Crowsnest Issue 5-2 - Royal Canadian Navy · 2015-06-02 · Crowsnest is published quarterly on the...

CCrroowwssnneessttVol. 5, No. 2 Summer 2011

www.navy.forces.gc.ca

IINNSSIIDDEEHMCS Charlottetownon patrol in theMediterranean...page 2

Sailors help out inflood ravagedprovinces...page 6

So you want to bea bosun?...page 18

2 www.navy.forces.gc.ca

Senior AdvisorCommander Denise LaVioletteDirector, Navy Public Affairs

Senior Editor and WriterDarlene BlakeleyDirectorate of Navy Public Affairs

Crowsnest is published quarterly on the authority of theChief of the Maritime Staff, Vice-Admiral Dean McFadden.Comments are welcome and can be sent to:Directorate of Navy Public AffairsNational Defence Headquarters10ST, 101 Colonel By Dr., K1A 0K2or [email protected]

For the PDF version of this publication and for more information about the Canadian Navy, visit www.navy.forces.gc.ca.

Front page: Able Seaman Eric Bowman raises the Ensign aboard HMCS Charlottetown, currently operating in the Mediterranean Sea. Photo: Cpl Chris RingiusAll articles written by Darlene Blakeley, except where otherwise noted.

FLEXIBILITYis the key for

HMCS Charlottetown

By Lieutenant (Navy) Michael McWhinnie

The locals refer to them as siroccos: thesoutherly winds that lift fine particles of sand asthey cross the Sahara Desert and convey them

into the Mediterranean Sea. In the coastal waters ofLibya, the effect is like smog. A thin layer of beigepowder covers HMCS Charlottetown’s upper decks andeveryone from pilots to lookouts struggle againstreduced visibility and other influences on the mission athand.

The regional meteorological peculiarity is just one ofmany factors Charlottetown’s crew must consider asthey adapt to the varying demands of Operation UnifiedProtector. “The mission comprises three main elements:enforcing a no-fly zone (NFZ), implementing an arms

embargo, and actions to protect civilians,” saysCommander Craig Skjerpen, Charlottetown’s command-ing officer. “The embargo is our primary role, but we arealso supporting the NFZ and finding ways to protectcivilians both at sea and ashore.”

NATO is conducting reconnaissance, surveillanceand information-gathering operations to identify thoseforces which present a threat to civilians and civilian-populated areas. Under authority of United NationsSecurity Council Resolution 1973, this information canthen be used by NATO air and maritime assets toengage targets on the ground or in the air. Charlotte-town’s sustained presence off the coast allows it toemploy sensors and intelligence gathering resources toaugment NATO’s surveillance and command and con-trol capabilities.

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Commander Craig Skjerpen, commanding officer of HMCSCharlottetown, looks on as navigation officer Lieutenant (Navy)Nadia Shields takes a bearing.

“Nobody could predict how the crisis in Libya wouldevolve. The need for flexibility and the ability to adjustto operational demands has come to define our deploy-ment,” says Lieutenant-Commander Matthew Coates,Charlottetown’s executive officer. “Training conditionspeople to respond in prescribed ways to predictable sit-uations. As we confront unanticipated challenges it isthe ability to analyze, think critically and seek creativesolutions that is becoming increasingly valuable.”

Since the official launch of the arms embargo onMarch 23, Charlottetown has been cast in diverse roles,some familiar, others less so. “We took the opportunityduring the transatlantic crossing to train in anticipation

of the mission. Theemphasis was on maritimeinterdiction operations,including boarding partytraining. That has beenvery useful but we are alsofacing a spectrum of otheroperational demands,”explains LCdr Coates.

NATO and coalitionships have conductednaval gunfire support mis-sions, defended againstsmall boat attacks, andde-mined Misrata harbourapproaches. “Our deploy-ment is very different fromrecent Canadian opera-

tions in the region,” he adds. “As we seek to developtactics to influence the situation on land, we must alsoincorporate strategies to defend against shore-basedthreats including missiles and artillery. We even had to

consider the chemical weapon threat at one point whenregime forces were reported to be distributing gasmasks amongst their troops in Misrata.”

The unique combination of multi-purpose frigate withshipborne helicopter and boarding party capabilities hasmade Charlottetown one of the more operationallyflexible and responsive units in the task group. Thereare currently 21 ships and submarines from 12 alliedcountries including Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, France,Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Romania, Spain, Turkey,United Kingdom and the United States that are enforc-ing the arms embargo. Charlottetown is among a sub-set also contributing to the NFZ and taking actions toprotect civilians.

“Charlottetown’s ability to perform the types of dutiesyou have been assigned is an invaluable resource tothe operation,” said the Task Group Commander, ItalianRear-Admiral Gualtiero Mattesi, during a recent visit tothe Canadian warship. “While each day is different, thework you have done has been crucial to making a dif-ference especially to reducing the military threat againstthe population of Misrata and allowing the flow ofhumanitarian assistance to continue to flow through thatport.”

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Leading Seaman Justin Taylor, a naval communicator in HMCSCharlottetown, hails a vessel of interest in the Mediterranean Sea.

Corporal Jason Boulanger, asupply technician in HMCSCharlottetown, communicateswith another part of the shipwhile patrolling in theMediterranean Sea.

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After a minor adjustment to the rudimentary steeringsystem, the migrant vessel was deemed seaworthy.Meanwhile, Charlottetown provided food, water andblankets for the passengers, and a member of thewarship’s medical team checked their generalhealth. The final determination was that, althoughcrowded, everyone aboard was in good health and inno immediate danger.

