International Operations

HMCS Toronto joins Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 for historic circumnavigation of Africa

Credit:  MCpl Kevin Paul   Ship's crew line the rails as the Canadian frigate HMCS Toronto arrives at the port of Souda Bay, Crete.

HMCS Toronto, now with Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1), will conduct operations in the Mediterranean and an historic 12,500 nautical mile circumnavigation of Africa during her five-month deployment.

SNMG1 is an integral part of the NATO Response Force (NRF), a highly ready and technologically advanced force made up of land, air, sea and Special Forces components that can be deployed quickly to respond to a range of emergencies.  

As part of SNMG1, HMCS Toronto will conduct two principle missions: Operation SEXTANT and Operation SIRIUS. The first will involve a first-time event for SNMG1: the circumnavigation of Africa. The task group, composed of ships from six different nations and under the control of a United States Navy task group commander embarked in USS Normandy, will sail around South Africa at the end of August, conducting exercises with the South African Navy and paying a four-day visit to Cape Town at the beginning of September. Toronto will also conduct presence operations off of both West and East Africa. 

After OP SEXTANT, Toronto will conduct OP SIRIUS in the Mediterranean. This will be part of Operation ACTIVE ENDEAVOR, NATO’s operation to help deter, defend, disrupt and protect against maritime terrorist activities.

 “HMCS Toronto is part of Canada’s ongoing commitment to support NATO objectives and solidarity,” says Cdr Stephen Virgin, commanding officer. “Our security at home starts overseas and international maritime security is important business 24/7.”

The last deployment of Canadian ships in support of SNMG1 was from January to December 2006 when Canada commanded SNMG1 and deployed HMC Ships Athabaskan and Iroquois on successive six-month missions.

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