Baltic exercise with SNMCMG1
Le Navire canadien de Sa Majesté Frédérick Rolette établit un lien avec Nunavik &
His Majesty’s Canadian Ship Frédérick Rolette connects with Nunavik
Two Salvage Vessels Arrive in Canadian Arctic to Begin Refloating of Grounded ‘Thamesborg’
Transport Canada reduced to on-call Arctic surveillance this summer, documents show
Splitting Canada’s submarine fleet could endanger procurement project, experts warn prudently Canada won’t split its submarine contract between suppliers: Carney and the CP 1:27 min video Canada won’t split submarine contract: Carney)
Hanwha Ocean’s KSS III shortlisted for Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP) (Editor – good summary in a 3:31 mi video)
Trident Fury 2025: Canada’s Largest West Coast Naval Exercise. Ever. (Editor – RCN 1:51 min video)
Canada’s $8.7B defence spend: Who’s getting in line (Editor – CBC 12:14 min video)
Royal Canadian Navy Announces 2025 Senior Command and Leadership Appointments
A Discussion with the Chief of Military Personnel (Editor – CGAI 43:10 min podcast)
Royal Canadian Navy to Pay Off Eight Kingston-Class Ships This Fall (Editor – ceremonies above in Notices section)
CMSN: Canadian Arctic Maritime Infrastructure Assessment (Editor – useful comprehensive report)
Irving Shipbuilding Announces new contract for Quebec’s Shipbuilding Industry (Editor – 1:08 min video)
New Outfitting Pier Bolsters Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy
Freeland called back to testify on BC Ferries’ deal with Chinese shipyard
Heroes Among Us: Minesweeper’s ‘submarine detector’ kept watch for U-boats
How plastic fishing gear waste is being recycled into patio furniture — for now
Royal Canadian Navy Association: The Yardarm Fall 2025
NRAC/ARNC: September 2025 Edition (English) & (Française)
Lookout: 22 September 2025, Volume 70, Issue 19 (English) & (Française)
Trident: 22 September 2025. Volume 59, Issue 19 (Bilingue) (Editor – article – “Naval Museum hosts veterans to mark 35 years since Gulf War deployment”)
NAC Naval Affairs: Bibliographies – Broad Surveys on Canadian Naval History
(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)
USA & AMERICA
USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker: Sept. 22, 2025
Trump says U.S. has launched 3rd fatal strike in a month on alleged drug smuggling boat then White House Releases Video of Third Caribbean Boat Strike and for perspective The Use of Deadly Force Against Drug Smuggling Vessels: A Legal Analysis to stir the pot Colombia’s president calls US attacks on alleged drug boats ‘act of tyranny’
U.S. Adds Destroyer to Caribbean Sea, 8 Surface Warships in Region with Shadowy Special Operations Ship Spotted off Venezuela (Editor – MV Ocean Trader and The Ultimate Stealth Ship…Why Don’t We Have More of Them? a 13:48 min video)
Navy DDG(X) Next-Generation Destroyer Program: Background and Issues for Congress
USS America Returns to San Diego this Week
US Navy tests four Trident II D5 missiles from Ohio-class sub off Florida coast
The U.S. Navy’s Ohio-Class SSGN Submarines Summed Up In 1 Word (Editor – it looks like a reprieve as “two SSGNs spared fiscal year 2026 decommissionings”)
Navy Determines Planned Ship Inactivations for Fiscal 2026
Nuclear-Armed Sea-Launched Cruise Missile (SLCMN)
The Most Powerful and Deadliest Weapons on U.S. Aircraft Carrier Right Now (Editor – 14:08 min video)
US naval tech firm rolls out new MASC USVs
CIMSEC essay topics: Sir, Be Radical
Sink the Kill Chain: A Navy Space Guide to Protecting Ships and Sailors
Accelerate Human-Machine Teaming in the Maritime Operations Center
Change the Navy’s Narrative: The Future Fight and the Hybrid Fleet
Train to Win Below the Threshold of War
We are at Risk of Forgetting the Lessons of the 2017 Collisions
USS St. Louis littoral combat ship makes U.S. Navy history with first engine repair at sea
Panama Canal Launches Major Natural Gas Pipeline Project to Bypass Drought-Stricken Waterway and Panama Canal Opens ‘NetZero’ Transit Slot for Green Ships
Sun, sea and trash: The Caribbean islands struggling with managing waste
INDO-PACIFIC
Indian Navy accelerates indigenous shipbuilding with 54 vessels under construction however India’s Aircraft Carrier Plan hit by US technical delays: US Betraying Indian Navy?
