Royal Canadian Navy

"MARCOM" redirects here. For the historical (1936–1950) U.S. agency, see United States Maritime Commission.

Royal Canadian Navy
File:Canadian Forces Maritime Command Emblem.svg
Active	1910-11 (Naval Service of Canada) 1911-68 (Royal Canadian Navy) 1968–2011 (Maritime Command) 16 August 2011 (Royal Canadian Navy)
Country	Canada
Branch	Maritime Command
Type	Navy
Size	9,000 regular personnel 4,000 reserve personnel 33 ships 3 Destroyers 12 frigates 4 Submarines 12 Minesweepers 2 auxiliarys 8 Training tenders
Part of	Department of National Defence Canadian Forces
Headquarters	National Defence Headquarters
Motto(s)	Ready Aye Ready
March	Heart of Oak
Engagements	Persian Gulf War Afghanistan War Somali War Operation MOBILE
Decorations	The Queen's/King's Ceremonial colours: 1939 by King George VI; 1959 by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip; 1979 by the Queen Mother; 2009 by the Governor General of Canada and Commander-in-Chief Michaëlle Jean
Commanders
Chief of the Defence Staff	General Walter Natynczyk CMM, MSC, CD
Chief of the Maritime Staff	Vice-Admiral Paul Maddison, OMM, MSM, CD

Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), previously known as the Maritime Command, is the naval force of the Canadian Forces. While equal in rank and position, the Chief of the Maritime Staff takes precedence over the Chiefs of the Land and Air Staffs following the tradition of the Royal Navy.

MARCOM is the descendant of the Naval Service created by the Naval Service Act May 4, 1910, and later on August 29, 1911, designated by royal authority as the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) which was Canada's navy until 1 February 1968. Prior to 1910, the Royal Navy provided the maritime defence of Canada. In 1968, the RCN was merged with the army and air force to form the Canadian Armed Forces. MARCOM's ships are commissioned as Her Majesty's Canadian ships, and the initialism HMCS designates them as the ships of Her Majesty's Canadian Armed Forces. As of 2008, there were 33 warships including 4 submarines, 9,000 regular force sailors in MARCOM and 4,000 reserve sailors.

With its headquarters in Ottawa, Ontario, MARCOM has command and control of three formations:

• Maritime Forces Atlantic (MARLANT) comprises the Canadian Fleet Atlantic, and has responsibility for Canada's Atlantic Area of Responsibility including the eastern Arctic. MARLANTHQ is based at CFB Halifax in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
• Maritime Forces Pacific (MARPAC) comprises the Canadian Fleet Pacific and has responsibility for Canada's Pacific Area of Responsibility that includes the Western half of the Canadian Arctic. MARPACHQ is based at CFB Esquimalt near Victoria, British Columbia.
• The third formation is the Naval Reserve Headquarters (NAVRESHQ), located at the Pointe-a-Carcy Naval Complex, in Quebec City, Quebec, responsible for 24 Naval Reserve Divisions across the country. The base is also home to Canadian Forces Fleet School Quebec and HMCS Montcalm

History

For history before 1968, see Royal Canadian Navy.

MARCOM was formed on 7 June 1965 as part of the integration reorganization of the services into six functional commands. The Canadian Forces Reorganization Act was given Royal Assent on 1 February 1968 and the Royal Canadian Navy ceased to exist as a separate service. The headquarters for MARCOM was based at CFB Halifax.

Canadian sailors exchanged their RCN uniforms for a rifle-green uniform common to all services (known as "CF green") and adopted an army-based rank structure. Only cap and collar badges identified "naval" personnel. These policies were somewhat reversed in the 1970s when MARCOM returned to a naval-based rank structure. In 1987 the Canadian Armed Forces introduced its Distinctive Environmental Uniforms (DEUs) for its three environmental commands. The new naval uniform was broadly similar to the former RCN uniform except that officers' uniforms contained six rather than eight buttons on the front of the tunic and the "square rig" for other ranks was not re-introduced. In addition, the executive curl on officers' rank insignia was omitted and the rank insignia of other ranks continued to follow the pattern used by the army.

The 1968 unification of the Canadian Armed Forces was the first time a nation with a modernized military had combined sea, land, and air branches into a unified-command structure. The move also saw the fleet air arm of the RCN become the Maritime Air Group. These air units were eventually placed under the Canadian Forces Air Command (AIRCOM) after that command was created in 1975.

In the mid-1990s, MARCOM headquarters were consolidated from Halifax at NDHQ in Ottawa at the same time that AIRCOM headquarters moved from Winnipeg and LFC headquarters moved from Saint-Hubert, Quebec.

