NAC News – Edition 640 HMCS Donnacona
Your weekly national and international naval news for the week of October 24, 2025
Edition 640 HMCS Donnacona (Editor – love the R.C.N.V.R. hockey jerseys!)
Quote: “Transcript of an address by General Cosgrove, which in part said, “Another military blinding glimpse of the obvious is the utility of sea power in the East Timor operation. The persuasive, intimidatory or deterrent nature of major warships was not to me as the combined joint force commander an incidental, nice to have “add-on” but an important indicator of national and international resolve and most reassuring to all of us who relied on sea lifelines. It was a classic case of the “presence” pillar of sea power. A further obvious point was the high value, indeed crucial nature of amphibious and military sealift operations. So typically of the region the airfields and land lines of communication in East Timor were tenuous and we relied very heavily on surface LOTS (logistics over the shore) and helicopter capable ships to keep supplies and people moving. We surrounded East Timor with floating warehouses, gas stations, airports and docks and motels. It would have been a real struggle to maintain tempo and achieve sustainment ashore, without our afloat logistic capability.” ANI at 50: East Timor, Commodore Brian Robertson AM RAN (retired), published 18 October 2025. (Editor – full article in the Indo-Pacific section)
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
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.
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. 1 Elgin Street, Ottawa, ON K1P 5W1 (Editor – NAC helps sponsor this event) Super Early Bird Registration is Open!
NEW 13-15 May 2026 NIBC 2026 Conference – Maritime Arctic Victoria Marriott Inner Harbour hotel, Victoria BC. (Editor – NAC-VI helps sponsor this event)
15 May 2026 HMCS Sackville – Re-commissioning. Details to follow!
THIS WEEK’S SIGNIFICANT ARTICLES
Russia, China Finalize Deal to Jointly Develop Arctic Shipping Along the Northern Sea Route
CANADA
Niobe Day – October 21 & Journée du Niobe – le 21 octobre
Editor – This week marks my 8th year and 417th edition as Editor of NAC news. Nice to have Niobe Day and Battle of Trafalgar to help me celebrate this week!
The HMCS Kootenay explosion & L’explosion du NCSM Kootenay (Editor – 23 October 1969)
HMCS St John’s Back With SNMG2 After Prolonged Absence
CANADIAN ARMED FORCES: U.S Military Crimes? (Editor – Esprit de Corps 5:43 min video. Note Tim Addison being quoted)
Canadian Armed Forces Apology for Racial Discrimination and Racial Harassment & Excuses de la part des Forces armées canadiennes aux victimes de discrimination raciale et de harcèlement racial
UVAD Included in MDA Space Solutions for RCN’s ISTAR Program
South Korean firm pushes to replace Canada’s sub fleet ahead of PM’s Asia trip (Editor – 1:52 min video)
Germany, Norway on charm offensive in Ottawa as Canada shops for new subs with
German and Norwegian defence ministers say submarine project ‘better if Canada is on board’ (Editor – CTV 12:21 min video)
Seaspan hires Ideal Welders to work on block construction on polar icebreaker
Air force defends bonus pay system as pilots file dozens of grievances, refuse promotions
AG uncovers unsafe drinking water, toilets that don’t work in military housing plus Canadian military falling short on recruitment, housing needs: AG reports next…
MND responds Statement by the Minister of National Defence in response to the Auditor General of Canada’s Report on Recruiting for Canada’s Military & Déclaration du ministre de la Défense nationale en réponse au rapport de la vérificatrice générale du Canada sur le recrutement des Forces armées canadiennes
MND responds Statement by the Minister of National Defence in response to the 2025 Auditor General’s Audit on Housing Canadian Armed Forces Members & Déclaration du ministre de la Défense nationale en réponse à l’audit de la vérificatrice générale de 2025 sur les logements à l’intention du personnel des Forces armées canadiennes
Display at CFB Esquimalt museum illustrates life of navy veteran
DalSolutions: Reinventing repair to keep Canada’s Navy mission ready
HFI Pyrotechnics Wins Five-Year U.S. Navy Contract for Marine Location Markers
2025 National Veterans’ Week Speakers Program – all ages (Editor – CAF 4:08 min video)
Mystery heatwave warms Pacific Ocean to new record
Nearly one million cruise ship passengers docked in Victoria’s harbour this season
Three Indigenous-led marine refuges established in waters off B.C.’s North Coast with Two New Marine Refuges Protect Marine Biodiversity in Haida Gwaii, B.C. & Deux nouveaux refuges marins protègent la biodiversité marine à Haida Gwaii, C.-B.
B.C. politicians push for ship recycling hub on Vancouver Island
Editor – Christmas is coming and here is a great new gift idea from NAC member Rich Gimblett who co-authored Guardians of the North: Canadian Warships and Maritime Aircraft, 1910–2025! I hear its extraordinarily well researched and a good read! Don’t forget to tell Santa.
