NAC News – Edition 644 HMCS Hunter
Your weekly national and international naval news for the week of November 21, 2025
Edition 644 HMCS Hunter Quote: “In this period of great power competition and geopolitical uncertainty, Canadian leadership in the world will be defined not just by the strength of our values, but also by the value of our strength. A more confident, united, and stronger Canada can help transform this age of disorder into an era of prosperity for all Canadians. This starts with rebuilding, rearming, and reinvesting in the Canadian Armed Forces. The government’s generational investments in our Canadian Armed Forces will provide our military with the necessary tools and equipment to protect our sovereignty and bolster our security. This increase in investment also creates opportunities for the Canadian defence industry. We will reform defence procurement to make it easier and faster to buy Canadian-made equipment—supporting our domestic defence industry and creating high-paying careers. The Canadian Armed Forces are currently active in 37 operations around the world. The women and men of our military contribute to promoting global peace and security, while ensuring Canada’s place in the world.” Budget 2025 Chapter 4: Protecting Canada’s sovereignty and security (Editor – document in Canada section) (Éditeur – section des documents au Canada)
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
UPDATED 24 February 2026 ShipTech Forum 2026, The National Arts Centre. 1 Elgin Street, Ottawa, ON K1P 5W1 (Editor – NAC helps sponsor this event. Discount code for NAC members to use for their tickets is STF26_NAC)
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
US to designate Venezuela’s Cartel de los Soles as terrorists (Editor – here comes the legal justification?) Tracking US warship build up near Venezuela
FULL Q&A: NATO Issues Major Warning After Sabotage in Poland and Drone Incidents in Belgium | AC1G (Editor – Finish President and NATO Secretary General in a 11:55 min video)
CMSN: Canadian Seapower Event Report – Calgary 26-27 September (Editor – NAC are partners in CMSN and this report is a lengthy but first-rate read!)
CANADA
Budget 2025 Chapitre 4: Préserver la souveraineté et la sécurité du Canada & Budget 2025 Chapter 4: Protecting Canada’s sovereignty and security
CDAI: Budget 2025: Preliminary Observations from the CDA Institute
Canada’s New Submarines Will Be Lethal, Stealthy, and Very UnCanadian
Operational excellence at the heart of Canadian Armed Forces Arctic operations this season & L’excellence opérationnelle est au cœur des opérations des Forces armées canadiennes dans l’Arctique cette saison
Canada’s instructions to submarine contract bidders highlight sustainment, economic benefits
Transport Canada’s aviation wing moving to DND with little explanation and National Aerial Surveillance Program & Programme national de surveillance aérienne
Canada signs joint statement of intent with Finland and United States to advance Icebreaker Collaboration Effort & Le Canada signe une déclaration d’intention conjointe avec la Finlande et les États-Unis pour faire avancer la mise en œuvre du Pacte de collaboration sur les brise-glaces
The Deep Blue Personnel Challenge (Editor – sage advice in this Vanguard article)
CGAI: Synthetic Environment in Canada’s Defence Future
CANADIAN ARMED FORCES: Chief of Defence Staff in Full Retreat (Editor – Esprit de Corps 7:10 min video)
Canadian Coast Guard Issues Penalty for a Hazardous Vessel & La Garde côtière canadienne impose une amende pour un navire dangereux
CAF members: Fertility medications coverage update & Membres des FAC : mise à jour concernant la couverture des médicaments pour la fertilité
Seattle-bound barge loaded with containers and vehicles sinking off B.C. coast then Sinking cargo Barge off BC coast raises pollution concerns
L3Harris Invests $5.24M in Halifax-based ESL Labs
Why would Gen Z fight for a country they can’t build a life in?
Massive floating drydock moves HMCS Vancouver for inspection
Port of Churchill, Hudson Bay Railway get $51M in provincial money toward improvements
Carney, Smith moving closer to a deal that could include B.C. oil pipeline: source
Divers seeking lost shipwreck near Toronto find an even older mystery
Lookout: 24 November 2025, Volume 70, Issue 24 (English) & (Française)
Trident: Monday 17 November 2025 Volume 59 Issue 22 (Bilingue)
NAC Naval Affairs: Bibliography Kingston Class Patrol Ships (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. 17, 2025
Democratic vets in Congress warn about following unlawful military orders, which Trump calls seditious could get ugly while 20th U.S. strike on alleged drug boat leaves 4 dead, U.S. military says then UK Halts Caribbean Drug-Ship Intel Sharing Following US Strikes: Report and folows Colombia to suspend intelligence sharing with US over boat strikes then Pentagon Says It Struck Another Suspected Drug Boat In Pacific, Killing Three
The USS Ford Is Streaming Into the Caribbean: A Breakdown of Its Firepower (Editor – 1:00 min video)
Colombian Navy Seizes 200 Kilos of Cocaine From a Ship’s Sea Chest
Coast Guard Continues to Break Records, Offloading Over $362M in Illicit Drugs
Bow Section of First Columbia-class Sub Heading to Electric Boat
Nimitz ’75 (Editor – a salute to the US Nimitz)
Two Virginia-class Submarines are undergoing Sea Trials Simultaneously
US Navy commissions final Independence-variant LCS USS Pierre
Navy Accepts Delivery of Future USS Harvey C. Barnum, Jr.
