NAC News – Edition 643 HMCS Hunter
Your weekly national and international naval news for the week of November 14, 2025
Edition 643 HMCS Hunter Quote: “On this Remembrance Day, we honour all Veterans and serving members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and other Canadian police services from across the country. We pause to remember the places and moments where their courage and commitment helped shape our country. Generations ago, our service members fought bravely in the bitter conflicts of Europe, Asia, and across the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. In more recent decades, the Canadian Armed Forces and police have served in military, peace support, and humanitarian operations in the Persian Gulf, the Balkans, Africa, Afghanistan, and throughout the Americas. They have safeguarded our skies, defended our shores, and stood by communities in times of crisis. Through every mission, they have distinguished Canada as a nation that stands ready to aid neighbours and allies in need. Veterans, CAF personnel, members of the RCMP, as well as other Canadian police embody the best of Canada: duty, courage and compassion for others. Today and always, we recognize the enormous sacrifices made by Canadians of every background who have worn the uniform and given their lives while serving. We honour them, we mourn them and we renew our enduring gratitude and commitment to them and their families. Lest we forget.”
Statement by the Ministers of Veterans Affairs, National Defence and Public Safety marking Remembrance Day, 11 November 2025
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
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!
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 ARTICLE
The Fall edition of Starshell is now online. Starshell Fall 2025 (Editor – paper copies out soon)
CSIS: Trump’s Caribbean Campaign: The Data Behind the Developing Conflict and Trump Has Sufficient Firepower to Launch Immediate Strikes on Venezuela
CANADA
Don’t be complacent Canada, Russia’s imperialism looms at our doorstep: Marcus Kolga in the Toronto Star and CDAI: Is Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine Just the Prelude? (Editor- 25:54 min podcast)
HMCS Ville de Québec returns from Operation HORIZON & Retour du NCSM Ville de Québec au terme de l’opération HORIZON
Canada’s Indigenous veterans faced tough battles — abroad and at home
CGAI: Breaking Down the Carney Budget (Editor – 42:15 min podcast)
What does remembrance mean when war is livestreamed?
The Canadian Coast Guard officially accepts delivery of new offshore oceanographic science vessel & La Garde côtière canadienne accepte officiellement la livraison du nouveau navire hauturier de science océanographique
Forged in Ice and Tradition – The Keel Laying of the Future CCGS Sermilik
Navy commander insists Canada should buy unmodified submarines (Editor – I wonder what happens to the existing Victoria Class’s US Mk48 torpedoes? Keeping the Mk48s was a significant challenge for the Upholders introduction into the RCN)
RCN’s Potential Next-Gen Subs (Editor – a simple summary in a 5:12 min video) and another The future of the Royal Canadian Navy: Korea’s KSS-III Submarine (Editor – Esprit de Corps 5:04 min video)
Hanwha Ocean/Canada’s PCL Construction MoU will advance CPSP
SEA Canada cuts ribbon on new Ottawa manufacturing plant
The Ship That Will Replace The Kingston-Class! Meet The Canadian Multi-Mission Corvette (Editor – sales pitch in a 8:11 min video)
Swedish company to provide battery system for Canada’s new hybrid icebreaker
CANADIAN ARMED FORCES: Massive Mobilization Plans (Editor – Esprit de Corps 6:25 min video)
CCGS Henry Larsen: The Toughest Icebreaker On The Planet (Editor – 45:48 min documentary video)
Ottawa tinkers with veterans’ disability benefits as former soldiers prepare for a fight but then Disability pension changes won’t impact veterans: Finance minister
Canadian ship bound for Quebec City stuck in the Detroit River with more details Why the Great Lakes Matter | 50 Years Since the Loss of SS Edmund Fitzgerald (Editor – lost 10 Nov 1975 in Lake Superior. Great perspective and amazing statistics)
BC and Coastal First Nations urge Ottawa to uphold North Coast tanker ban
Day in the Life Naval Combat Information Operator Canadian Forces (2025) (Editor – 6:06 min video)
Let’s Talk about the Underwater Environmental Awareness Project
Backgrounder: Federal government invests to prevent and reduce Veteran homelessness across Canada & Document d’information : Le gouvernement fédéral investit dans la prévention et la réduction de l’itinérance chez les vétérans dans tout le Canada
Annual closing of Canadian Coast Guard’s Arctic Marine Response Station & Fermeture annuelle de la Station d’intervention maritime en Arctique de la Garde côtière canadienne
Arctic shipping companies want better mapping systems to safely deliver to Nunavut
The journey toward an expanded Port of Churchill has only just begun
Grounded container ship MSC Baltic III damaged by ‘extreme wind’ and rough seas
Toronto’s $92M ferry builder faces forgery charges, allegations of violating Russian sanctions
Editor – Repeat: 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! The book has met with rave reviews. Comprehensive and extraordinarily well researched, and a good read! Don’t forget to tell Santa.
