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Canadian Forces Maritime Command

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Canadian Forces Maritime Command (MARCOM) is the naval command of the Canadian Forces, and as such, it is also the senior command of the Canadian Forces, following the tradition that comes from the Royal Navy.

MARCOM is the descendant of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) which was Canada's naval service from the navy's foundation in 1910 until 1 February 1968. Prior to 1910, the Royal Navy provided naval protection for 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 is used as they are the ships of Her Majesty's Canadian Armed Forces.

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

MARCOM ships are welcome additions to any coalition Naval Force, but are primarily found sailing alongside ships of the NATO Alliance, particularly the Royal Navy and in the Defence of North America with the United States Navy. MARCOM Flagships are often called upon to serve as the command unit for coalition Task Groups.

History

For history before 1968, see Royal Canadian Navy.
MARCOM was formed on 1 February 1968 following the amalgamation of the three branches of the Canadian military — the Royal Canadian Navy, the Canadian Army, and the Royal Canadian Air Force. The headquarters for MARCOM was based at CFB Halifax, alongside its regional subsidiary MARLANT.

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 and in the 1980s received new Distinctive Environmental Uniforms (DEU's) broadly similar to the pre-1968 RCN uniform, though ratings did not revert to the British-derived "square rig" uniform.

This 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 Royal Canadian Navy 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, , 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 focusing on the traditional blue-water navy.

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.

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 , the Iroquois-class destroyer , and the supply ship to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Desert Shield and later Operation Desert Storm, where these vessels were involved in escort duties of various coalition naval forces and non-combatants.

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.

Today's fleet

The current fleet contains thirty-six ships and submarines plus many more supply and support 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.

Air cover is provided by Sea King helicopters--providing anti-submarine patrols, search and rescue, and reconnaissance. CP-140 Aurora surveillance aircraft also support MARCOM operations. All air deployments are provided by AIRCOM.

Vessels and aircraft of Maritime Command

Class or name Builder Type Quantity Year Entered Service Details
Halifax Saint John Shipbuilding, MIL-Davie Shipbuilding 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 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 patrol 12 1996-1999 Coastal surveillance, general naval operations and exercises, search and rescue, law enforcement, resource protection, fisheries patrols and mine countermeasure capabilities.
Orca Victoria Shipyards patrol 8 2006- Training and inshore patrol.
Protecteur Saint John Shipbuilding auxiliary 2 1969-1970 At-sea resupply of frigates and destroyers and medical support. Ships to be replaced by Joint Support Ships starting 2012
Victoria Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd and Cammell Laird submarine 4 2000-2004 Diesel-electric hunter-killer submarines with long-range patrol capability.
Quest Burrard Shipbuilding & Drydock Ltd., Vancouver, Survey ship 1 1969 Oceanographic research ship.
Aurora Lockheed aircraft 18 1980 Strategic airborne anti-submarine warfare aircraft with surface-surveillance capability.
Arcturus Lockheed aircraft 3 1991 Strategic airborne surface-surveillance aircraft.
Cyclone Sikorsky helicopter 28 from 2009 (projected) Anti-submarine warfare helicopter.
Sea King Sikorsky
United Aircraft 		helicopter 28 1963-1969 Anti-submarine warfare helicopter - to be replaced by Cyclone
Cormorant AgustaWestland UK/ helicopter 14 2001 Search & Rescue helicopter - replaced the CH-113 Labrador
Hurricane Zodiac Rigid-hulled inflatable boat N/A SOLAS design used by naval ships and reserve forces training