“Once we provided aid and met our obligations byassuring their health, ability to navigate and safelyoperate their vessel, our options became limited,” saidCommander Craig Skjerpen, commanding officer ofCharlottetown. “We opened our distance and resumedour patrol, but stayed close enough to monitor thesituation and respond if required.”

The warship monitored the migrant vessel all night asthe NATO Combined Task Group began managing thesituation in coordination with Italian national authorities.The Italian Coast Guard took charge of the vessel andits occupants the following day.

“I am told these boats are a common and ongoingchallenge in this region; nonetheless, it was anencounter that marked our Canadians sensibilities,”said Cdr Skjerpen. “The safety margin becomes lowwhen a master loads his vessel with this many people.Even a seaworthy craft presents an elevated riskshould the sea state deteriorate.”

HMCS Charlottetownassists driftingmigrant vessel

The crew of Charlottetown saw thehuman face of regional instability recentlywhile investigating a migrant vessel in thewaters off Libya.



Shortly before noon on March 25, an order fromthe commander of Combined Task Group455.01 directed HMCS Charlottetown to inves-

tigate a vessel off the coast of North Africa that hadbeen reported as “adrift” to authorities ashore. Thefrigate scrambled her Sea King helicopter, whichbecame the first NATO aircraft to reach the vessel.

“We located the vessel, tracked it by radar, and con-firmed visually it was making good headway,” said pilotCaptain Gerritt Siebring. “As soon as Charlottetowncame into visual distance, however, the vessel stoppeddead in the water.”

When contacted by radio, the crew of the migrantvessel claimed that they were adrift because theirengine was seized and they were out of fuel. A board-ing party set off from the frigate to investigate. Onceaboard the migrant vessel, the boarding party memberssaw that the actual situation was rather different.

“I was surprised to see the engine was running,” saidengineer Petty Officer 2nd Class Serge Grondin. “Ichecked the sump and the oil was pure black; therewas no water contamination as they said. When Ichecked their fuel, there was easily 400 litres in theirtanks.” The boat also had an efficient bilge pump,powered by the main engine.

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Avoice penetrates the darkness on the bridge ofHMCS Charlottetown. “Incoming fire bearinggreen one-five-zero!” The starboard lookout

raises the alarm loudly and quickly, with no hint ofpanic. The report marks the first time the CanadianNavy has come under direct hostile fire since theKorean War and it immediately draws the ship’s com-manding officer, Commander Craig Skjerpen, and theweapons direction officer onto the bridge wing.

Out of the impenetrable darkness, brilliant evenly-spaced points of lights snake their way towards theship. The salvos are punctuated by large bursts offlame that flash then disappear. “Engage!” barks CdrSkjerpen, ordering warning shots from the heavymachine gun crew directed at the target. Close by, a50-calibre gun thunders in response.

A short while earlier the ship had been quiet. Half thecrew slept as the operation’s team worked through theearly morning of Thursday, May 12. “Around 2 a.m. webecame aware of several small craft hugging the coast-line and heading towards Misrata,” said the on-watchOperations Room officer, Lieutenant (Navy) AdrianArmitage. “We analyzed a number of factors, assessedthat the boats posed a threat to the port, and recom-mended that the ship come to action stations.”

A shot in the dark

The Canadian frigate sounded the alarm and broughtits crew the highest degree of readiness. It manoeuvredin concert with the destroyer HMS Liverpool and aFrench warship to block the advance of the small boats.Prevented from attaining their objective, and with theFrench firing warning shots, the small boats abandonedtheir attack and retreated.

“We were able to detect support vehicles that paral-leled the boats along the road following the shore,” saidLt(N) Armitage. “As they stopped to extract their teams,they were provided covering fire from artillery and anti-aircraft canon.”

On Charlottetown’s starboard wing a handful of crewexamined the flight of the incoming tracers as theyslowly drew right and passed astern of their ship. Asweeping motion of fire betrayed the lack of preciseaiming by regime forces.

“Cease fire!” yelled Cdr Skjerpen, after achieving hisdesired response.

“The ships repositioned to re-establish a barrier in thedirection to the port at a suitable standoff distance fromshore,” said Lt(N) Armitage. “Having successfullydeterred the attack, we resumed our patrols.”

The warships sustained neither damage nor injury totheir crews. “Charlottetown is a modern technologically-advanced ship and the crew have trained well and hardto be prepared for the type of challenges we facedtonight,” said Cdr Skjerpen. “I am reassured by theircalm and professional performance. It is obvious to methat morale is high and everyone appreciates the con-nection between their efforts and achieving the opera-tion’s goals of protecting the civilian population inLibya.”

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Executive officer Lieutenant-Commander Matthew Coates, left,coxswain Chief Petty Officer 1st Class Alistair Skinner, right, andmeteorologist technician Master Corporal Melany Pilon at actionstations.

Lieutenant (Navy) Adrian Armitage oversees the ship’s combat per-sonnel during his watch as Operations Room officer.



Flood relief

Naval reservists and soldiers reinforce a dike to help stop the flooding during Operation Lustre in Manitoba.

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Sailors join the fight to protect residents from floods

HHeellppiinngg CCaannaaddiiaannss aatt hhoommeeFlood relief

Most people associate the navy with ships atsea. So it was with some surprise that resi-dents in Québec and Manitoba discovered that

many of the men and women filling sandbags to protecttheir properties from flooding rivers or providing supportfor dike repairs were members of the Canadian Navy.

Operation Lotus Two humanitarian relief missions were carried out by

hundreds of Canadian Forces personnel, includingsailors from across the country, in May. The first gotunder way May 6 in areas near Montérégie, Que., after aformal request for assistance was received from theGovernment of Québec. Called Operation Lotus, therelief efforts were led by Canada Command and con-ducted through Joint Task Force East. Some of the worstflooding in 50 years forced the evacuation of nearly1,800 people, and 45 members of the navy, most ofthem from Naval Reserve Divisions in Eastern Canada,joined other CF personnel in assisting the local popula-tion.

