NAC News – Edition 658 HMCS York
Your weekly national and international naval news for the week of February 27, 2026
Edition 658 HMCS York Quote: “The PRC may be using signal spoofing to make ship-tracking software detect illusory PRC vessels, including a China Coast Guard (CCG) ship, inside a Taiwanese harbor. A PRC boat that has infiltrated New Taipei may be broadcasting the spoofed signals as part of a cognitive warfare effort to degrade Taiwan’s threat awareness. ISW-CDOT found dozens of Automatic Identification System (AIS) signals of PRC vessels that have intermittently appeared and disappeared at the mouth of the Tamsui River in New Taipei, Taiwan from at least May 2023 through February 2026, based on ship-tracking data from Starboard Maritime Intelligence. AIS is a system installed on most ships that broadcasts the ship’s identity, location, and other relevant data. At least two of the PRC signals near the Tamsui harbor had the name “CHINACOASTGUARD 18602,” the name of a real CCG ship. No sources reported a CCG ship entering Taiwan’s internal waters, however, indicating that the signals were fake. Dozens of other AIS signals indicated the presence of PRC fishing or cargo vessels. ISW-CDOT assesses that all of these signals were spoofed and do not represent real PRC vessels near New Taipei, because the signals appeared very briefly before “teleporting” to other locations hundreds of miles away.” ISW China & Taiwan Update, Authors: Daniel Shats, Matthew Sperzel, Alison O’Neil, and Karina Wugang of the Institute for the Study of War; Alexis Turek, Luke Jacobus, and Yeji Chung of the American Enterprise Institute, 23 February 2026
Rod Hughes: Editor NAC News roderickghughes@icloud.com (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
4-5 March 2026 CDAI 2026 Ottawa Conference on Security and Defence, Fairmont Chateau Laurier Hotel, Ottawa
NEW 23 March 2026 Take the 2026–2027 Advocacy Survey The Conference of Defence Associations (CDA) looks toward the 2026–2027 period, their priority remains clear: to serve as a strong, unified voice that ensures members of the CAF have the resources, support, and capabilities they need to carry out the missions entrusted to them. To do this effectively, CDA (of which NAC is a member) needs to hear directly from you. The information gathered through this survey will be instrumental in developing our upcoming advocacy strategy. Your insights ensure that CDA’s efforts accurately reflect the needs and priorities of the entire defence community.
23 March 2026 NRAC AGM 7 pm Montreal time, hosted by HMCS Donnacona.
The guest speaker is Rear-Admiral Mike Hopper, the Chief of Reserves. The Admiral is also on the Canadian Forces Liaison Council.
NEW 23 March 2026 The Story of Canadian Corvettes 10:30-11:30 am Great Lakes Museum, 55 Ontario St., Kingston, ON. $6 per person (includes Museum Admission)
29-30 April 2026 Naval Association of Canada Defence and Maritime Security Conference themed “Canada in Alliance: Maritime Security in a Changing World” & Battle of the Atlantic (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!
12 -14 May 2026 Mari-Tech 2026 ABCMI Co-hosting with CIMaRE & SNAME Venue: Victoria Conference Centre, 720 Douglas Street’ Victoria, BC
13-15 May 2026 NIBC 2026 Conference – Maritime Arctic Victoria Marriott Inner Harbour hotel, Victoria BC. (Editor – NAC-VI helps financially sponsor this event)
15 May 2026 11:00 am at Sackville Landing. 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. For CNMT members you are invited to participate as members of the Re-Commissioning Crew with me J)
25-27 June 2026 RCN Historical Conference – CFB Esquimalt, venue possibly HMCS Venture. Details TBP.
13-16 July, 2026, Monday-Tuesday, Maritime & Arctic Security & Safety Conference (MASS) St. John’s Convention Centre, St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. Register early and receive 20% off conference passes. Offer available until April 1, 2026
THIS WEEK’S SIGNIFICANT ARTICLE
Statement marking four years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine & Déclaration visant à marquer les quatre ans écoulés depuis le début de l’invasion à grande échelle de l’Ukraine par la Russie
Archers need arrows: Deficiencies in U.S. submarine munitions (Editor – a cautionary note. The same is likely true for all major naval weapon systems of the US and allies)
CANADA
Canada and South Korea sign a defence agreement
Canadian Navy Fires Harpoon Missile at Exercise Talisman Sabre in Australia (Editor – first 11:00 mins explain the Canadian Joint Operations Command [CJOC] with the remaining 2:30 about Harpoon firing)
Future naval occupations determined to ensure readiness & Les futures spécialités navales pour garantir la préparation opérationnelle
Algoma Steel Ships 600 Tons of Made-in-Ontario Steel for Canada’s New “Polar Max” Icebreaker (Editor – 2:06 min video)
CGAI: Breaking Down the Defence Investment Agency (Editor – 27:35 min podcast)
CGAI: Operationalizing the Defence Industrial Strategy: Can Canada Deliver? (Editor – 44:33 min podcast)
Trust, Sacrifice, and the Sea: The Story of S3 Marco Petrucci (Editor – great RCN/MRC 3:28 min video) & La confiance, le sacrifice et la mer : Le récit du Mat 3 Marco Petrucci
The unsung heroes of making sure that the ship is OPERATIONAL and MOVING! (Editor – RCN/MRC 1:45 min video)
Recovering a helicopter trapped UNDER ICE?! (Editor – RCN/MRC 0:40 sec video) Récupérer un hélicoptère coincé SOUS LA GLACE ?!