Auxiliary ships

Auxiliary ships 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
Fire-Class fire/rescue boats-Yard Tractor Tug 2: CFAV Firebrand (YTR 562) and the CFAV Firebird (YTR 561)
Ville-Class Falconer Marine in Victoria, B.C Harbour tug-YTL 5 - CFAV Lawrenceville (YTL 590), CFAV Parksville (YTL 591), CFAV Listerville (YTL 592), CFAV Merrickville (YTL 593), CFAV Marysville (YTL 594) 1974 Named after World War 2 vessels which were based on the on Pup Class
Medium Harbour Tug-YTM 1 - CFAV Tillicum (YTM 555) based at Esquimalt
Glen-Class Yarrows Ltd, Esquimalt and Georgetown Shipyards, PE tractor tugs 5 - CFAV Glendyne (YTB 640), CFAV Glendale (YTB 641), CFAV Glenevis (YTB 642), CFAV Glenbrook (YTB 643), CFAV Glenside (YTB 644) 1975-1977 Vessels are named after an earlier World War 2 Glen class of tugs.
YDT Dive Tenders and Dive Recovery 1 - YDT 10
Yard Diving Tenders 2 (YDT 11 - ex Cape Scott III and YDT 12 Granby) YDT-11 based at Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific) in Colwood, B.C
Sechelt Class West Coast [John] Manly Shipyard of New Westminster, BC YDT Yard Dive Tenders 2 - YDT Sechelt, YDT Sooke 1991 Sooke based at Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific) in Colwood, B.C.
Sechelt Class West Coast [John] Manly Shipyard of New Westminster, BC Torpedo and Sound Ranging Vessels 2 - CFAV Sikanni, CFAV Stikine 1991
Burrard Shipbuilding & Drydock Ltd General Purpose Research Vessel 1 - CFAV Quest 1969
Duty Boat 2 - CFAV Gemini and CFAV Pegasus Gemini based in Halifax, Pegasus based in Esquimalt
Fleet Diving Unit Boat 4 - Sculpin, Abalone, Dungeness, Tayut

Aircraft

Aircraft Country of Manufacture Type Canadian Designation In Service Notes SH-3 Sea King Sikorsky
United Aircraft Shipborne Anti-Submarine, Search and Rescue Helicopter on destroyers and frigates CH-124 Sea King 27 assigned from Canadian Forces Air Command to be replaced by CH-148 Cyclone P-3 Orion/S-3 Viking Lockheed Strategic airborne anti-submarine warfare aircraft with surface-surveillance capability CP-140 Aurora 18 assigned from Canadian Forces Air Command P-3 Orion Lockheed Strategic airborne surface-surveillance aircraft CP-140A Arcturus 3 assigned from Canadian Forces Air Command Sikorsky H-92 Superhawk Sikorsky Aircraft Shipborne, Search and Rescue Helicopter on destroyers and frigates CH-148 Cyclone 28 Order delayed; delivery after 2009 EH101 AgustaWestland UK/ Search & Rescue helicopter CH-149 Cormorant 14 assigned from Canadian Forces Air Command

Retired Fleet

Retired Aircraft

Weapons

Shipborne

Aircraft

Air operations

Though the former RCN had its own aircraft, after unification shipboard helicopters came under "air force" control, and Naval Air Squadrons were renumbered in 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 in air force-style DEU's.

Submarines

The 1987 military review highlighted Canada's abysmal capabilities of enforcing 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 several British and French SSN designs. The planned procurement, however, was cancelled in 1988–1989 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 made surplus by the Royal Navy's decision 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 a costly update program which took longer than expected, along with several public and highly embarrassing equipment failures, the Upholders are being successfully reactivated following a decade of mothballing and are now being integrated into the Canadian navy as the Victoria class. Technical problems still seem to plague the fleet however. Part of this deal will see MARPAC receive its first submarine in four decades and returning an active submarine presence to Canada's west coast.

The four submarines and their former Royal Navy names:

  • , formerly
  • , formerly
  • , formerly
  • , formerly

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 MinisterJean 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 expected to be completed by 2008–2010.

Current and future programs

Joint Support Ships

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 an army battle group — 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 JSS 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 will be awarded the implementation contract in 2008. The first of the 28,000-tonne vessels is scheduled to be delivered in 2012.

Amphibious assault vessels

In the first months of 2005, senior members of the Canadian Forces and the government have been examining the possibility of purchasing two new or used amphibious-assault vessels in keeping with the government's commitment to developing greater joint capability in the Canadian Forces. This is apparently not connected to the Joint Support Ship project.

Orca-class training vessels

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

Polar Class 5 Arctic offshore patrol ships

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

These new Polar Class 5 Arctic offshore 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.