Our Navy Today Volume 8 Issue 7 (Editor – packed articles. Getting great mileage with the DeWolf Class!)
Lookout: 20 October 2025 Volume 70 Number 2 (English) (Editor – Interesting Nanisivik article) & (Française) (Editor – Article intéressant sur Nanisivik)
Trident: 20 October 2025 Volume 59, Issue 21 (Bilingue)
NAC Naval Affairs: Bibliography RCN Formation and Early Years (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: Oct. 20, 2025
Warships, fighter jets and the CIA – what is Trump’s endgame in Venezuela?
U.S. says it hit 2 more drug boats — this time in the eastern Pacific after Seventh Strike on Suspected Narco Boat Kills 3 and days earlier US captures two survivors after attack on Venezuela ‘drug sub’ with U.S. Releases Video of Attack on Semi-Submersible and Sends Survivors Home then Trump ends aid to Colombia and calls country’s leader a ‘drug dealer’ with “Illegal Drug Leader” – Trump’s Harsh Words for Colombia’s Petro, Ends U.S. Aid | DRM News | AC1N (Editor – 1:33 min video)
CIMSEC: Maritime Statecraft and its Future (Editor – 5:08 min video)
China’s $1 Billion of Daily US Exports Show Xi’s Bargaining Power
Why America Is Still Mass-Producing Arleigh Burke Flight III Destroyers
Affordable Lethality: Why the U.S. Needs More Conventional Subs by Jim Halsell and Jordan Spector (Editor – USNI 35:40 min video)
HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding Buys 3D Printing from AML3D
Seasats unveils Quickfish High-Speed, Long-Endurance USV
U.S. Seeks 1 Million Barrels for Strategic Petroleum Reserve
Vatn Systems Launches Own Navigation System
Anger as historic Clyde ship towed out to sea and sunk in Hawaii
INDO-PACIFIC
ANI at 50: East Timor (Editor – HMCS Protecteur is mentioned) and a refresher on Op Toucan: International Force in East Timor (INTERFET) & Force internationale au Timor-Oriental (INTERFET)
Trump Backs Selling Submarines to Australia Under AUKUS Agreement
North Korea Tests Hypersonic Missile System
Carrier USS Nimitz Transits Singapore Strait, Operates in South China Sea
Japan, U.S. forces begin multilateral exercise ANNUALEX 2025
Quickfish Interceptor USV Showcased at Pacific Exercise
Chinese Submarine Warfare – A Natural Evolution or Game Changing Revolution?
Taiwan to Deploy U.S. Harpoon Missile Batteries in 2026 to Deter Chinese Invasion
Industry and a protracted conflict (Editor – stark Australian assessment)
Philippine, Allied Warships Hold Combat Drills in the South China Sea (Editor – note HMCS Max Bernays participation)
China begins drills near Scarborough Shoal on final day of US-Philippine naval exercises then China Deploys Buoys, Security Officers to Scarborough Shoal Amid Philippine Drills
Second P-8A Poseidon Squadron established to support growing aircraft fleet while Air Force Poseidon deployed on sanctions enforcement (Editor – RAAF) then Australia accuses China of ‘unsafe’ military jet manoeuvres and inevitably PLA warns away Australian P-8A warplane intruding into China’s territorial airspace over Xisha with powerful countermeasures: military spokesperson
India Secures Defense Presence on Chagos Islands
The Healing Ship: Inside China’s Peace Ark (Editor – 27:21 min video)
New Zealand Navy expresses interest in Japan’s upgraded Mogami-class frigate and NZDF ship and aircraft deploy to Indo-Pacific region for operations and exercises
South Korea Takes Delivery of First Laser Minehunting System from Northrop Grumman
Frances’ Naval Group and MDL extend deal for ‘Made in India’ Submarines and Advanced AIP Integration
Singapore Navy launches first of six ‘motherships’ for unmanned combat
China Joins Russia’s Shadow Fleet with First-Ever Dark LNG Ship-to-Ship Transfer
US-China Reciprocal Port Fees Signal New Era in Trade Tensions
Jan De Nul’s Largest Cable Laying Vessel Hits Water in China (Video)
EUROPE
Black Sea:
Why Putin’s NATO Nightmare Is Self-Inflicted – Sarah Paine (Editor – 1:00 min video)
How Tomahawk missiles could change the war between Russia and Ukraine
Ukraine’s ‘Sea Baby’ Naval Drone Grows Teeth, Now With Expanded Firepower
Baltic:
CDAI: Russia’s Shadow War (Editor – 23:33 min podcast)
Finland to lead Naval Mines Cooperation
Ten European nations join hands on naval mine weapon systems
General:
Moscow puts money on the table to raise nuclear subs from Arctic seabed
Russia built secret Arctic sensor grid to shield nuclear submarines using U.S. and EU technology
HMS Duncan shadows Russian warship while under direct NATO command