Editor – Repeat: along with Rich’s book above, the NAC still has some of its children’s and youth books in stock if you’re thinking of family Christmas presents. Any questions email Nora Kennedy naccoordinator@navalassoc.ca.
NAC Naval Affairs: Bibliography Halifax Class Frigates (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: Nov. 10, 2025
US aircraft carrier group arrives in Caribbean
Trump’s War on Drug Cartels: Interdiction in the Caribbean or Invasion of Venezuela?
U.S. Strikes Suspected Narco Boat in Caribbean, 3 Killed and A list of US military strikes against alleged drug-carrying vessels while Rubio Dismisses Criticism of U.S. Caribbean Strikes at G7 Meeting
Future Attack Submarine Utah Christened at Electric Boat
Meet the Lightning Carrier — America’s Secret F-35 Powerhouse (Editor – 3:55 min video)
Draft Continuing Resolution to Reopen the Government Includes $1B for Navy Shipbuilding
US Coast Guard Hits Highest Recruitment Since 1991 and Navy Exceeds 99% of FY 2025 Retention Goals Across All Zones
NASSCO secures $1.7B deal to build pair of John Lewis-class oilers for US Navy
U.S. Container Imports to Hit Slowest Pace in Nearly Three Years Amid Tariff Uncertainty
INDO-PACIFIC
‘America First’ Does Not Mean ‘America Alone’: Hegseth Reaffirms U.S. Commitment to Indo-Pacific (Editor – “Even a Stopped Clock Is Right Twice a Day”)
North Korea Protests Hegseth, Carrier USS George Washington Visits to South Korea
Hunter-class frigate program update with BAE Systems (Editor – 3:50 min video)
Op-Ed: China’s New Carrier is a Challenge to Western Maritime Dominance with China’s KJ-600 carrier-borne early warning aircraft nicknamed Nezha: developer plus PLA Daily reveals training data of China’s three carriers; expert says statistics demonstrate far seas capabilities (Editor – impressive ship, but it is the air wing and highly trained crew that makes it lethal…are the even close to that yet?) while China’s nuclear-powered carrier can add rail gun, other futuristic weapons: expert
Why Indonesia is Unlikely to Publicize China’s Aggression at Sea and Russian, Indonesian top officials discuss naval cooperation
Diego Garcia Legislation Postponed Until 2026
US Coast Guard Responds to Russian Military Ship Near Waters Off Oahu
U.S. Marines Deploy Drone Unit to Philippines to Patrol Over South China Sea
Thailand’s Flagship Carrier to Receive New Management Capability From Thales
New South Korean Destroyer Formation Practices Missile Defense in First-ever Fleet Wargames
Japan Coast Guard Receives Fifth Miyako Patrol Vessel From Mitsubishi
Australian Consortium to Build Underwater ‘Network’ for Northern Naval Watch
Four defense giants unite to work on combat systems for AUKUS submarines
Philippine Marine Corps Unveils First BrahMos Anti-Ship Missile Battery
Trump will arm South Korea with a nuclear submarine
Inside the South Korean company that could help refloat American shipbuilding (Editor – NBC News 5:46 min video)
HD Hyundai Heavy Industries targets Indian Navy ₹1,30,000 Crores Landing Platform Dock Programme
India Leases Russia’s ‘Stealth’ Nuclear Attack Submarines while Beijing-Islamabad Underwater Pact: China’s 2026 submarine delivery and its strategic ripples for India
Navantia Australia Unveils ALFA 4000 Light Frigate (Editor – 3:55 min video)
China’s Export Engine Sputters in October as US Shipments Crater
EUROPE
Black Sea:
Russian soldier sentenced to life in jail in unprecedented Ukrainian trial
Baltic:
The Baltics Are Preparing for War (Editor – for perspective a 12:59 min video)
Royal Marines take on specialist Baltic mission with army rangers in preparation for new NATO role
Sweden Hosts NATO’s Playbook Merlin 25 Anti-Submarine Warfare Drill with US P-8 aircraft ‘hunts’ German, Swedish subs in Baltic Sea and German submarine in Sweden!