To conduct sea-borne surveillance operations in the Arctic, a deep-water port will be constructed to allow the patrol ships to resupply and refuel. Harper announced in 2006 that the deep-water port would be built in Iqaluit. On July 9 2007 the CBC reported that four ports were under consideration.

Other

A program office for the Halifax-class Frigate Life Extension (FELEX) program has been established and is expected to begin soliciting bids in 2007. 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 propulsionmachinery.

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 Canadian Navy has plans to replace the Iroquois class destroyer with the Province-class destroyer. 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.

References

See also

External links



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Class or name Builder Type Quantity Year Entered Service Details
St. Laurent-class destroyer
Canadian Vickers, Montreal; Halifax Shipyards, Halifax NS; Burrard, Vancouver, BC; Yarrows, Esquimalt, BC; Marine Industries Limited, Sorel, Quebec 		escort destroyers 7 1955-1994
Mackenzie-class destroyer
Canadian Vickers, Montreal 		escort destroyers 4 1962-1994
Restigouche-class destroyer
Davie Shipbuilding, Lauzon, Quebec; Halifax Shipyards, Halifax NS; Burrard Dry Dock, North Vancouver, BC; Victoria Machinery Depot, Victoria, BC 		escort destroyers 7 1958-1997
Iroquois-class destroyer
MIL Davie Shipbuilding, Lauzon, Quebec 		escort destroyers 1 - HMCS Huron (DDH 281) 1970-2005 Sunk as a target ship by US and Canadian ships off the coat of BC in 2007
Oberon-class submarine
Vickers-Armstrongs, Barrow-in-Furness 		diesel electric submarine 3 (2 spares) 1964-2000
Tench-class submarine
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Kittery, Maine 		diesel electric submarine 1 (USS Argonaut (SS-475) ad later as HMCS Rainbow(S-75) ) 1968-1974
Provider-class auxiliary vessel
Davie Shipbuilding, Lauzon, Quebec 		AOR (oiler replinishing ship) 1 - HMCS Provider (AOR 508) 1963-2003
N/A
Aspa Quarto 		ASL 1 - HMCS Cormorant (ASL 20) 1978-1997
Annapolis-class destroyer
Marine Industries Limited, Sorel, Quebec 		escort destroyers 2 1964-1997
Majestic-class aircraft carrier
Harland and Wolff, Belfast 		light aircraft carrier 1 - HMS Powerful/HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22) 1957-1970
Cape-class maintenance ship
Allied Shipbuilders Ltd., Vancouver, BC 		escort maintenance 1959-1970 2
N/A
Marine Industries Limited, Sorel, Quebec and de Havilland Canada, Toronto, Ontario 		escort hydrofoil Frigate 1 - HMCS Bras d'Or (FHE 400) 1970s
Sikorsky H-19
Sikorsky Aircraft 		multi purpose helicopter N/A 1960-1970s used aboard the HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22)
S-2 Tracker
de Havilland Canada/Grumman 		anti-submarine warfare aircraft N/A 1960-1980s
F2H Banshee
McDonnell Aircraft 		carrier based fighter 34 1950s-1958
Glen-Class I tugs tug 4 - Glendevon, Glenevis WWII ships
YBZ-61 vacuum ship 1
Saint Class Deep Sea Tugs ocean tug 1 - St. Charles ATA 533 built by Saint John Dry Dock, Saint John, NB 1957; stricken in 1972
Naval Research Vessel 1 - CFAV Endeavour 1968-1998
Aircraft Country of Manufacture Type Canadian Designation In Service Notes
F2H Banshee McDonnell Douglas carrier based jet fighter N/A - F2H-3 39; 34 on carrier HMCS Bonaventure ex-United States Navy delivered 1955-1958; retired 1962
S-2 Tracker Sikorsky Aircraft Anti-submarine warfare aircraft CS-2F Tracker 1? delivery 1956-1957; all carrier based aircraft were transferred to land operations after 1970
Sikorsky H-19 "Horse" Sikorsky Aircraft plane guard helicopter H04S-3 2? acquired 1956; retired 1967 and replaced by CH-124 Sea King (till 1970)