According to Lieutenant-Commander Alain Bouchard,remote maritime component element commander andtraining officer at HMCS Donnacona in Montréal, thenaval reservists carried out two main tasks: water recon-naissance and diving support to the army’s combatengineers. Water reconnaissance involved 24-hour sup-port to the provincial police, firefighters and paramedics,overseeing dams and the needs of the local populationwhen they could not be reached by roads. For this workthe naval reservists used 10-man zodiacs. Two navy portinspection divers also assisted in repairing two perma-nent dikes which had been used for low-level flooding inthe past, but which were breached in this year’s flooding.

The naval reservists were welcomed “with open arms”by local civilian authorities. “We were a real asset tothem and they really appreciated having our help,” LCdrBoucher said.

LCdr Boucher, who lives in St-Jean-Sur-Richelieu,Que., says the Naval Reserve is always happy to pitch inwhen the communities near their Divisions are in need ofassistance. “We want the people to know that the navy isall across the country, not just on our coasts, and that wesupport our communities,” he said.

Operation LustreThe second relief mission began May 9 when the

Government of Manitoba asked for federal assis-tance to help people affected by flooding along theAssiniboine River between Brandon and Winnipeg.Called Operation Lustre, the relief efforts were led byCanada Command and conducted through JointTask Force West.

Navy participation in Op Lustre included 122reservists from Naval Reserve Divisions across thecountry, and 12 members of the Regular Force.Captain (Navy) Paul Dempsey, Deputy CommanderCanadian Fleet Pacific, was appointed maritimecomponent commander for the operation.

Overall assistance during the operation includedplanning and coordination assistance; providing sup-port to preserve essential infrastructure; reinforcingexisting dikes; observing and monitoring sandbagdikes; providing essential logistical and material sup-port; and providing assistance through the voluntaryevacuation of civilians where flooding posed a threatto their lives.

Maritime forces were mainly employed in the rein-forcement of the Assiniboine dike system during theoperation, according to Capt(N) Dempsey. “Thisoperation was about Canadians helping Canadiansin need of immediate assistance,” he said. “Theability of the Naval Reserve to establish the RegionalMaritime Coordination Element and to mobilize per-sonnel and equipment from across country wasimpressive, and a shining example of their strategicvalue to the navy and Canada. For the officers andsailors involved in Op Lustre, they came awayenriched professionally and with a strong sense ofaccomplishment.”

Leading Seaman Jamie Tobin from the NavalReserve Division HMCS Scotian in Halifax whole-heartedly agreed. “We’ve trained for years for situa-tions like this and we’re finally awarded with anopportunity to use our skills to help those in need,”he said. “It feels great to be able to help my fellowCanadians.”

With files from A/SLt Blake Patterson


Flood relief

Op Lotus: An armychecks residences

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Op Lustre: Commodore DavidCraig, left, Commander of theNaval Reserve, passes sandbagsalong a chain of sailors who arereinforcing a dike.Ph

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Op Lustre: The Portage Diversion diverts water fromthe Assiniboine River into Lake Manitoba.

Op Lotus: Engineers and navy divers assisted inrepairing dikes near Montérégie, Que.

Photo: MCpl Holly Cowan

y engineer, using a zodiac provided by the navy,along the Richilieu River.

Photo: MCpl France Morin

Op Lustre: Naval reservists position a tarp on a dike outside

Portage la Prairie, Man.

Photo: MCpl Holly Cowan


Flood relief

How does a mother of four from Kingston, Ont.,find herself filling sand bags at night in flood-ravaged Manitoba?

This is what being a member of the Naval Reserve isall about. Often called “citizen sailors”, naval reservistsare from all walks of life and most have full-time jobs inother occupations. When they are called upon for amission, they leave their “normal” lives behind, put ontheir uniforms, and head off to make a difference.

Such is the case with Ordinary Seaman Mary-Elizabeth Irwin, who owns her own cleaning businessand plays the piano for the base chapel in Kingston,where her husband is a military chaplain. She has fourdaughters between the ages of nine and 17 whodemand a lot of her time as well.

When she heard about the mission to deliver humani-tarian relief to those affected by the floods in Manitoba,she quickly volunteered. “With four girls I needed avacation!” she joked.

However, it was anything but a vacation as she joinedother naval reservists working long hours in order toprotect the local population from the surging floodwaters of the Assiniboine River.

Her first time away from home, it was a “learningexperience” for the whole family. While in Manitoba shereceived a text message from her oldest daughterwhich caused her to choke up. “I’m proud of you Mom!”it read.

OS Irwin has been very impressed by the teamworkinvolved during the mission. She said that it was greatworking with members of the army on the dikes. “I amamazed at how quickly you can forge friendships withothers when you are sharing a situation and experiencesuch as this,” she says. “It was a great atmosphere. Iloved being part of the team making a difference.”

With files from A/SLt David Lewis

““““IIII ’’’’mmmm pppprrrroooouuuudddd ooooffff yyyyoooouuuu MMMMoooommmm!!!!””””

Ordinary Seaman Mary-ElizabethIrwin, foreground, carries sandbags during Op Lustre.

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Members of the Canadian Forces, including sailors, gather on mounds of sand bags they filled during Operation Lustre in Manitoba.

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Flood relief

By Acting Sub-Lieutenant David Lewis

One at a time each sandbag is placed along-side the dike at a weak spot in the bend ofthe Assiniboine River near Poplar Point, Man.

