NAC News – Edition 647 HMCS Montcalm
Your weekly national and international naval news for the week of December 12, 2025
Edition 647 HMCS Montcalm Quote: “Taiwanese President William Lai Ching-te announced that his government will introduce the Special Budget for Asymmetric Warfare on November 25 — the largest special budget in Taiwanese history. The proposed budget would markedly improve Taiwanese warfighting capabilities and its efforts to implement an asymmetric defense strategy to deter a PRC invasion. The proposed budget amounts to approximately 40 billion US dollars to be spent from 2026 to 2033. The budget is twice as large as Taiwan’s second largest special budget passed in October 2025. The budget reportedly allocates funds for arms, including precision artillery, long-range precision strike munitions, anti-aircraft and anti-tank missiles, unmanned aerial and surface vehicles, drone countermeasure systems, and artificial intelligence-assisted command and control systems. Taiwanese media reported that Taiwan would either domestically produce those systems or buy them from the United States.” The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), China & Taiwan Update, December 5, 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.
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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)
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
Russia could attack Nato within five years, says alliance chief in stark new warning
RAdm Jason Armstrong Interview 24 November 2025 (Editor – NAC-O fireside chat with the new Chief of Naval Development in a 56:47 min video)
CANADA
The future of Canada’s military and joining Europe’s defence fund (Editor – 18:34 mi G&M video)
First military procurements managed by Defence Investment Agency revealed
Naval member rescued off Vancouver Island after spending more than 2 hours in water and Navy sailor rescue caught on camera (Editor – 1:58 min video)
Canada ‘continues to monitor’ U.S. boat strikes in Caribbean as questions swirl and allies squirm
More U.S. equipment ordered for new Canadian warships
Canada invests $357.7 million to establish Regional Defence Investment Initiative Ok, but do we need to go a step further? Historian Allan Levine on how Canada’s business leaders helped win WW II
ROKN Supports RCN Submariner Embark Program Aboard ROKS Ahnmu
Exercise Viperfish Mercy 2025 (Editor – 1:00 min RCN video) & L’exercice VIPERFISH MERCY 2025 (Editor – Vidéo MRC de 1 min)
Canadian Joint Forces Command aims to improve joint military capabilities (Editor – 4:37 min CTV interview with the LGen who is the inaugural Commander)
Le gouvernement du Canada annonce un partenariat stratégique afin de renforcer les communications militaires dans l’Arctique & Government of Canada announces strategic partnership to strengthen military communications in the Arctic
New rifles on the way for Canada’s soldiers as defence spending ramps up
Canada needs to have a national conversation about mobilization, but it shouldn’t start with an internal directive (Editor – please excuse the format, but it was the only publication I could find that didn’t require a subscription)
60 Seconds with… NCdt Isla Adams, RMC Women’s Fencing athlete (Editor 1:28 sec CAF video) & Soixante secondes avec… l’Aspm Isla Adams, athlète de l’équipe féminine d’escrime du CMR
Military police watchdog finds ‘failures’ in investigation into retired major-general
U.S. approves potential US$2.68 billion sale of air strike weapons to Canada
CBSA is strengthening the border: 2025 results and accomplishments & L’ASFC renforce la sécurité frontalière : résultats et réalisations 2025 with CBSA officers in Metro Vancouver seize over 200 kg of opium & Les agents de l’ASFC dans la région métropolitaine de Vancouver saisissent plus de 200 kg d’opium
Canada Completes First Phase of Historic LNG Export Facility
The Waiting War: Canada’s Broken Promise to Veterans
Canadian senator presses Ottawa on only land disputed between the US and Canada
COVE Leads New At-Sea Testing Capability to Advance Canada’s Maritime Security
Canadian Firm Packs Warship-Grade Anti-Submarine Suite in 20-Foot Container
Beyond the Horizon: Discover OneHarbour™ – Enhanced Marine Domain Awareness in Halifax (Editor – includes 57:52 min meeting recording)
Vessel Traffic Forecast – St. Lawrence Great Lakes
Bangladesh emerges as Canada’s top Wheat buyer
Ship Design and Technologies to Reduce Environmental Impact
Commander J. Campbell Clouston Plaque (Bilingue) (Editor – I knew that the RN Commander on the mole at Dunkirk was Canadian, but I didn’t know his background & document d’information. The Commander was killed near the end of the rescue operation and posthumously received a Mention in Despatches for his part in the Dunkirk operation.)