Re-structure

Following the 1968 unification, MARCOM undertook several changes to its force structure. The sole remaining aircraft carrier, HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22), was nearing the end of her service life, being a Second World War–era vessel. In the early 1970s, it was decided to pay Bonaventure off and not find a replacement, instead focussing on the traditional blue-water navy.

HMCS Toronto

The fleet was enhanced in 1972 with the addition of the four new Iroquois-class destroyers, also known as the Tribal class. By the mid-1970s, the navy was looking at a new class of frigate-helicopter (FH) vessels to replace the aging St. Laurent, Restigouche, Mackenzie, and Annapolis classes. This design evolved into the Canadian Patrol Frigate (CPF), which was promised by the government in the early 1980s during a period of increased military spending. By the late 1980s, with construction of the first six vessels underway (by now called the Halifax-class frigates), construction of six further vessels was announced. Nine of the twelve CPF vessels were built at Saint John, New Brunswick, and the remaining three were built at Lauzon, Quebec.

The mid-1980s saw the announcement of the Tribal Update and Modernization Program (TRUMP), which saw the four early-1970s Iroquois-class destroyers updated into area air-defence destroyers. The update saw these vessels become the first non-US ships to carry the Standard SM-2 anti-aircraft missile.

The 1990s saw the addition of the Kingston-class coastal defence vessels which enhanced MARCOM's minesweeping and route survey capabilities. Manned by naval reservists, the Kingston-class is also used for training.

Fleet rationalization

In 1977, the Maritime Command recommended structure based on a fleet consisting of 24 destroyers and frigates, three submarines, three support ships, 36 long range patrol aircraft and 45 maritime helicopters. Despite a realistic fleet structure at the time, the Progressive Conservative minority government led by Joe Clark offered an expensive vision. The conservative party wanted an expensive fleet structure consisting of 16 destroyers and frigates, 20 submarines, 13 minesweeping vessels, 12 fast attack craft, three escort merchant vessels, 36 long range patrol aircraft, 45 maritime helicopters and 84 shore-based attack aircraft. In 1984, DND requested a revision during the "Capabilities Planning Guide", which included a largely status quo fleet consisting of a 24 destroyers and frigates, four submarines, 12 mine clearance vessels, three support ships, 18 long range patrol aircraft, 18 medium range patrol aircraft and an unspecified number of maritime helicopters. In 1985 the Centre for Military and Strategic Studies recommended a fleet consisting of four nuclear submarines, three helicopter carriers, eight patrol vessels, four polar icebreakers and many helicopters and patrol aircraft.

In 1987, a defence White Paper suggested Canada purchase SSN and specifically the Trafalgar class submarine. However the plans fell through due to cost. After the collapse of the Soviet Union and the reorganization of the Russian Navy in 1991, the Maritime Command plan to maintain the capacity to defend the Canadian interest in the region was based on a fleet consisting of four destroyers, 18 frigates, six submarines, three supply ships and 12 minesweeping vessels. The plan was scrapped and re-evaluated in 1993, since the original plan could not be met with the money the government had provided at the time.

Action post-1968

MARCOM provides vessels for Standing Naval Force Atlantic and for exercises off Norway in support of Canada's defence obligations for northern Scandinavia under the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), patrols the north Atlantic and Pacific oceans in support of Canadian sovereignty, and is tasked by NATO with anti-submarine patrols for the northwest Atlantic.

In August–September 1990, MARCOM hurriedly modernized and deployed the Restigouche-class destroyer escort HMCS Terra Nova (DDE 259), the Iroquois-class destroyer HMCS Athabaskan (DDH 282), and the supply ship HMCS Protecteur (AOR 509) to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Desert Shield and later Operation Desert Storm, where the Canadian Navy led the coalition maritime support operation. HMCS Huron (DDG 281) relieved the task force and was the first coalition ship to visit Kuwait City at the end of the war.

During the mid to late 1990s, MARCOM provided vessels for a NATO task force patrolling the Adriatic Sea off the former Yugoslavia. As part of Operation Apollo, Canada's military contribution to the international campaign against terrorism, 20 MARCOM vessels have been patrolling in the Arabian Sea in recent years.

In 1995, Canada was involved in a minor non-shooting skirmish with a few European countries in a conflict over fishing rights that was nicknamed the Turbot War.

On 4 May 2010, Senators William Rompkey and Hugh Segal announced their intention to introduce a motion into the Senate asking the Canadian Government to rename Maritime Command as the Canadian Navy, in order to recognize the Canadian Naval Centennial. As of May 2010, the executive curl on officers uniforms have been restored.

On June 29, 2010, the Canadian Navy celebrated its 100th anniversary in Halifax, Nova Scotia. 18 international vessels from several countries took part in the celebrations, including USS Wasp and HMS Ark Royal. The warships were reviewed by Queen Elizabeth II, the Duke of Edinburgh, and Prime Minister Stephen Harper. This was Day Two of the Queen's nine day visit to Canada.

