NAC News – Edition HMC MTB 465

Your weekly national and international naval news for the week of June 10th, 2022

Edition HMC MTB 465 (72 feet-type “G” class Motor Torpedo Boat. She was destroyed by fire at Ostend, Belgium, on 14 Feb 1945 with the loss of 6 of her crew. Sadly, she was one of many RCN and RN boats and crew lost in the disaster Oostende Naval Memorial)

Quote of the week: “Emergencies may at any moment arise which would render its [holland submarine] aid indispensable to the protection of the lives and property of our citizens abroad and at home, and even to our existence as a nation. We have been unable to make such an appropriate display of our naval power abroad as will cause us to be respected. The exhibition of our weakness in this important arm of defence is calculated to detract from our occupying in the eyes of foreign nations that rank to which we know ourselves to be justly entitled”, US Secretary of the Navy, William H. Hunt, 1881 (Apropos with the rapidly approaching NAC on-line Submarine Conference 16 June)

Rod Hughes – Editor NAC News rhughes@shaw.ca (Comments welcome to help improve this service.)

Links to keep in touch with the NAC and RCN can be found at the bottom of this email. Contact David Soule executivedirector-nac@outlook.com if you wish someone to be added to the NAC News email distribution. (Influencer or good candidates to become a NAC member, and note the first year’s NAC & Branch membership dues are waived)

NOTICES

Job Posting – Executive Director NAC

Naval Reserve 100th Anniversary 2023. The UNTD Association of Canada has started a list. Please inform David Soule if you know of other events as they develop.

Time to Get Involved in Your National and Branch Organizations. If you have an interest in becoming more involved with your Branch or with National level programmes either as a potential member for the Board of Directors, part of our naval affairs team or can offer other talents such marketing our “products” and brand to increase our membership numbers please contact me or your branch president/representative. We need your talent and NAC always needs a fresh pool of willing volunteers. So why not step forward and get more involved in some very worthwhile endeavours. We need you!

NEW 13 June 2022 MacDonald-Laurier Institute Webinar 8:00-9:30 PM (Ottawa time) Why Canada needs a robust Indo-Pacific strategy: Views from the Region To register tap the registration tab at the linked webpage above, or you can wait to see a recording of the webinar by tapping on the YouTube graphic at the same webpage. Really interesting speakers including NAC member Jim Boutilier.

16 June 2022 NAC on-line conference 09:00-15:00 (Ottawa time) Submarines: Canada’s Strategic Requirement. The conference will examine the strategic factors influencing a future Canadian submarine procurement project. We’re happy to announce the one of the panelists at our June 16 conference on Canada’s Strategic Need for Submarines is RAdm Christopher Robinson, Commander Maritime Forces Pacific. This event is open to the public and NAC welcomes everyone with an interest in maritime security. Registration is limited to 240 participants, filling fast. For NAC members to register.

Monday 27 June 1200 (Ottawa) NAC National AGM – postponed from 15 Jun. Preliminary information has been posted with additional information/reports and ballot forms to be added by 13 June.

Navy Bike Ride 2022 (Editor – Great Jerseys! This virtual edition is open to all. Registration is open for this free event, which will run from 12 June – 7 August. If you’re keen, the “Naval Association of Canada” Bike Team is reforming under Barry Walker’s direction. All events are available at early bird rates until midnight 30 April 2022.

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THIS WEEK’S SIGNIFICANT ARTICLES

Royal Canadian Navy welcomes new Commander

Procurement minister defends shipbuilding plan amid challenges and Canada still a long way from hitting NATO’s defence spending target, budget watchdog says then Canada confirms Davie’s progress to become the third National Shipbuilding Strategy partner

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CANADA

Spring 2022 Edition of NAC’s Starshell magazine

Standing NATO Maritime Group One completes Exercise Dynamic Mongoose 21 and HMCS Halifax CO temporarily relieved of duties

The Canadian Surface Combatant SPY-7 Radar Earns Official Government Of Canada Designation, Setting A New Standard In Airspace Threat Detection

‘Profoundly immature’: Senior officer sorry for post on military colleges after damning report and Military ombudsman voices disappointment over Arbour report into sexual misconduct

Royal Navy Ship makes historic visit to Canada

Canadian Coast Guard Looks to Charter Interim Research Vessel

The Canadian Coast Guard dedicates the CCGS Hare Bay into service (Editor – CCGS Hare Bay)

