ESQUIMALT, B.C. – Her Majesty’s Canadian Ships (HMCS) Ottawa and Regina departed Esquimalt Harbour on Monday 5 March to join up with HMC Submarine Victoria to participate in Task Group Exercise 1-12 (TGEX) taking place off the West Coast of Vancouver Island.
In addition to anti-submarine and anti-aircraft warfare training at sea, a highlight of the exercise will be landing soldiers from ship to shore. Soldiers from two of British Columbia’s infantry regiments, the Canadian Scottish Regiment of Victoria and the Rocky Mountain Rangers of Kamloops will land on the beach at Rocky Point. Delivering troops ashore safely is a complex military operation that includes coordinating sea, land and air forces.
“The importance of interoperability between our three armed services and also with our allies cannot be overstated,” said Commodore Peter Ellis, Commander Canadian Fleet Pacific. “It is evident in our shared coastline, shared challenges, and shared goals for emergency readiness. A Task Group Exercise accomplishes this, serving also to hone skills at the individual and unit levels.”
The United States Navy Ships Ford and Rentz from Everett, Washington and San Diego, California respectively and a P-3C Orion Anti-Submarine Warfare Aircraft from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island are set to join the TGEX. More than 1,000 personnel from Canada and the United States will participate in the exercise that concludes March 16th.
Maritime Forces Pacific ships are joined by a CH-124 Sea King helicopter detachment from 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron, and a CP-140 Aurora Long Range Patrol Aircraft from 407 Maritime Patrol Squadron from 19 Wing Comox.
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