HMCS Charlottetown departed Novia Scotia on June 15, 2024, to participate in a NATO maritime task force in the Mediterranean Sea, part of Canada’s 10-year commitment to Operation Reassurance. ROYAL CANADIAN NAVY
THE WATCH STAFF
A Canadian frigate departed its home port in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in June 2024 to join a standing maritime NATO group in the Mediterranean Sea, demonstrating Canada’s longstanding commitment to supporting the alliance and further developing the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) interoperability with its allies. His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Charlottetown is a Halifax-class frigate with a 240-person crew of Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) Sailors and Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Aviators to fly and support the ship’s embarked CH-148 Cyclone maritime helicopter. Its six-month mission will support regional maritime security as part of Operation Reassurance in the Mediterranean, which has seen a sharp rise in unauthorized migrant crossings in recent years. “The Royal Canadian Navy’s involvement in SNMG2 demonstrates Canada’s continued participation in NATO and strengthens military cooperation with our allies and partners in the region,” a news release from the Canadian Defense Ministry stated.
The ministry noted that the Charlottetown’s mission coincided with NATO’s 75th anniversary and the 10th anniversary of Operation Reassurance. “As one of the twelve founding members of NATO, Canada has consistently been instrumental in trans-Atlantic defense, and since 2014, Canada has been a key partner in the defense of NATO’s Eastern flank,” the release stated. Defence Minister Bill Blair said Canada takes its founding membership seriously and is “steadfastly committed to Euro-Atlantic security,” which is why the North American country regularly deploys RCN ships to sail under NATO flags. “I am especially proud that HMCS Charlottetown will soon be the flagship of Standing NATO Maritime Group 2, which is a testament to the confidence that our Allies have in Canada’s Navy. To the ship’s company: thank you for your service to Canada. I wish you fair winds and following seas,” Blair said in the statement.
Canadian Rear Adm. Josée Kurtz, commander of Maritime Forces Atlantic and Joint Task Force Atlantic, said the crew had “worked tirelessly” for months to ready the ship for the mission and are now in all respects ready for their unique deployment as the flagship for Standing NATO Maritime Group 2. “An operation of this magnitude is a significant commitment for the Royal Canadian Navy and demonstrates our ability to adapt to evolving operational environments while assuming leadership at sea. HMCS Charlottetown, you are the forefront of that commitment, and we look forward to witnessing your success throughout your mission. Fair winds!” the statement said.
The Charlottetown’s new squadron is one of four Standing Naval Forces that operate under NATO Allied Maritime Command, providing NATO with a continuous maritime capability for operations and other activities, the statement said. “They help to establish alliance presence and deterrence, demonstrate solidarity, conduct routine diplomatic visits to different countries, support transformation and NATO interoperability, and provide a variety of maritime military capabilities to ongoing missions,” it stated.
Operation Reassurance is the largest CAF overseas mission, originating in 2014, shortly after the first Russian invasion of Ukraine. About 1,500 Canadian Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen and women are deployed to assure NATO allies and deter and defend against any threats to Central and Eastern Europe. The operation is the biggest reinforcement of NATO defenses in a generation, according to a Canadian defense ministry fact sheet. The CAF contributions include a Maritime Task Force, which contributes ships to the Standing NATO Maritime Groups; an Air Task Force, providing logistical support out of Prestwick, Scotland; and a Land Task Force, including the NATO Multinational Battle Group Enhanced Forward Presence Latvia, for which Canada is the framework nation, according to the fact sheet, which also stated in an update that Canada will take over leadership of the brigade from Latvia and report directly to Headquarters Multinational Division North. By 2026, the brigade should have 2,200 members.