Canadian Forces Maritime Command

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"MARCOM" redirects here. For the historical (1936–1950) U.S. agency, see United States Maritime Commission.

Maritime Command Components Maritime Forces Atlantic Maritime Forces Pacific Naval Reserve Headquarters History Royal Canadian Navy Military History of Canada Ships Current Fleet Historic Ships Her Majesty's Canadian Ship Bases CFB Halifax (Atlantic) CFB Esquimalt (Pacific)   This box: view • talk

Canadian Forces Maritime Command (MARCOM), also known as the Canadian Navy, is the maritime force of the Canadian Forces. While equal in rank and position, The Chief of the Maritime Staff takes precedence over the Chiefs of the Land and Air Staffs following the tradition of the Royal Navy.

MARCOM is the descendant of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) which was Canada's naval service from 1910 until 1 February 1968. Prior to 1910, the Royal Navy provided the maritime defence of Canada. In 1968, the RCN was merged with the army and air force to form the Canadian Armed Forces. MARCOM's ships are commissioned as Her Majesty's Canadian ships, and the initialism HMCS designates them as the ships of Her Majesty's Canadian Armed Forces. As of 2008, there were 33 warships including 4 submarines, 9,000 regular force sailors in MARCOM^[1] and 4,000 reserve sailors.^[2]

With its headquarters in Ottawa, Ontario, MARCOM has command and control of three formations:

• Maritime Forces Atlantic (MARLANT) comprises the Canadian Fleet Atlantic, and has responsibility for Canada's Atlantic Area of Responsibility including the eastern Arctic. MARLANTHQ is based at CFB Halifax in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
• Maritime Forces Pacific (MARPAC) comprises the Canadian Fleet Pacific and has responsibility for Canada's Pacific Area of Responsibility that includes the Western half of the Canadian Arctic. MARPACHQ is based at CFB Esquimalt near Victoria, British Columbia.
• The third formation is Naval Reserve Headquarters (NAVRESHQ) located in Quebec City, Quebec that is responsible for 24 Naval Reserve Divisions across the country.

Contents 1 History 1.1 Re-structure 1.2 Action post-1968 2 Today's fleet 2.1 Ships of Maritime Command 2.2 Auxiliary Vessels 2.3 Aircraft 3 Decommissioned fleet 3.1 Retired aircraft 4 Weapons 4.1 Shipborne 4.2 Aircraft 5 Air operations 6 Submarines 7 Future 7.1 Maritime-helicopter replacement 7.2 Current and future programs 7.2.1 Joint support ships 7.2.2 Amphibious assault vessels 7.2.3 Orca-class training vessels 7.2.4 Polar Class 5 Arctic offshore patrol ships 7.2.5 Other 8 Senior leadership 8.1 Commanders of Maritime Command 8.2 Chiefs of the Maritime Staff 9 Ceromonies 10 References 11 See also 12 External links

[edit] History

For history before 1968, see Royal Canadian Navy.

MARCOM was formed on 1 February 1968 following the amalgamation of the three branches of the Canadian military — the Royal Canadian Navy, the Canadian Army, and the Royal Canadian Air Force. The headquarters for MARCOM was based at CFB Halifax, alongside its regional subsidiary MARLANT.

Canadian sailors exchanged their RCN uniforms for a rifle-green uniform common to all services (known as "CF green") and adopted an army-based rank structure. Only cap and collar badges identified "naval" personnel. These policies were somewhat reversed in the 1970s when MARCOM returned to a naval-based rank structure. In 1987 the Canadian Armed Forces introduced its Distinctive Environmental Uniforms (DEUs) for its three environmental commands. The new naval uniform was broadly similar to the former RCN uniform except that officers' uniforms contained six rather than eight buttons on the front of the tunic and the "square rig" for other ranks was not re-introduced. In addition, the executive curl on officers' rank insignia was omitted and the rank insignia of other ranks continued to follow the pattern used by the army.

The 1968 unification of the Canadian Armed Forces was the first time a nation with a modernized military had combined sea, land, and air branches into a unified-command structure. The move also saw the fleet air arm of the RCN become the Maritime Air Group. These air units were eventually placed under the Canadian Forces Air Command (AIRCOM) after that command was created in 1975.

