NAC News – Edition 650 HMCS Prevost
Your weekly national and international naval news for the week of January 2, 2026
Edition 650 HMCS Prevost Quote: “The deal coincides with substantial funding under President Trump’s signature “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”, which includes nearly $9 billion allocated specifically for building a series of heavy, medium, and light Arctic Security Cutters. In October, a Bollinger-led consortium for the design and construction of six Arctic Security Cutters. The team consists of Louisiana-based Bollinger Shipyards, Finland’s Rauma Marine Constructions, Canada’s Seaspan Shipyards, and Finland’s Aker Arctic Technology, which will leverage the production-ready Multi-Purpose Icebreaker design developed by Seaspan and Aker Arctic for operations in extreme polar environments.” Coast Guard Awards Landmark Arctic Security Cutter Contracts in U.S.-Finland Partnership, gCaptain, Mike Schuler, 29 December 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
REPEAT Editor – a reminder to members that for those that haven’t done so already please renew your 2026 annual membership, preferably through NAC national process to simplify the financial and tax receipt aspects, but through your branch if you must.
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)
NEW 30 April 2026 Maritime Defence and Security Symposium and BOA Gala, the Halifax Hotel, Halifax. The symposium will be co-hosted by NAC and the Canadian Maritime Security Network. The symposium theme “Canada in Alliance & Conflict: The Will of a Nation.” A reception will be held the evening of 29 April ahead of the symposium. The evening of 30 April NS NAC will host the National BOA Gala at the same venue. Details to follow in due course but mark your calendars and hold that date!
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 The CNMT has indicated that to mark the 85th anniversary of the launch of HMCS Sackville (English) & (Française) that she will be ceremonially re-commissioning back into the RCN. Details to follow)
THIS WEEK’S SIGNIFICANT ARTICLE
John Simpson: ‘I’ve reported on 40 wars but I’ve never seen a year like 2025’
CANADA
Iran lists Canada’s navy as terrorist organization in response to move by Ottawa
NSS Key Milestones 2025 – Polar Icebreaker, River-class Destroyers (Editor – great summary of impressive progress)
Navy ponders concept of Canadian-built amphibious landing ship for Arctic operations and Canadian navy exploring amphibious landing ship concepts (Editor – 2:35 min CBC video) with Meet Canada’s New Multipurpose Amphibious Landing Ships (Editor – 3:10 min video, all just speculation of course!)
HMCS Max Bernays AOPV Back from Historic Deployment (Editor – 12:04 min video)
In 2025, melting sea ice allowed a Canadian icebreaker to enter the world’s last ice area
Military recruitment efforts boosted by tough youth job market, global instability (Editor – 2:20 min CBC video)
NRAC’s Mess Deck Connexions du carré – December 2025 (English) & (Française)
NAC Naval Affairs: Bibliography Naval Diplomacy (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. 29, 2025
Caribbean Sea:
Trump says U.S. struck dock in Venezuela where he says alleged drug boats ‘load up’
‘Scrapped’ Tanker Rises From the Dead: Inside Venezuela’s Expanding Zombie Fleet
Sanctioned Tanker Links Russia’s Arctic Oil Trade to Venezuela for First Time
Venezuela’s Shadow Fleet Tests Trump Blockade with Tanker Arrivals
General:
2 Dead in Latest U.S. Strike on Suspected Narco Boat in Eastern Pacific then U.S. military says 8 killed in strikes on 5 more alleged drug boats — but survivors jumped overboard however Search Launched for Four Survivors After U.S. Strike on Three Drug Boats
U.S. Coast Guard USCGC Active Medium Endurance Cutter Seizes Nearly 3 Tons of Cocaine
Final retirement planning phase begins for America’s oldest active aircraft carrier
Report to Congress on BBG(X) Battleship Program
US Navy boosts fleet power with delivery of newest Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyer
USNI: Admiral Gets Real About What the Navy Needs (and Doesn’t Need) (Editor – first-rate 43:40 min video interview packed with lessons)
(Another) U.S. Shipbuilding Disaster – The Constellation Class & U.S. Fleet Modernisation (Editor – first-rate and thought provoking1:01:32 hr video)
Analysts Question Whether Trump-Class Battleship Will be Built (Editor – “the Emperor has no clothes”, Hans Christian Andersen’s tale)
What Would Mahan Think About Trump’s Venezuela Strategy?