General:
HMS Prince of Wales Fills Void in Mediterranean as USS Ford Heads West
U.K. Carrier Strike Group Joins NATO Drills as Deployment Nears its End
Prince George joins Kate, King and Queen at Festival of Remembrance
Italian Navy leads NATO maritime presence in the Mediterranean to strengthen security and regional cooperation with FGS Elbe Deploys for SNMG2 Non-Combat Division
Upgraded Russian spy ship escorted out of North Sea
MOD reveals number of senior officers across UK forces
How Russia’s Kilo-Class Submarines Are Falling Apart (Editor – 11:22 min video) and “You’ve Lost Another Submarine?” ⎹ The OSINT Report (Editor – 5:19 min video)
Turkey’s New USV Wraps Up Trials, Readies for Frontline EW Missions
Germany Mulls Expanding Order For Submarine-Hunting Planes
France Doubles Missile Load on New FDI Frigates to Boost Air Defense
How Soviet Submarine Destroyer Works Inside (Editor – 1:00 min video)
Iceland sees security risk, existential threat in Atlantic Ocean current’s possible collapse while Weather above normal for 18 consecutive months
Almost a Third of Russian Seaborne Oil Export Potential is Stuck in Tankers while Russia’s LNG ‘Shadow Fleet’ Stalls as Winter Nears, Vessels Idle or Turn Back
MSC Spends $4B for Two New Cruise Ships at Chantiers de l’Atlantique
MIDDLE EAST
Red Sea/Gulf of Aden:
Chinese 48th Escort Group Takes Over in Djibouti
Red Sea Shipping Faces Uncertain Future as Houthi Ceasefire Brings Hope—and Caution
General:
Turkey issues arrest warrant for Netanyahu on charges of genocide
U.S. Widens Sanctions in Global Crackdown on Iran’s Missile and Drone Networks and more details U.S. Treasury Sanctions Iran’s Rocket Fuel Supply Chain
GLOBAL INTERESTS
EU Forces Free Hijacked Tanker 700 Miles Off Somalia then EUNAVFOR Seizes Pirate Mother Ship Following Tanker Hijacking Off Somalia and Abandoned PAG mother ship yields evidence to Op Atalanta
Nigeria Seizes Over One Ton of Cocaine at Lagos Port in Largest Single Drug Bust
INS Savitri arrives in Mozambique, fostering stronger bilateral maritime ties
World Oil and Gas Demand Could Grow Until 2050, IEA Says
SCUTTLEBUTT
Halifax’s role in the most important WW II mission you never heard of
The Canadians at Sword Beach: Part 1
Soviet Sub Hunters Were Horrified by US Navy P-3 Orion Planes That Dropped Sonar from the Sky (Editor – 39:50 min video)
Soviet Admirals Never Knew US ‘SOSUS’ Mics Could Hear Their Subs Leaving Port in Real-Time (Editor – 31:18 min video)
Why isn’t Hiroshima a Nuclear Wasteland? (Editor – simple explanation in a 12:35 min video)
THIS WEEK IN RCN/MARITIME HISTORY
15 November 1942 While escorting a convoy, HMCS Saguenay is accidentally struck in the stern by freighter SS Azra, which sinks. Saguenay is towed to St. John’s.