In the mid-1990s, MARCOM headquarters were consolidated from Halifax at NDHQ in Ottawa at the same time that AIRCOM headquarters moved from Winnipeg and LFC headquarters moved from Saint-Hubert, Quebec.

[edit] Re-structure

Following the 1968 unification, MARCOM undertook several changes to its force structure. The sole remaining aircraft carrier, HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22), was nearing the end of her service life, being a Second World War–era vessel. In the early 1970s, it was decided to pay Bonaventure off and not find a replacement, instead focusing on the traditional blue-water navy.

The fleet was enhanced in 1972 with the addition of the four new Iroquois-class destroyers, also known as the Tribal class. By the mid-1970s, the navy was looking at a new class of frigate-helicopter (FH) vessels to replace the aging St. Laurent, Restigouche, Mackenzie, and Annapolis classes. This design evolved into the Canadian Patrol Frigate (CPF), which was promised by the government in the early 1980s during a period of increased military spending. By the late 1980s, with construction of the first six vessels underway (by now called the Halifax-class frigates), construction of six further vessels was announced. Nine of the twelve CPF vessels were built at Saint John, New Brunswick, and the remaining three were built at Lauzon, Quebec.

The mid-1980s saw the announcement of the Tribal Update and Modernization Program (TRUMP), which saw the four early-1970s Iroquois-class destroyers updated into area air-defence destroyers. The update saw these vessels become the first non-US ships to carry the Standard SM-2 anti-aircraft missile.

The 1990s saw the addition of the Kingston-class coastal defence vessels which enhanced MARCOM's minesweeping and route survey capabilities. Manned by naval reservists, the Kingston-class is also used for training.

[edit] Action post-1968

MARCOM provides vessels for Standing Naval Force Atlantic and for exercises off Norway in support of Canada's defence obligations for northern Scandinavia under the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), patrols the north Atlantic and Pacific oceans in support of Canadian sovereignty, and is tasked by NATO with anti-submarine patrols for the northwest Atlantic.

In August–September 1990, MARCOM hurriedly modernized and deployed the Restigouche-class destroyer escort HMCS Terra Nova (DDE 259), the Iroquois-class destroyer HMCS Athabaskan (DDH 282), and the supply ship HMCS Protecteur (AOR 509) to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Desert Shield and later Operation Desert Storm, where these vessels were involved in escort duties of various coalition naval forces and non-combatants.

During the mid to late 1990s, MARCOM provided vessels for a NATO task force patrolling the Adriatic Sea off the former Yugoslavia. As part of Operation Apollo, Canada's military contribution to the international campaign against terrorism, 20 MARCOM vessels have been patrolling in the Arabian Sea in recent years.

[edit] Today's fleet

The current fleet contains thirty-six ships and submarines plus many more supply and support vessels. The fleet is roughly evenly split between the Atlantic and Pacific commands with the Atlantic housing the larger of the two fleets. MARCOM participates in NATO exercises, and ships are deployed all over the world in support of the Canadian military and in conjunction with multinational deployments.

Sea King helicopters embark to provide anti-submarine patrols, search and rescue, and reconnaissance. CP-140 Aurora surveillance aircraft also support MARCOM operations. None of 12 Wing Shearwater (or its Patricia Bay operating location), 14 Wing Greenwood or 19 Wing Comox belong to MARCOM, all of which report to AIRCOM through 1 Canadian Air Division.