Russian Nuclear Ballistic Missile Sub Spotted Near Japan for the First Time
British carrier stands up to Beijing in South China Sea
China may soon reach far into the Pacific with many uncrewed bombers
J-15T, J-35, KJ-600 aircraft complete electromagnetic catapult-assisted takeoffs, landings on China’s carrier Fujian; event a milestone in PLA Navy’s transformation and construction plus Chinese and foreign netizens hail aircraft carrier Fujian’s electromagnetic launch tech, marvel at China’s defense capabilities (Editor – had to look this up, “The term “netizen” is a portmanteau of the English words internet and citizen, as in a “citizen of the net” or “net citizen.” It describes a person actively involved in online communities or the Internet in general.”) and New GJ-11 variant may signal China’s first shipborne stealth combat drone
Confronting a China-Russia alliance
Carrier HMS Prince of Wales is Back in Singapore as Return Journey Begins
United Kingdom’s HMS Richmond completes Japan patrol enforcing UN sanctions on North Korea
India Powers Next-Gen Nuclear Submarines with 200-MWe Reactors
China Moves Two Super-Sized ‘XXL’ Uncrewed Submarines To South China Sea
Indonesia approves $450 million loan to acquire ex-Italian aircraft carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi
USS John L. Canley (ESB 6) arrives in Koror, Palau, Sept. 22, during Pacific Partnership 2025
China to deliver 2,500-ton diesel-electric submarine to US’ oldest ally in Asia
U.S. Navy Wants to Open Subic Bay Storage Facility in the Philippines
CSIS: China Still Dominates Ship Orders Despite U.S. Port Fee Push
ONE Innovation Sets New Container Loading Record in Singapore
Construction of the Largest Container Ship Ever Built | Mega Projects | FD Engineering (Editor – 50:58 min video. If you didn’t see this 19:26 min video in last week’s edition it is worth a look Why Only Three Countries Bother Building Ships Anymore)
EUROPE
Black Sea:
Russia will expand aggression beyond Ukraine if not stopped, Zelensky warns
Ukraine Strikes Russian Targets in Multiple Black Sea Ports (Editor – embedded drone video is impressive) and Two Dead in Ukrainian Drone Strike on Novorossiisk Port
EU’s 19th sanctions wave targets Russia’s energy lifelines: LNG ban, oil cap cut, and step-up in shadow fleet purge and US Lawmakers Want Sanctions to Sink Russia’s ‘Shadow Fleet’
Trump Pushes Turkey on Russian oil, Hints at Lifting Sanctions
Baltic:
Putin playing ‘chicken’ in Eastern Europe, says Russian military expert with Russian Warship Was Loitering Off Denmark During Drone Attacks and Putin is poking NATO with drones and jets. The military alliance is still sorting out its response
In pictures: Royal Navy patrol craft joins Latvian allies to safeguard Baltic waters
General:
Finland’s President Delivers Most Inspiring, Powerful UN Speech Yet on Multipolar World Order | AC1G (Editor – sage words in a 20:14 min video)
Carrier USS Gerald R. Ford Joins NATO’s Neptune Strike in High North
Blog—Arctic Security Conference: “We are already at war in the Arctic”
Ukraine navy, a battle-tested force, plays enemy in NATO drone drill
Moscow pushing Arctic shipping towards disaster?
Italy Deploys Navy Vessel After Drone Attack on Gaza Aid Flotilla
The Royal Navy’s Russian watcher – HMS Iron Duke deployed again
Sabotage at sea | How NATO protects critical undersea infrastructure (Editor – NATO 6:53 min video)
NATO Exercise NEPTUNE STRIKE 25-3 Underway
Type 26 Frigate program update at DSEI UK 2025 (Editor – 4:25 min video)
His Majesty the King marks significant landmarks in Royal Navy submarine construction plus Royal Navy: HMS Agamemnon commissioned, work begins on HMS King George VI
BAE Systems Herne XLUUV at DSEI UK 2025 (Editor – 3:57 min video. Canadian Cellula Robotics is a partner)
France’s first FDI frigate reaches homeport in Brest
India-Greece bilateral Maritime Exercise marks milestone in defence cooperation
NATO picks Saab-led consortium for new underwater battlespace project
Germany to buy anti-torpedo torpedo in 2026, leaked document shows
MIDDLE EAST
Red Sea:
Cruise Ship Transits the Suez Canal Bound for Saudi Arabia
General:
Last U.S. Avenger Mine Countermeasure Ship in Middle East Decommissions
Royal Navy considering deploying OPV to Middle East with Peregrine RWUAS flight
GLOBAL INTERESTS
Global agreement to protect the oceans set to take effect after 60th ratification
Oceans dangerously acidic from carbon emissions, report warns
Report: $48 Billion in LNG Carrier Investments at Risk as Fleet Expansion Outpaces Demand
The 107 Year Salvage of Shackleton’s Endurance (Editor – 26:05 min video)
SCUTTLEBUTT
The World’s Most Powerful Canals (You’ve Never Heard Of) (Editor – 21:21 min video)
ULTRA – WW2’s Greatest Secret: Battle of the Atlantic (Editor – spot the Canadian content in a 26:35 min video)
IJN Zipang (NB) – Guide 458 (Editor – this would have been an extraordinary ship explained in a 7:45 min video)
THIS WEEK IN RCN/MARITIME HISTORY
27 September 1854 Steamship Arctic sank off Cape Race, Newfoundland with 300 people on board after colliding with the 250-ton French iron propeller ship S.S. Vesta; the 3,000-ton side-wheeler was the largest and most splendid ship of the Collins Line (United States Mail Steamship Company) in competition with Samuel Cunard’s Royal Mail Steam Packet Company; casualties include 92 of her 153 officers and men, and all the women and children on board, including the wife, the only daughter, and the youngest son of shipowner E. K. Collins; first great disaster involving an Atlantic Ocean liner.