NAC Naval Affairs: Bibliography RCN Leadership (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. 8, 2025
Trump confirms U.S. seizure of oil vessel off Venezuela, says ‘other things are happening’ (Editor – includes pics and videos) how the ship got there From Iran to China to Venezuela – how tanker seized by US hid true location then US sanctions six more ships after seizing oil tanker off Venezuela with U.S. Tanker Seizure Puts 30+ Sanctioned Vessels in Venezuela on Notice apparently U.S. preparing to seize more tankers off Venezuelan coast, sources say
The New US National Security Strategy (Editor – worth a read for perspective before reading the following articles. Ten Jolting Takeaways from Trump’s New National Security Strategy (Editor – preposterous opening statement in this National Security Strategy document) but some nations like the document Trump’s new security strategy aligns with Russia’s interests, Kremlin says
Chinese Hospital Ship Visits Jamaica As US Gunboats Ply Caribbean
U.S. Coast Guard Seizes $1.1B in Cocaine in Record-Breaking Pacific Operation
2 U.S. fighter jets fly over Gulf of Venezuela as lawmakers demand answers on boat strikes
Sinking speedboats with a supercarrier: the lopsided cost of Operation Southern Spear while U.S. admiral says there was no ‘kill them all’ order in boat attack facing Congress scrutiny
And just like that, the Navy’s frigate program is back on—sort of
U.S. Navy Hires Palantir to Reorganize Shipbuilding Supply Chain With AI
Submariners seek hazard review
Medium Landing Ship Design Selected (Editor – 3:54 min video)
USNI: How Do You Know You Are Ready for Battle? (Editor – apart from watching an USN SSBN dive in the Strait of Juna de Fuca, it’s an element of the USN that I had not been exposed to 27:17 min video)
Den Helder Returns to the Caribbean
Saronic Secures $392M Unmanned-Vessel Contract From the U.S. Navy
USNI: A Conversation with World War II Submariner Patrick Zilliacus (Editor – interview 34:56 min video)
$44 billion LNG project in Alaska pulls off hat trick deal as new partner enters the scene
INDO-PACIFIC
Pacific Ocean and adjoining seas
Leaked U.S. war games show China could sink USS Gerald R. Ford carrier in potential Taiwan conflict
China’s New Underwater Drones Could Threaten West Coast U.S.
China’s Jetank ‘airborne UAV carrier’ drone completes maiden flight: official media
South Korea and the U.S. to Build Navy Underwater Drone Swarms to Counter China in Indo-Pacific
CSIS: Escalating Japan-China Tensions: Insights from the Past and Prospects for the Future and Japan keeps tabs on 4 Chinese Navy ships near Okinawa after military stand-off
China calls for upholding fair, just international maritime order
Hegseth Eyes Increased Pacific Basing Access, Deterrence Efforts Along First Island Chain
Japan’s Navy: Its Biggest Strengths and Biggest Weaknesses Explained
Liaoning carrier formation approached, harassed by Japanese SDF aircraft during fighter training near Miyako Strait; Japan’s hypes inconsistent with facts: spokesperson with Japan’s accusation of Chinese carrier-based aircraft locking radar onto Japanese warplanes a case of perpetrator blaming victim: expert (Editor – war of words continues)
Australia on high alert as PLA Navy flotilla in Philippine Sea sails south
7 Chinese warships followed our navy vessel on its East Asia mission, New Zealand says
Navy Recovers 2 Aircraft that Crashed in the South China Sea during USS Nimitz Deployment
China Trade Surplus Tops $1 Trillion for First Time on Non-US Growth
China Signs the Largest Commercial Ship Contract in its History | 87 Ships for $7.1 Billion (USD) (Editor – 10:32 min video)
Indian Ocean and adjoining seas
‘Total collapse’: Strategic policy expert warns New World Order is here
Old but deadly: India bets on 36-year-old Russian nuke submarine despite Washington’s pressure however confusingly India debunks media reports of new Russian submarine lease
Pakistan Set to Commission AIP-Equipped Submarines Ahead of India: Report
India And Brazil Ink MoU For Maintenance of Scorpene-Class Submarines
Indian navy’s power surge: Russia offers Kalibr-PL missile with 1500 km range
Large Indian Refiners Take Russian Oil as Reliance Avoids Trade
EUROPE
Black Sea:
Ukraine Hits Third Russia Shadow Fleet Tanker in Black Sea
Ukraine’s gloves are off in its energy war with Russia. How much can it increase the pressure? (Editor – Oil Platform in the Caspian Sea stuck. Interesting summary map.)