As part of the Canadian navy’s centennial celebrations, SONAR, the naval mascot, which is based on a Newfoundland dog, was “recruited” into the navy in 2010.

On May 12, 2011 HMCS Charlottetown came under fire by small craft off the coast of Libya. This was the first time that a Canadian naval vessel had been under hostile attack since the Korean War.

On August 15th, 2011, it was announced that the government will rebrand the navy as Royal Canadian Navy, replacing Maritime Command.

Current fleet

The current fleet contains thirty-three ships and submarines plus training and auxiliary vessels. The fleet is roughly evenly split between the Atlantic and Pacific commands with the Atlantic housing the larger of the two fleets. MARCOM participates in NATO exercises, and ships are deployed all over the world in support of the Canadian military and in conjunction with multinational deployments.

Approximately 38 aircraft support MARCOM operations are operated by AIRCOM and report through 1 Canadian Air Division:

• CH-124 Sea King shipborne helicopters provide anti-submarine patrols, air-sea rescue, and reconnaissance capabilities operated by 12 Wing out of two locations at Shearwater and Patricia Bay; and
• CP-140 Aurora anti-submarine and maritime surveillance aircraft operated by 14 Wing and 19 Wing.

Ships of Maritime Command

Main article: List of Canadian Navy ships

Class or name	Builder	Type	Quantity	Year Entered Service	Details
Halifax	Saint John Shipbuilding, MIL-Davie Shipbuilding, Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada	frigate	12	1992–1996	The backbone of MARCOM, the twelve Halifax-class frigates carry the Sea King helicopters of the Air Force as well as anti-submarine torpedoes and anti-aircraft and anti-ship missiles. Frigate Life Extension (FELEX) to start sometime after 2007
Iroquois	MIL-Davie Shipbuilding, Lauzon, Quebec, Canada	destroyer	3	1972–1973	Area-air-defence and command-and-control destroyers with Sea King helicopters, refitted in the 1990s from anti-submarine role.
Kingston	Halifax Shipyards, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada	patrol	12	1996–1999	Training, Coastal surveillance, general naval operations and exercises, search and rescue, law enforcement, resource protection, fisheries patrols and mine countermeasure capabilities.
Orca	Victoria Shipyards, Esquimalt, British Columbia, Canada	patrol/training	8	2006–2008	Training and inshore patrol.
Protecteur	Saint John Shipbuilding, Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada	auxiliary	2	1969–1970	At-sea resupply of frigates and destroyers and medical support. Ships to be replaced by the Joint Support Ships.
Victoria	Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd and Cammell Laird, Birkenhead, United Kingdom	submarine	4	2000–2004	Diesel-electric attack submarines with long-range patrol capability. Originally commissioned into the Royal Navy from 1989 to 1993, they were transferred to the Canadian Forces from 2000. As of spring 2011, three of the submarines are in dry dock for reparation and modernisation, with HMCS Corner Brook being the only boat currently in service.
Oriole	George Lawly & Son Boston, Massachusetts, United States	Ketch	1	1921	Sail Training Ship. Oldest Commissioned ship in the Canadian Navy.

Auxiliary vessels

Canadian Forces auxiliary vessels (CFAV) are not armed or part of the regular fleet in the Canadian Forces. These ships operated within the port areas in maritime command area in the Pacific and Atlantic coasts.

Class or name	Builder	Type	Quantity	Year entered service	Details
Miscellaneous barges (YC)	?	steel hull open lighters	24	?	YC50-54, YC404, 406, 408, 414-19, 451, 453, 455, 457, 459, 461, 467, 494, 600-601
Floating cranes (YD)	?	cranes	2	?	YD250, 253 - 2 each on each coast and non-propelled
Fire class	Vancouver Shipyards	Fire boat	2	1978	The Fire class though a tugboat is actually used as a dedicated fire and rescue boat with three nozzles to spray water or foam.
Ville class	Vito Steel and Bargo Co, Georgetown Shipyards	Harbour tug	5	1974	The navy auxiliary operates 5 Ville-class tugs, which are operated as harbour tugs.
Glen class	Yarrow Shipbuilding, Esqimalt BC and Georgetown Shipyard, PEI	Harbour tug	5	1975-77	Two Glen-class YTBs or heavy harbour tugs are based in BC, three in NS.
	Harbour tug		1	-	Is a lone medium harbour tug (YTM) based at Esquimalt: CFAV Tillicum (YTM 555).
YDT dive tenders	Celtic Shipyards	Diving tender	4	1990	YDT 11 and YDT 12 Granby (called D.T. 11 and D.T. 12 sometimes) are two medium-sized diver tenders. YDT 11 is based at Esquimalt (Colwood) and the Granby at Halifax.
Sechelt class	West Coast Manly Shipyard, Vancouver	Torpedo sound range vessels / Experimental and test range support vessel	4	1990	YSRV 611 Sikanni, 613 Stikine; YDT Sechelt and Sooke are two diving tender conversions of Sechelt-class TSRV torpedo sound range vessels found to be surplus to Nanoose Bay range needs.
YFL YFU 121 Class Sea Truck			6		YFU 121, Sea Truck 1, 122 Sea Truck 2, 123 Sea Truck 3, 124, 125, 126
YGTN target craft			5		Non-self propelled
YON Special liquid barges			2		YOM 252, 402
YAG 12 class personnel launches (YFL)	Charlottetown Shipyards			2	YFB 316, 318
YRG Sludge Removal Barge (YRGN)			3		YRG 60-62
Sail ketch - cadet training	George Lawley, Neponset, MA	1921	1		ex- KC-480 Oriole (ex Oriole 4) acquired from George H Gooderham 1949, and Canadian NAvy Leauge 1952