Naval Reservists level up twice by advancing in their civilian AND naval career! (Editor – RCN/MRC recruiting 0:50 sec video) & Réservistes navals progressent à deux niveaux dans leur carrière civile & dans leur carrière navale!
Immigration Department helping Canadian military recruit foreign military members
Ottawa spending $3.7 billion to boost military housing stock and Thousands of New Homes Planned to Support Canadian Military Families and Construction of new Residential Housing Units & Construction de nouvelles unités de logement résidentiel
Ocean Networks Canada Celebrating 20 years of ocean monitoring & exploration why this sort of research matters The ‘Big One’ just got more complicated (Editor – 3:27 min CBC News video)
Behind the Scenes of a Canadian Naval Ship Launch at Point Hope! (Editor – if watched recommend jumping through this long 1:22:22 hr video)
Ahead of budget bill vote, veterans plead with Ottawa to change course
‘We have failed them’: Studies overlook sex, gender in veteran pain care
Vancouver port applies to dredge Burrard Inlet this year to fuel oil exports
Australia Ships LNG 16,000 Miles to Canada as Asia Demand Slumps (Editor – Canada with its own reserves of natural gas is importing it from the other side of the planet)
Government of Canada launches market sounding study to strengthen growth at the Port of Churchill & Le gouvernement du Canada lance une étude de sondage du marché pour favoriser la croissance au port de Churchill
B.C. Ferries fleet-maintenance project balloons to $168.5M
Lookout: 23 February 2026, Volume 71, Issue4 (English) & (Française) (Editor – if you are holding a print copy of this newspaper, you are reading one of the last editions of the Lookout that will roll off a traditional press. Effective April 6, 2026, the Lookout Navy News will transition to a predominantly digital publication from its past paper format.)
Trident: Monday 23 February 2026 Volume 60, Issue 04 (Bilingue)
NAC Naval Affairs: Bibliography Naval Strategy (Editor – NAC Naval Affairs Papers, Briefing Notes, Niobe Papers, and much more. Please share with people you think may benefit from the knowledge, after all, that’s what your naval affairs programme is all about; enlightening Canadians about maritime affairs and the need for the RCN.
USA & AMERICAS
USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker: Feb. 23, 2026
Denmark Stands Up MQ-9B SeaGuardian Squadron to Boost Arctic Monitoring (Editor – seems to be the same vehicle Canada has chosen RPAS – Remotely Piloted Aerial Systems) and of note MQ-9B drone to get long-range strike missiles
4 killed in shootout involving U.S.-registered boat, Cuban officials say with American citizen among those killed in Cuba boat shooting, US official says
Trump Bestows Two Medals of Honor During SOTU (Editor – 3:30 min video)
US Notches One of Its Biggest Annual Trade Gaps Since 1960
U.S. military says strike on alleged drug boat kills 3 in Caribbean Sea
4 tons of cocaine seized from “narco sub” off Mexico as El Salvador makes record drug bust at sea
13 Warships, Support Ships Slated for Inactivation This Year
Austal USA Launches the Future USNS Solomon Atkinson (T-ATS 12)
Cuba Bound Tanker Carrying Russian Fuels To Test Trump Blockade
Pentagon Plans 300 MW Floating Nuclear Power Plant for U.S. Military Base by 2028
Denmark Evacuates US Submarine Crew Member In Greenlandic Waters
Greenland says ‘no thanks’ to Trump US hospital boat
After Frigate Setbacks, Navy Turns to Commercial-Style Construction Manager for Medium Landing Ship Program with Two shipyards to build new medium landing ships for US Navy
US Navy amphibious ship to get joint strike fighter capability following upgrades
CO of USS Truxtun Removed from Command after Oiler Collision
US Revokes Visas For Chile Officials Over China Cable Plan
Venezuela Readies Larger Oil Cargoes for Export, Targets India
A Decade of Dominance: How the U.S. Conquered Global LNG Export Markets
INDO-PACIFIC
Pacific Ocean and adjoining seas:
You’re probably wrong about hypersonic missiles (Editor – useful 2:39 min video)
Chinese Navy in 2026: Strengths, Weaknesses, and the Real Balance of Power (Editor – useful unclassified 21:43 min brief)
China surpasses U.S. in nuclear submarine production with 10 boats launched in five years