Russia raises tensions as Turkey steps into Black Sea dispute | Eastern Express (Editor – useful perspective in a 22:49 min news video. A bit about Russian Indian relations at the end)
Russia did not annex Crimea, but extended helping hand to its people — Putin and in explanation Why can’t Russia get along with its neighbors? – Sarah Paine (Editor – 3:26 min video)
Bulgaria Rescuing Sanctioned Tanker That Was Hit By Ukrainian Drone then Bulgaria Seeks Answers as First of Crew is Removed from Sanctioned Tanker
Tanker Operator Quits Russian Trade After Suspected Ukrainian Strike (Editor – I suspect insurance rates will be a major factor) for insight Shipping 101: Ships, Insurance, Registries & Classification (Editor – useful explanation in a 13:43 min video)
NATO Sounds Alarm on Black Sea Tanker Attacks
New Bulgarian Patrol Ship Brave Heralds Naval Modernization and Stronger Black Sea Defense
Inside the $20 Billion Eurasia Canal That Could Rewrite Global Trade (Editor – a new strategic wrinkle in a 9:39 min video)
Baltic Sea:
German Courts Debate Seizure of Russian Oil and Shadow Fleet Tanker finally German Court Blocks Authorities From Selling Suspected Russian Oil Tanker Cargo
Name of killed ‘hero of Russia’ lives on with a 35-year-old hulk (Editor – weird item)
Naval Group offers MP-OPV to Lithuanian Navy
Poland taps JFD Global for new submarine rescue capability
The Baltic Sea Crisis: Russia’s New Threat to the EU | Documentary – AT (Editor – background in a 51:31 min video)
General:
Britain — Dangerously Exposed Before the Blizzard (Editor – wakeup call)
Britain close to losing the Atlantic, First Sea Lord warns and BRITAIN’S SUBMARINE CRISIS EXPLODES: UK’s Nuke Fleet Near Collapse Top Admiral Warns| Times NowWorld (Editor – 4:01 min video)
First Sea Lord issues blunt warning: “we need to be ready to fight”
Russian navy chief accuses NATO of stepping up spying activities in the Arctic, TASS reports
Norway moves to buy two more Type 212CD submarines
Royal Navy unveils new Atlantic strategy to counter Russian threat and more in Atlantic Bastion: UK’s new advanced hybrid naval force (Editor – 3:53 min video) with U.K. Wants New Hybrid Fleet to Counter Russian Submarines
NATO Exercise REPMUS 2025 – Portugal’s Power Play (Editor – 10:33 min CDR video)
Norway to spend $6.4 billion on two more submarines, long-range strike
In pictures: HNoMS Roald Amundsen returns to Norway after CSG25 deployment
Putin’s Arctic Nuclear Fortress (Editor – wide-ranging and thought provoking 54:01 min video)
UK ‘incapable’ of maintaining nuclear submarine capability as expert issues brutal verdict
Turkey Builds First Indigenous Submarine
Babcock offer drone warships with Type 31 command ships
Eighteen Die After Migrant Boat Sinks Off Southern Greek Island
‘Dark Fleet’ LNG Carrier Forced to Turn Back as Early Winter Ice Blocks Access to Arctic LNG 2
MIDDLE EAST
Red Sea and Gulf of Aden:
Russian Navy Flotilla Conducts Exercises in the Red Sea
U.S. and Israeli Navies Conclude Exercise Intrinsic Defender
Red Sea Return Imminent for Container Shipping
General:
HMS Lancaster to be decommissioned in Bahrain and Time-honoured Lancaster axed as gaunt Royal Navy fades into history
Saudi naval forces conclude Medusa-14 exercise in Egypt
GLOBAL INTERESTS
Navy chief says Arctic vital for Russia
Global Seaborne Trade Reaches Historic $35 Trillion as Regional Shifts Reshape Maritime Flows
Study confirms IMO 2020 rule cut ship sulphur emissions tenfold (Editor – a ray of sunshine!)