[edit] Ships of Maritime Command

Class or name	Builder	Type	Quantity	Year Entered Service	Details
Halifax	Saint John Shipbuilding, MIL-Davie Shipbuilding, Saint John, New Brunswick,  Canada	frigate	12	1992–1996	The backbone of MARCOM, the twelve Halifax-class frigates carry the Sea King helicopters of the Air Force as well as anti-submarine torpedoes and anti-aircraft and anti-ship missiles. Frigate Life Extension (FELEX) to start sometime after 2007
Iroquois	MIL-Davie Shipbuilding, Lauzon, Quebec,  Canada	destroyer	3	1972–1973	Area-air-defence and command-and-control destroyers with Sea King helicopters, refitted in the 1990s from anti-submarine role.
Kingston	Halifax Shipyards, Halifax, Nova Scotia,  Canada	patrol	12	1996–1999	Coastal surveillance, general naval operations and exercises, search and rescue, law enforcement, resource protection, fisheries patrols and mine countermeasure capabilities.
Orca	Victoria Shipyards, Esquimalt, British Columbia,  Canada	patrol/training	8	2006–2008	Training and inshore patrol.
Protecteur	Saint John Shipbuilding, Saint John, New Brunswick,  Canada	auxiliary	2	1969–1970	At-sea resupply of frigates and destroyers and medical support. Ships to be replaced by Joint Support Ships starting 2012
Victoria	Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd and Cammell Laird, Birkenhead,  United Kingdom	submarine	4	2000–2004	Diesel-electric hunter-killer submarines with long-range patrol capability. Originally commissioned into the Royal Navy from 1989 to 93, but transferred to the Canadian Forces from 2000. The complete fleet are in dry dock for reparation and modernization. Since 2000 they have not fired torpedoes yet.
HMCS Oriole (KC 480)	George Lawly & Sons, Boston, USA	Sailing Ketch	1	1921	Sail Training Ship. Oldest Commissioned ship in the Canadian Navy.

[edit] Auxiliary Vessels

Canadian Forces Auxiliary Vessels (CFAV) are not armed or part of the regular fleet in the Canadian Forces. These ships operated within the port areas in maritime command area in the Pacific and Atlantic coasts.

Class or name	Builder	Type	Quantity	Year Entered Service	Details
Quest	Burrard Shipbuilding & Drydock Ltd., Vancouver, British Columbia,	Survey ship	1	1969	Oceanographic research ship.
Fire-Class	United Kingdom	fire/rescue boats-Yard Tractor Tug	2: CFAV Firebrand (YTR 562) and the CFAV Firebird (YTR 561)
Ville-Class	Falconer Marine in Victoria, B.C	Harbour tug-YTL	5 – CFAV Lawrenceville (YTL 590), CFAV Parksville (YTL 591), CFAV Listerville (YTL 592), CFAV Merrickville (YTL 593), CFAV Marysville (YTL 594)	1974	Named after World War II vessels which were based on the on Pup Class[3]
		Medium Harbour Tug-YTM	1 – CFAV Tillicum (YTM 555)		based at Esquimalt
Glen-Class	Yarrows Ltd, Esquimalt and Georgetown Shipyards, PE  Canada	tractor tugs	5 – CFAV Glendyne (YTB 640), CFAV Glendale (YTB 641), CFAV Glenevis (YTB 642), CFAV Glenbrook (YTB 643), CFAV Glenside (YTB 644)	1975–1977	Vessels are named after an earlier World War 2 Glen class of tugs.[4][5]
		YDT Dive Tenders and Dive Recovery	1 – YDT 10
		Yard Diving Tenders	2 (YDT 11 – ex Cape Scott III and YDT 12 Granby)		YDT-11 based at Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific) in Colwood, B.C [6]
Sechelt Class	West Coast [John] Manly Shipyard of New Westminster, BC  Canada	YDT Yard Dive Tenders	2 – YDT Sechelt, YDT Sooke	1991	Sooke based at Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific) in Colwood, B.C. [7]
Sechelt Class	West Coast [John] Manly Shipyard of New Westminster, BC  Canada	Torpedo and Sound Ranging Vessels	2 – CFAV Sikanni, CFAV Stikine	1991
	Burrard Shipbuilding & Drydock Ltd	General Purpose Research Vessel	1 – CFAV Quest	1969
		Duty Boat	2 – CFAV Gemini and CFAV Pegasus		Gemini based in Halifax, Pegasus based in Esquimalt
		Fleet Diving Unit Boat	4 – Sculpin, Abalone, Dungeness, Tayut		[8]

[edit] Aircraft

Since 2 September 1975, all air force functions are assumed by the Canadian Forces Air Command element of the Canadian Forces. Although Maritime Command doesn't have any aircraft, the Canadian Forces are a unified organisation and the following list details the Air Command aircraft operated in maritime roles.

