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A Canadian Halifax-class frigate operating with United States Navy Carrier Battle Group in the Persian Gulf (Arabian Gulf)

CANADIAN NAVY TEAMS UP WITH U.S. CARRIER BATTLE GROUPS

One of the best examples of the effectiveness of Canadian and American defence co-operation is the integration of Canadian Navy frigates into United States Carrier Battle Groups.

Since the end of the Gulf War in 1991, Canada has contributed to the Persian Gulf (Arabian Gulf) Multinational Interdiction Force enforcing UN sanctions against Iraq. In 1998, HMCS Ottawa integrated into a U.S. Carrier Battle Group as part of this force. This was the first time since the Korean War that another country had this level of interoperability with the U.S. Navy.

Since that first deployment, the Canadian Navy integrated into several United States Navy Carrier Battle Groups during sanction enforcement operations and multinational exercises.

HMCS Charlottetown is the first frigate from Maritime Forces Atlantic to be integrated into a United States Navy Carrier Battle Group. HMCS Charlottetown left its homeport of Halifax in January 2001, and returns from the Persian Gulf (Arabian Gulf) in July.

"We're ready," said HMCS Charlottetown's Commanding Officer, Commander Ron Lloyd. "A great deal of work has been done to ensure that we are capable of fully integrating into the technically complex environment of an American aircraft carrier battle group. We're probably one of the few non-U.S. ships in the world that are ready now to do so."

HMCS Winnipeg, also deploying as part of a United States Navy Carrier Battle Group, leaves for the Persian Gulf (Arabian Gulf) in March 2001 and will join the Multinational Interdiction Force as part of a U.S. Surface Task Force.

The Canadian Navy is the only foreign navy to successfully operate as part of U.S. Carrier Battle Groups. This success is due to the extensive training that the American and Canadian navies conduct together.

Furthermore, the Halifax-class frigate is a welcome addition to any coalition naval force because of the ship's highly skilled crew and its modern communications, sensors, and weapons systems. At 442 feet in length and only 4,750 tonnes, it is considered by Canada's allies as the most capable ship of its size in the world.

CANADIAN NAVY SHIPS INTEGRATED INTO U.S. NAVAL FORCES FOR OPERATIONS IN THE Persian Gulf (Arabian Gulf)

YEAR	SHIP	MONTHS	U.S NAVAL FORCES
1997	HMCS Regina	Feb-Aug	US Surface Task Group
1998	HMCS Ottawa	Jun-Dec	USS Araham Lincoln Carrier Battle Group
1999	HMCS Regina	Jun-Dec	USS Constellation Carrier Battle Group
2000	HMCS Calgary	Jun-Nov	US Surface Task Group
2001	HMCS Charlottetown	Jan-Jul	USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Battle Group
2001	HMCS Winnipeg	Mar-Sep	USS Constellation Carrier Battle Group

 

Canadian Halifax-class frigate operating with a U.S. Navy Carrier Battle Group in the Arabian Sea.

Crewmembers from HMCS Charlottetown watching flight operations from the USS John F. Kennedy.