SCUTTLEBUTT
U.S. Navy Marks a Milestone for the Preservation of USS Arizona
Sold: Unique piece of military history that needs a boat to get to it sells under the hammer
UC-Type U-Boats – Guide 469 (Editor – 8:15 min video)
Royal Navy Corvettes (Editor – 7:06 min video) yet this one remains the best summary HMCS Sackville – The Perennial Flower (Editor – 30:51 min video) and yet another first-rate one Canada Built 123 Corvettes in Four Years — And They Escorted 25,000 Merchant Ships (Editor – 24:33 min video)
The Fletcher-Class Factory That Built 175 Destroyers In 32 Months — More Than One Ship Per Week (Editor – 26:30 min video)
Underwater Monster – The Largest Submarine Ever Built!
Germans Said Cherbourg Would Take 6 Months To Repair — Until US Engineers Did It In 20 Days (Editor – 43:29 min video)
THIS WEEK IN RCN/MARITIME HISTORY
13 December 1940 HMCS Royal Roads is commissioned as a training establishment for Volunteer Reserve Probationary Sub-Lieutenants. Five classes were instructed there, each containing between 100 and 125 men. This programme came to an end in September 1942 when the naval college took over the buildings. The three establishments; Stone Frigate, Royal Roads, and Kings, trained about 3,800 executive officers, and at the peak the navy’s strength there were roughly 4,000 executive officers in the R.C.N.V.R.
14 December 1812 HMS Plumber, a gun brig, under command of Lieutenant Josias Bray had successfully captured three small American privateers in the Bay of Fundy. However, in a raging snowstorm, at 0400 hours on the morning of 5 December 1812, on route to Saint John from Halifax, with about 75 crew and passengers aboard, Plumper hit a ledge of rock off Dipper Harbour, since named Plumper Head, and sank. Although Bray was among the survivors, forty-two others perished. Of note, Plumper carried at least 36,000 pounds sterling (£3M+ today) in gold and silver specie to pay the British garrison. Records show that the British authorities recovered about half the money immediately after the sinking. The wreck is a protected provincial historic site.
14 December 1915 Flight Sub-Lieutenant (RNAS) A.S. Ince, DSC while flying as observer in a Viewpoint aircraft shot down in flames a German two-seater. The victory, the first confirmed success credited to a Canadian airman, won for Ince the DSC, the first decoration awarded a Canadian (Toronto born) in the RNAS.
16 December 2021 HMCS Winnipeg completes its deployment to the Indo-Pacific region on Operation Projection, an ongoing naval presence mission to promote peace and stability.
17 December 1944 HMCS Montreal rescues survivors of U-Boat 1209 wrecked on Wolf Rock southwest of Land’s End.
19 December 1945 The Government of Canada approves in principle the formation of a naval air branch.
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) Last and far from least Gary Weir’s For Prosperity’s Sake RCN historical project site.
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