GSTS to provide enhanced situational awareness to Canadian Navy

60 seconds with Lt(N) Melissa Kia (Editor – RCN Bike Ride in a 1:48 min video)

Candlelight Vigil returns, A Night of Remembrance

Huge deep-water area off N.S. declared a marine refuge

In a Conflict, the Canadian Arctic Could be on Russia’s Radar

Editor – a beautiful New Brunswick Naval Memorial unveiling 24 June 2022

Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN) Operators

Bureaucrat tried to undercut cabinet’s powers with shipbuilding project leak: Crown

Sovereignty in the Arctic and the struggles of the CC-295 Kingfisher: Richard Shimooka in the Hill Times

Canadian Army selects new sniper rifle — 229 SAKO rifles to be purchased

Production delays to blame for the Navy caps flap, says DND

Shiprider check of floundering boat leads to arrest and stolen property

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USA & AMERICAS

USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker: June 6, 2022

Keel Laid For Nuclear Ballistic Missile Submarine District of Columbia and Navy SSBN PEO: Data Clearly Supports Building More than 12 Columbia Subs

Don’t Buy Warships (Yet) (Editor – USNI General Prize Essay Contest—First Prize, Sponsored by Andrew and Barbara Taylor.) and a 35:11 min CIMSEC podcast interview with the author Sea Control 351 – Don’t buy warships (yet) with David Alman

HASC Seapower Mark Saves 5 Ships, Backs Marine Corps Call for 31 Amphibs

US Navy SEAL mini-sub built for South China Sea action

Climate Change Is A US Navy Problem

UPDATED: Status of 5 Marines Unknown Following MV-22B Osprey Crash in Southern California

U.S. Navy’s Hypersonic Missile Will Give Zumwalt Class New Capability

Huntington Ingalls christens Legend-class cutter Calhoun

Gear defects, under staffing driving year-long delay on LHA-8

The US is heavily reliant on China and Russia for its ammo supply chain. Congress wants to fix that.

Patrol Ship Stops Fast Drug Boat in Caribbean

US Navy’s greater Arctic role

To fight illegal fishing in the Galapagos, Ecuador turns to Canadian satellite and sensing technology

ARA Puerto Argentino Returns from 2022 Antarctic Patrol

San José galleon: Two new shipwrecks found off Colombian coast

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INDO-PACIFIC

Japan’s Kishida buckles on a war helmet

New Aussie defense chief’s first priority: Closing 20-year sub ‘gap’ and N-subs’ affect on other naval resourcing (Editor – points raised that are mirrored in Canada)

Republic of Korea, U.S. Navies Conclude Carrier Strike Group Exercise

South Korea has nuclear subs firmly in its sights

Chinese, Russian Warships Continue to Exercise Near Japan with Russia sends five warships near Japanese Island Hokkaido

U.S. Indo-Pacific Forces Come Together: Valiant Shield 22

BRP Antonio Luna leaves PH for ‘Rim of the Pacific’ drill

See satellite images of China’s new aircraft carrier

Naval ships conduct beach landing exercise in South China Sea (Editor – Their gear always looks brand new…in a 56 sec video.)

U.S. Officials Warn of Growing Chinese Naval Presence in Cambodia but Cambodia Denies Report China Building Secret Naval Facility

Indian Defence Firms announce Submarine-Launched UAV Project

India gives go-ahead for purchase of 8 next-gen corvettes under $9.8BN military program

Dutton backs Virginia Class, touts off-the-shelf option (Editor – this would be a huge leap for Australia)

China fighter jet intercepts Australian plane – Canberra and after last week with RCAF Aurora China deals with provoking Canadian warplanes with ‘professional, powerful measures’ then of course China Denies Harassing Canadian, Australian Patrol Aircraft in the Western Pacific

KRI Teluk Palu Embarks Troops for First Deployment

French Dassault vs US Boeing – Mega Fighter Deal for IAF & Indian Navy could be Split

China’s New Prototype AG600 Amphibious Aircraft Conducts Maiden Sortie

Australia to replace Samoa’s irreparable Guardian Class vessel

New Zealand Navy’s frigate Te Mana sails back home following capability upgrade

U.S. Justice Department Sails Away With Russian Megayacht Amadea

Shanghai’s Port is Nearing Normal Operations After Two-Month Lockdown and interestingly China exports to US jump, contrary to press reports

Hyundai Heavy conducts world’s first transoceanic voyage of LNG carrier on autonomous navigation

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EUROPE

Ukraine:

Ukrainian forces sink their own anti-submarine corvette Vinnytsia

Why Putin’s betrayal of Ukraine could trigger nuclear proliferation (Editor – not naval but an important part of the puzzle)

Canadian expert: Ukraine war could end Russian power, influence (Editor – not naval but with significant implications)

Turkey Pursuing Talks with Russia While Stalling Sweden, Finland NATO Application, Panel Says

Russian Navy’s corvette launches Kalibr cruise missile in Black Sea

Harpoon missiles pose a threat to Russian Navy, Black Sea coastal area, expert says (Editor – TASS article)

How Can Swedish RBS-17 Anti-Ship Missiles Help Ukraine?