27 September 1954 HMCS Labrador arrives in Esquimalt via the Artic. She was the first naval ship and the first deep draught vessel of any kind to traverse the North-West Passage.
27 September 1994 US Navy closes Argentia a US base best known for its SOSUS/IUSS station, but as a base it had many other functions over the years. It was the last US military base in Canada. Established under the British-US destroyers for bases agreement of 1940, the base was first occupied on 25 January 1941.
29 September 1940 USS Mackenzie (DD-175), commissioned as HMCS Annapolis (I-04), and USS Williams (DD-108), commissioned as HMCS St Clair (I-65), part of the destroyers-for-bases deal.
30 September 1994 Halifax-class frigate HMCS Regina is commissioned in Saint John, New Brunswick.
1 October 1910 Captain E.H. Martin, RN (Retd.), is appointed Officer-in-Charge, Halifax.
2 October 1952 A tunnel near Songjin on the main rail line carrying war supplies from Russia to North Korea was frequently shelled and under constant repair. It was the target for about two hours as HMCS Iroquois worked to keep repair crews from bringing the line back into operation. During a lull, Iroquois was hit in “B” gun turret by shore artillery batteries. LCdr John Quinn was killed, as were AB’s Elburne Baikie and Wally Burden. They are interred in Yokohama War Cemetery in Japan. PO’s Emilien Fortin, Gerald Jamieson, and Edward Moslin, plus AB’s Adam Aimee, Waldo Berggrenn, Gilbert Dynna, Joseph Gaudet, Edwin Jodoin, Eugene Riley, and Walter Wrigley were seriously wounded or suffered splinter wounds. These were only battle casualties suffered by the RCN during the Korean conflict; however, it should be mentioned that five other sailors were lost at sea during the War.
3 October 1914 The First Canadian Expeditionary Force, numbering 30,000+, sailed from Quebec to join the war efforts in Europe. The convoy consisted of 32 merchant ships in three columns labelled X,Y, and Z. The ships embarked and carried: 1,547 officers, 29,070 men, 7,679 horses, 70 guns, 110 motor vehicles, 705 horsed vehicles, and 82 bicycles. The convoy escorts generally maintained the formation of: HMS Majestic in the lead (Majestic class pre-dreadnought); HMS Eclipse and Diana both old cruisers (both Eclipse Class), and Charybdis an old cruiser (Astraea Class) leading each column; HMS Princess Royal on the port wing (Lion class battlecruiser); HMS Glory on the starboard wing (Canopus class pre-dreadnought); and HMS Talbot bringing up the rear another old cruiser (Eclipse Class). The force began to disembark 14 Oct at Plymouth England.
Significant RCN Dates – If you notice any omissions or errors please inform me, and pointing out any more modern significant dates is encouraged. 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)
KEEP IN TOUCH WITH THE NAC
If you are receiving NAC News, consider friends joining NAC – Membership and Renewal plus NAC Naval Affairs Papers, Briefing Notes, Niobe Papers, and much more.
Should you wish to donate or leave a memorial, consider donating to the NAC, its Branches (NAC member Login required) or the NAC Endowment Fund. Donations to the Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Education Foundation should be made through its website.
NAC reference to assist veterans and/or seniors is located at Veteran’s Corner
KEEP IN TOUCH WITH THE RCN
Facebook – RoyalCanadianNavy | MarineRoyaleCanadienne;
Twitter – @RoyalCanNavy | @MarineRoyaleCan;
LinkedIn – RoyalCanadianNavy-MarineRoyaleCanadienne
Instagram – RoyalCanNavy | MarineRoyaleCan;
Flickr – RoyalCanadianNavy-MarineRoyaleCanadienne
YouTube – RoyalCanadianNavy | MarineRoyaleCanadienne
Vimeo – RoyalCanadianNavy-MarineRoyaleCanadienne
|
You are receiving this email because you are associated with NAC and have been receiving NAC News. If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe by emailing the publisher: naccoordinator@navalassoc.ca
Copyright © 2025 Naval Association of Canada, all rights reserved.