Aircraft	Country of Manufacture	Type	Canadian Designation	In Service	Notes
SH-3 Sea King	Sikorsky  United States United Aircraft  Canada	Shipborne Anti-Submarine, Search and Rescue Helicopter on destroyers and frigates	CH-124 Sea King	27	Delivered 1963 to Royal Canadian Navy; assigned from Air Command to be replaced by CH-148 Cyclone
P-3 Orion/S-3 Viking	Lockheed  United States	Strategic airborne anti-submarine warfare aircraft with surface-surveillance capability	CP-140 Aurora	18	Purchased 1980; assigned from Air Command
P-3 Orion	Lockheed  United States	Strategic airborne surface-surveillance aircraft	CP-140A Arcturus	3	airframes purchased in 1991; assigned from Air Command
Sikorsky H-92 Superhawk	Sikorsky Aircraft  United States	Shipborne, Anti-Submarine warfares, Search and Rescue Helicopter on destroyers and frigates	CH-148 Cyclone	28	Project delayed; delivery in 2010

[edit] Decommissioned fleet

Class or name	Type	Builder	Quantity	Year Entered Service	Details
St. Laurent class	escort destroyers	Canada Canadian Vickers, Montreal Halifax Shipyards, Halifax NS Burrard, Vancouver, BC Yarrows, Esquimalt, BC Marine Industries Limited, Sorel, Quebec	7	1955–1994	all but 2 scrapped; Saguenay (Nova Scotia) and Assiniboine (Caribbean) were sunk as artificial reefs
Mackenzie class	escort destroyers	Canada Canadian Vickers, Montreal	4	1962–1994	3 were sunk with 2 as artificial reefs; Qu'Appelle's status is unknown
Restigouche class	escort destroyers	Canada Davie Shipbuilding, Lauzon, Quebec Halifax Shipyards, Halifax NS Burrard Dry Dock, North Vancouver, BC Victoria Machinery Depot, Victoria, BC	7	1958–1997	St Croix was scapped, Gatineau and Terra Nova are laid up in Halifax and rest sunk as reefs
Iroquois class	escort destroyers	Canada MIL Davie Shipbuilding, Lauzon, Quebec	1 – HMCS Huron (DDH 281)	1970–2005	Sunk as a target ship by US and Canadian ships off the coast of BC in 2007
Oberon class	diesel electric submarine	United Kingdom Vickers-Armstrongs, Barrow-in-Furness	3 (+2 spares)	1964–2000	one sold to a museum in Rimouski, Quebec, 3 others laid-up at Dartmouth jetty, across from main naval base
Tench class	diesel electric submarine	United States Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, Maine	1 ( USS Argonaut (SS-475) renamed as HMCS Rainbow(S-75) )	1968–1974	status unknown
Provider class	AOR (oiler replinishing ship)	Canada Davie Shipbuilding, Lauzon, Quebec	1 – HMCS Provider (AOR 508)	1963–2003	sold as barge and latter scrapped
N/A	ASL	Italy Aspa Quarto	1 – HMCS Cormorant (ASL 20)	1978–1997
Annapolis class	escort destroyers	Canada Marine Industries Limited, Sorel, Quebec	2	1964–1997	both sunk; Annapolis is a reef and Nipigon sunk in Quebec
Majestic class	light aircraft carrier	United Kingdom Harland and Wolff, Belfast	1 – HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22)	1957–1970	scrapped in Taiwan
Cape class	escort maintenance	Canada Allied Shipbuilders Ltd., Vancouver, BC	2	1959–1970	status unknown
N/A	escort hydrofoil Frigate	Canada Marine Industries Limited, Sorel, Quebec de Havilland Canada, Toronto, Ontario	1 – HMCS Bras d'Or (FHE 400)	1970s	now at Musée Maritime du Québec
Glen-Class I tugs	tug		4 – Glendevon, Glenevis		WWII ships
YBZ-61	vacuum ship		1
Saint Class Deep Sea Tugs	ocean tug	Saint John Dry Dock, Saint John, NB 1957  Canada	3 – St. Anthony ATA 531, St. John ATA 532, St.Charles ATA 533		stricken beginning in 1972
Naval Research Vessel			1 – CFAV Endeavour		1968–1998
	Submersible	1 - SDL-1 SDL-1; built by International Hydrodynamics Corporation of Vancouver, BC		1971-1998	sold in 1998