Ukraine Partially Repels Russian Black Sea Fleet: Army

Getting boats to sea – efforts to improve Royal Navy submarine availability

Ground-Based Tor SAM System Seen Strapped To Russian Black Sea Warship

As Hunger Crisis Grows, Russia Attacks Grain Terminal in Mykolaiv and Explained: U.N. Plan for Ukrainian Grain Exports Faces Hurdles plus De-Mining Ukraine’s Ports May Take Months, IMO Says

Superyacht of Second-Richest Russian Raced for Turkey’s Safe Waters and Russian Oligarch Denies Ties to Putin in an Appeal to Save His Yacht

Europe:

SNMCMG2 Celebrates Spain’s 40th Anniversary in NATO

Norway Terminates Its Contract for the NH90 (Editor – not something you see every day)

White House Nominates First Black Marine for Fourth Star

Multinational annual exercise BALTOPS 22 commences in Baltic Sea

Huge anti-submarine warfare exercise planned for Atlantic

USS Arlington (LPD 24) and 22 MEU join Turkish exercise EFES

Nato: Sweden and Finland welcome

NATO ships train with Japanese Navy in the Mediterranean Sea

UDT 2022 – Undersea Defense Technology in Rotterdam, NL

Pacific Fleet plans Arctic expedition to clean Wrangel Island (Editor – Wrangel Island)

Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov will not be operational before 2024

Parade of Russian Navy will gather 47 ships in St Petersburg

The ‘Suffren,’ the first next-generation French nuclear attack submarine, enters into active service

Germany reportedly orders seven additional P-8A Poseidon aircraft

DSIT Solutions Unveils KnightShield UW Security System For The 1st Time

King’s College London holds first Corbett 100 event

UK-based sat-nav trial to augment GPS performance

Italy readies LHD Trieste for 2023 delivery, expands F-35 operations

German Navy test fires RBS 15 against land target

Swedish Navy celebrating its 500th birthday

HMS Lancaster to be armed with aerial drone

Putin: West unlikely to reject Russian energy for years

Shipwreck The Gloucester hailed most important since Mary Rose

Port of Gothenburg first to provide shore power for tankers and Barcelona Plans First “Emissions Tax” on Cruise Ships in 2023

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MIDDLE EAST

Coast Guard seizes $11M worth of heroin in Gulf of Oman

Lebanon Warns Against Any Israeli ‘aggression’ in Disputed Waters as Energean Power FPSO Reaches Karish Field (Editor – an older article bust a useful map Israel says seeks diplomatic solution to Med gas spat with Lebanon – REUTERS)

Iran Expects Return of Tanker’s Oil After Greek Appeals Court Ruling

Israeli Firm Unveils Submarine-Launched Loitering Drone (Editor – cool video included)

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GLOBAL INTERESTS

US, China cashing in on global arms trade shakeup

Oil Tankers Make Rare Mid-Atlantic Switch Of Russian Crude Oil yet Russia’s Crude Oil Revenues Take a Hit Even as Exports Swell

Antarctica: Southern Ocean floor mapped in greatest ever detail (Editor – interesting image of the RRS Sir David Attenborough’s hull) and Antarctica’s Riskiest Glacier is Melting Away From Below

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SCUTTLEBUTT

How Corruption Destroys Armies – Theft, Graft, and Russian failure in Ukraine (Editor –an amusing explanation of scandalous activities in a 57:20 min video)

What Happens If a Naval Fleet is Hit by an Atomic Bomb? (Editor – 12:08 min video)

HMS Warrior (1860) – First Armoured Battleship of the Royal Navy (Editor – detailed look in a 1:23:40 min video. My tour years ago was not this extensive. I’d not heard before of the Martin molten metal shot!)

Why Are Big Ships Faster Than Small Ships?