HMS Stirling Castle begins sea trials as UK’s first mothership for autonomous mine warfare
Putin Takes Hybrid Warfare To The Sea
Echoes of the Flower-class corvettes – Royal Navy’s plans to increase anti-submarine warfare mass
Poland’s Submarine Acquisition Program (Project Orka) (Editor – 5:45 min)
Spanish submarine S-81 Isaac Peral begins first NATO Sea Guardian patrol in Mediterranean
South Korea’s Hyundai Joins Race for Future Greek Submarines
RUSI(NS) – Article – World War Three is looming as ‘transparent ocean’ technology advances (Editor – this link takes you to a page where you can read or download the paper)
Making better use of UK’s carriers
Italy Charts Course for Future Aircraft Carrier Fleet
Russian ‘spy ships’ snoop on German Navy’s large Arctic exercise
Russia readies Barents Sea for annual Thunder nuke exercise (Editor – likely impact Kamchatka Peninsula in the Far East)
French Navy welcomes first FDI frigate
NATO exercise validates POLARIS with undetectable laser link between two Portuguese frigates
First Sea Lord orders 100-day plan to fix Royal Navy submarine availability crisis
UK ‘managing’ Type 23 retirement amid Norway Type 26 deal
New Hybrid Underwater Drone Poised to Join Italy’s Next-Gen Mine Defense
Revenue Ireland to Enhance Coastline Patrols with New $10M Cutter
MIDDLE EAST
Red Sea/Gulf of Aden:
Fire and Explosion Onboard LPG Tanker in Gulf of Aden Leaves Two Missing (Editor – cause unknown so far) with Indian Navy Recovers Bodies from Burning LPG Tanker in Gulf of Aden
Smuggler jailed for 40 years after shipping ballistic missile parts from Iran
Network of Airfields in Place Along Red Sea and Gulf of Aden
General:
Iranian Tankers Go Dark Again After Three Days of Unusual AIS Transparency
GLOBAL INTERESTS
IMO Delays Vote on Global Shipping Carbon Tax by One Year After U.S. Pressure Campaign made up our minds don’t confuse us with the facts How the Arctic has been ‘pushed & triggered’ into climate extremes: paper
SCUTTLEBUTT
Editor – Given the anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar just passed here are 2 Mariner’s Mirror podcasts: HMS Victory’s Conservation (43 mins) & Where Nelson Died (37 mins)
U-Boat Captain’s Final Log — FIDO Acoustic Torpedoes Were Closer Than He Thought (Editor – fascinating 32:13 min video. The statistics at the end are startling)
How keeping the Royal Navy at sea kickstarted the Industrial Revolution (Editor – really interesting 34:23 min video)
The Incredible HMS Nubian | Britain’s Second Most Decorated Ship (Editor – 8:08 min video)
Anchors don’t work the way you think (Editor – 6:57 min video)
The GENIUS of Inertial Navigation Systems Explained (Editor – 11:04 min video)
Admiral Kuznetsov: The Troubled Life of Russia’s Lone Aircraft Carrier (Editor – 21:30 min video)
THIS WEEK IN RCN/MARITIME HISTORY
25 October 1944 HMCS Skeena was wrecked in a storm, after grounded near Reykjavik, Iceland. Fifteen lives were lost. The 14 sailors who drowned (a 15th body was never recovered) are interred in the Fossvogur Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery in Reykjavik, Iceland. (Editor – of note NAC member Peter Chance being remembered at the CFB Esquimalt Museum (Same article above in Canada section) was Skeena’s navigator at the time. The grounding was a sad story that Peter would recount when appropriate)
26 October 1952 HMCS Crusader destroys a North Korean supply train near Songjin: RCN gunners account for the destruction of eight enemy trains during the conflict.
28 October 1955 HMCS St. Laurent (second of name) is commissioned as the first warship of all-Canadian design and construction.
29 October 1952 HMCS Athabaskan leaves Esquimalt, B.C., on its third tour of duty in Korea.
30 October 1918 HMCS Galiano was lost, with all her crew of 39 and one female passenger, in Barkley Sound, Vancouver Island. HMCS Galiano and her crew of Royal Naval Canadian Volunteer Reservists was the only Canadian Naval vessel lost during WWI – only 12 days before the armistice to end the “war to end all wars”. Their sacrifice is marked by a memorial to the ship’s company in Ross Bay Cemetery in Victoria, erected by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
30 October 1942 A RCAF Hudson of No. 145(BR) Squadron destroyed U658 with a salvo of depth charges 320 miles out of St. John’s Newfoundland. Later that same day, a Digby of No. 10(BR) RCAF Squadron sent U520 to the bottom far out in the Atlantic.
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)
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