U.S. Navy completes first Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine refueling overhaul
UK Navy HMS Forth Offshore Patrol Vessel Reaffirms British Sovereignty in South Atlantic
The Navy Finally Found a Job for the LCS And Now It’s Finally Useful (Editor – 3:01 min video)
Why SM-6 missile is an awesome weapon ? (Editor – tremendous summary of one of the likely weapons for the Fraser Class in a 9:01 min video)
Why little publicized VL-ASROC is an impressive weapon for US Navy ? (Editor – 8:13 min video. It would seem the Fraser Class will not have this capable system.)
Why Mk 48 torpedo is a key weapon for the US military ? (Editor – 8:01 min video)
What makes Phalanx CIWS so important for US military ? (Editor – 8:47 min video)
Why Can’t a Destroyer Fire All Its Missiles at Once? (Editor – 0:45 sec video)
U.S. Navy MQ-25A Stingray tanker drone anchors future carrier operations in FY2026 plan
U.S. Navy plans FY2026 purchase of 12 SM-3 Block IIA air defence missiles for Aegis warships
Abandoned Transatlantic Rowboat Rediscovered After Three Years at Sea
INDO-PACIFIC
Pacific Ocean and adjoining seas:
Why the PLA Navy is Racing to Modernize its Fleet (Editor – Eye candy in a gung-ho Chinese naval 6:14 min video)
PLA Navy commissions new Type 052D destroyer with enhanced capabilities
Thailand, Cambodia sign new ceasefire deal to end weeks of border fighting
Carrier Strike Group Abraham Lincoln Operating in Philippine Sea, USS Tripoli in East China Sea
China Launches Military Drills Around Taiwan Amid Tensions With Japan with Type 075 amphibious assault ship joins drills surrounding Taiwan for first time conducting Chinese Forces Fire Rockets Near Taiwan, Practice Port Seizure with Amphibious Forces and the war of words Editorial | Powerful PLA drill shows US arms sales don’t help Taiwan Strait stability in explanation Explainer: Three key takeaways of PLA’s “Justice Mission 2025” drills around Taiwan
Taiwan Eyes 1,600 Unmanned Attack Vessels Under $39.8B Defense Plan
HD Hyundai Heavy to build two more 3,200-ton frigates for Philippine Navy
Japan Bans Kawasaki From Defense Bids Over Submarine Data Fraud
The World’s Most Expensive Frigate? Inside Australia’s Hunter Class (Editor – cautionary assessment in a 13:03 min video) then a half full assessment Australia’s Next-Gen Warship: Speed Building the Hunter-Class Frigate then Hunter Class frigate director-general hits back at renewed criticism
Why the US Military is Building a $400 Million Runway in the Middle of the Pacific (Editor – 16:39 min video) while Why China Built an Unsinkable Aircraft Carrier (Editor – 1:00 min video)
China Arms a Container Ship | Picket/Surveillance | First Strike | Cost Effective | Expendable (Editor – gamechanger? 19:21 min video)
China Issues First Penalty for Starlink Use in Territorial Waters
Indian Ocean and adjoining seas:
India’s 4th SSBN (S4*) enters sea trials
Italy–India naval defence ties deepen with major Fincantieri contract
India’s $5.4 Billion Shipbuilding Gambit Takes Aim at China—and Rattles the West
EUROPE
Black and Caspian Seas:
Russia’s losses in Ukraine rise faster than ever as US pushes for peace deal (Editor – compare this with 58,200 US military killed during the nearly 20 years of the Vietnam War, or 42,042 Canadian military during WW2. Incredible that the Russians sustaining and accepting this?)
