Release
For immediate release
PRIME MINISTER STEPHEN HARPER VISITS HMCS FREDERICTON
Thanks crew for their efforts to support NATO allies in Central and Eastern Europe
June 10, 2015 Gdynia, Poland Prime Minister’s Office
Introduction
Prime Minister Stephen Harper today visited the crew of Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Fredericton, which is currently assigned to a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Standing Naval Maritime Group patrolling the Baltic Sea as part of NATO assurance measures to promote security and stability in Central and Eastern Europe. He was joined by Jason Kenney, Minister of National Defence and Minister for Multiculturalism.
The Prime Minister joined the warship last night, slept onboard, and met and dined with the crew. He took the opportunity to personally thank them for their efforts to support NATO allies in Central and Eastern Europe, particularly in light of Russian aggression in Ukraine. Prime Minister Harper also toured the warship’s bridge and operations room, and was given a demonstration of the ship’s capabilities and its maneuverability.
Quick Facts
The military activities undertaken by the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) to support NATO assurance measures in Central and Eastern Europe, including the deployment of HMCS Fredericton, fall under Operation REASSURANCE.
HMCS Fredericton is a Halifax-class frigate with a crew of 250 personnel of all ranks, including a CH-124 Sea King helicopter and air detachment. It is based out of Canadian Forces Base Halifax.
HMCS Fredericton completed its modernization/frigate equipment life extension (HCM/FELEX) refit in November 2014 and is the first modernized frigate to deploy from the Royal Canadian Navy. The versatile, multi-purpose warship has a new combat management system, new radar capability, a new electronic warfare system, upgraded communications and missiles, and a new integrated platform management system.
On April 17, 2014, Prime Minister Harper offered CAF assets to NATO as part of allied assurance measures to promote security in Central and Eastern Europe.
The maritime component of Canada’s assurance measures was announced on April 30, 2014. On this date, HMCS Regina, which was sailing in the Arabian Sea region as part of Operation ARTEMIS, was committed to support NATO assurance measures in the Mediterranean Sea. On August 3, 2014, HMCS Toronto replaced HMCS Regina, and was in turn replaced on January 6, 2015, by HMCS Fredericton in supporting NATO-led maritime assurance activities in the region as part of Standing NATO Maritime Forces.
Along with our allies, Canada has contributed to a number of military measures designed to reinforce our collective defence and demonstrate the strength of Allied solidarity with NATO allies in Central and Eastern Europe.
Other than the maritime component, Canada’s contributions to Operation REASSURANCE have included an Air Task Force to augment the NATO Baltic Air Policing mission in Lithuania and a Land Task Force in Central and Eastern Europe taking part in training exercises designed to develop and enhance interoperability, readiness, joint operations capabilities and multinational responses to potential crises. Additionally, in June 2014, 20 Canadian Armed Forces operational planners were sent to Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe in Casteau, Belgium, to reinforce planning functions and monitor events in the region.
The participation of CAF personnel in NATO exercises and training activities provides an excellent opportunity to develop their skills and enhance their ability to operate with our NATO allies while building cohesion within the alliance.
Quotes
“It was a pleasure to overnight on HMCS Fredericton and to have the opportunity to thank the crew in person for the critical work they are doing to promote stability and security in Central and Eastern Europe.” – Prime Minister Stephen Harper
“Russia’s persistent aggression in Ukraine is a stark reminder that Canada must continue to do everything it can both bilaterally and with its allies to press the Putin regime to cease with its illegal actions and respect its commitments under the Minsk agreements. Until there is real peace and until Ukraine’s territorial sovereignty is restored, there must be ongoing consequences for the Putin regime.” – Prime Minister Stephen Harper
Related Product
HMCS Fredericton and Operation REASSURANCE
Associated Links
NATO Standing Maritime Groups
Operation REASSURANCE
Royal Canadian Navy
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Contacts
PMO Press Office: 613-957-5555
This document is also available at http://pm.gc.ca
Backgrounder
HMCS FREDERICTON AND OPERATION REASSURANCE
HMCS Fredericton is a Halifax-class frigate with a crew of 250 personnel of all ranks. It includes a CH-124 Sea King helicopter and air detachment.
Halifax-class frigates like HMCS Fredericton are versatile, multi-purpose warships that continue to provide excellent service to Canada. Frigates can deploy independently, or as part of a larger naval task group anywhere in the world with NATO, with U.S. carrier battle groups, or in concert with other allied vessels.
Frigates carry extensive anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface warfare weapons and sensors to complement their substantial anti-air warfare defences. The combination of these weapon and sensors systems, coupled with state of the art damage control and machinery control systems, make frigates one of the most advanced warship designs in the world.
Frigates provide a formidable array of defensive and offensive capabilities that can respond effectively to various operational contingencies, at home and abroad, on behalf of the Government of Canada. Canada’s Halifax-class frigates have been deployed extensively to deal with a wide range of domestic and international security challenges, including the threats of terrorism, illegal resource exploitation, pollution and fisheries violations, narcotics trafficking and illegal immigration. They have also enforced Canadian sovereignty, provided humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, supported Search and Rescue (SAR) operations, and defended Canada's broader national interests abroad.
HMCS Fredericton completed its modernization/frigate equipment life extension refit in November 2014 and was the first modernized frigate to deploy. The ship has a new combat management system, new radar capability, a new electronic warfare system, upgraded communications and missiles, and a new integrated platform management system.
There are 12 Halifax-class frigates in the Royal Canadian Navy, seven based at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Halifax in Nova Scotia and five based at CFB Esquimalt in British Columbia. HMCS Fredericton is based out of CFB Halifax.
As the Royal Canadian Navy undergoes its most extensive peacetime modernization in history, the 12 Canadian-built multi-role patrol frigates will continue to form the backbone of the fleet. HMCS Halifax, Fredericton, Calgary, Winnipeg, and Montréal were the first five frigates to complete the modernization/frigate equipment life extension refit.
Operation REASSURANCE
The Government has demonstrated Canada’s resolve and commitment to NATO assurance measures by committing first HMCS Regina, then HMCS Toronto, and currently HMCS Fredericton, to NATO Standing Maritime Forces as part of NATO assurance measures.
Operation REASSURANCE refers to the military activities under taken by the CAF to support NATO assurance measures through the provision of military capabilities for training, exercises, demonstrations and assigned NATO tasks. The Canadian reassurance mission currently also involves a Canadian army company group operating out of Poland and deployed for exercises with Canada’s European allies.
On January 6, 2015, HMCS Fredericton replaced HMCS Toronto in the Mediterranean Sea, continuing Canada’s support of NATO-led maritime reassurance activities in the region as part of the Standing NATO Maritime Forces. Once assigned to Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG 2), HMCS Fredericton patrolled the Mediterranean Sea to help detect, deter, and protect against terrorist activity.
HMCS Fredericton arrived in the Black Sea on March 4, 2015, to participate in joint NATO training exercises and maritime situational awareness operations with warships from several allied and partner nations as part of Operation REASSURANCE. HMCS Fredericton conducted port visits in the region, enhancing diplomatic and defence relations with strategic partners and demonstrating that Canada is actively involved in setting the conditions for international security and stability.
Following operations with Allies and partners in the Black Sea, HMCS Fredericton resumed its participation in NATO maritime operations. These operations augment the safety and security of the maritime domain as well as provide opportunities for Canada to enhance cooperation with non-NATO countries and civilian agencies.
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