Aircraft

Since 2 September 1975, all air force functions are assumed by the Air Command element of the Canadian Forces. Although Maritime Command does not have any aircraft, the Canadian Forces are a unified organization and the following list details the Air Command aircraft operated in maritime roles.

Aircraft	Country of manufacture	Type	Canadian designation	In service	Notes
SH-3 Sea King	Sikorsky United States United Aircraft Canada	Shipborne anti-submarine, search and rescue helicopter on destroyers and frigates	CH-124 Sea King	27	Delivered 1963 to Royal Canadian Navy; assigned from Air Command to be replaced by CH-148 Cyclone
P-3 Orion	Lockheed United States	Strategic airborne anti-submarine warfare aircraft with surface-surveillance capability	CP-140 Aurora	18	Purchased 1980; assigned from Air Command
P-3 Orion	Lockheed United States	Strategic airborne surface-surveillance aircraft	CP-140A Arcturus	3	Airframes purchased in 1991; assigned from Air Command
Sikorsky H-92 Superhawk	Sikorsky Aircraft United States	Shipborne, anti-submarine warfare, search and rescue helicopter on destroyers and frigates	CH-148 Cyclone	28	Project delayed; delivery from 2010

Decommissioned fleet

Class or name	Type	Builder	Quantity	Year Entered Service	Details
St. Laurent class	escort destroyers	Canada Canadian Vickers, Montreal Halifax Shipyards, Halifax NS Burrard, Vancouver, BC Yarrows, Esquimalt, BC Marine Industries Limited, Sorel, Quebec	7	1955–1994	all but 2 scrapped; Saguenay (Nova Scotia) and Assiniboine (Caribbean) were sunk as artificial reefs
Mackenzie class	escort destroyers	Canada Canadian Vickers, Montreal	4	1962–1994	3 were sunk with 2 as artificial reefs; Qu'Appelle's status is unknown
Restigouche class	escort destroyers	Canada Davie Shipbuilding, Lauzon, Quebec Halifax Shipyards, Halifax NS Burrard Dry Dock, North Vancouver, BC Victoria Machinery Depot, Victoria, BC	7	1958–1997	St Croix was scrapped, Gatineau and Terra Nova are laid up in Halifax and rest sunk as reefs
Iroquois class	escort destroyers	Canada MIL Davie Shipbuilding, Lauzon, Quebec	1 – HMCS Huron (DDH 281)	1970–2005	Sunk as a target ship by US and Canadian ships off the coast of BC in 2007
Oberon class	diesel electric submarine	United Kingdom Vickers-Armstrongs, Barrow-in-Furness	3 (+2 spares)	1964–2000	one sold to a museum in Rimouski, Quebec, the spare purchased for parts was scrapped, other spare to be scrapped, two others remain laid-up at Dartmouth jetty, across from main naval base
Tench class	diesel electric submarine	United States Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, Maine	1 ( USS Argonaut (SS-475) renamed as HMCS Rainbow (SS-75) )	1968–1974	returned to US to be scrapped
Provider class	AOR (oiler replinishing ship)	Canada Davie Shipbuilding, Lauzon, Quebec	1 – HMCS Provider (AOR 508)	1963–2003	sold as barge and latter scrapped
N/A	ASL	Italy Aspa Quarto	1 – HMCS Cormorant (ASL 20)	1978–1997
Annapolis class	escort destroyers	Canada Marine Industries Limited, Sorel, Quebec	2	1964–1997	both sunk; Annapolis is a reef and Nipigon sunk in Quebec
Majestic class	light aircraft carrier	United Kingdom Harland and Wolff, Belfast	1 – HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22)	1957–1970	scrapped in Taiwan
Cape class	escort maintenance	Canada Allied Shipbuilders Ltd., Vancouver, BC	2	1959–1970	status unknown
N/A	escort hydrofoil Frigate	Canada Marine Industries Limited, Sorel, Quebec de Havilland Canada, Toronto, Ontario	1 – HMCS Bras d'Or (FHE 400)	1970s	now at Musée Maritime du Québec
Glen-Class I tugs	tug		4 – Glendevon, Glenevis		WWII ships
YBZ-61	vacuum ship		1
Saint Class Deep Sea Tugs	ocean tug	Saint John Dry Dock, Saint John, NB 1957 Canada	3 – St. Anthony ATA 531, St. John ATA 532, St.Charles ATA 533		stricken beginning in 1972
Naval Research Vessel			1 – CFAV Endeavour		1968–1998
	Submersible	1 - SDL-1 SDL-1; built by International Hydrodynamics Corporation of Vancouver, BC		1971–1998	sold in 1998

