NAC News – Edition 646 HMCS Malahat
Your weekly national and international naval news for the week of December 5, 2025
Edition 646 HMCS Malahat Quote: At Halifax (HFX 2025), the most visible symbol of American hostility this year was the absence of senior US commanders because of the Pentagon’s order that “No DOD official will attend events by America Last organizations that promote globalism and hate (President Donald Trump).” As traumatizing as the Trump revolution has been, European and British participants privately acknowledged that they are not immune from growing populist movements born of inequality and porous borders contributing to slumping public confidence in democratic institutions.
Beneath the fig leaf of shared democratic ‘values’, a sober recognition hangs in the air. The liberal order that emerged from U.S. leadership after World War II is fragmenting. The pillars of that order – reliable U.S. backing for alliances, freer trade, democracy – are collapsing. Its debris includes allied political cohesion and once unassailable intelligence sharing.” Policy: This Year in Halifax: The Takeaways from HFX 2025, Colin Robertson, 25 November 2025 (Editor – full summary article in the Canada 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
24 February 2026 ShipTech Forum 2026, The National Arts Centre. 1 Elgin Street, Ottawa. Not able to attend in person – all speaker sessions will be live streamed, to facilitate virtual attendance. (Editor – NAC helps sponsor this event. Early Bird Registration is Open! Discount code for NAC members to use for their tickets is STF26_NAC)
NEW 4/5 March 2026 CDAI 2026 Ottawa Conference, Fairmont Chateau Laurier Hotel, Ottawa (Editor – save the date, details to follow)
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
Canada at the defence crossroads: The challenges of thinking long-term
Minister Anand meets with NATO Secretary General Rutte & La ministre Anand s’entretient avec le secrétaire général de l’OTAN, Mark Rutte plus Canada joins EU’s €150 billion SAFE defense program with Canada could use EU loans for next-gen warplane, submarine purchases
CANADA
Cost of U.S.-supplied equipment for Canada’s new warships triples to $3.6B
This Year in Halifax: The Takeaways from HFX 2025
Learning lessons of Ukraine war, Canadian military creates joint command and officially
Canadian Armed Forces establish Canadian Joint Forces Command & Les Forces armées canadiennes établissent le Commandement des forces interarmées du Canada a similar announcement but with other details Canadian Joint Forces Command & Commandement des forces interarmées du Canada
Canadian Armed Forces search and rescue crew awarded Certificate of Commendation for Exceptional Bravery at Sea & Une équipe de recherche et sauvetage des Forces armées canadiennes reçoit un certificat de mention élogieuse pour bravoure remarquable en mer
CDAI: Is it Time to Update Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy? (Editor 32:56 min podcast)
Why Canada Calls Type 26 a Destroyer: A Strategic Redefinition of Britain’s Global Combat Ship (Editor – 10:57 min video)
This is Canada’s Hidden Power To Checkmate US and Russia (Editor – a bit farfetched and certainly over simplified, but things to ponder in a 17:04 min video. Two maps for perspective Arctic Ocean Map and Bathymetric Chart)
It was the BEST decision that I took and I don’t regret it at ALL! (Editor – 1:40 min RCN video) & C’est la meilleure décision que j’ai prise et je ne la regrette pas du tout ! (Editor – Vidéo MRC 1:29 min)
‘Fool’s errand’: Why the Exxon Valdez looms large over northern B.C. pipeline debate and Explainer: Canada’s moratorium on North Coast oil tankers was aimed at Alaska
Ottawa earmarks $5b to boost non-US trade and expand new container gateways and Why some say Carney chose to expand the wrong port (Editor – CBC News 8:16 min video)
Rare inside look at new Canadian Coast Guard scientific research vessel (Editor – 1:35 min video)
Editor – for you pensioners the pension increases for 2026 will be out shortly.
Lookout: 1 December 2025, Volume 70, Issue 25 (English) & (Française)
Trident: Monday 1 December 2025 Volume 59, Issue 24 (Bilingue)
NAC Naval Affairs: Bibliography Law Enforcement (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: Dec. 1, 2025 (Editor – always cool pictures!)