New Navy Unmanned Acquisition Office Could Oversee up to 66 Programs, Consolidate 6 PEOs
The US Next Giant Super Aircraft Carrier Is Finally Ready for Action (Editor – 8:39 min video)
NTSB Reports on the Cause of the MV Dali Hitting and Collapsing the Bridge in Baltimore (Editor – 20:17 min video)
Eastern Shipbuilding Suspends Work on Coast Guard’s Offshore Patrol Cutter Program
CIMSEC: Ready for War: A Way Forward for Industrial Preparedness
Long before China starved the Pentagon of raw materials, Wall Street was looting it (Editor – not a naval video but useful background in a 12:26 min video)
Massive $13 Billion US Aircraft Carrier Exits Dry Dock After Major Repairs (Editor – 15:20 min video)
New pirates of the Caribbean (Editor – looting of US cargo barge Brooklyn Bridge)
Trump administration repealing protections for key swaths of Alaska petroleum reserve
APM Terminals to Invest $550 Million in Peru with Major Callao Port Expansion
INDO-PACIFIC
The US will help South Korea build nuclear ‘attack’ submarines – here’s what that means
Australia and Indonesia strike landmark security treaty
Reuters Investigation Reveals China’s Civilian Shadow Navy Practices for Invasion of Taiwan
Nimitz Strike Group Drills Near Scarborough Shoal with Philippines, Japan
The Strategic Significance of the South China Sea: American, Asian, and International Perspectives 5 (Editor – Sarah Paine in a 47:45 min video)
CIMSEC: How China’s Expanded Operations in the Sea of Japan are Troubling Tokyo
China starts sea trials of amphibious assault ship
Japanese Forces Test Deployment of Hypersonic Missile System
China’s burgeoning undersea sensor net aims to turn the ocean transparent
Japan May Follow South Korea’s Path in Seeking Nuclear Submarines
Opinion | South China Sea: how third PLA Navy aircraft carrier changes dynamics for US while China’s aircraft carriers put to ‘train-as-you-fight’ test beyond island chains
China, Vietnam to hold 39th joint patrol in Beibu Gulf: Chinese Defense Ministry (Editor – also known as the Gulf of Tonkin)
Ex Malabar: Quad nations project power and promote a free and open Indo-Pacific
India validates indigenous submarine-launched cruise missile capability
DRDO’s scalable fuel-cell AIP to anchor next-gen Indian Submarines
For the First Time Ever, Japan Reveals True Railgun Damage at Sea. (Editor – 10:51 min video)
Navy to commission ‘Mahe’, first of new ASW craft, marking milestone in indigenous shipbuilding
China increases Type 903A replenishment oiler fleet to extend naval reach across the Pacific (Editor – if China is going to operate large conventional powered carriers I’m pretty sure they are going to need lots of AORs. I’m guessing it’s the reason their next carrier appears to be nuclear powered)
Russian Warships Visit Myanmar Port Ahead of Drills in Andaman Sea
DRDO’s new underwater portable AUVs with AI can now hunt mines on their own; here’s how
South Korea: HD Hyundai becomes world’s 1st shipbuilder to deliver 5,000 vessels
Korean coast guard arrests helmsman who was on his phone when ferry ran aground
China Buying Sanctioned Russian LNG at Deep Discounts
EUROPE
Black Sea:
Ukraine Hits Novorossiysk, Knocking Out 2% of Global Oil Supply then Russia’s Novorossiysk Port Resumes Oil Loadings After Ukrainian Attack however Russia’s Novorossiysk Behind Schedule on Loadings Due to Jetty Damage
Mysterious drones have been spotted at night at airports across Europe. How worried should we be?