Retired aircraft

Aircraft	Country of Manufacture	Type	Canadian Designation	In Service	Notes
F2H Banshee	McDonnell Douglas United States	carrier based jet fighter	N/A – F2H-3	39; 34 on carrier HMCS Bonaventure	ex-United States Navy delivered 1955–1958; retired 1962; 3 survive as museum pieces all others scrapped
S-2 Tracker	Sikorsky Aircraft United States	Anti-submarine warfare aircraft	CS-2F Tracker	99	delivery 1956–1957; all carrier based aircraft were transferred to land operations after 1970; 1 restored all others scrapped
Sikorsky H-19 "Horse"	Sikorsky Aircraft United States	plane guard helicopter	H04S-3	2?	acquired 1956; retired 1967 and replaced by CH-124 Sea King (till 1970)

Weapons

Shipborne

• Mark 41 VLS – missile-firing system for
  • Boeing Integrated Defense Systems Mark 141 Harpoon SSM – anti-ship missile
  • Raytheon Standard SM-2MR Block IIIA surface-to-air missile
• Douglas Aircraft Company/Sperry Corporation Sea Sparrow SAM/SSM – medium-range semi-active radar homing air-to-air missile
• BAE Systems Bofors SAK 57 mm naval guns
• General Dynamics Ponoma Division Phalanx CIWS (Block 1B Baseline 0) – Close-in weapon system/anti-missile system
• Browning Arms Company 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns – heavy machine guns
• Oto Melara 76 mm/62 OTO Melara – naval artillery piece
• Alliant Techsystems Mark-46 Mod 5 torpedoes fired from 12.75in Mark 32 Surface Vessel Torpedo Tubes
• BAE Systems Bofors 40 mm 60 Mk 5C cannon
• Raytheon/Hughes Aircraft 533 mm torpedo tubes (18 Mark 48 torpedoes)
• Dorado Interim Remote Mine Hunting and Detection System (IRMDS)

Aircraft

• Alliant Techsystems Mark 46 torpedo – Air and ship-launched lightweight torpedo on SH-3 Sea King
• Browning Arms Company M1919 Browning machine gun – 7.62 mm self-defence machine gun used by SH-3 Sea King

Air operations

Upon unification in 1968, former RCN aircraft were transferred to the "Maritime Air Group" of MARCOM. Air Command was formed in 1975 and all air assets, including the Maritime Air Group, were transferred into this formation, including ship-borne helicopters. RCN and later Maritime Air Group squadrons were renumbered after 1975 into the former RCAF 400-series, with the exceptions of VU-32, VU-33, and 880 Squadron. Shipboard helicopter operations continue in this fashion, with Helicopter Air Detachments (HELAIRDETs) being staffed by Air Command personnel.

Submarines

HMCS Victoria

HMCS Algonquin

File:HMCS Protecteur.jpg

HMCS Protecteur

The 1987 Canadian White Paper on Defence highlighted Canada's limited capability to enforce sovereignty on its Arctic coast. It was therefore announced that MARCOM would receive a fleet of 10 to 12 nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSN) suitable for operating for extended periods under the Arctic ice. The proposed SSN fleet would force any nation, friend or foe, to possibly think twice before using Canada's territorial seas in the Arctic for operating nuclear submarines. During 1987–1988, MARCOM examined the purchase of Rubis or Trafalgar class submarines designs. The planned procurement, however, was cancelled in April 1989 during a time of increased defence cuts.