Resilience under fire: how US’s WWII airfield upgrades back Taiwan
Beijing monitors Australian frigate HMAS Toowoomba’s passage through Taiwan Strait and Australian warship ignores Chinese warnings
China’s 155mm naval gun seen on test vessel, signalling boost to amphibious landing power
U.S. Marines Deploy MV-22B Osprey from USS Boxer to Boost Indo-Pacific Assault Reach
Austal awarded ~$4 billion Landing Craft Heavy Contract by Commonwealth Department of Defence
How China wants to do the Impossible (Editor – 17:32 min video) and How would a war between the US and China play out? (Editor – 2:56 min video)
U.S., Philippines Commit to Increased Missile, Drone Deployments in First Island Chain
US Naval College: CMSI Note 19: China’s Blue-Water Research Fleet: Science in
New Zealand Slaps Sanctions on 100 Russian ‘Shadow Fleet’ Vessels
China Snaps Up Distressed Russian Oil Cargoes Shunned by India
Indian Ocean and adjoining seas:
India Nears Triple SSBN Milestone With INS Aridhaman Commissioning to Fortify Nuclear Deterrence and in the wings S5 Nuke Boat: India’s 17,000-Ton Nuclear Titans to Shadow China’s Heartland (Editor – the expansion of the Indian navy is impressive)
U.S. Captures Third ‘Shadow Fleet’ Tanker in Indian Ocean
HMS Anson arrives in Australia
Indian Navy to commission ‘Dolphin Hunter’ warship Anjadip
Malaysia Launches Third Littoral Combat Ship
EUROPE
Black and Caspian Seas:
Four years into its full-scale war in Ukraine, Russia is feeling the effects and a good perspective Land, air and sea: is Russia losing in Ukraine? | Michael Clarke analysis | Ukraine-Russia war (Editor – 9:00 min video)
Carney pledges $2B for Ukraine, sanctions for Russian ‘shadow fleet’ as war enters 5th year
Russian soldiers tell BBC they saw fellow troops executed on commanders’ orders (Editor – desperate measures indeed)
CSIS: Food as the “Silent Weapon”: Russia’s Gains and Ukraine’s Losses (Editor – global implications explained) Ukraine’s Grain, Iron Ore Exports Hit by Russian Strikes on Ports This Winter
Slovakia Threatens To Stop Electricity To Ukraine Unless Kyiv Resumes Piping Russian Oil
Baltic Sea:
French Carrier Strike Group Heading to North Atlantic, Baltic and Drone jammed near French aircraft carrier was probably Russian, says Sweden
Germany Takes Delivery of Israeli-Made Underwater Drone
Sweden prepares to put a foot back in blue water with frigate acquisition
FMV Signs Contract for New Logistic Support Vessels for Swedish Navy
Mediterranean Sea:
USS Gerald R. Ford Now in the Mediterranean Sea, More U.S. Forces Deploy to Middle East explanation The 1,200-Mile Trap: Why USS Ford Chose the Med over the Persian Gulf (Editor – 20:43 min video)
Italy’s Meloni moves to allow naval blockades against migrants
NATO Integrates Drones in Latest Major Exercises in the Baltic, Mediterranean Seas
General:
Northern Fleet warns of missile firing into Norwegian EEZ on anniversary of Ukraine all-out invasion
Exclusive tour onboard Tara Polar Station (Editor – something very different in a 4:05 min video) Tara Polar Station en français Tara Polar Station
Fincantieri Launches first PPX Next Gen OPV for Italian Navy
French Navy’s fourth Suffren-class submarine enters sea trials
Second Type 31 frigate, HMS Active rolled out from the build hall in Rosyth
Belgian Navy Deploys Shore-Based Drone Control for Mine Countermeasures Vessel Oostende
The status of the Type 26 Frigate project (Editor – 2:03 min video)
Stability over speed: Pioneer – a different approach to uncrewed surface vessels
Russian Military Cargo Ship Continues Mysterious Maneuvers
Russia Signals Naval Shield for Shadow Fleet as Sanctions Enforcement Turns Physical while Nordic Nations Rule Out Seizure of Russian Shadow Fleet Ships
Russia Executes First-Ever Triple Arctic LNG Ship-to-Ship Transfer Amid Sanctions
Denmark Holds Iran-Flagged Containership Over Registration Concerns
RFA Argus to be scrapped
MIDDLE EAST
General:
The 1,200-Mile Trap: Why USS Ford Chose the Med over the Persian Gulf (Editor – insightful 20:43 min video) plus America is boosting production on stealth cruise missiles (Editor – more weapons coming in a 2:58 min video)
America is boosting production on stealth cruise missiles (Editor – 2:58 min video)
The US is boosting tomahawk missile production (Editor – 2:13 min video)
The US is building a huge stockpile of air-to-air missiles (Editor – 1:46 min video)
