NAC News – Edition K407 HMCS Beacon Hill
Your weekly national and international naval news for the week of April 30th, 2021
Edition – K407 HMCS Beacon Hill (Editor – post war renumbered to 303)
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.
NOTICES
- 2 May Sunday – 76th Anniversary Battle of the Atlantic Commemorative Services/Activities (Ottawa time)
- 7 May 2021 Friday at 1300-13:54 (Ottawa time) for the CSIS next virtual event of the Maritime Security Dialogue series. Overmatch: A Conversation with RAd Doug Small, USN Commander, Naval Information Warfare System Command, moderated Dr. Seth Jones Senior Vice President; Harold Brown Chair; and Director, International Security Program, CSIS. To Register.
- 10/11-12 June 2021 Canadian Nautical Research Society (CNRS/SCRN) virtual annual conference – AGM. Note a number of NAC members are presenting and here are the conference details. Participation is free for members of the CNRS, and for $30 non-member gain both membership and access. To receive a link for the virtual conference, please send an email to <CNRSConf2021@cnrs-scrn.org> with “Conference registration” in the subject line.
- 15 June 2021 a Tuesday at 1200 (Ottawa time). The NAC National 2021 AGM will be held electronically using GoToMeeting. Details on how to “join” the meeting will be passed separately in the coming week. Given that the COVID Pandemic prevents a face-to-face meeting the meeting will be limited to addressing the essential AGM requirements of the Not-for-Profit Corporations Act. Over the coming weeks additional reports and information will be posted to this site. Members will be made aware of any information updates through WildApricot.
- 9-12 May 2023 – Mark your long-range calendars! Citizen Sailors – 100 years Celebrating Canada’s Naval Reserve Centenary, the 80th anniversary of the founding of the UNTD; and the 55th anniversary of the creation of the ROUTP. The UNTD board has recently approved plans for a reunion in Victoria, BC.
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THIS WEEK’S SIGNIFICANT ARTICLES
- France Takes Command of NATO Naval Group for the First Time (Editor – after a 55-year hiatus)
- National security threats are changing, but Canada is mired in conventional thinking
- Former UN human rights chief Louise Arbour tapped to review military sex misconduct
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CANADA
- The Battle of the Atlantic (Editor – first-rate RCN historic 3:23 min video)
- Their names ‘live on’: 2020’s military dead join Canada’s books of remembrance on anniversary of Cyclone crash and The Defence Team commemorates the National Day of Mourning
- McCoy: New warship will serve Canada well — at a fair price
- A message from the Minister of National Defence regarding culture change
- Here are the key players in the military’s sexual misconduct scandal plus Military police recommended end to 2015 Vance probe within hours of his swearing-in then Military recorded more than 500 sexual assault reports during five-year effort to stamp out misconduct and Sexual assault victim’s family denounces military brass for supporting attacker during sentencing and in short SCOTT TAYLOR: Canadian Forces’ personnel will have some explaining to do on sexual misconduct front
- Canada renews its military contribution to multinational initiative to counter North Korea’s maritime sanctions evasion
- Navy League of Canada Maritime Affairs Virtual Speaker Series. (Editor – the most recent presentation was given by the guest speaker Rear-Admiral Brian Santarpia, Commander MARLANT/JTFA and The Maritime Component Commander. The link is to his very informative ppt slides)
- CDR Radio Episode 15 – Christyn Cianfarani (Editor – Christyn Cianfarani, President & CEO of the Canadian Association of Defence & Security Industries – CADSI. As you might expect, the conversation covered the upcoming CANADIAN DEFENCE MARKETPLACE.
- NAC Web Site upgrade (Editor – visit your web page and see the new arrangement and content – check out our sponsor links at the bottom of the home page – these folks provide critical support for our naval affairs program)
- BNH’s ADVISOR Enterprise Selected to Manage Training Requirements for the Canadian Surface Combatant Program
- Month of the Military Child 2021 (Editor – MND 2:44 min video)
- Battle of Kapyong 70 years later
- Military selects new uniform camo and Army finalizing new camouflage pattern
- At long last – PSHCP renewal negotiations underway
- Specialty crew from Florida joins cleanup effort at site of Nootka Sound shipwreck oil leak
- B.C. government puts $9.5M toward removing more than 100 derelict boats
- Federal Port Review, 2018-2019
- Montreal Dockworkers Begin General Strike Against Container Terminals and Canadian Federal Government Will Intervene in Montreal Dock Strike
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USA & AMERICAS
- USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker: April 26, 2021
- American Sea Power Panel: U.S. Should Have Public Discussion on Naval Strategy, Not Fleet Size (Editor – 3 videos of varying length including one from Nicholas A. Lambert who recently penned “What is a Navy for?)