[edit] Retired aircraft

Aircraft	Country of Manufacture	Type	Canadian Designation	In Service	Notes
F2H Banshee	McDonnell Douglas  United States	carrier based jet fighter	N/A – F2H-3	39; 34 on carrier HMCS Bonaventure	ex-United States Navy delivered 1955–1958; retired 1962
S-2 Tracker	Sikorsky Aircraft  United States	Anti-submarine warfare aircraft	CS-2F Tracker	1?	delivery 1956–1957; all carrier based aircraft were transferred to land operations after 1970
Sikorsky H-19 "Horse"	Sikorsky Aircraft  United States	plane guard helicopter	H04S-3	2?	acquired 1956; retired 1967 and replaced by CH-124 Sea King (till 1970)

[edit] Weapons

[edit] Shipborne

• Mark 41 VLS – missile-firing system for
  • Boeing Integrated Defense Systems Mark 141 Harpoon SSM – anti-ship missile
  • Raytheon Standard SM-2MR Block IIIA surface-to-air missile
• Douglas Aircraft Company/Sperry Corporation Sea Sparrow SAM/SSM – medium-range semi-active radar homing air-to-air missile
• BAE Systems Bofors SAK 57 mm naval guns
• General Dynamics Ponoma Division Phalanx CIWS (Block 1) – Close-in weapon system/anti-missile system
• Browning Arms Company 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns – heavy machine guns
• Oto Melara 76 mm/62 OTO Melara – naval artillery piece
• Alliant Techsystems Mark-46 Mod 5 torpedoes fired from 12.75in Mark 32 Surface Vessel Torpedo Tubes
• BAE Systems Bofors 40 mm 60 Mk 5C cannon
• Raytheon/Hughes Aircraft 533 mm torpedo tubes (18 Mark 48 torpedoes)
• Dorado Interim Remote Mine Hunting and Detection System (IRMDS)

[edit] Aircraft

• Alliant Techsystems Mark 46 torpedo – Air and ship-launched lightweight torpedo on SH-3 Sea King
• Browning Arms Company M1919 Browning machine gun – 7.62 mm self-defence machine gun used by SH-3 Sea King

[edit] Air operations

Though the former RCN had its own aircraft, after unification shipboard helicopters came under "air force" control, and Naval Air Squadrons were renumbered in the former RCAF 400-series, with the exceptions of VU-32, VU-33, and 880 Squadron. Shipboard helicopter operations continue in this fashion, with Helicopter Air Detachments (HELAIRDETs) being staffed by Air Command personnel in air force-style DEU's.

[edit] Submarines

The 1987 military review highlighted Canada's limited capability to enforce sovereignty on its Arctic coast. It was therefore announced that MARCOM would receive a fleet of 10 to 12 nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSN) suitable for operating for extended periods under the Arctic ice. The proposed SSN fleet would force any nation, friend or foe, to possibly think twice before using Canada's territorial seas in the Arctic for operating nuclear submarines. During 1987–1988, MARCOM examined several British and French SSN designs. The planned procurement, however, was cancelled in 1988–1989 during a time of increased defence cuts.

In 1998, the Canadian government made a deal with the United Kingdom to acquire four mothballed, but state-of-the-art Upholder-class diesel-electric submarines that were declared surplus when the Royal Navy's decided to operate only nuclear-powered submarines such as the Trafalgar-class boats. The Royal and U.S. navies considered the Upholders too valuable and technologically advanced to allow them to fall into the hands of a non-allied nation. Therefore Canada was encouraged through significant discounts to acquire the Upholders. The four submarines were eventually purchased after much foot-dragging by the federal government for $750 million CAD.

The transaction was supposed to have included some reciprocal rights for British forces to continue using CFB Suffield for armoured-unit training and CFB Goose Bay for low-level flight training, while Canada received four well-built and very lightly used high-technology submarines to replace the 1960s-era Oberon class. (It was later revealed that there were no reciprocal rights. It was a plain lease-to-buy arrangement.) After an update program which took longer than expected the Upholders are being successfully reactivated following a decade of mothballing and are now being integrated into the Canadian navy as the Victoria class. Four boats will allow MARPAC to deploy a submarine in the Pacific for the first time in four decades.

