Domestic Stories

Trail breakers in the North

By Darlene Blakeley

HMCS Corner Brook “performed flawlessly” during the first deployment of a Victoria-class submarine to Canada’s northern waters according to her commanding officer, Lieutenant-Commander Christopher Robinson.

“Originally designed to work in the cold waters of the Greenland-Iceland-United Kingdom gap, Corner Brook’s equipment and sensors performed very well in the similar water conditions of our north,” says LCdr Robinson, a 14-year veteran of the Navy’s submarine program.

Corner Brook and her 59 crew members sailed north last month to participate in Op Nanook, a joint operation involving the deployment of navy, army and air force personnel and resources to Iqaluit and the Baffin Island Coastal and Hudson Strait areas.

Credit:  MCpl Blake Rodgers HMCS Corner Brook appears out of the fog near Baffin Island during Op Nanook.

“As trail breakers, it was exciting as well as hard work,” LCdr Robinson explains. “The control room watch keepers in particular had to be vigilant at all times to detect and avoid small bits of ice known as ‘bergy bits’ and ‘growlers’. Icebergs were much easier to detect on sonar and were thus a non-issue much of the time.”

The exercise provided an opportunity for the submarine to develop the procedures and methods that future submarine deployments will build on. Since the deployment was 24 days in duration, the submarine also had more opportunity to focus on training for 11 embarked trainees than might be possible on shorter trips.

“This exercise was a real highlight for the Canadian submarine service,” says LCdr Robinson. He quickly points out however, that Corner Brook has had a highly successful summer following her workups this spring. In May, she participated in Exercise Noble Mariner, a NATO exercise in the Baltic area, proving her worth by approaching the British aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious, undetected.  As well, the submarine held a Submarine Officer Continuation Training serial inshore in Norwegian waters, allowing it to fine tune a new electronic navigation system fitted onboard.

“All of these deployments have been significant in that we’re now able to focus on redeveloping operational focus and move beyond the more basic requirements of initial submariner training that has previously occupied much of our efforts,” LCdr Robinson says. “Additionally, by making regular deployments and participating in international exercises, it has allowed us to once again hold our heads high amongst the worldwide community of submariners.”

LCdr Robinson also commends sister submarines Chicoutimi, Windsor and Victoria, as well as Maritime Operations Group Five in Halifax, for contributing to Corner Brook’s success. “They continue to support us with the provision of crew members, equipment, significant work parties, and support manning during our leave periods.”

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