- Bipartisan Bill Calls for $25B in Infrastructure Funds for Shipyards
- Ford Carrier Strike Group Maximizes New CVN’s Gear, Design In Final Test Event Before Shock Trials and EMALS, AAG Hit 8,000 Aircraft Recoveries, Launches on Ford
- First F-35C Air Wing Ready to Bring 5th-Gen Fighters to Carrier Strike Group
- MQ-8B Fire Scout Crashes Into Littoral Combat Ship USS Charleston On Deployment
- US Navy christens future USS Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee Arleigh Burke-class
- The Navy’s Destroyer Fleet Needs a Bridge to the Future. Here’s the Obvious Solution.
- CNO: Hypersonic Weapons at Sea to Premiere on Zumwalt Destroyers in 2025
- Can The US Navy Protect Ships From Missile Attacks?
- Thales Selected by Lockheed Martin to Deliver Airborne Anti-submarine Warfare Sonars to the U.S., Indian, Greek and Danish Navies
- Rolls-Royce To Design And Manufacture Propellers For U.S. Navy’s Constellation-Class Frigate
- U.S. Coast Guard Decommissions Last Hamilton-Class Cutter
- Here Is Our First Look At The USMC’s NMESIS: NSM Being Launched From An Unmanned JLTV
- Coast Guard Cutter Bear Seizes $140M in Cocaine
- Number of Capitol riot arrests of military, law enforcement and government personnel rises to 52
- Unmanned Systems, Passive Sensors Help USS John Finn Bullseye Target With SM-6
- HMS Forth Takes Bomb Disposal Experts To South Georgia On Environmental Mission
- Navy Releases Eighth Round of USS Thresher Inquiry Documents
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INDO-PACIFIC
- BREAKING: Missing submarine found broken into at least three parts (1:45 min news video and background info) Missing Indonesian Submarine Was Old And Overloaded, plus The KRI Nanggala 402 Tragedy (Editor – intelligent speculation 16:38 min video and more background Nanggala-402: The search for a missing submarine in a 5:00 min video SUBSUNK: Indonesian Navy Submarine KRI Nanggala on Eternal Patrol (Editor – includes conclusive imagery, and a useful modern submarine disaster graphic) and last but no least The KRI Nanggala Tragedy: Old Subs Are Getting Pushed To The Limit (Editor – note the reference to the International Force East Timor (INTERFET) Op)
- Is Taiwan part of China? | The Economist (Editor – useful refresher in a 14:17 min video)
- China says US increasing military activity directed at it
- Philippine Military: China Should “Desist and Leave” Spratly Islands
- Naval Forces of France and India start military exercise Varuna-2021 in Arabian Sea
- China Commissions A Type 055 DDG, A Type 075 LHD And A Type 094 SSBN In A Single Day
- CIMSEC: Sea Control 245 – Chinese command and control with Andrew Scobell (Editor – 39:18 min podcast)
- Submarine USS Jefferson City deploys as Indo-Pacific tensions rise
- Indian Navy to get INS Vikrant and INS Visakhapatnam by end of 2021
- Upgraded frigate enters service with Russian Pacific Fleet’s constant alert forces
- India set to begin Attack class program
- South China Sea: Taiwan unveils coastguard vessel that doubles as warship
- ALH Dhruv Demonstrates Deck Operations Capabilities in Ship-Borne Trials
- First Chinese Type 054A/P guided missile frigate for Pakistan to be delivered this summer
- Sri Lanka Ejects Ship Carrying Radioactive Cargo for China
- Bulker and tanker collide off China’s Qingdao port causing an oil spill and What Happens When There Is an Oil Spill at Sea?
- US exercises FONOP in Indian zone
- U.S. Moves to Seize Tanker Used in Illicit North Korean Trade
- Indian Navy Seizes Drugs Worth $400 Million From Fishing Boat
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EUROPE
- Vladimir Putin calls off his army but it may not be going far (Editor – not maritime articles highlight the dangerous potential) and Europe must admit Russia is waging war
- France Successfully Tests an M51 Ballistic Missile (Editor – 50 sec video of M51 Missile)
- UK Announces Record Size And Scope Of Carrier Strike Group Deployment and HMS Queen Elizabeth Welcomes Merlins Ahead Of Carrier Strike Group (Editor – a look at the “Baggers” Crowsnest radar dome) plus HMS Queen Elizabeth Carrier Strike Group to visit 40 countries on 1st deployment and if that’s not enough Blended U.S. Marine, U.K. Royal Air Force Air Wing Aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth Will be Largest F-35 Deployment to Date
- U.S. Coast Guard Returns to Black Sea for the First Time Since 2008
- Ukraine To Make Debut In Turkish Navy Exercise Dogu Akdeniz-2021
- Royal Canadian Air Force CH-148 Cyclone Helicopter Makes Rare Visit To Dutch Air Base
- Shipbuilders float out cutting-edge minesweeper for Russian Navy
- UK’s Type 31 Frigate Program Completes Whole Ship Critical Design Review and What Are Type 31 Frigates?
