Princess Anne christens Canadian navy vessel as part of BC tour - posted 3 May 2024 - Global News

HMCS Max Bernays is an Arctic and Offshore Patrol vessel,lightly armed with a BAE Systems naval gun and two machine guns,and having very limited ice-breaking capability.*BAE Systems PLC (OTCM:BAESY)

Dynamic Manta 2023:Anti-Submarine Warfare in the Mediterranean

NATO Exercise Dynamic Manta 2023 began on 27 February and continues through 10 March.It provides complex and challenging maritime warfighting training to all nine participating Allies:Canada,France,Germany,Greece,Italy,Spain,Turkiye,the UK and the US.The techniques,tactics and procedures (TTPs) emphasise anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and surface warfare in the context of Anti-Access/Area Denial operations in the Central Mediterranean Sea.The drills are meant to shape a collectively trained and interoperable force ready to operate as the maritime component of the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF).According to NATO,its maritime power relies on the capability to combine NATO Standing Forces with high capability national forces to deliver effects whenever and wherever needed.In this iteration of the exercise,Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG 2) provides surface warfare assets. SNMG 2 currently consists of the flagship,US Navy Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS James E. Williams (DDG 95);Spanish Armada ESPS Juan Carlos I,an amphibious assault ship/aircraft carrier that can launch the AV-8B Harrier II or the F-35B Lightning II;and frigates Hellenic Navy HS Psara (F 454),Italian Navy ITS Carlo Margottini (F 592),and Royal Canadian Navy HMCS Fredericton (FFH 337).* Dynamic Manta 2023 is conducted under NATO Maritime Command (MARCOM) headquartered in Northwood,Hertfordshire,UK.Said US Navy Rear Admiral Stephen Mack,Commander Submarines NATO:Strategic defense of the Alliance must incorporate a planned,multi-threat response.* DM 23 involves submarines from Greece,Italy,Turkiye and the US.Air assets,including Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA),are being provided by Canada,France,Germany,Italy,the UK and the US.Host nation Italy is providing support at Catania and Augusta harbours;Naval Helicopter Base Catania;Naval Air Station Sigonella and Trapani;and Augusta Naval Base.* In one drill,Italian Navy Todaro-class submarine ITS Scire (S 527) conducted a Special Operations Forces exercise with Hellenic Navy frigate HS Psara (F 454).For its part,the UK deployed two Poseidon MRA1 Maritime Patrol Aircraft from CXX Squadron,and associated communications and engineering specialists,out of RAF Lossiemouth,Scotland to NAS Sigonella and Trapani,Italy for DM 23.The MPA will coordinate with warships and submarines at searching for and locating submarines.During DM 23,submarines and surface combatants take turns hunting and being hunted.*

Naval Warfighting:New Carrier Being Put to the Test

Pentagon Press Secretary Brigadier General Pat Ryder,US Air Force,said the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) and Carrier Strike Group 12 (CSG 12) were participating in Exercise Silent Wolverine in the Eastern Atlantic Ocean.The drills are in support of multi-domain carrier training,enhancing NATO interoperability and deterrence.Those participating are Canada,Denmark,Germany,France,the Netherlands,Spain and the US.The exercise demonstrates the US commitment to regional stability and security through seamless interchangeability among NATO Allies.It started on 7 November and runs through 14 November.It is the Ford's first deployment to the U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa Area of Operations.The Ford departed Naval Station Norfolk,Virginia on 4 October 2022.* The NATO warships participating,besides those of CSG 12,include German frigate FGS Hessen (F221);Canadian frigate HMCS Montreal (FFH 336);Spanish Armada frigate Alvaro de Bazan (F101);Netherlands frigate HNLMS De Zeven Provincien (F 802);French frigate FS Chevalier Paul (D 621);and Danish frigate HDMS Peter Willemoes (F 362).* According to Admiral Stuart B. Munsch,commander,U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa (USNFEA) and Allied Joint Force Command Naples: The challenges of tomorrow are upon us-in the here and now.Silent Wolverine demonstrates our commitment to deepening interoperability with our Allies and Partners while testing the advanced,cutting edge warfighting capabilities of the Ford-class aircraft carrier in a highly relevant operational environment.* The Navy points out that the Ford-class incorporates 23 new technologies in propulsion,power generation,ordnance handling,and aircraft launch systems.The Ford-class generates increased aircraft launch and recovery capability with a 20% smaller crew than the Nimitz-class carriers.CSG 12's participation in Silent Wolverine previews the decisive,precise and lethal advantage the Ford brings to the future naval operations.The integrated high-end naval warfare scenarios,which were not disclosed, are testing the first-in-class aircraft carrier's capabilities,increasing our proficiencies and demonstrating the warfighting capabilities the Ford brings to the fight,according to Rear Admiral Greg Huffner,commander,CSG 12.* CSG 12 consists of USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78);Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60);and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS McFaul (DDG 74) and USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116);and typically an undisclosed nuclear-powered attack submarine.* The "Eastern Atlantic" refers to such areas as that between Greenland and Iceland;the Norwegian Sea;the Barents Sea and down towards the UK and Ireland;and from the Denmark coast west to Baffin Bay and the Labrador Sea.*