Russia Attacks Ukraine’s Black Sea Ports and Civilian Ships, Kyiv Says and Russia and Ukraine Trade Strikes on Black Sea Ports
Ukraine Hits Russian Oil Export Terminal Near Kerch Strait
Baltic Sea:
Finland Detains Vessel Suspected of Subsea Cable Damage then Finland Arrests Two Crewmembers and Seizes Cargo from Suspect Cargo Ship
Sweden Warns Russian Subs And Shadow Fleet Tankers Are Swarming The Baltic (Editor – 9:25 min video)
Denmark moves to acquire P-8A Poseidon aircraft under $1.8 billion deal
General:
2025 sees highest British defence exports since records began in huge boost to workers and companies
What would Julian Corbett Say About the Post 2014 Global Crisis?
£1 billion GPS disruption risk prompts Royal Navy quantum navigation testing
Life On A Royal Navy Destroyer | Warship: Life At Sea | S1 EP1 (Editor – 44:36 min video)
NH90 MSPT of the Spanish Navy (Editor – 9:51 min video)
Arctic Shipping Lane Sees Surge in ‘Shadow Fleet’ Traffic, Totaling 100 Sanctioned Vessels
Major update as bombshell report claims Russian ship was carrying deadly nuclear cargo
The Silent Warrior | Inside Britain’s Secret Nuclear Submarine (Editor – 44:24 min video)
New tech, old threats: Royal Navy to get AI-powered command hubs to tackle mines
$11 billion investment agenda on Gazprom’s 2026 horizon
Nexans sets world record by installing power cable 2,150 meters under water
MIDDLE EAST
Red Sea and Gulf of Aden:
Saudi Arabian Forces Bomb Port in Yemen Raising Tensions with UAE
Is the Red Sea Reopening? | Why Is the EU Escorting but Not the US Navy? | Disruptions Expected (Editor – 13:05 min video)
HMS Duncan Confronts Russian Jets | Royal Navy Destroyer | Warship: Life At Sea | S1 EP2 (Editor – start of a series in a 44:45 min video)
General:
Trump warns US will intervene if Iran kills protesters
Report: Chinese Fishing Vessel Hijacked Off Somalia
French Frigates Seize $142 Million in Drugs in Arabian Sea
$35 billion gas export deal good to roll
GLOBAL INTERESTS
BRICS Plus to hold naval exercise in South African waters in early January
Global 2025 LNG Exports Saw Biggest Jump in Three Years
SCUTTLEBUTT
HMS Sheffield Sunk in Falklands War (1982) | A Day That Shook the World (Editor – 2:42 min video)
1982: Falklands War – Lethal Air Attacks On British Ships (Editor – 8:52 min video)
Bridge vs Conning Tower (Editor – 1:35 min video)
The Halifax Explosion and the Boston Christmas Tree (Editor – 2:00 min video)
THIS WEEK IN RCN/MARITIME HISTORY
4 January 1943 HMCS Prince Henry is re-commissioned as Landing Ship Infantry (Medium).
4 January 1945 German U-boats torpedoed steamship “Polarland” near Halifax; Canadian merchant ship “Nipiwan Park” also had her bow was blown off up almost to the bridge, but she was towed into Halifax, rebuilt, bought by Irving Oil as a tanker. As an extra note, all the Park ships were named after actual parks. But the park that this ship was named after is the Nipawin Park in Manitoba. The spelling & launching name error was not noticed until much later!
4 January 1781 Royal Navy press gang seizes Lunenburg farmers in Halifax and puts them on a British Man-of-War, despite a jury finding that the impressment is illegal.
7 January 1941 A Special Committee of the Cabinet War Committee recommends that Japanese Canadians not be allowed to volunteer for the armed services on the grounds that there is strong public opinion against them.
8 January 1944 HMCS Camrose commanded by A/LCDR L. Raymond Pavillard, RCNR, and HMS Bayntun sank the German submarine U-757 in the North Atlantic.
9 January 1945 HMCS Ehkoli, a former RCN patrol boat, is re-commissioned in the RCN as a survey vessel but goes on changing roles and missions for eight decades.
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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