The four submarines and their former Royal Navy names:

• HMCS Victoria (SSK 876), formerly HMS Unseen (S41)
• HMCS Windsor (SSK 877), formerly HMS Unicorn (S43)
• HMCS Corner Brook (SSK 878), formerly HMS Ursula (S42)
• HMCS Chicoutimi (SSK 879), formerly HMS Upholder (S40)

A naval investigation was conducted into a fatal fire aboard HMCS Chicoutimi which killed an officer and injured several other personnel during its maiden voyage from Faslane Naval Base, Scotland, to Halifax in October 2004. The investigation focused on two hatches that were left open during repairs, thus allowing seawater inside while the submarine was on the surface in a period of rough weather, as well as faulty insulation for wires and a panel near the commanding officer's cabin. The wires were insulated using an older water-resistance specification than the other Victoria-class boats, because it was older than the other three. The other three Victoria-class boats were placed on restricted duty for several weeks following the fire and during the period of investigation.

The investigation found that a series of unexpected circumstances led to the tragedy.^[9] No blame was placed on the commanding officer, as it was decided he was reasonable in allowing both hatches to be left open for the repairs. Running with both hatches open was common on the Oberon-class boats. Recommendations include improved water-resistant insulation for electrical wires, improved firefighting training, and a change of operational procedures that will no longer allow a submarine to operate on the surface with both hatches open. The widow of the officer killed, in writing, accepted the findings of the investigation.

[edit] Future

[edit] Maritime-helicopter replacement

Although aviation assets are the responsibility of Canadian Forces Air Command (AIRCOM) since unification, the political fiasco surrounding the maritime-helicopter replacement has had a major impact on the ability of the Canadian patrol frigates to deliver their expected capabilities. In 1993, the Maritime Helicopter Program, which had selected the AgustaWestland EH101 as a replacement for the aging CH-124 Sea King, was cancelled by incoming Prime Minister Jean Chrétien in an infamous decision that dogged his government for over a decade. Chrétien's government did end up ordering fifteen CH-149 Cormorants, a slightly cheaper version of the EH101, for search-and-rescue services, however it took until July 2004 for a replacement of the now-ancient Sea Kings to be announced. The Sea Kings will be replaced with the CH-148 Cyclone, with delivery expected commence in 2010.

[edit] Current and future programs

[edit] Joint support ships

In the late 1990s, one of the fleet's three underway-replenishment vessels, HMCS Provider, was paid off. The remaining two supply ships, HMCS Preserver and HMCS Protecteur, were showing their age, and MARCOM began studies into designing a new class of underway-replenishment and naval sealift-capable vessels.

On 16 April 2004, Prime Minister Paul Martin announced plans to purchase three new joint support ships (JSS) to replace the Protecteur-class underway-replenishment vessels. In addition to supporting naval operations, the new ships will be able to transport a battlegroup — a capability Canada's navy has lacked since the departure of the light carrier HMCS Bonaventure in 1970. The new ships will also have reinforced hulls enabling them to sail in the Arctic. The requirement for three JSSes was re-affirmed in June 2006 by the newly elected Conservative government, which issued the request for proposal. In November 2006, two industry teams were selected to provide a proposal. One of these teams was to be awarded the implementation contract in 2008. The first of the 28,000-tonne vessels was scheduled to be delivered in 2012. As of August 22, 2008, the JSS Program has been suspended due to cost. The Protecteur Class will have their service lives extended beyond 2012 while a suitable replacement is found.^[10]

[edit] Amphibious assault vessels

In the first months of 2005, senior members of the Canadian Forces and the government examined the possibility of purchasing two new or used Future Canadian Amphibious Assault Ship in keeping with the government's commitment to developing greater joint capability in the Canadian Forces. This was apparently not connected to the Joint Support Ship project. According to the Délégation générale pour l’armement (DGA), the Canadian Forces Maritime Command and DND might show an interest in the French built Mistral class amphibious assault ship ^[11] The ship can carry a significantly large military force with equipment and vehicles in 'fighting order,' enabling the CF to face armed opposition ashore.The Future Canadian Amphibious Assault Ship ^[12] will be able rapidly disembark personnel and equipment in 'waves' using 'connector systems' such as landing craft and/or helicopters. The ship will be able to offload equipment and personnel in the face of armed opposition. They can be also used as large hospital ships and support humanitarian operations.