Ocean Drills: Vigilant Osprey Hones Atlantic Defence

North Atlantic Allies Canada, Denmark and the US concluded Exercise Vigilant Osprey,a complex homeland defence operation,on 31 May 2020.Led by US Northern Command (NORTHCOM),, Vigilant Osprey advanced tactical and operational proficiency in high-end warfare in a bi-national,multi-domain exercise in the Atlantic Ocean.
Representing the US Navy was the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) and its Carrier Strike Group.The CSG is being kept at sea during its sustainment phase (ready for tasking) because of the COVID-19 threat.It has been deployed since November 2019.Nonetheless,it maintains a high level of readiness to support a full range of maritime operations for regional and national strategic objectives,as a flexible and lethal asset.Members of the CSG include Carrier Air Wing 1; Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60); and Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98).*
The Royal Canadian Navy provided afloat logistics support to the CSG, while frigate HMCS Ville de Quebec (FFH 332) took part in anti-submarine warfare and air defence drills with the CSG.Royal Canadian Air Force CP-140 Aurora Long-Range Patrol aircraft made several overflights and also took part in the ASW exercise.*
Danish Joint Arctic Command in Nuuk, Greenland conducted a command post drill with Commander,U.S. 2nd Fleet (C2F),in which tactical and operational information was shared via Link 16 to improve mutual situational awareness.The drill ensured that such information could be shared in real time.Said Commander,U.S. 2nd Fleet VADM Andrew Lewis:
The Atlantic is a contested environment, and our partnerships strengthen our advantage and complicate adversary decision making.*
Explained MG Kim Jesper Jorgensen,Commander,JACO:
Danish Joint Arctic Command is responsible for the defense and security of the Arctic regions of the Danish Kingdom, including Greenland and the Faroe Islands...Iook forward to increasing the operational cooperation between U.S. 2nd Fleet and JACO.*