Naval reservists from across Canada have volunteeredto do this backbreaking and monotonous work. Thekilometre-long pathway heading from the small commu-nity back to the river has become a muddy mire. Thedump trucks, which usually transport thousands ofsandbags back to the work area, now have to dumptheir load at the end of the small residential lane. At thispoint each 40-45-pound sandbag has to be picked upand tossed on the back of a small tracked vehicle.About the time the massive pile diminishes, anotherloaded truck shows up.

A hard 10-hour day awaits each naval reservist, withnothing but the smell of wet sand and...chocolate chipcookies? The scent wafts through the air and grabseveryone’s attention. Heads all turn to see a white-haired lady in pink slacks holding a plate of warm cook-ies. It is the beginning of what these young sailorsaffectionately call “the bake sale”.

Bernice Delbridge passes out cookies while her hus-band Frank carries the patio table across the yard. “Ibaked these kids some cookies and Frank put up atable with coffee and water on it,” she says. “Then Imade a few phone calls and before long we needed abigger table!”

As the day progresses, more and more items showup on the table. A second table is added and eventuallya third. Throughout the day local residents walk downthe lane and add their warmbrownies or date squares to thetable.

The soldiers working alongsidethe sailors also love the bakesale. “These people are so nice,”says Ordinary Seaman KatieChampion of Charlottetown. “Wehave an ongoing rivalry with thearmy as to who gets to adoptthese people when this is allover.”

Every day the people of thistiny community continue to showtheir appreciation. Coffee, tea

Sand bags and chocolate chip cookiesand juice are always available. A barbeque is broughtout from the back yard and 10-year-old Noah Parsoncooks hot dogs for his new friends. “We’ve really cometo know these kids,” says Mr. Delbridge. “We’re goingto miss seeing them every day.”

This isn’t an isolated incident. Just four kilometres upthe road another group of soldiers and sailors are sand-bagging a dike that borders the Ross home. This familyopens their home and offers their bathroom facilities tothe 40 people working there. When they go into town,they leave their home unlocked. They return a shortwhile later with a massive amount of donuts and cof-fees. The sailors had moved down the dike to anotherweak spot inaccessible to vehicles. Undeterred, thethree ladies load everything into a wheelbarrow andtogether they push it down the dike to the amazementand appreciation of its recipients.

Over 120 naval reservists from 21 Naval ReserveDivisions came to build walls with sandbags, but theyalso built bridges with the local community. Thesebridges will last forever. Standing on the front lawn, Mr.Delbridge shakes his head and says, “They’re all soyoung and they work so hard. They have no idea whatthis means to us. We could have lost everything.”

Frank and Bernice Delbridge (secondand third from left) created

"the bake sale" on the front lawn of theirPoplar Point, Man., home.

They’re all so young andthey work so hard. They haveno idea what this means to

us. We could have lost everything.”“Ph

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Rear-Admiral Paul Maddison has been namedas the new Chief of the Maritime Staff,replacing Vice-Admiral Dean McFadden, who

will be retiring.RAdm Maddison, who will be promoted to vice-admi-

ral, is expected to step into his new position this sum-mer. He is currently Assistant Chief of the MaritimeStaff. Prior to that, he was commander of Joint TaskForce Atlantic and Maritime Forces Atlantic.

RAdm Maddison enrolled in 1975, graduated fromCollège Militaire Royal de St-Jean in 1980, and pro-ceeded to sea. His extensive sea-time has beenequally divided between Canada’s Atlantic andPacific fleets. He earned his bridge watch-keepingcertificate on the west coast in HMCS Terra Nova(1982) and specialized in above-water warfarebefore broadening his experience as CombatOfficer onboard HMCS Skeena in Halifax (1988).Subsequent sea-going appointments includedStaff Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer to NATO’sCommander Standing Naval Forces Atlantic (1990);Staff Weapons Officer to Commander Canadian TaskGroup 302.3 deployed to the Persian Gulf in 1991;Combat Officer Sea Training Atlantic (1992); ExecutiveOfficer HMCS Winnipeg (1994); and Executive OfficerSea Training Pacific (1996).

RAdm Maddison’s sea-going commands include thePacific Fleet’s HMCS Calgary 1997-1999, and theAtlantic Fleet’s HMCS Iroquois 2002-2004. His time inIroquois was marked by a deployment in 2003 as flag-ship to Commander Task Force 151, charged with pros-ecuting the international campaign against terrorism inthe Arabian Sea and Persian Gulf. In 2006, he led theexperimental Standing Contingency Force to sea, andconducted a joint and integrated tactical effects exer-cise aimed at exploring potential new littoral manoeuvrecapabilities for the Canadian Forces.


Check it out on-line!Archived issues of the navy’s

original Crowsnest magazine, published from 1948-1965: http://cold-war.muninn-project.org/crowsnest/

RAdm Maddison’s appointments ashore include aide-de-camp to the Governor General (1985); command ofa joint and combined Space Control Centre crew inColorado Springs, Colo. (2000); Director GeneralMaritime Force Development (2005); and AssistantChief Military Personnel (2007). RAdm Maddison wasappointed Commander Joint Task Force Atlantic andCommander Maritime Forces Atlantic in May 2008.

A graduate of the Canadian Forces Command andStaff Course (1993), and the Advanced Military StudiesCourse (2004), RAdm Maddison assumed his currentappointment as Deputy Commander MaritimeCommand/Assistant Chief of the Maritime Staff inAugust 2010.

Rear-Admiral PaulMaddison named Chiefof the Maritime Staff

I t was baptism by fire for a young naval communi-cator working at a forward operating base (FOB)in Afghanistan.