In 1998, the Canadian government made a deal with the United Kingdom to acquire four mothballed, but state-of-the-art Upholder-class diesel-electric submarines that were declared surplus when the Royal Navy decided to operate only nuclear-powered submarines such as the Trafalgar-class boats. The Royal and U.S. navies considered the Upholders too valuable and technologically advanced to allow them to fall into the hands of a non-allied nation. Therefore, Canada was encouraged through significant discounts to acquire the Upholders. The four submarines were eventually purchased after much foot-dragging by the federal government for $750 million CAD.

The transaction was supposed to have included some reciprocal rights for British forces to continue using CFB Suffield for armoured-unit training and CFB Goose Bay for low-level flight training, while Canada received four well-built and very lightly used high-technology submarines to replace the 1960s-era Oberon class. (It was later revealed that there were no reciprocal rights. It was a plain lease-to-buy arrangement.) After an update program which took longer than expected the Upholders are being successfully reactivated following a decade of mothballing and are now being integrated into the Canadian navy as the Victoria class. Four boats will allow MARPAC to deploy a submarine in the Pacific for the first time in four decades.

The four submarines and their former Royal Navy names:

• HMCS Victoria (SSK 876), formerly HMS Unseen (S41)
• HMCS Windsor (SSK 877), formerly HMS Unicorn (S43)
• HMCS Corner Brook (SSK 878), formerly HMS Ursula (S42)
• HMCS Chicoutimi (SSK 879), formerly HMS Upholder (S40)

A naval investigation was conducted into a fatal fire aboard HMCS Chicoutimi which killed an officer and injured several other personnel during its maiden voyage from Faslane Naval Base, Scotland, to Halifax in October 2004. The investigation focused on two hatches that were left open during repairs, thus allowing seawater inside while the submarine was on the surface in a period of rough weather, as well as faulty insulation for wires and a panel near the commanding officer's cabin. The wires were insulated using an older water-resistance specification than the other Victoria-class boats, because it was older than the other three. The other three Victoria-class boats were placed on restricted duty for several weeks following the fire and during the period of investigation.

The investigation found that a series of unexpected circumstances led to the tragedy. No blame was placed on the commanding officer, as it was decided he was reasonable in allowing both hatches to be left open for the repairs. Running with both hatches open was common on the Oberon-class boats. Recommendations include improved water-resistant insulation for electrical wires, improved firefighting training, and a change of operational procedures that will no longer allow a submarine to operate on the surface with both hatches open. The widow of the officer killed, in writing, accepted the findings of the investigation.

Future

Maritime-helicopter replacement

Although aviation assets are the responsibility of Canadian Forces Air Command (AIRCOM) since unification, the political fiasco surrounding the maritime-helicopter replacement has had a major impact on the ability of the Canadian patrol frigates to deliver their expected capabilities. In 1993, the Maritime Helicopter Program, which had selected the AgustaWestland EH101 as a replacement for the aging CH-124 Sea King, was cancelled by incoming Prime Minister Jean Chrétien in an infamous decision that dogged his government for over a decade. Chrétien's government did end up ordering fifteen CH-149 Cormorants, a slightly cheaper version of the EH101, for search-and-rescue services, however it took until July 2004 for a replacement of the now-ancient Sea Kings to be announced. The Sea Kings will be replaced with the CH-148 Cyclone, with delivery of interim models expected in 2010. This date is expected to be pushed to 2011.

Current and future programs

Joint support ships

Main article: Joint Support Ship Project

Proposal Joint Support Ship

In the late 1990s, one of the fleet's three underway-replenishment vessels, HMCS Provider, was paid off. The remaining two supply ships, HMCS Preserver and HMCS Protecteur, were showing their age, and MARCOM began studies into designing a new class of underway-replenishment and naval sealift-capable vessels.

On 16 April 2004, Prime Minister Paul Martin announced plans to purchase three new joint support ships (JSS) to replace the Protecteur-class underway-replenishment vessels. In addition to supporting naval operations, the new ships will be able to transport a battlegroup — a capability Canada's navy has lacked since the departure of the light carrier HMCS Bonaventure in 1970. The new ships will also have reinforced hulls enabling them to sail in the Arctic. The requirement for three JSSes was re-affirmed in June 2006 by the newly elected Conservative government, which issued the request for proposal. In November 2006, two industry teams were selected to provide a proposal. One of these teams was to be awarded the implementation contract in 2008. The first of the 28,000-tonne vessels was scheduled to be delivered in 2012. As of August 22, 2008, the JSS Program has been suspended due to cost. The Protecteur Class will have their service lives extended beyond 2012 while a suitable replacement is found.

In July, 2010, the plan to replace the ships was renewed, with the federal government announcing that it planned to authorize construction of two JSSs, including an option to purchase a third. A yard will be selected for the construction of the initial two ships, as part of the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy.