From Seabed to Space:U.S. 2nd Fleet Update

On 4 February 2020,US Navy VADM Andrew "Woody" Lewis,commander U.S. 2nd Fleet and NATO Joint Force Command Norfolk,gave an update on the U.S. 2nd Fleet at full operational capability to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington,DC.Here are some excerpts from his statement:
We're at the right place-and not just at the right time;but all the time.*
But the Atlantic is a battlespace that cannot be ignored.Our new reality is,when our Sailors cast lines and set sail,they can expect to be operating in a contested space once they leave Norfolk.We are seeing an ever-increasing number of Russian submarines deploying in the Atlantic-and these submarines are more capable than ever,deploying for longer periods of time,and with more lethal weapons systems.
Russia has returned to Soviet era outposts;it has built new military facilities in the Arctic Circle.Russia has even built an icebreaker that can carry the extended-range Kalibr missile.As such,our ships can no longer expect to operate in a safe haven on the East Coast,or merely cross the Atlantic to operate in another location...Our Sailors have the mindset that we are no longer uncontested,and should expect to operate alongside our competitors each and every underway.We have seen some of our ships-the USS Mahan (DDG 72),for example,in the early stages of their training cycle,co-operating on station in the Atlantic with a Russian intelligence ship that was visiting our coastline late last year.Real world requirements do not discriminate.The intelligence ship did not care at what phase of training our ship was in,or if it had achieved its first certification to deploy.As ADM Foggo  has stated in the past,we are in the Fourth Battle of the Atlantic,and we need to be prepared to operate at the high end alongside our Allies,Partners and adversaries alike as soon as we are underway.*
The US and NATO have answered the call by increasing our naval presence across the theatre,and increasing our exercises and operations with our Allies and Partners;but in order to encourage responsible behaviour by all,we must operate and engage from a position of strength.To do so,we must engage and conduct operations forward more deliberately,more strategically,and with more forethought.The US Navy through forward presence power projects in a technological advantage as the epitome of demonstrating resolve and capability,in the service of conflict prevention and deterrence.*
Every fleet commander wants more ships in their area of focus,and while our service leaders are building up the fleet,our reality is,we need to compete with what we currently have built and are manned for today.So we must prioritise learning as a strategic advantage.The influence of sea power in today's global commerce goes beyond anything we have seen in our history.Compounding the importance of the maritime with today's distributed battlespace and information warfare,we have our work cut out for us.The maritime isn't defined as merely what floats on or below it;but rather the battlespace from seabed to space-and that includes space,cyber,and information domain.*
Our adversaries are learning,too.If we were to look at how great power competition will be driven,it will be driven as much by investment in grey matter as in grey hulls.The gap that we'll have on a technological basis-weapons systems-will not be that great.It's how we fight.It's going to be our mindset approach that's going to give us our lead.
As a fleet commander,I am tasked with the development of our naval forces.So at 2nd Fleet,we are focused on operational learning.We're doing this through fleet battle problems;participation in exercises like the large-scale upcoming exercise Defender Europe 2020;and increased operations with our Allies and Partners.We are planning operations and exercises that will challenge our assumptions and test our hypotheses.And we are learning.This will only be accomplished by mission command,assuming the risk up high in the chain of command.*
We learned early on that relying on Allies and Partners in the new Atlantic-Arctic battlespace would be key to confronting future threats.To that end,2nd Fleet has taken the uncommon step of integrating Allied officers directly into the Fleet staff.Chief among the five foreign officers serving on the staff is Canadian Rear Admiral Steve Waddell,serving as my vice-commander...They are our planners,our logisticians,and our operators.Having perspectives from other nations is invaluable,and provides immeasurable insight and expertise.With a shared commander,mission and geography,2nd Fleet and NATO JFCN are natural partners.As JFCN starts to mature,on its way to full operational capability next year,we will seek to develop an innovative and collaborative effort between the two commands.Co-location in the same building;alignment of battle rhythms;and staff integration where possible are just some of the things that will enable us to do more for the mission,whether it's the one given to us by the US leadership,or the one given to us by the 29 Allies of NATO.*

Improving NATO's Atlantic Defence:Cutlass Fury

Exercise Cutlass Fury 2019 is currently underway off the coast of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, Canada.The biennial naval drills, according to the commander of Standing NATO Maritime Group 1,US Navy RADM Edward Cashman:
Are a testimonial to NATO's commitment to strengthening relationships between members of the Alliance and increase the flexibility and agility of our maritime forces.Participating nations are talking advantage of the multinational event to learn more strategies and procedures which they can utilize to ensure the security of North America and Europe through the Atlantic Ocean,a bridge which connects our nations and our shared interests.*
Cutlass Fury is designed to be a medium scale exercise with the purpose of unifying Canada's Atlantic Fleet, Allied navies and joint elements in tactical level warfare.Nations contributing surface warfare assets to CF 19 include Belgium,Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the UK and the US.Most of the warships are frigates.The US is represented by the Guided Missle Destroyer USS Gridley (DDG 101), flagship of SNMG1.
The warfighting drills began on 6 September and conclude on 20 September 2019.