On May 12, 2009, after just one month in-theatre,Leading Seaman Kimberly MacLean (née Peterson)found herself in a situation she could never have antici-pated when she joined the navy just a few years earlier.Nevertheless, her decisive and selfless actions thatday, a long way from her usual sea-based duties, led tothe Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) Commendationannounced recently.

LS MacLean served in Afghanistan from April toNovember 2009, working with a Civil-MilitaryCooperation (CIMIC) team as an information manage-ment clerk. Her broad spectrum of duties involvedeverything from data entry, to meeting with Afghans andgathering information about them. On that day in May,an incident occurred which would test the basic tacticalcombat casualty care skills she had learned on a two-week course prior to deploying.

LS MacLean was at work in an FOB when word camethat a civilian bus loaded with Afghan civilians had runthe gauntlet of an ambush nearby and rolled over.Other Afghans, witnessing the scene, began pullingpeople from the bus, loading them into vehicles andtaking them to the FOB, where they knew there was asmall hospital with expert medical care available.Afghan police contacted the base, and LS MacLeanand two others had five minutes’ notice before carloadsof casualties began to arrive.

“We had to pull casualties from out of the cars andtriage them,” LS MacLean says. “It was very intense.We put the dead aside, and some of the Afghan armyacted as stretcher bearers as we tried to get the injuredinto the hospital, which is enclosed inside the FOB.”

Working with interpreters, LS MacLean immediatelytook charge of the situation, triaging over 20 casualtiesand staying with them until they received medical care.Many of them were seriously wounded. “You don’t thinkabout it, you just do it,” she says. “If I thought about it, itwould be overwhelming. So you just keep going.”

The triage process was completed in about 20 min-utes, but it was over three hours before the casualtieswere treated and then medevaced by three U.S.Blackhawk helicopters to either Afghan hospitals orKandahar Air Field. By the time it was over LSMacLean was “exhausted”, having endured tempera-tures up to 45C and hours covered in blood during theemotionally draining experience. “When it was over Icould not get the blood from my arms in the small fieldsink,” she remembers. “I had to get one of the guys topour bottles of water over my arms to get them clean.”

Overall, LS MacLean said everything went smoothlyand that she was impressed by the calm attitude ofeveryone involved. “They just got on with it,” sherecalls. And while it was a bit difficult to put it all behindher, she says the ability to speak to her then-fiancée(they married in May 2010), deployed to Afghanistan atthe same time, via secure phone as her “saving grace”.

In March she received a phone call from the com-mander of Maritime Forces Atlantic, Rear-Admiral DavidGardam, telling her she would be receiving a CDSCommendation for her efforts. “My first thought was‘why is the admiral calling me, did he have a wrongnumber?’,” she laughs. “I was shocked and over-whelmed. It’s nice to have recognition for the thingsyou’ve done.”

RAdm Gardam is quick to point out that LS MacLeanis a fine example of the outstanding people serving intoday’s navy. “It’s great to see that she has beenacknowledged in this way for her actions in the high-stress environment of the Afghanistan mission,” hesays.

LS MacLean, currently an instructor at the CanadianForces Naval Operations School in Halifax, will be pro-moted and posted to a ship this summer.

Baptism by fire for sailor working in Afghanistan


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Canadians pay tribute on

Battle of the Atlantic Sunday

Canadians attended ceremonies across the country Sunday, May 1to mark the sacrifices made by those who fought on their behalf in theepic Battle of the Atlantic during the Second World War.

The Battle of the Atlantic, the fight for supremacy of the NorthAtlantic, was waged from 1939 until 1945 and pitted Allied naval andair forces against German U-boats, whose primary targets were theconvoys of merchant ships carrying vital life-sustaining cargo fromNorth America to Europe.

Much of the burden of fighting the Battle of the Atlantic fell to theRoyal Canadian Navy (RCN). At the outbreak of war, the RCN wascomprised of only six destroyers and a handful of smaller vessels. Bythe end of the war, the RCN was one of the largest navies in theworld. The Battle of the Atlantic ended with V-E Day on May 8, 1945.

Veteran U.S. submariners lead CF members, the Naden Band and Royal Canadian SeaCadets as they parade through the streets of downtown Victoria to commemorate theBattle of the Atlantic.

A group of Navy League cadets march past theNational War Memorial in Ottawa on Battle ofthe Atlantic Sunday.

Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia Mayann E.Francis takes the salute in front of the Sailor'sMemorial in Point Pleasant Park, Halifax, duringBattle of the Atlantic ceremonies May 1.

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HMCS Sackvilleon-station for Battle of theAtlantic ceremonyBy Acting Sub-Lieutenant Blake Patterson

HMCS Sackville, Canada’s NavalMemorial, continued its time-hon-oured service May 1 as part of this

year’s Battle of the Atlantic commemorationceremony, held at the Sailors’ Memorial inPoint Pleasant Park, Halifax.

The last of 269 corvettes built and sailed bythe Allies during the war, Sackville was coldmoved to a position off shore from theMemorial to be ready for the start of the cere-mony at six bells in the forenoon.

Commander (Retired) Wendall Brown, commandingofficer of Sackville, said having the corvette positionedoff shore is “a very, very significant” part of helping hon-our and remember those who died at sea during theBattle of the Atlantic.

War dead from battles on land often have graves andcemeteries to mark their final resting places – not so forthose who died at sea in the cold waters of the NorthAtlantic.

“The Naval Memorial is the only grave marker for the2,000 deceased personnel buried beneath the waves,”said Cdr Brown. “The only sign of those lost at sea isthe Naval Memorial, HMCS Sackville.”