On October 11, 2010 the federal government announced that five shipbuilding companies are "being invited to participate in a request for proposals" for constructing ships as part of the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy. One is to be selected for military vessels and one for non-military vessels.

Amphibious assault vessels

Main article: Future Canadian Amphibious Assault Ship

In the first months of 2005, senior members of the Canadian Forces and the government examined the possibility of purchasing two new or used amphibious assault ships in keeping with the government's commitment to developing greater joint capability in the Canadian Forces. This was apparently not connected to the Joint Support Ship project. According to the Délégation générale pour l’armement (DGA), the Canadian Forces Maritime Command and DND might show an interest in the French built Mistral class amphibious assault ship The ship might carry a significantly large military force with equipment and vehicles in 'fighting order,' enabling the CF to face armed opposition ashore. The Future Canadian Amphibious Assault Ship could be able to rapidly disembark personnel and equipment in 'waves' using 'connector systems' such as landing craft and/or helicopters. The ship would be able to offload equipment and personnel in the face of armed opposition. They could also be used as large hospital ships and support humanitarian operations.

However, while the military may have shown interest in this vessel, it is not an approved Government procurement project as outlined in the Canada First Defence Strategy. According to French daily La Tribune, the Canadian Forces Maritime Command shows "strong interest" in buying two Mistral ships.

Orca-class training vessels

Main article: Orca class patrol vessel

The program to replace the navy's wooden YAG vessels with twelve modern steel training / patrol vessels (the Orca program) is complete and was contracted by Victoria Shipyards Limited. The first ship, PCT (Patrol Craft, Training) Orca 55 was accepted by the navy at CFB Esquimalt on November 17, 2006.

Polar Class 5 Arctic offshore patrol ships

Main article: Arctic Patrol Ship

On July 9, 2007, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced the construction of up to eight Polar Class PC-5 Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships and the establishment of a deep water port in the far North.

These new Polar Class 5 Arctic Patrol Ships will be built in Canada.: The CBC reported that the vessels "...are expected to be based on the Royal Norwegian Navy's Svalbard class design". With steel-reinforced hulls, they will be capable of operating in ice up to one metre thick, and each vessel will also be equipped with a helicopter landing pad. They will be able to patrol the length of the Northwest Passage during the summer navigable season and its approaches year-round, and will also be capable of full operations on the east and west coasts throughout the year. Critics have noted that the vessels are less capable than the three larger icebreakers Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced in 2006 most notably the Navy League of Canada which described the 25-millimetre gun as a "peashooter".

While recent press reports have suggested that the navy offshore/arctic patrol vessel program has been postponed, when they do proceed, Nanisivik Naval Facility, a deep-water port to be constructed at Nanisivik, Nunavut will allow the patrol ships to resupply and refuel.

Other

The Halifax-class Frigate Life Extension (FELEX) program has been established and a contract was awarded to Lockheed Martin. It is believed that introduction of the active phased array radar (APAR) that the Canadian Forces developed with the Dutch navy will not be undertaken during FELEX due to the weight of the system and stability considerations. Canada is considering a 4-to-10 vessel replacement program for the Iroquois-class destroyers, likely involving the use of APAR. To save money, the replacement classes for the Iroquois- and Halifax-class ships will have identical hulls and propulsion systems. Canada plans to upgrade her Frigates with a missile guidance system for sea to sea and sea to air missiles. There is also the possibility of arming the Sea King replacements with anti ship missiles.

A mid-life upgrade program for the Kingston-class patrol vessels appeared on a list of the Chief of the Maritime Staff's project priorities, but was cancelled. The Government has plans (outlined in the Canada First Defence Strategy), to replace the Iroquois class destroyer with the Canadian Single Class Surface Combatant. The Department of National Defence has not identified a procurement timeframe for the Iroquois replacements, although it has been reported that design work is underway and a project office and personnel have been assigned.

Senior leadership

Commanders of Maritime Command

1. Vice Admiral J.C. O'Brien 1968–1970
2. Vice Admiral Henry A. Porter 1970–1971
3. Rear Admiral Robert W. Timbrell 1971–1973
4. Vice Admiral D.S. Boyle 1973–1977
5. Vice Admiral A.L Collier 1977–1979
6. Vice Admiral J. Allan 1979–1980
7. Vice Admiral J.A. Fulton 1980–1983
8. Vice Admiral James C. Wood 1983–1987
9. Vice Admiral Charles M. Thomas 1987–1989
10. Vice Admiral Robert E. George 1989–1991
11. Vice Admiral (later Admiral) John Rogers Anderson 1991–1992
12. Vice Admiral Peter W. Cairns 1992–1994
13. Vice Admiral Larry Murray 1994–1995
14. Vice Admiral Lynn Mason 1995–1997