[edit] Orca-class training vessels

The program to replace the navy's wooden YAG vessels with twelve modern steel training / patrol vessels (the Orca program) is well underway and being contracted by Victoria Shipyards Limited. The first ship, PCT (Patrol Craft, Training) 55 Orca was accepted by the navy at CFB Esquimalt on November 17, 2006.^[13]

[edit] Polar Class 5 Arctic offshore patrol ships

On July 9, 2007, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced the construction of up to eight Polar Class PC-5 Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships and the establishment of a deep water port in the far North.

These new Polar Class 5 Arctic Patrol Ships will be built in Canada.^[14][15][16]: The CBC reported that the vessels "...are expected to be based on the Royal Norwegian Navy's Svalbard class design". With steel-reinforced hulls, they will be capable of operating in ice up to one metre thick, and each vessel will also be equipped with a helicopter landing pad. They will be able to patrol the length of the Northwest Passage during the summer navigable season and its approaches year-round, and will also be capable of full operations on the east and west coasts throughout the year. Critics have noted that the vessels are less capable than the three larger icebreakers Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced in 2006 most notably the Navy League of Canada which described the 25-millimetre gun as a "peashooter"^[17].

As of June 10, 2009, the icebreaker program has been postponed.^[17]

To conduct seaborne surveillance operations in the Arctic, a deep-water port at Nanisivik, Nunavut will be constructed to allow the patrol ships to resupply and refuel.^[18]

[edit] Other

The Halifax-class Frigate Life Extension (FELEX) program has been established and a contract was awarded to Lockheed Martin. It is believed that introduction of the active phased array radar (APAR) that the Canadian Forces developed with the Dutch navy will not be undertaken during FELEX due to the weight of the system and stability considerations. Canada is considering a 4-to-10 vessel replacement program for the Iroquois-class destroyers, likely involving the use of APAR. To save money, the replacement classes for the Iroquois- and Halifax-class ships will have identical hulls and propulsion systems.

A mid-life upgrade program for the Kingston-class patrol vessels appeared on a list of the Chief of the Maritime Staff's project priorities, but was cancelled. The navy has plans to replace the Iroquois class destroyer with the Canadian Single Class Surface Combatant. The Department of National Defence has not identified a procurement timeframe for the Iroquois replacements, although it has been reported that design work is underway and a project office and personnel have been assigned.

[edit] Senior leadership

[edit] Commanders of Maritime Command

1. Vice Admiral J.C. O'Brien 1968–1970
2. Vice Admiral H.A. Porter 1970–1971
3. Rear Admiral R.W Timbrell 1971–1973
4. Vice Admiral D.S. Boyle 1973–1977
5. Vice Admiral A.L Collier 1977–1979
6. Vice Admiral J Allan 1979–1980
7. Vice Admiral J.A. Fulton 1980–1983
8. Vice Admiral J.C. Wood 1983–1987
9. Vice Admiral C.M Thomas 1987–1989
10. Vice Admiral R.E. George 1989–1991
11. Vice Admiral (later Admiral) John Rogers Anderson 1991–1992
12. Vice Admiral P.W. Cairns 1992–1994
13. Vice Admiral Larry Murray 1994–1995
14. Vice Admiral Lynn Mason 1995–1997

[edit] Chiefs of the Maritime Staff

1. Vice Admiral G. Garnett 1997–1997
2. Vice Admiral G Maddison 1997–2001
3. Vice Admiral R.D. Buck 2001–2004
4. Vice Admiral M.B. McLean 2004–2006
5. Vice Admiral D.W. Robertson 2006–

[edit] Ceromonies

The Queen's or King's Cermonial colours (also referred to as the Soverign's Colour) for the navy has been presented/consecrated 4 times:

• 1939 by King George VI to the RCN in Esquimalt, BC
• 1959 by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip in Halifax, NS (in naval uniform as Admiral) to the RCN
• 1979 by the Queen Mother to the Maritime Command in Halifax, NS
• 2009 by the Governor General of Canada and Commander-in-Chief Michaëlle Jean (in naval uniform) to the Maritime Command in Halifax, NS - the Governor General is dressed as an admiral, but she does not hold any formal rank

The colours consists of a ceromonial flag with the Maple Leaf flag on the top left (canton), the monarch's crest (a capital E on blue background surround by gold maple leafs topped by a crown) and an anchor (from Maritime Command's naval jack) on the lower right (fly). These elements are found on the 1979 and 2009 colours. The colours from 1959 and 1939 consisted a Royal Navy white ensign with the Queen's or King's cipher in the middle.