Commissioned in Saint John, N.B., in 1941, Sackvilleserved in a number of roles before ending active serv-ice in the early 1980s. Her most memorable wartimeengagement occurred in August 1942 in the NorthAtlantic when she engaged and damaged three U-boatsin a 36-hour period.

Today, restored to her 1944 configuration thanks tothe efforts of the volunteer Canadian Naval MemorialTrust, Sackville is an enduring symbol of Canada’s keyrole in winning the Battle of the Atlantic and of theservice and sacrifice of our sailors in times of peace,national catastrophe, international tension and war. In1985, the Government of Canada designated Sackvilleas Canada’s Naval Memorial.

About 200 people were taken onboard Sackville forthe Battle of the Atlantic ceremony.

Cdr Brown said preparations for the annual coldmove to Point Pleasant Park included embarking anadditional 200 life jackets, ensuring tugs had suffi-cient life rafts, and having medics onboard. Headded they also made sure to have sufficient hotdrinks, biscuits and bowls of corn chowder ready tohelp warm guests coming in from the cold upperdecks.

While the ceremony was conducted ashore at theSailors’ Memorial, the same ceremony, including thelaying of wreaths, took place on board the ship.

After the ceremony, Sackville was taken further outto sea to conduct a committal service of the ashes ofveterans who wished to have their ashes buried atsea. Each year, about 20 to 25 urns are committedas part of the ceremony. The ashes are not scattered,but are committed in their urns.

Cdr Brown said people come from all over theworld to take part in the annual committal service,some from as far away as British Columbia,California and Australia.

HMCS Sackville, far right, on-station for the Battle of the Atlantic ceremony atthe Sailors’ Memorial in Halifax May 1, was joined by a CH-124 Sea King from12 Wing Shearwater, N.S., and a CP-140 Aurora long-range patrol aircraftfrom 14 Wing Greenwood, N.S.

Photo: MCpl Peter Reed

The Naval Memorial is theonly grave marker for the2,000 deceased personnel

buried beneath the waves. The onlysign of those lost at sea is the NavalMemorial, HMCS Sackville.”“


By Ben Green and Kyla Pawlyshyn

Perched on the corner of Lieutenant-Commander Paul Sutherland’s desk in thesubmarine shore office in Esquimalt, B.C., is a

plaque embossed with the phrase: “O God, thy sea isso great and my boat is so small.”

That sentiment is fitting for the Canadian Navy’snewest submarine captain. Recently, he took commandof HMCS Corner Brook from LCdr Alex Kooiman,becoming the 53rd submarine commanding officer inCanada’s naval history. He earned that post afterrecently completing the Norwegian Navy’s gruellingPerisher Course, or Submarine Command Course.

“I’m chomping at the bit to sail by myself,” he says. “Ijust want to go out and be a CO [commanding officer]and drive a submarine.”

Three decades of service have led him to CornerBrook’s bridge. Having joined the Regular Force fromthe Naval Reserves in 1991, he trained as an above-water sensor weapons officer before making the dive tosubmariner in 1999.

For the next decade he worked in submarines oneither coast, eventually progressing to executive officer.To achieve the ultimate posting as commanding officer,the only command-qualified position on submarines, hehad to complete the Perisher course, an emotionallyand physically intensive course designed to bend, andat times break, prospective submarine captains.

“It’s called Perisher for a reason. Guys go to Perisherand perish all the time,” says LCdr Sutherland.

The failure rate of the Norwegian Perisher is 60 percent; last year no one passed.

On Jan. 1, LCdr Sutherland was in Bergen, Norway,with four Norwegians and one other Canadian, all fac-ing 14 weeks of intensive training and testing. Thecourse has two sections, a safety phase and a tacticalphase. Students spent the first five weeks in dry landtrainers before departing for two weeks at sea in anUla-class submarine provided by the Norwegians. LCdrSutherland describes them as much smaller thanCanada’s Victoria-class, built for the small coastal fjordssurrounding the Scandinavian nation.

The submarine maintained periscope depth as thestudents worked on attacking and evading manoeuvres.At the end of two weeks, they were back in the class-room, followed by another two weeks of inshoreoperations. This time they worked with special forces,

New submarinecommander survivesgruelling course

gathered information/intelligence, and practised pick upand drop offs, all the while trying to evade detectionfrom the Norwegian Coast Guard and navy.

Stress and sleepless nights were common to all thestudents. “If you’re going to fail the course it’s becauseyou’re unsafe at something,” he says. “You don’t haveto be a tactical guru, but if you’re unsafe you’re fin-ished.”

In the final three weeks, students joined Joint Warrior,a tactical exercise off the coast of Scotland, where theyimplemented their knowledge.

On April 17, three-and-a-half months after they start-ed, four of the six students were captains – the othertwo had been released along the way. The graduateswere treated to a tradition in the submariner community,a Perisher breakfast with submarine senior staff fromaround the world.

“I had this grin on my face; it was pretty much thereall weekend,” recalls LCdr Sutherland. “They said‘you’re by yourself now, you’ve earned that right, besafe and look after yourself’.”

The relationships forged over the gruelling months inNorway will be lasting he adds.

“I have some really good friends in the NorwegianNavy now. I can pick up the phone and call anytime,”he says. “They’re friends I’m going to have for the restof my life.”

Lieutenant-Commander Paul Sutherland

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Strengthening coordination between coalition forcesMaritime Forces Pacific hosted U.S. Navy and Coast Guard ships for Exercise Trident Fury 11, a large-

scale military exercise held off the coast of Victoria May 2-13.CF assets included HMC Ships Nanaimo, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Vancouver, Ottawa,

Algonquin, Protecteur, Brandon, Whitehorse and Corner Brook, along with Sea King helicopters and CF-18fighter jets. The U.S. provided the guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Erie, mine countermeasures shipUSS Warrior, U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Orcas and MH-53 Sea Dragon minesweeping helicopters.