White House denies report U.S. ordered ‘second strike’ on already bombed alleged cartel boats with White House says admiral ordered 2nd strike on alleged drug boat (Editor – 2:22 min CBC Video) then US Congress Orders Probe Of Hegseth Boat Order and then U.S. military strikes another boat, killing 4, as probe into the first attack begins
Destroyer USS Thomas Hudner arrives in U.S. Southern Command
The U.S. military is reopening key bases in the Caribbean (Editor – 18:39 min video)
What can we learn from the collapse of the Constellation frigate?
DHS Warns of ‘Unprecedented’ Chinese Presence in Arctic During Summer 2025
US Navy welcomes newest Arleigh Burke-class destroyer
Davie Defense Closes Gulf Copper Acquisition, Joining U.S. Arctic Shipbuilding Ranks
Brazilian Navy takes delivery of third Scorpène submarine, launches fourth
Inside the Launch: Ohio Class Submarine & Trident Missile (Editor – 15:41 min video)
Investigations Show Failures Behind Carrier Harry S. Truman Collision, Loss of 3 Super Hornets
New $60m U.S. Defense Shipbuilding Facility Set to Open in 2027
The five things that set the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season apart
Fire-Hit ONE Henry Hudson Returns to Berth for Complex Cargo Removal
INDO-PACIFIC
ALERT: China’s naval expansion and 100-ship surge increase military pressure on Taiwan and East Asian allies info China Massing Military Ships Across Region in Show of Maritime Force, Sources Say
USS George Washington in Guam, USS Nimitz Leaves Hawaii for Home
Australia sets up dedicated agency to streamline defense procurement (Editor – déjà vu)
Japan Poised to Increase Defense Spending to $70 Billion, 2% of its GDP and Japan Greenlights Major Defense Supplement to Accelerate Frigate and Submarine Construction
Chinese and Japanese boats face off near disputed islands as feud worsens
Guam Hosts U.S., Allied Navies for Indo-Pacific Exercises
Pakistan Navy Conducts New Test of ‘SMASH’ Ship-Launched Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile
Is India Planning To Test the K-5 Nuclear Capable SLBM with Its Latest NOTAM Announcement with India’s ASW Imperatives for Bay of Bengal SSBN Bastion Defence and India building submarines to guarantee nuclear strike against adversaries while China’s Ocean Spies: Acoustic Intel and Missile Secrets Targeted in Indian Ocean Region
India edges closer to finalizing cost-reduced German submarine contract in Fiscal 2025-26
Navy Chief confirms Rafale-Marine deliveries by 2029 amid Operation Sindoor success
Taiwan-built Attack Sub Holds Sea Trials Amid Program Delays and China’s news spin Taiwan island’s first ‘indigenous’ submarine revealed to have sea trial without anchor; repeated problems expose boat’s vulnerability: expert
RFS Gremyashchy Attends Colombo Fleet Review
Australia decommissions last Armidale-class patrol boats after two decades of service
Mazagon Dock delivers ‘Taragiri’ to Navy, fourth Nilgiri-class stealth frigate under Project 17A
BAE Systems and Naval Group Battle Competing to Co-Develop India’s INS Vishal Supercarrier
Australians Find Cocaine with Tracking Devices Hidden in Arriving Container
EUROPE
Black Sea:
Defence Minister McGuinty announces new critical military equipment funding for Ukraine & Le ministre de la Défense McGuinty annonce un nouveau financement pour l’achat d’équipements militaires essentiels destinés à l’Ukraine
Russia did not annex Crimea, but extended helping hand to its people — Putin
How Russia’s Nuclear Deployment in Belarus Threatens NATO | WSJ Coordinates (Editor – not a maritime article but something to be aware of in a 5:31 min video)
Putin Warns Russia May Hit Ukraine Allies’ Ships If Attacks Last (Editor – here we go)
Turkey Warns Black Sea Tanker Attacks Are ‘Very Scary’ as War Risks Spread then Turkey Discusses Black Sea Safety with NATO After Attacks on Russian Ships and Turkey is taking measures to counter threats in Black Sea — Defense Ministry
Two Sanctioned Tankers Catch Fire in Black Sea After Suspected Mine Strikes in reality long range drone attacks Ukraine hits tankers in Black Sea in escalation against Russia
with details Ukraine Targets Two Russian Shadow “Parallel” Fleet Tankers in the Black Sea (Editor – great explanation and an example of GPS spoofing in a 21:12 min video)
Black Sea War Insurance Soars 250% After Ukraine Ship Attacks
Kazakhstan Tells Ukraine To Stop Attacking Terminal After Oil Exports Halted and Kremlin Says Ukrainian Strike on CPC Terminal Was Outrageous Given its International Importance (Editor – well, isn’t this ironic?)
