Royal Canadian Navy

The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) (French: Marine royale canadienne) is the naval force of Canada. The RCN is one of three environmental commands within the unified Canadian Forces. Operating 33 warships and several auxiliary vessels, the Royal Canadian Navy consists of 8,500 Regular Force and 5,100 Primary Reserve sailors, supported by 5,300 civilians.^{[a 1]} Its current commander is Vice-Admiral Paul Maddison, OMM, MSM, CD, who holds the position of Chief of the Maritime Staff.^{[a 2]}

Founded in 1910 as the Naval Service of Canada and given royal sanction in 1911, the RCN was placed under the Department of National Defence in 1923, and amalgamated with the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Canadian Army to form the unified Canadian Forces in 1968, where it was known as the Maritime Command until 2011. Over the course of its history, the RCN served in the First and Second World Wars, the Korean War, the First Gulf War, the Afghanistan War and numerous United Nations peacekeeping missions and NATO operations.

History

1910–1968

Established following the introduction of the Naval Service Bill by then-Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier, the Naval Service of Canada was intended as a distinct naval force for the Dominion, that, if necessary, could be placed under British control. The bill received royal assent on 4 May 1910. Initially equipped with two former Royal Navy vessels, HMCS Niobe and HMCS Rainbow, the service was renamed Royal Canadian Navy by King George V on 29 August 1911.^[1]

During the first years of the First World War, the RCN's six-vessel naval force patrolled both the North American West and East coasts to deter the German naval threat, with a seventh ship, HMCS Shearwater joining the force in 1915. Just before the end of the war in 1918, the Royal Canadian Naval Air Service was established with the purpose of carrying out anti-submarine operations; however, it was disbanded after the armistice of 11 November.^[2]

After the war, the Royal Canadian Navy overtook certain responsibilities of the Department of Transport's Marine Service, and slowly started to rebuild its fleet, with the first warships specifically designed for the RCN being commissioned in 1932.^[3] At the outbreak of the Second World War, the Navy had 11 combat vessels, 145 officers and 1,674 men.^[4] During the Second World War, the Royal Canadian Navy expanded significantly, ultimately gaining responsibility for the entire Northwest Atlantic theatre of war. By the end of the war, the RCN had become the third-largest allied navy in the world after the United States Navy and the Royal Navy. During the Battle of the Atlantic, the RCN sank 27 U-boats and sank or captured 42 enemy surface vessels, while successfully completing 25,343 merchant crossings. The navy lost 24 ships and 1,797 sailors in the war.^[5]

From 1950 to 1955, during the Korean War, Canadian destroyers maintained a presence off the Korean peninsula, engaged in shore bombardments and maritime interdition. During the Cold War, the navy developed an anti-submarine capability to counter the growing Soviet naval threat.^[6][7] In the 1960s, the Royal Canadian Navy retired most of its Second World War vessels, and further developed its anti-submarine warfare capabilities by acquiring the Sikorsky CH-124 Sea King, pioneering the use of large maritime helicopters on small surface vessels. At that time, Canada was also operating an aircraft carrier, HMCS Bonaventure, operating the McDonnell F2H Banshee fighter jet until 1962, as well as various other anti-submarine aircraft.^[2]

1968–present

In 1968, under the Liberal government of Lester B. Pearson, the Royal Canadian Navy, Royal Canadian Air Force and Canadian Army were amalgamated to form what is today the Canadian Forces, a single command structure under the Department of National Defence, at the time overseen by Defence Minister Paul Hellyer. The controversial merger saw the Royal Canadian Navy re-designated as Maritime Command (MARCOM), forcing sailors and shore-based personnel to adopt the common Canadian Forces rifle green uniform. Ship-borne and shore-based aircraft in support of MARCOM were organized into the "Maritime Air Group" which came under MARCOM command; in 1975 the Maritime Air Group units and equipment were transferred to the newly formed Air Command (now renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force). The unification of the Canadian Forces in 1968 is the first time a nation with a modern military combined its sea, land and air elements under a single structure.

The 1970s and 1980s saw a rationalizing of MARCOM's fleet, with the addition of the Iroquois class destroyer, which were later updated to air-defence destroyers, and the construction of the Halifax class frigate into the mid-1990s. Several fleet rationalization proposals were made during this era, both by the civil service and the Department of National Defence, as well as by the Centre for Military and Strategic Studies. In 1990, Canada deployed three warships to support the Operation Friction. Later in the decade, MARCOM deployed ships to patrol the Adriatic Sea during the Yugoslav Wars and the Kosovo War. More recently, Maritime Command provided vessels to serve under Operation Apollo and to combat piracy off the coast of Somalia.

The Conservative government of Stephen Harper announced on August 16, 2011 that Maritime Command was to regain its former name, the Royal Canadian Navy.