Trident Fury included such activities as boarding exercises, ship-to-ship and ship-to-air firingexercises, counter-submarine exercises, hailing exercises, mine countermeasures and more.

The exercise is aimed at advancing Canada’s ability to respond to offshore threats and unlawful acts fromwithin a coalition environment. While the exercise strengthens the communication and coordination of coali-tion forces, it also helps Canadian sailors maintain the skills required to work in a task group environmentduring international operations.

Top left: Commodore Peter Ellis, Commander Canadian Fleet Pacific, stands with Rear-AdmiralDoug Asbjornsen, U.S. Navy Reserve Deputy Commander Naval Mine and Anti-Submarine WarfareCommand. Bottom left: Commander Dowker, Commanding Officer of HMCS Winnipeg, gives abriefing on rules of engagement. Top right: Corporal Joanne David, boarding party team member,waits for orders. Background: Crew from HMCS Ottawa set off during a mock first aid exercise.Photos: MCpl Chris Ward


By Shelley Lipke

Navy life is tough – long hours, sleepless nightsand an ever-developing work environment.But there’s one trade in particular that leads

the blue-collar attitude of our serving men and women.Whether it’s battling the violent ocean spray on deck orcatapulting through it during a man-overboard,boatswains [also known as “bosuns”] have perhaps themost physically demanding and broadest ranging job ofall. So the question is – do you have what it takes?

Training for these non-commissioned sailors startsright after basic training at Canadian Forces FleetSchool. Petty Officer 2nd Class Ian Biller, a bosun tradeinstructor, reflects on his evolving career choice 11years ago and the day that changed his life. “I wasdriven to the small boats, small arms and all the demoli-tions,” he says.

Back in 2000, a day sail with his sonar operatorbrother-in-law set him up with a viewing platform unlikeany other he’d witnessed. As a civilian guest aboard thefrigate HMCS Vancouver, he watched with wide-eyedamusement as the bosuns worked on deck through avariety of evolutions.

“It was different, disorienting, and like being in a mazeon board the ship,” he says. “It was during a maritimesecurity patrol. I was surprised most by how differentlife was on a ship, from the sea watches, to how peopleworked, to the ship going through rescues, launchingboats, fire exercises, and general shipboard life. It wasweird but very interesting at the same time. I got a feelfor the sea watches and the job that the bosuns weredoing.”

Hooked, PO2 Biller visited the Victoria-based recruit-ing centre and signed up for bosun life. After basictraining, his three-month trade training was hands on.“There were 12 of us on my course and we had a lot offun, especially the demolitions phase. Handling the C4and seeing the end result of something going boom andhow loud and how powerful it is was so exciting.”

While some of the training consisted of indoor lec-tures, the majority of it encouraged hard work andelbow grease. “If you like physical outdoor work andworking with your hands, then become a bosun,” hesays.

His first posting was to the West Coast replenishmentvessel HMCS Protecteur, something that caught him

So you want to be a bosun?

slightly off guard. “The training we learned in schoolwas all oriented to Canadian patrol frigates, and onboard Protecteur it was very different,” he says. “Thelayout was different. Everything was bigger and in thecase of a RAS (replenishment-at-sea) we were supply-ing and not receiving. It really did change everythingand took me between six months and a year to reallyget my bearings.”

After sea trials and work-ups the ship sailed in 2002to the Persian Gulf for Operation Apollo. Being a bosunand replenishing ships at sea involved battling 60Ctemperatures and being away from home for sixmonths.

Following his tour in the Gulf, his next posting tookhim aboard HMCS Vancouver, a ship he was familiarwith. PO2 Biller’s favourite duties included operating therigid-hulled inflatable boats, which he navigated throughthe small inlets and channels around the province whilechaperoning photographers.

Interested in becoming a bosun? Visit www.forces.ca

Ordinary Seaman Anthony Berardi learns the ropes of tying a bow-line knot from instructor Petty Officer 2nd Class Ian Biller during atraining session for bosuns.

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“It was stunning scenery, especially in the QueenCharlotte’s [now the Haida Gwaii Islands],” he says. “Itwas some of the nicest, but busiest sailing I’ve everdone.”

Now, over a decade on, his career has come full cir-cle as an instructor of his trade. Bringing with him awealth of experience and industry understanding, PO2Biller is giving his new recruits invaluable knowledge.

“Being a bosun is hard work,” he says. “I think it’s oneof the most challenging trades. It revolves around beingoutdoors and working in rain or shine, sea state 10,dangerous evolutions such as RASs and rescues, anddropping the anchor. We see the really good stuff outthere.”

Like most careers, he explains that his line of work isnot for the faint of heart. “It can be stressful too,” hesays. “During a RAS safety is paramount as the wiresand lines are under an insane amount of tension. If thesea state is rough, hoses and lines swing all over the

place and you have to safely hook up different pieces ofequipment such as the span wire. Our trade is so vast.We are seamanship experts and handle anything fromcoming alongside the jetty, to a RAS, to a towing opera-tion and rescues at sea. Nearly everything we do islinked in some way to the other departments on theship who help to make these things happen.”

Weighing out the pros and cons, PO2 Biller wouldn’thave it any other way – one day sail turned into a pas-sion that will last for the rest of his life.

“I had never been around boats too much, and it stillis one of my favourite things to do,” he concludes. “Ireally enjoy the trade and think it’s an exciting career.One of the best parts is being outside. You get to seethe storms, inside passages, and the scenery as youenter ports. Plus, there is less chance to be seasick! Asfun as it is, it’s a tough trade, it’s dangerous, the equip-ment is heavy and the hours are long. I find it a lot offun.”