CSIS: U.S. Military in the Middle East: Numbers Behind Trump’s Threats Against Iran (Editor – excellent perspective on US forces) with Over 300 US aircraft sent to Middle East since beginning of January — agency
Iran designates EU countries’ navies, air forces as terrorist organizations
Iran Nears Deal to Buy Supersonic Anti-Ship Missiles from China
Royal Navy takes command of anti-piracy task force as captain signals uncrewed push
Iranian and Russian Navies Carry Out Anti-Piracy Drills, Without China
Iran Loads 20 Million Barrels of Oil Onto Tankers as U.S. Military Buildup Intensifies
U.S. Treasury Sanctions 12 Tankers in Iran’s Shadow Fleet
Red Sea and Gulf of Aden:
European Council extends mandate of Operation Aspides security initiative
Report to Congress on Yemen and Red Sea Security
GLOBAL INTERESTS
They Almost Fired This Engineer — Then His Gun Destroyed Japan’s Mightiest Battleships! (Editor – perhaps my new favourite in a 25:22 min video)
Sanctions, Seizures, and the Limits of Maritime Visibility (Editor – useful perspective)
Arctic ship traffic rises 40% since 2013, driven by resource development
Permanent Docking Pier Reaches McMurdo Station After 9,100-Nautical-Mile Tow
SCUTTLEBUTT
D-Day Through British Eyes: The Story America Doesn’t Tell (Editor – highlights more Brits and Canucks than Yanks)
Japanese Officers Couldn’t Believe America Built Entire Naval Bases On Remote Atolls (Editor – 41:54 min video)
Why the US Navy Keeps a Gun That FAILS at Mach 5 (Editor – interesting start in 16:38 min video)
The Battle that Saved Taiwan – Kinmen Island 1949 (Editor – 17:13 min video)
Q-Ships Britain’s Deadliest Trap of World War One (Editor – 2:28 min video)
THIS WEEK IN RCN/MARITIME HISTORY
28 February 1946 HMCS Cornwallis is paid off, and recruit training begins to be conducted at local naval depots.
28 February 1991 Operation Desert Storm, the combat phase of the Persian Gulf War ends.
1 March 1928 HM Ships Torbay and Toreador are recommissioned into the RCN as HMC Ships Champlain and Vancouver, replacing HMC Ships Patriot and Patrician.
2 March 2011 HMCS Charlottetown heads for Libya to provide humanitarian assistance.
3 March 1921 HMC Submarines CH-14 and CH-15 are commissioned into the RCN. The submarines are H-Class ordered by the RN and built in the US. They did not see action during WWI and were eventually gifted to Canada. They were both scrapped and broken up in 1927.
4 March 1943 HMC Ships Shediac commanded by Lt John E. Clayton, RCNR with St. Croix commanded by LCdr A. Hedley Dobson, DSC, RCNR sank the German submarine U-87 off the coast of Leixões in Portugal.
6 March 1944 HMC Ships St. Catharines commanded by LCDR Herbert C.R. Davis, RCNR, HMCS Chilliwack commanded by LCDR Clifton P. Coughlin, RCNVR, HMCS Gatineau commanded by LCdr Harold V.W. Groos, RCN, HMCS Fennel commanded by A/LCdr William P. Moffat, RCNVR, and HMCS Chaudière commanded by A/LCdr C. Patrick Nixon, RCN, assist Royal Naval warships in the sinking of the German submarine U-744 in the North Atlantic.
6 March 1945 The SS Green Hill Park was one of about 400 freighters built for the allied merchant navies by the Park Steamship Company which was owned by the Government of Canada. On the 6th of March 1945, the Green Hill Park exploded, and burst into flames, in Vancouver harbour while loading cargo at the Canadian Pacific Railway pier. The ship’s cargo included 85 or 95 tons of sodium chlorate, commonly used as a fertilizer. One of the fertilizers, under certain conditions, could be a powerful high explosive. Observers saw three explosions, and, initially, it was believed that portions of the ship’s cargo of sodium chlorate exploded. However, it could have been due to ignition of fumes from the barrels of overproof whiskey located in her holds. Her cargo also included six tons of flares. Six longshoremen, and two seamen, lost their lives. The ship was badly damaged but repaired. After the war, she sailed under the Panamanian flag as the SS Phaeax II and later as the SS Lagos Michigan until scrapped in 1967.
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. Recently “Guardians of the North” written by NAC members Rich Gimblett & Karl Gagnon. 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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