Russia Reports Drone Attack on Tanker but Ukraine Denies Involvement
Ukraine in maps: Tracking the war with Russia
Romania to boost its Black Sea fleet with Turkish-made patrol ship and Romania Says It Destroys Maritime Drone in Black Sea
Baltic:
South Korea transfer of decommissioned sub to Poland
Poland subs deal a strategic boost for Sweden’s Navy
General:
NATO chief to Arctic Allies: “We’re all frontline states now,” as Iceland’s role grows
SNMG1 launches High North mission, boosting NATO presence in the Norwegian Sea
Curtain falls on Royal Navy’s 2025 deployment as UK Carrier Strike Group returns home (PHOTOS)
Dealing with lick-up, kick-down ‘leaders’ (Editor – points to ponder)
Europe Is Nearing Deal to End Russian Fossil Fuels Imports
NATO Defence College: Russia’s naval futures: new horizons 2025
Second BRF supply ship delivered to the French Navy
MOD looking at ‘various sites’ for sub dismantling project
REPMUS 2025: The Future of Mine Countermeasure Operations with ROVs
Navantia to Modernize F100 frigates to Extend Their Lifespan Until 2045
Navantia: Keel laid for Spanish new maritime action vessel for underwater intervention
UK and Norway form naval alliance to hunt Russian submarines
Greyshark AUV Spawns Two New Variants Built to Survive 16 Weeks Underwater
Royal Navy’s first crewless helicopter prepares for first flight
Russia withdraws from Euro-Arctic rescue cooperation
MIDDLE EAST
Red Sea/Gulf of Aden:
The Suez Canal is open again: the weird reason the global shipping industry doesn’t want to use it. (Editor – surprising 6:27 min video)
Second Ocean Alliance Service Returns to Suez on Europe–Asia Backhaul
Sudan offers Russia Red Sea base for 25 years in exchange for arms
General:
Iranian Navy Commander Outlines Future Deployment Plans
Qatar-led Combined Task Force (CTF) 152 Conducts Joint Patrol-01
A New Amphibious Vessel is Born: Meet Skana’s ‘Alligator’
Repaired Sahand Destroyer, Floating Base Join Iranian Navy
GLOBAL INTERESTS
The Military Equipment Cost Problem – Why (some) Nations Struggle to Build Affordable Weapons (Editor – Food for thought in a 1:00:11 hr video)
Shadow Fleet Crisis Deepens: Third Tanker Incident off Senegal Follows Black Sea Drone Strikes with Mersin Tanker Hit By ‘External Explosions’ Off Senegal, Ship Manager Confirms however Senegal Tanker Blast Puts Spotlight on Turkish Operator’s Ties to Russia’s Dark Fleet finally Owner of Oil Tanker Damaged Near Senegal Says It Is Ceasing All Russian Operations
Nine Crew Members Kidnapped from LPG Tanker in Gulf of Guinea Pirate Attack
WTO: Global Trade Momentum Slips as Frontloading Surge Fades
Russia Fails to Win Back Seat on IMO Shipping Agency’s Governing Council
Ship Rates Spiking 467% Marks Upended Trade Across Commodities
UN: World Urbanization Prospects 2025 (Editor – not a maritime report but population growth will continue as a global destabilizing force)
SCUTTLEBUTT
German Sailors Couldn’t Believe The “Duke of York” Sank The Pride Of Their Fleet
The Maunsell Forts Explained (Editor – 90 Sec video)
How 9 British MTBs Sank a German Convoy From Behind (Editor: blame YouTube on all the MTB/MGB videos this one is 21:26 min) and The Broad Fourteens | WWII Coastal Forces | MTBs Weymouth (Editor – 33:24 min video)
HS-293 & Fritz-X – Guided Ship-Killers of WW2 (Editor – 44:53 min video)
THIS WEEK IN RCN/MARITIME HISTORY