The use of the service colours of the Royal Navy were granted to the RCN in 1925. Two service colours were sent to Halifax and Esquimalt. Int 1937 they were retired and new colours sent. The official presentation of the King's Colour was not completed until 1939.

The Canadian Forces Maritime Command's retired colours are laid up at Beechwood Cemetery in Ottawa, Ontario.

Source: [1]

[edit] References

[edit] See also

• List of ships of the Canadian Navy
• List of Royal Canadian Navy stations
• Uniforms of the Canadian Forces#Navy
• Canadian Forces ranks and insignia
• Canadian Coast Guard

[edit] External links

• Canadian Navy, Official Site
• ReadyAyeReady.com: Ninety-five years of the Canadian navy.
• CdnMilitary.ca Article on the Frigate Life Extension Programme (FELEX)
• CFAV Quest
• Canadian Forces Small Ships — YAG Yard Auxiliary, General

v • d • e   Canadian Forces Commander-in-Chief • Chief of the Defence Staff • Armed Forces Council Canada Command • Canadian Expeditionary Force Command • Canadian Operational Support Command • Joint Task Force North • Reserve Force Maritime Command • Land Force Command • Air Command

v • d • e Canadian Forces Maritime Command Iroquois-class destroyers: HMCS Iroquois (DDH 280) • HMCS Athabaskan (DDH 282) • HMCS Algonquin (DDH 283) Halifax-class frigates: HMCS Halifax (FFH 330) • HMCS Vancouver (FFH 331) • HMCS Ville de Québec (FFH 332) • HMCS Toronto (FFH 333) • HMCS Regina (FFH 334) • HMCS Calgary (FFH 335) • HMCS Montréal (FFH 336) • HMCS Fredericton (FFH 337) • HMCS Winnipeg (FFH 338) • HMCS Charlottetown (FFH 339) • HMCS St. John's (FFH 340) • HMCS Ottawa (FFH 341) Victoria-class submarines: HMCS Victoria (SSK 876) • HMCS Windsor (SSK 877) • HMCS Corner Brook (SSK 878) • HMCS Chicoutimi (SSK 879) Kingston-class patrol boats: HMCS Kingston (MM 700) • HMCS Glace Bay (MM 701) • HMCS Nanaimo (MM 702) • HMCS Edmonton (MM 703) • HMCS Shawinigan (MM 704) • HMCS Whitehorse (MM 705) • HMCS Yellowknife (MM 706) • HMCS Goose Bay (MM 707) • HMCS Moncton (MM 708) • HMCS Saskatoon (MM 709) • HMCS Brandon (MM 710) • HMCS Summerside (MM 711) Orca-class patrol boats: CFAV Orca (PCT 55) • CFAV Raven (PCT 56) • CFAV Caribou (PCT 57) • CFAV Renard (PCT 58) • CFAV Wolf (PCT 59) • CFAV Grizzly (PCT 60) • CFAV Cougar (PCT 61) • CFAV Moose (PCT 62) Protecteur-class auxiliary vessels: HMCS Protecteur (AOR 509) • HMCS Preserver (AOR 510) Miscellaneous: Province-class • Joint Support Ship Aircraft (AIRCOM): CH-124 Sea King • CP-140 Aurora • CP-140A Arcturus • CH-148 Cyclone • CH-149 Cormorant Fleets: Maritime Forces Atlantic • Maritime Forces Pacific Bases: CFB Esquimalt • CFB Halifax • CFS St. John's • CFMETR, Nanoose Bay • NRS Aldergrove • NRS Newport Corner • NRS Mill Cove