- Rear half of HMS Glasgow rolled out of build hall
- More frigates to be built in Scotland
- Russia to lay down six warships and submarines on occasion of WWII Victory Day
- Rheinmetall Delivers 300th MASS Naval Countermeasures System
- Dazzle paint job for Royal Navy warship HMS Tamar
- Inside narco-sub it’s dark and cramped but cops fight over it as a trophy
- Swiss Team Prepares to Break the Sailing Speed Record
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MIDDLE EAST
- ‘Drone attack’ leaves Iranian tanker ablaze off Syrian coast – report
- Saudi Arabia says it foiled boat attack off Yanbu port
- Video: Iranian Vessel Harasses USCG Vessels on Patrol in Arabian Gulf (Editor – 20 sec video clip included) and upping the ante U.S. Sailors Fire Warning Shots to Ward Off Harassing Iranian Fast Boats in Persian Gulf
- Carrier to protect Afghan withdrawal
- Japanese ships hand over CTF-151 counter-piracy duties
- Ever Given – What Happens Now? and Suez Canal Hopeful on Ever Given Deal
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GLOBAL INTERESTS
- ‘Ocean 100’: How a few corporations dominate the ocean economy (Editor – for perspective, 14 of 15 top “ocean-based industry” companies, and almost half of all of them are oil companies!)
- CIMSEC: Sea Control 244 – establishing an arctic security institution with Dr. Elizabeth Buchanan and Troy Bouffard (Editor 39:51 podcast)
- Negotiations Over Seafarers’ Minimum Wage Increase Break Down (Editor – shockingly low)
- Navy completes 10,000-mile covid vaccine dash to remote Atlantic island
- Lamu Port: Kenya’s Transshipment Hub Risks Becoming a White Elephant
- BANGLADESH SHIPbreaking Secret Footage HIDDEN Cameras (not my audio) (Editor – pros and cons explained 13:13 min video) and if you think its declining
- NGO Shipbreaking: 76% of ships broken in Q1 ended up on South Asian beaches Q1
- Container ship attacked, boarded, AIS is off, Gulf of Guinea
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SCUTTLEBUTT
- Welcome to the Russian Arctic Convoy Museum (Editor – an interesting site that was brought to our attention)
- What Really Happened at the Suez Canal? (Editor – 11:33 min video)
- The Seawise Giant: The Middle Eastern Oil Tanker That Refused to Die (Editor – a monster explained in this 12:16 min video)
- The Enigma Machine: The Totally, Definitely, Absolutely Unbreakable Sequence of German War Codes (Editor – spot the RCN connection?)
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SIGNIFICANT RCN DATES – MAY
(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”, historical website “The Second World War – A Day by Day Account”, and Roger Litwiller’s excellent web site, encyclopedic guidance from Fraser McKee, and anywhere else I can find credible information)
- 1 May 1961 415 Maritime Patrol Squadron is reformed at Summerside, Prince Edward Island, flying Argus maritime patrol aircraft.
- 1 May 2002 HMCS St. John’s joins the Canadian Naval Task Group, part of the multinational anti-terrorism campaign in the Persian Gulf.
- 3 May 1937 A Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve (RCNVR) half-company was authorized in Thunder Bay (Port Arthur at the time) and later developed into HMCS Griffon, the current local Naval Reserve unit.
- 4 May 1910 The Canadian Navy, later re-designated as the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), is authorized after Royal assent is given to the Naval Service Act of Canada.
- 4 May 1911 Her Majesty’s Dockyard Esquimalt is transferred from British to Canadian authorities.
- 4 May 1945 The cruiser HMCS Uganda sails with an American task force to bombard Japanese airfields as part of the Okinawa campaign.
- 6 May 1944 HMCS Valleyfield, a frigate, is torpedoed and sunk by the U-548 in the Atlantic Ocean with a loss of 123 sailors.
- 7 May 1945 SS Avondale Park SS Ltd., was Canadian registered, the last merchantman lost in the Battle of the Atlantic, off Firth of Forth, to U-2336 while in convoy EN-91. 9 crew were lost, including her Chief Engineer, 1 donkeyman, 4 RN DEMS gunners & 3 Maritime Reg’t RA gunners.