Structure

The Royal Canadian Navy is headquartered at National Defence Headquarters (NDHQ) in Ottawa, Ontario. Since 1968, the Royal Canadian Navy is an environmental command of the Canadian Forces, charged with maintaining and generating forces for one of four operational commands, primarily Canada Command and the Expeditionary Command, but also the Canadian Operational Support Command and to a lesser extent, the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command.^{[a 1]}

Maritime Forces Atlantic

The Royal Canadian Navy's Atlantic Fleet, known as Maritime Forces Atlantic (MARLANT), is headquartered and homeported at CFB Halifax in Halifax, Nova Scotia and is supported by CFS St. John's in Newfoundland. Attached to MARLANT and CFB Halifax is Royal Canadian Air Force's 12 Wing Shearwater, based at Shearwater Heliport, which provides shipborne air support for the Atlantic Fleet. The RCAF's 14 Wing Greenwood provides fixed-wing air support for MARLANT through 404 Maritime Patrol and Training Squadron and 405 Maritime Patrol Squadron. Other Atlantic Fleet facilities are CFAD Bedford, an ammunition depot, and two radio stations, Naval Radio Section (NRS) Newport Corner and NRS Mill Cove.^{[a 3]}

The Atlantic Fleet, with 19 warships and a number of auxiliary vessels, is responsible for Canada's Exclusive Economic Zone on the East Coast, as well as Canada's Area of Responsibility in the Atlantic Ocean and the eastern Arctic Ocean.

Maritime Forces Pacific

The Royal Canadian Navy's Pacific Fleet, known as Maritime Forces Pacific or MARPAC, is headquartered at CFB Esquimalt in British Columbia. Staffed by 4,000 military personnel and 2,000 civilian personnel, the organization is commanded by Rear-Admiral Nigel S. Greenwood.^{[a 4]}

With fourteen warships and several auxiliary vessels homeported in Esquimalt, the Pacific Fleet is responsible for Canada' Exclusive Economic Zone on the West Coast and Canada's Area of Responsibility in the Pacific Ocean and the western Arctic Ocean. Fleet Naval Facility Cape Breton provides repair and maintenance services to the Pacific Fleet. The Royal Canadian Air Force's 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron, based at Patricia Bay Heliport but under the control of 12 Wing Shearwater, provides shipborne helicopter support for the Pacific Fleet, while 19 Wing Comox provides fixed wing maritime air support for MARPAC through 407 Long Range Patrol Squadron.

Reserve

The Naval Reserve Headquarters (NAVRESHQ), located at the Pointe-a-Carcy Naval Complex in Quebec City, Quebec, is responsible for twenty four Naval Reserve Divisions across the country. The base is also home to Canadian Forces Fleet School Quebec and HMCS Montcalm. The Naval Reserve, composed of 4,000 reservists, is commanded by Commodore David W. Craig, CD.^{[a 5]}

Fleet

Warships

The Navy operates 29 surface warships and 4 submarines. The surface ships carry the designation Her Majesty's Canadian Ship (HMCS) : three Iroquois class guided-missile destroyers, twelve Halifax class multi-role patrol frigates, twelve Kingston class coastal defence vessels, and two Protecteur class replenishment vessels. In addition to the surface vessels, the RCN owns 4 currently inactive Victoria class submarines acquired from the Royal Navy in 1998. These warships carry the designation Her Majesty's Canadian Submarine. The Royal Canadian Navy also maintains and operates HMCS Oriole, a historic sail ship commissioned in 1921 that now serves as a sail training vessel. Although it carries the royal designation, it is not counted as an active warship of the Royal Canadian Navy.

Auxiliary vessels

The RCN operates auxiliary vessels to support the Canadian Forces, these vessels are not warships and do not carry the HMCS designation. Among the auxiliary ships operated by the Navy are eight Orca class patrol vessels, five Ville class harbour tugs, five Glen class harbour tugs and two fireboats of the Fire class.

Aircraft

Since 1975, all aircraft supporting the RCN are operated by the Royal Canadian Air Force through 1 Canadian Division. Since 1995, all CH-124 Sea King helicopters have been operated by squadrons under 12 Wing (from the Shearwater Heliport and Patricia Bay Heliport). Similarly, all CP-140 Aurora and CP-140A Arcturus anti-submarine, ship surveillance and maritime patrol aircraft have been operated by squadrons under 14 Wing at CFB Greenwood and 19 Wing at CFB Comox. There are currently 27 CH-124 Sea King helicopters configured for ship-borne anti-submarine warfare, 18 CP-140 Aurora fixed wing aircraft for land-based anti-submarine warfare and area surveillance, and 1 CP-140A Arcturus for land-based maritime surveillance.

Future procurement

Several procurement programs are underway to modernize the RCN's capabilities.