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THIS WEEK IN RCN/MARITIME HISTORY

10 June 1803 Warship HMS Dart carries the so-called Garrison clock (“old town clock”) to Halifax, N.S.; ordered by Prince Edward, it will be installed October 20 in a building built for it on the eastern slope of Citadel Hill.
10 June 1878 Fort Rodd Hill built to protect Esquimalt in the event of a war with Russia.
10 June 1910 Rear-Admiral Charles E. Kingsmill, RN (Retired), is appointed the Director of the Naval Service.
10 June 1931 HMCS SKEENA commissioned at Portsmouth-one of the first ships built for the RCN.
10 June 1940 The Canadian government declares war on Italy. The Italian owned S.S. Capo Noli, with Canada now at war with Italy, was trying to escape down the St. Lawrence river below Rimouski, pursued by the slower HMCS Bras d’Or (Lt. C S Hornsby, RCNR). She was sighted by Fl.Lt. Leonard J. Birchall (later Air Commodore) in his Stranraer, who threatened to bomb her. Her Master then ran her ashore and set fire to his ship. Shortly Bras d’Or caught up, told the crew to re-board & put out the fire and took command. Re-named Bic Island, the ship was later sunk in the Atlantic by U-224 on 28 Oct. 1942.
11 June 1813 Nova Scotia privateering vessel, Liverpool Packet, owned by Enos Collins and associates, is captured by American privateer schooner Thomas; the schooner is re-named the Portsmouth Packet, until it is regained by HMS Fantome and HMS Epervier after a 13-hour chase, in October 1813.
11 June 1940 While evacuating personnel from le Havre, France, destroyers HMCS St. Laurent and Restigouche engage German artillery and fire the first shots of the war by Canadian warships.
11 June 1943 – The Canadian built (Burrard Dry Dock, Vancouver) but British crewed SS Fort Good Hope was on her maiden voyage from Vancouver when she was torpedoed by U-159 and sunk about 10 hours after exiting the Panama Canal into the Atlantic. Two crew members were casualties.
11 June 1944 HMCS Sioux commanded by A/LCdr Eric E.G. Boak, RCN with Polish destroyers sank (schnellboot) S-136 off Normandy.
11 June 1999 The United Nations sets up peacekeeping mission, including 600 Canadians consisting of HMCS Protecteur, an infantry company, and transport planes to support the mission in East Timor. Operation Toucan will help organize elections, support the new government, and establish the rule of law; Canadian participation ended February 23, 2000.
13 June 1941 Newfoundland’s sea defences are brought under Canadian control with the appointment of Commodore L.W. Murray, RCN, as the commander of Newfoundland Force.
14 June 1941 Warships of the Newfoundland Escort Force begin convoy escort operations in the North Atlantic Ocean.
14 June 1957 HMCS Magnificent, Canada’s second aircraft carrier, was decommissioned and returned to the RN in Plymouth UK.
15 June 1920 The demobilization of the wartime RCN is completed with the disbandment of the Royal Naval Canadian Volunteer Reserve (RNCVR).
15 June 1938 – HMCS Ottawa is commissioned at Chatham, England.
15 June 1940 – On 9 April 1940, Germany invaded and occupied Denmark. On 26 April, the Danish freighter SS Erik Boye arrived in Halifax from Norfolk, Virginia with a cargo of grain destined for Denmark. The ship was immediately “taken in prize” by the Canadian government and was placed under the management of Canadian National Steamships Ltd., Montreal. On 2 June 1940, the Erik Bole departed Halifax in convoy HX-43 (53 merchant ships), with a cargo of wheat, bound for Sharpness, England. The mid-ocean transit was uneventful, however the convoy came under attack by U-boats, while entering the St. Georges Channel between southern Ireland and England. Three ships were sunk on 14 and 15 June. The Erik Boye was sunk by U-38 (Heinrich Liebe) at 0105 (GMT +2) on 15 June 1940. Twenty-two crew members (including the Master) abandoned ship in a lifeboat. The crew was rescued up HMS Fowey and landed at Plymouth on 16 June.
16 June 1921 The Royal Naval College of Canada is closed.
16 June 1943 HMCS Waskesiu is commissioned into the RCN, becoming the first of sixty RCN River Class frigates built in Canada.
17 June 1991 The Government of Canada announces the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal for Korea and the Gulf and Kuwait medal.

SIGNIFICANT RCN DATES – If you see any omissions or errors please inform me, and any more modern significant dates are also welcomed. 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, I thank NAC member Bill Dziadyk for his able assistance and detailed work. 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)