Canadian Officer Joins U.S. 2nd Fleet Staff

RADM Steven Waddell,Royal Canadian Navy,has joined the staff of the new U.S. 2nd Fleet as Vice Commander.RADM Waddell was most recently Director of Naval Strategic Readiness for the RCN.VADM Andrew Lewis ,Commander U.S. 2nd Fleet and NATO Joint Force Command Norfolk,welcomed RADM Waddell,who is the first foreign national officer on the 2nd Fleet staff, to his new post.*
U.S. 2nd Fleet was legislatively re-established on 1 July 2018 in the wake of Russian aggression in Eastern Europe,including its invasions of Georgia in 2008 and Ukraine in 2014,where it illegally annexed Crimea and wages hybrid warfare in Eastern Ukraine.It is also a response to the growing strategic and commercial importance of the Arctic.*
Speaking at a press conference in Norfolk,Virginia,VADM Lewis said that:
the 2nd Fleet has the capability to command and control forces assigned in high end maritime operations as it is expected of any other numbered fleet.*

Strategic Challenges:Arctic Defence Symposium Attended by Military,Academic,Intelligence Community Leaders

A wide range of leaders with an interest and expertise in the emerging Arctic gathered at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage,Alaska for the Arctic Maritime Symposium 2018.The symposium is a framework for experienced senior military leaders,intelligence analysts,interagency operators and Arctic maritime subject matter experts to discuss the strategic challenges associated with Arctic maritime operations.
The AMS was held from 14-16 August 2018 and hosted by LTGEN Kenneth Wilsback,US Air Force,commander,Alaska Command.The keynote speakers were ADM Sam J. Locklear,US Navy (Retired),former commander,US Pacific Command and Heather A. Conley,senior vice president for Europe,Eurasia and the Arctic,Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington,D.C.Expert support was provided by the Center for Naval Analysis;the US Naval War College;the National War College;Montclair University;and the Office of Naval Intelligence(ONI).Also represented were the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) and the US Coast Guard Intelligence Coordination Center (ICC).
The International Panel included Cmdre Jamie Clark,Royal Canadian Navy,Deputy Director NORAD&USNORTHCOM J5;CDR Jens Peter Holst-Andersen,Vice Chair/Commander,Danish Ministry of Defence;and CDR Julia Tortell,Deputy Commandant,Finnish Naval Academy.*
Attending AMS from the US Navy was RDML Cedric Pringle,commander,Expeditionary Strike Group-3.*
The Symposium was informed by the following advice and authorities:
1.Maritime Homeland Defense EXORD:
Provide an environment of uncertainty  for anyone planning or attempting an attack on the United States.
2.(U) 2009 National Security Presidential Directive 66:
the United States must be prepared to safeguard its National Security Interests in the Arctic.
3.(U) 2016 DOD Arctic Strategy:
need for increased maritime surface and subsurface presence,surveillance and capabilities.*
Addressing AMS was the new NORAD and USNORTHCOM commander,GEN Terrence O'Shaughnessy,US Air Force:
Changes in the Arctic environment could give our adversaries the impression that the Arctic offers a soft underbelly in our ability to defend the homeland.The defence of the homeland requires us to reinvigorate our efforts to ensure we remain ready to operate in and through the Arctic.Secretary (of Defense) Mattis recently said that America has got to up its game in the Arctic.
Russia most notably has aggressively built Arctic military capability,securing planes and expanding access along the Northern Sea Route.We must keep in mind that,for the Russians,the Arctic is their front yard and their back yard.
Given the Arctic's unique challenges,coupled with increased accessability,it is vital that we have the capability to respond in and through the Arctic,GEN O'Shaughnessy pointed out.*
Also representing the US Navy at AMS was the guided missile destroyer USS Momsen (DDG 92),which moored at the Port of Alaska in Anchorage.A US Air Force F-22 Raptor fighter jet executed a flyby over the Momsen.