• The Joint Support Ship Project is a program to replace the current Protecteur class resplenishment vessels with two to three new joint support ships, providing support to naval task forces, a limited sealift capability and limited theatre command and control.^{[a 6]}
• Related to the JSS Project is the nascent Amphibious Assault Ship Project which had seen senior members of the Canadian Forces and DND discuss purchasing one to two amphibious assault ships or helicopter carriers for transporting and landing an assault force of up to 1,000 soldiers.
• The Arctic Patrol Ship Project, announced in 2007, is a program to build six to eight Arctic patrol ships capable of operating with polar class 5 (PC-5) and to establish the Nanisivik Naval Facility, a deep water port in Nunavut that would support RCN operations in the Northwest Passage and adjacent waters.^{[a 7]}
• The Halifax-class frigate is currently undergoing a mid-life extension program^{[a 8]} and it was revealed in the October 2011 announcement of the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy that the RCN would be procuring 15 vessels under the Single Class Surface Combatant Project to replace the 12 Halifax-class frigates and 3 Iroquois-class destroyers.
• The Maritime Helicopter Project is an RCAF procurement project that will replace the fleet of CH-124 Sea Kings with 28 CH-148 Cyclone shipborne anti-submarine warfare helicopters that will operate from RCN warships.^{[a 9]}
• A CBC News report has suggested that the RCN is considering the purchase of nuclear powered submarines capable of extended under-ice operations as a replacment for the diesel-electric powered Victoria-class submarine fleet. It should be noted that no agenda for this project has been tabled publicly by the federal government.^[8]

Personnel

Commissioned officers

Commissioned officers of the Canadian Forces have pay grades ranging from OF-1 to OF-9. The only OF-9 position in the Canadian Forces is the Chief of the Defence Staff, who may or may not be from the Navy. The highest position occupied in the current Royal Canadian Navy structure is OF-8, a Vice-Admiral who serves as the Chief of the Maritime Staff. OF-6 (Commodore) to OF-9 (Admiral) are referred to as flag officers, OF-3 (Lieutenant-Commander) to OF-5 (Captain(N)) are referred to as senior officers, while OF-2 (Lieutenant(N)) and OF-1 (Sub-Lieutenant) are referred to as junior officers. Naval Cadets are referred to as subordinate officers.^{[a 10]} All officers of the Canadian Forces receive a commission from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Queen of Canada. The Commissioning Scroll issued in recognition of the commission is signed by the Governor General of Canada as Commander-in-Chief and the serving Minister of National Defence.

Naval officers are trained at the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario, the Royal Military College Saint-Jean in Saint-Jean, Quebec and the Naval Officer Training Centre VENTURE in Work Point, Esquimalt, British Columbia. Some specialized candidates may be commissioned without attending the Royal Military College, the plan is known as Direct Entry Officer (DEO) Plan.

Non-commissioned members

Non-commissioned members of the Royal Canadian Navy have pay grades ranging from OR-2 to OR-9. OR-9 (Chief Petty Officer 1st Class), OR-8 (Chief Petty Officers 2nd Class) and OR-7 (Petty Officer 1st Class) are known as petty officers, and together with OR-6 (Petty Officer 2nd Class, referred to as senior non-commissioned officer) form the senior cadre of the non-commissioned (enlisted) members of the military. OR-5 (Master Seaman) and OR-4 (Leading Seaman) are referred to as junior non-commissioned officers, while OR-3 (Able Seaman) and OR-2 (Ordinary Seaman) are referred to as privates.

All regular force non-commissioned members of the Canadian Forces undergo basic training at the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu. Recruits then attend occupation-specific training at various locations across Canada.

Traditions

Colours

The Queen's or King's Ceremonial colours (also referred to as the Sovereign's Colour) for the navy have been consecrated and presented four times: in 1939 by King George VI in Esquimalt, BC, in 1959 by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip in Halifax, NS, in 1979 by the Queen Mother in Halifax, NS and in 2009 by the Governor General of Canada and Commander-in-Chief Michaëlle Jean in Halifax, NS.^[9] On each occasion two identical colours were presented, one for the Atlantic fleet and one for the Pacific fleet. The current colours consist 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 the Royal Canadian Navy'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.^[9]

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.^[9] The Royal Canadian Navy's retired colours are laid up at Beechwood Cemetery in Ottawa, Ontario.^[9]

Heritage

This history of Royal Canadian Navy 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 Royal Canadian Navy 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 Royal Canadian Navy who have died in peacetime.

See also

• Canadian Coast Guard
• Canadian Army
• Royal Canadian Air Force

References

• The Department of National Defence and the Canadian Forces

• Other references

Further reading

External links

• Royal Canadian Navy official site
• ReadyAyeReady.com: 100 years of the Canadian navy.