By Virginia Beaton

An engraved bell commemorating theCanadian Naval Centennial (CNC) nowhangs in the lobby of Province House in

Halifax.Cast by the Lunenburg Foundry, and with a bell

rope made by Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class RichardMeredith, the bell symbolizes the longstanding con-nection between the navy and the province of NovaScotia, according to Premier Darrell Dexter.

“Last year, I was pleased to present the navy with acommemorative bell on behalf of Nova Scotians torecognize the commitment and dedication of 100years of service and excellence,” said PremierDexter.

He made the presentation to Rear-Admiral PaulMaddison, at that time Commander Maritime ForcesAtlantic, during Family Appreciation Day and theInternational Fleet Review in June 2010.

“I was proud to be part of that presentation,”Premier Dexter, a former naval officer, said. “As thenavy begins its second century of service, I am proudto unveil this bell in Province House as a way to markthe sacrifice of the men and women who have servedand continue to serve in the Canadian Navy.”

Premier Dexter was joined by Speaker of the NovaScotia Legislative Assembly Gordie Gosse;Commodore Laurence Hickey, Commander CanadianFleet Atlantic; Captain (Navy) Craig Walkington,former Maritime Forces Atlantic CNC coordinator;

Centennial bell links the navy to Nova ScotiaKevin Allen and David Allen, representing theLunenburg Foundry; and members of the LegislativeAssembly at an unveiling ceremony May 4.

“This is the last of the Canadian Naval Centennialevents,” said Cmdre Hickey. He added that manyentities had been a part of making the naval centen-nial year a success, and that the Province of NovaScotia had been one of them.

When the Legislature resumed its sitting that after-noon, Premier Dexter introduced Resolution #1065,which concluded: “Therefore be it resolved that themembers of this House once again congratulate theCanadian Navy on its centennial, thank all of thesailors for their dedication and sacrifice over the past100 years, and wish them well as we go forward intothe next 100 years.”

Premier Dexter requested waiver of notice andpassage without debate, resulting in the unanimouspassing of the motion.

Speaker of the Nova Scotia Legislative Assembly Gordie Gosse,left, and Premier of Nova Scotia Darrell Dexter, unveil the bell.

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Most sailors don’t take the plunge from1,800 metres, yet that’s just what PettyOfficer 1st Class Tony Specht does

nearly every day.One of only a handful of navy personnel to ever

perform with the SkyHawks, PO1 Specht, amarine engineering artificer by trade, is on loanfrom HMCS Calgary to the SkyHawks for theduration of the 2011 season.

A 20-year veteran of the CF, PO1 Spechtstarted skydiving 17 years ago in college, butit wasn’t until 2000 that he discovered theSkyHawks would accept applications fromthe navy. “There used to be a requirementfor the applicant to have the army’s basicparachutist qualification; however, that waschanged to include civilian qualifications, which I have,”he says. “My home unit was more than happy to let mecome here and have the navy be represented on theteam.”

PO1 Specht will perform in about 30 shows over thecourse of the SkyHawks 40th anniversary season. Hehad to undergo training in three phases. Phase onewas completed in Trenton at the CF Land AdvancedWarfare Centre. This was two weeks of administration,parachute packing training, aircraft emergency training,physical fitness training and an introduction to publicaffairs. Phase two was the initial jump training, which isalso two weeks in duration. “We fly to Perris Valley,Calif., where the CF has been sending the team forover 20 years,” he explains. “Due to the timeline fortraining and the uncooperative Canadian weather weare unable to train at home. Our instructors are world-class and have been involved with training the team forover 20 years.”

During phase two the basic facets of the parachutingskills performed during the SkyHawks’ shows, calledcanopy relative work, are learned. “Most people seeskydiving and parachuting as jumping out of a planeand falling for a while, then opening the parachute toland,” he says. “Our shows are done from [1,800metres] and we open our chutes immediately upon exit-ing the plane. We then join up in groups of two or threeand make formations.”

Once the initial phases are complete the team mem-bers are placed into the formations where their skill andsize most complement each formation. “Phase three iswhere we learn the dazzling and daring moves we per-20 www.navy.forces.gc.ca

form in our shows andperfect them over the next threeweeks,” says PO1 Specht. His formation iscalled “the drag”. “We place ourselves in a stack ofthree, taking grips on the other’s parachute lines. I’m onthe bottom and when ready, I will deploy smoke andturn upside down. The jumper on top, the pilot, will dragthe other two into position and drop us over the crowd.We then go into a down plane, where we are both fac-ing the ground and falling at a much faster rate. Atapproximately [90-150 metres] we disengage and landin front of the audience who then go wild with excite-ment at the spectacle before them,” he laughs.

PO1 Specht is thrilled to be part of the SkyHawks andis enjoying the change from life at sea. “Being in thenavy and being a marine engineer the military haspretty much one thing in mind for your career: sailing,”he says. “This was my opportunity to do somethingelse, to change things up a bit. A lot of people I knowhave gone to Afghanistan, spent some time in foreigncountry on exchanges, or worked with some of thespecial forces of the CF. The SkyHawks are what Iwanted to do.”

PO1 Specht is looking forward to the SkyHawks40th anniversary season and the chance to performand meet the people who come to watch the shows. Hewill return to his ship when the season is over, but doeshave the option of applying for the SkyHawks againnext year.

“That’s another story,” he says with a grin.

Sailor takes the

PLUNGE

Photo: Craig O’Brien

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Crowsnest Issue 5-2 - Royal Canadian Navy · 2015-06-02 · Crowsnest is published quarterly on the...

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