HMCS Charlottetown returns after six-month deployment on Operation Reassurance

Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Charlottetown sailed back to its home port of Halifax, N.S. on Friday, Jan. 13 after a six-month deployment on Operation REASSURANCE.

“I would like to welcome home the crew of HMCS Charlottetown following their success on Operation REASSURANCE. The ship and crew seamlessly conducted operations with our NATO partners and allies promoting security and stability in Central and Eastern Europe. The RCN is proud to be able to act globally on behalf of Canadians and the Government of Canada,” said VAdm. Ron Lloyd, Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy.

HMCS Charlottetown departed Halifax for Operation REASSURANCE, Canada’s contribution in NATO’s assurance and deterrence activities in Central and Eastern Europe, on June 27. On June 29, HMCS Charlottetown joined SNMG 2 and replaced HMCS Fredericton.

During its deployment, HMCS Charlottetown acted as command ship for Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG 2) Task Unit 2. In this role, the ship provided leadership and coordination to a detachment of NATO ships while on operations in the Black and North Seas.

The ship and her crew of approximately 250 personnel, patrolled alongside Alliance partners from the Norwegian Coast to the Black Sea. It also conducted diplomacy visits to a number of ports including Egypt, Barcelona, Spain, and Greece.

“We can all be proud of our fellow Canadians serving aboard HMCS Charlottetown and the role they played while deployed on the NATO Reassurance mission. Charlottetown patrolled with our alliance partners from northern flank waters of the Norwegian Coast to the southeastern flank off Turkey. Their professionalism and competence was evident in every patrol, exercise, port visit, and diplomatic engagement they conducted. I congratulate the ship’s company for their unity as a team and excellence in operations. I recognize, however, that success comes from sacrifice. We owe much to the support and understanding of families who will miss their loved ones over the Christmas period,” said Rear-Admiral John Newton, Commander Joint Task Force Atlantic and Commander Maritime Forces Atlantic

Equipped with a CH-124 Sea King helicopter air detachment and an enhanced naval boarding party, HMCS Charlottetown is the fifth Royal Canadian Navy ship and third modernized Halifax-class frigate to support NATO missions in Central and Eastern Europe since April 2014.

“These deployments underscore Canada’s commitment to our Allies and to the principle of Alliance solidarity in the face of an evolving security environment in Europe. While deployed, the ship executed a range of missions across the spectrum of operations including surveillance and monitoring, and regional defence. Canada’s engagement in this NATO mission also provides the Canadian Armed Forces with valuable opportunities to undertaking multilateral military capability building through training and exercises which further increase our interoperability as Allies,” stated a Department of National Defence/Canadian Armed Forces press release.

Above image: Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) CHARLOTTETOWN’s CH-124 Sea King helicopter prepares to land onboard ship as HMCS CHARLOTTETOWN transits the Atlantic Ocean enroute from Lisbon, Portugal to Halifax, Nova Scotia during Operation REASSURANCE, January 8, 2017.

Photo: Cpl Blaine Sewell, Formation Imaging Services
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