Chiefs of the Maritime Staff

1. Vice Admiral Gary Garnett 1997–1997
2. Vice Admiral Greg R. Maddison 1997–2001
3. Vice Admiral Ron D. Buck 2001–2004
4. Vice Admiral M. Bruce McLean 2004–2006
5. Vice Admiral Drew W. Robertson 2006–2009
6. Vice Admiral P. Dean McFadden 2009-2011
7. Vice Admiral Paul A. Maddison 2011-present

Rank structure

Officer Rank Structure

Pay grade	Student Officer	OF-1		OF-2	OF-3	OF-4	OF-5	OF-6	OF-7	OF-8	OF-9
Insignia
Title	Naval Cadet	Acting Sub Lieutenant	Sub Lieutenant	Lieutenant	Lieutenant Commander	Commander	Captain	Commodore	Rear Admiral	Vice Admiral	Admiral
Abbreviation	NCdt	ASLt	SLt	Lt(N)	LCdr	Cdr	Capt(N)	Cmdre	RAdm	VAdm	Adm

Traditional naval rank insignia announced 2 May 2010 by the Minister of Defence, was re-instated for service dress wear effective 11 June 2010. The insignia incorporates the executive curl that was discontinued with the integration of the CF in 1968 and worn only on mess dress.

Non-Commissioned Member Rank Structure

Pay grade	OR-2	OR-3	OR-4	OR-5	OR-6	OR-7	OR-8	OR-9
Insignia
Title	Ordinary Seaman	Able Seaman	Leading Seaman	Master Seaman	Petty Officer 2nd Class	Petty Officer 1st Class	Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class	Chief Petty Officer 1st Class
Abbreviation	OS	AB	LS	MS	PO2	PO1	CPO2	CPO1

Ceremonies

File:Jean-CinC.jpg

Former Governor General Michaëlle Jean acting in the Queen's name as Commander-in-Chief of the Canadian Forces and wears the naval variation of the vice-regal uniform while presenting the newly consecrated Queen's Colour to the Canadian Forces Maritime Command, 27 June 2009.

The Queen's or King's Ceremonial colours (also referred to as the Sovereign's Colour) for the navy has been presented/consecrated 4 times:

• 1939 by King George VI to the RCN in Esquimalt, BC
• 1959 by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip in Halifax, NS (in naval uniform as Admiral) to the RCN
• 1979 by the Queen Mother to the Maritime Command in Halifax, NS
• 2009 by the Governor General of Canada and Commander-in-Chief Michaëlle Jean in Halifax, NS

The colours consists of a ceremonial standard with the Maple Leaf flag in the top left canton, the monarch's Royal Cypher for Canada (a capital E on a blue background, surrounded by a circlet of gold Tudor roses and laurels, surmounted by a crown) and an anchor (from Maritime Command's naval jack) on the lower right fly. These elements are found on the 1979 and 2009 colours. The colours from 1959 and 1939 consisted of a Royal Navy white ensign with the Queen's or King's cipher in the middle.

The use of the service colours of the Royal Navy were granted to the RCN in 1925. Two service colours were sent to Halifax and Esquimalt. In 1937 they were retired, and new colours sent. The official presentation of the King's Colour was not completed until 1939.

The Canadian Forces Maritime Command's retired colours are laid up at Beechwood Cemetery in Ottawa, Ontario.

Source:

Heritage

Maritime Command peacetime losses monument

This history of Maritime Command is preserved and presented at the Maritime Command Museum in Halifax, the Canadian War Museum, the Naval Museum of Alberta and naval museums on several bases. Several Maritime Command vessels have been preserved including the hydrofoil HMCS Bras d'Or and the submarines Ojibwa and Onondaga. The corvette HMCS Sackville serves as Canada's Naval Memorial. A monument at Point Pleasant Park in Halifax commemorates members of Maritime Command who have died in peacetime.

See also

• List of Canadian Navy ships
• List of Royal Canadian Navy bases
• Uniforms of the Canadian Navy
• Canadian Forces ranks and insignia
• Canadian Coast Guard
• Future Canadian Forces projects

Further reading

• Milner, Marc (2010), Canada's Navy: The First Century, Univ. of Toronto Press, ISBN 0802096042 {{citation}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthor= (help)
• Hadley, Michael L (1996), A nation's navy: in quest of Canadian naval identity, McGill-Queen's University Press, ISBN 0773515062 {{citation}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthor= (help)

External links

• Canadian Navy, Official Site
• ReadyAyeReady.com: 100 years of the Canadian navy.
• CdnMilitary.ca Article on the Frigate Life Extension Programme (FELEX)
• CFAV Quest
• Canadian Forces Small Ships — YAG Yard Auxiliary, General
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