15 November 1952 First Naval Reserve Air Squadron established, VC-920 at Toronto. To fly Swordfish and Avengers.
16 November 1857 PO1 (RN) William Hall, ‘Captain of the Foretop,’ of that HMS Shannon, were recommended by the late Captain Peel for the Victoria Cross, for their gallant conduct at a 24-Pounder Gun, brought up to the angle of the Shah Nujjiff, at Lucknow, on the 16th of November 1857. William Hall was born in Horton NS was the first Nova Scotian, the first Naval VC earned by a Canadian citizen, one of only four Canadian born Naval VC winners ever, and the first Black person to receive the Victoria Cross. He is buried in Hantsport Baptist Church Cemetery, Nova Scotia. PO Hall is the first of four naval Canadians to earn the Victoria Cross, with HMCS William Hall named in his honour.
16 November 1916 Born at Halifax, NS and subsequently Commodore (P) Alexander Beaufort Fraser-Harris, DSC MID (US Legion of Merit) at the age of 13 in 1930 he joined the Exmouth term at Dartmouth under the Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship scheme. Joined the Fleet Air Arm in 1938 and served in HMS Glorious with No. 803 Squadron flying Skua aircraft in 1939 then served aboard HMS Turn flying Hurricanes, HMS Ark Royal (Skua), HMS Argus (Fulmar), HMS Furious (Seafire), and RNAS Wingfield as CO in 1945. Promoted to Commander 1 July 1948 and posted to Stadacona as Commander-in-Command of Royal Canadian Naval Air Section at Dartmouth in 1948. Promoted Captain RCN 1 January 1954 and to Naval HQ as Director of Naval Aviation from March 1953 to October 1955. Appointed to Command HMCS Magnificent August 1956 to June 1957. Took ship to Suez Canal crisis and served as Naval Deputy to UN Commander in 1956. He resigned rather than become a general in a bottle-green uniform in the unified armed forces and retired on 29 April 1965. Died in England 29 October 2003.
16 November 1941 HMCS Prince Robert arrived in Hong Kong escorting units of the Winnipeg Grenadiers and the Royal Rifles of Canada in TS Awatea.
16 November 2020 Sink Ex 2007 HMCS Huron was paid off on 31 Mar 2005, she was sunk as an exercise target ship 14 May 2007 during Operation Trident Fury, a live-fire exercise conducted by MARPAC 100 km (54.0 mi) west of Vancouver Island.
18 November 1940 HMC MTB 1 commissioned in Montreal. The next day, with Scott-Paine at the helm, she was put through her trials and managed to achieve a top speed of forty-two knots on the St. Lawrence before one of her engines failed. Nonetheless, she was officially accepted by the RCN and set out for Halifax. Unfortunately, she ran aground off Richibucto New Brunswick on 27 November but was salvaged and finally arrived at Halifax on 17 December. Lacking guns, torpedoes, or ASDIC, she served as the training vessel for the 1st RCN MTB Flotilla. The RCN’s interest in fast attack craft can be traced back to 1936 when Power Boat sent brochures describing its 60-foot prototype M T B to Naval Service Headquarters. These brochures piqued the interest of the Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Percy Nelles. During a visit to London in June 1937, Nelles discussed MTBs with the Admiralty and met with representatives from Vosper and British Power Boat to investigate possible manufacture in Canada.
20 November 1943 HMCS Snowberry commanded by A/LCdr James A. Dunn, RCNVR, HMCS Calgary commanded by A/LCDR Henry K. Hill, RCNVR, and HMS Nene commanded by sink U-536 near the Azores.
20 November 1957 HMCS Labrador, an Arctic patrol vessel, is paid off and later transferred to the Department of Transport.
21 November 1953 HMCS Labrador arrived in Halifax, having circumnavigated the North American continent. The Arctic Patrol Vessel HMCS Labrador was built in recognition of the growing strategic importance of the sovereignty of Canada’s Arctic region. The design was adapted from that of the United States Coast Guard’s Wind class icebreakers.
Significant RCN Dates – If you notice any omissions or errors please inform me. 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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