Baltic:
President of Finland shocked with statement about ending war! NATO responded harshly to Putin (Editor – sage advice in a 4:32 min video)
Russia’s Shadow War Won’t Stay Hidden Forever (Editor – not a maritime article but another indication of escalating conflict)
On the front line of Europe’s standoff with Russia’s sanction-busting shadow fleet
Italy to extradite Nord Stream blast suspect to Germany
General:
‘Fake’ admiral who ‘took centre stage at Remembrance Sunday event while wearing phoney medals’ is arrested (Editor – had to include this one!)
Royal Navy flagship to be placed under direct Nato command for the first time
Russian spy ship pointed lasers at RAF pilots tracking it, says UK then Rules of engagement changed as Russian spy ship shines lasers at RAF aircraft
US approves $3.5bn sale of Standard Missiles to Germany
Minister Sidhu welcomes German Navy $1-billion purchase of Canadian combat management system & Le ministre Sidhu se réjouit de l’acquisition par la marine allemande d’un système canadien de gestion de combat d’une valeur d’un milliard de dollars
Watch: Norwegian Submarine Destroys Decommissioned Frigate in Arctic Warfare Exercise
Türkiye’s MKE fires first homegrown 127mm naval gun barrel from TCG Fatih frigate.
UK holds off on Type 32 frigate plans pending review
Navantia launches second S-80 class submarine
You Don’t Wanna Mess With This German Frigate (Editor – 45 sec video)
Ireland may seek aid of French warship to boost security during EU presidency
‘Shadow ships’ take pole position on Northern Sea Route with Russia Ships Nearly 3 Million Tonnes of LNG to Asia via Emerging Arctic Shortcut
Campaign launched to bring ‘Spitfires of the Sea’ memorial to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
MIDDLE EAST
Red Sea/Gulf of Aden:
Suez Canal Authority Urging Carriers to Resume Red Sea Transits however Peace in Gaza May Not Mean Peace in the Red Sea
General:
Iran Seizes Oil Tanker Off UAE Coast Amid Escalating Gulf Tensions then Iran Confirms Seizure Of Tanker in Gulf, Citing ‘Unauthorized Cargo’ with Tanker Crew Safe After Iran Seizure, Vessel Manager Says with Iran Strait of Hormuz Tanker Seizure Violates International Law, CENTCOM Says finally Oil Tanker Seized by Iran Is Released With Cargo Missing (Editor – fits the definition of Piracy)
Dearsan Launches MAC 50 Fast Attack Craft for Qatari Navy
Royal Navy’s Bahrain-Based Frigate Slinks Back Home Silently
Egypt’s Suez Canal Container Terminal Completes $500 Million Expansion
GLOBAL INTERESTS
At least four dead after migrant boats sink in Mediterranean
SCUTTLEBUTT
Explore the creation of the Nuclear Navy in the desert of Idaho with “America’s Sagebrush Navy” (Editor – fascinating 56:41 min video)
World War 2 Motor Gun Boat Tour : 1942 MGB 81 (Editor – 23:31 min video) and the fun part SEA TRIAL : World War 2 Motor Gun Boat MGB 81 (Editor – 19:18 min video)
THIS WEEK IN RCN/MARITIME HISTORY
23 November 1809 Convicted in Canada’s first piracy trial, Edward Jordan is hanged in Halifax.
24 November 1944 HMCS Shawinigan while on independent anti-submarine patrol in the Cabot Strait, was torpedoed and sunk by U1228. All 91 of the crew perished including able seaman Dudley “Red” Garrett, a former Toronto Maple Leafs hockey player.
25 November 1950 HMCS Nootka leaves Halifax for the first of two tours of duty in Korea.
25 November 1953 HMCS Cayuga sails for duty off Korea for the third and final time.
28 November 1944 The first Allied convoy sailed up the Scheldt and discharged its cargo at the port of Antwerp. Given the Canadian army’s efforts of liberation, it was fitting that the first vessel in the convoy was the Canadian-built SS Fort Cataraqui.
28 November 1953 The first group of 48 RCN volunteers left Montreal by air for submarine training with the Royal Navy. In March 1962, the RCN got the go-ahead to buy three British Oberon-class submarines. These were the first newly built submarines we bought since the unconventional purchase of CC 1 and CC 2 in 1914. These new submarines formed the Halifax-based First Canadian Submarine Squadron: HMC Submarines Ojibwa, Onondaga, and Okanagan. When they arrived in the mid-1960s, the Oberons were among the quietest submarines in the world.
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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