- 8 May 1942 U Boat 553 is the first enemy submarine to enter the Gulf of St. Lawrence to attack Canadian shipping.
- 8 May 1967 The Canadian Forces Reorganization Act is given Royal assent and begins the process of unification of the previously-separate RCN, Canadian Army and Royal Canadian Air Force.
- 9 May 1918 Lieutenant Rowland Bourke Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve was commanding Motor Launch 276 when the events that would earn him a Victoria Cross occurred. The British had attempted an operation to block the port of Ostend, Belgium so it could not be used by the Germans who were occupying it. In the aftermath of the overnight daring but bloody naval assault, Bourke took his ship into the enemy harbour to look for any remaining survivors of the raid.
- 11 May 1898 Canadian brothers Harry and Willard Miller born in Noel Shore, Nova Scotia. while serving as USN sailors on board the U.S.S. Nashville in Cuban waters, both earned the US Medal of Honour. During a ship’s boat undersea cable-cutting operation and facing the heavy fire of the enemy they both displayed extraordinary bravery and coolness throughout the action.
- 12 May 1940 HMCS Ypres while operating the harbour entrance “gate” was accidently rundown by HMS Revenge. She was the first loss of the RCN during WW2. No casualties. Ypres was a one of 6 Battle-class trawlers built during WWI that were employed as gate vessels in the Halifax area. The gate was back in operation by the 16th. Another old Battle-class trawler, HMS Arleux, replaced Ypres. She was also rammed later in the war by the giant liner RMS Queen Mary, although she was not sunk.
- 12 May 1942 The German submarine U-553 sinks the steamers Nicoya and Leto between Gaspe and Anticosti island.
- 12 May 1945 HMCS Victoriaville (frigate) escorts the surrendered U-Boat 190 into Bay Bulls, Newfoundland.
- 13 May 1943 HMCS Drumheller commanded by Lt Leslie P. Denny, RCNR, HMS Lagan, and an aircraft from the Royal Canadian Air Force’s 423 Squadron combine to sink the German submarine U-753 in the Atlantic Ocean.
- 13 May 1945 German submarine U-899 officially surrendered to the RCN near Shelburne, N. S. becomes the only German sub to surrender in Canadian waters during Second World War.
- 14 May 1917 Lieutenant R. Leckie, Royal Naval Air Service, flying a Curtiss H-12 flying boat shoots down the German Zeppelin L.22 over England.
- 15 May 1940 HMCS Prince Henry (ex-North Star, ex-Prince Henry) purchased from Clarke Steamship Company for $606,740, and preparations were begun to convert her to an Armed Merchant Cruiser (AMC). The Washington and London Naval Treaties placed limits on the number of cruisers that could be built by the participating nations. Canada was governed by the limits placed on the Royal Navy. An important role of heavy cruisers was service on distant stations and as the ‘patrolman on the beat,’ keeping watch over the trade routes of the world. By late ’42 to early ’43, the AMC’s were being withdrawn from escort service and converted to troopships, a vastly less costly and complicated process as well as a more important role.
- 15 May 1941 Ten corvettes in UK shipyards are formally commissioned as RCN ships.
- 16 May 1945 HMCS Matane is sent to escort 14 surrendered U-Boats from Trondheim to Loch Eriboll.
- 17 May 1963 Approval is given for the RCN to begin work on the first Canadian military hydrofoil, HMCS Bras D’Or.
- 18 May 1914 The Royal Navy Canadian Volunteer Reserve (RNCVR) is authorized as part of the RCN.
- 21 May 1917 The Imperial War Graves Commission (now the Commonwealth War Graves Commission) is established by Royal Charter.
- 21 May 1939 King George VI unveils the National War Memorial in Ottawa.
- 22 May 1931 HMCS SAGUENAY is commissioned at Portsmouth-one of the first ships built for the RCN.
- 24 May 1941 HMS Hood is sunk by the Bismarck in the Denmark Straits: three Canadian Midshipmen Christopher Norman (Victoria BC), Francis Jones (Revelstoke BC), Thomas Beard (Victoria BC), serving in the battle cruiser are killed. All three midshipman were sons of RCN and Canadian Army officers)
- 24 May 1963 Sea King helicopters enter service with the Royal Canadian Navy.
- 25 May 1941 The first seven corvettes for the Newfoundland Escort Force arrive in St. John’s.
- 29 May 1982 The National War Memorial in Ottawa is rededicated to include dates of the Second World War and Korean War.
- 30 May 1939 King George VI presented his Color to the RCN in Beacon Hill Park, Victoria, BC
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