Domestic Operations

HMCS ST. JOHN'S participates in counter-drug operation

By Lt(N) Brian Owens

As most Canadians planned to celebrate Canada Day, HMCS ST. JOHN’S was making plans of a different variety known only as Operation COLOMBINE. Upon arriving home after conducting Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile trials, ST. JOHN’S found herself Ready Duty Ship and with an unscheduled, covert tasking: ST. JOHN’S quickly readied for sea.

Slipping from the dockyard on the morning of July 2, ST. JOHN’S proceeded to the Maritime Operating Areas to conduct Boarding Party, Small Arms and .50 Caliber training, in preparation for a covert return into Halifax Harbour that evening to embark some special guests. Additionally, the Command Team closed up to coordinate the ship’s requirements for the operation.

Under the cover of darkness, ST. JOHN’S entered the harbour and members of the RCMP Emergency Response Team (ERT) embarked with their equipment and settled into their new ‘home’ for the next few days. Comprised of units from around the Maritimes, the covert nature of our mission and the necessity for a silent communications posture quickly became apparent.

Also apparent was the ease with which the RCMP team members integrated into both the official and social life of the ship. Hailing from a number of the same communities as the ship’s company, conversations soon turned to recollections of home and the individual idiosyncrasies associated with each town.

Credit:  DND

The first step was for ST. JOHN’S to rendezvous with the Canadian Coast Guard Vessel EDWARD CORNWALLIS, assemble all Command Teams and discuss the way ahead for the operation. After deriving a tactical plan for the operation, both ships departed for their assigned patrol areas.

The morning of July 4 marked the first practice run of the planned takedown. After working out a few bugs, the teams conducted a night takedown rehearsal, finalizing the last remaining details. The coordinated boarding of the “Vessel of Interest” would prove the effectiveness and interoperability of ST. JOHN’S, the RCMP Operations Team and the Coast Guard in the protection of Canadian sovereignty. Now it was time to set the trap and wait for the target.

On the day of the planned interdiction, calm seas and clear visibility were, for a change, a hindrance! However, the teams were ready and at 1730 hours, ST. JOHN’S commenced her intercept at maximum speed toward FRIENDSHIP, a single-masted sailboat. With shocking speed, the FRIENDSHIP was alongside, the RCMP was onboard, and the suspects were under arrest.

With the suspects now in custody onboard ST. JOHN’S, phase two of Op COLOMBINE commenced—the takedown of the smuggler’s network ashore.

With the RCMP ERT crew embarked, acting as the suspect smugglers, they proceeded ashore to continue the exchange. Shortly after the FRIENDSHIP went to anchor, the next phase was executed and more suspects from ashore were taken into custody and transferred to ST. JOHN’S. With a prize crew from ST. JOHN’S embarked in the sailboat, ST. JOHN’S, CORNWALLIS, and FRIENDSHIP, now codenamed ‘Little Bear’, transited to Halifax.

Lt(N) Brian Owens is CIO/SACO HMCS ST. JOHN’S.

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