6 December 1917 A huge explosion in Halifax harbour destroys the naval facilities and much of the city. The explosion destroyed the north end of Halifax. About 1,600 people died and 9,000 were wounded. About 25,000 lost their homes. The Halifax explosion was the biggest human-made explosion until August 1945 when the United States dropped two atomic bombs on Japan. The explosion inflicted considerable damage on HMCS Niobe as well, killing or seriously injuring several people on board with a total of 37 all ranks RCN/RNCVR/RN/RNR/RNVR/ Newfoundland RNR/RMA personnel being killed in the explosion. Seven of the 16 of NIOBE’s crew who died were aboard the SS Mont Blanc, trying heroically to put out the fire. The remainder of the casualties were either ashore or aboard other ships in the harbour.
7 December 1941 Canada declares war on Romania, Hungary, Finland, and Japan.
7 December 1941 HMCS Windflower is lost and 23 of her crew perish after a collision with a Dutch freighter SS Zypenburg on the Grand Banks of Newfoundland.
8 December 1918 The Royal Canadian Naval Air Service is discontinued, and the cadets being trained are demobilized.
10 December 1939 The first Canadian troop convoy of 7,400 soldiers sails for Britain escorted out of Halifax by HMC ships Ottawa, Restigouche, Fraser, and St. Laurent.
12 December 1942 Destruction by fire of Knights of Columbus Hostel, St. John’s, Nfld. Ninety-nine people died (80 of whom were Service personnel) and a further 109 were critically injured. Sixteen RCNVR/RCNR sailors were lost in the fire. Stoker 2nd Class Goodwin was posthumously awarded the Albert Medal: “notwithstanding the fact that he could have saved his own life and that he himself was very badly burned, this rating assisted in removing two girls from the building, thereby saving their lives. He was then overcome by flames and lost his life.” All sixteen RCNVR/RCNR sailors are buried in the St John’s (Mount Pleasant) Cemetery in St John’s, Newfoundland. This tragedy was felt in eight Canadian cities with the largest loss felt at HMCS Chippawa in Winnipeg.
12 December 1969 RCN retires aircraft carrier HMCS Bonaventure after 12 years of service and was later sold for scrap. “Bonnie” never saw combat but was scrambled during the October Missile Crisis. During her service life, Bonaventure carried five squadrons. The aircraft carrier’s initial air group was composed of sixteen McDonnell F2H Banshee jet fighters and eight Grumman CS2F Tracker anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft. The Banshee, flown by VF 870 and VF 871, and Tracker, operated by VS 880 and VS 881, were flown from Bonaventure, along with Sikorsky HO4S ASW helicopters operated by HS 50. In 1963, the aircraft carrier began a refit to allow her to operate the new Sikorsky CHSS-2 Sea King helicopters, which had been ordered to replace the HO4Ss. Originally purchased by the RCN, the Sea King became part of the air force with integration and then RCAF. Built by Canadair under license, the Sea King started as an anti-submarine helicopter but showed its flexibility in conducting maritime surface patrols, search and rescue and transport among other tasks. Her departure closed out 26 years of Canadian operation or ownership of aircraft carriers…and the loss of a superb capability for combat, peacekeeping, and humanitarian operations.
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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