HMCS Protecteur Stranded in Mid-Pacific After Fire

A fire in the engine room of the Canadian warship HMCS Protecteur has left the vessel stranded in the mid-Pacific in heavy seas, according to Commodore Bob Auchterlonie, the commander of the navy's Pacific fleet.

Local media reports that the fire broke out Thursday around 10:20 p.m. PT as the Protecteur was returning from operational duties with nearly 300 on board.

Auchterlonie called the fire significant as the crew battled it over a significant period of time to save the ship. The fire has damaged propulsion equipment, and several people suffered minor injuries.

The vessel had to stop about 630 kilometres northeast of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii and the American destroyer USS Michael Murphy and another ship have been sent to assist.

The Protecteur is one of two auxiliary oil replenishment ships in the Canadian navy, both launched in 1969. The cause of the blaze has not yet been confirmed. 

 

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RIMPAC 2012 - Esquimalt-based submarine makes debut at international super-drill

Naval exercise off Hawaii marks first time Canada shares command

The arrival Tuesday of Canada’s only functioning submarine at the world’s largest naval exercise off Hawaii marks the first time a Victoria-class sub will participate in the international drill.

The ability of HMCS Victoria, the CFB-Esquimalt based submarine, to train with 40 surface ships, six submarines and more than 200 aircraft is an opportunity “you can’t replicate through simulation,” said Commodore Peter Ellis, the Commander of Canadian Fleet Pacific.

The six-week Rim of the Pacific exercise, or RIMPAC, also marks the first time the United States has handed over control of key operations to Canadian officers.

The exercise, which began June 29 and ends Aug. 3, includes 25,000 personnel from 22 nations.

Ellis and two other Canadian officers leading operations during RIMPAC spoke to the Times Colonist on a conference call Tuesday from Pearl Harbour.

After a decade spent mostly in dry dock, HMCS Victoria completed the first part of its work up and fired an exercise version of the MK48 torpedo in March. The boat will complete its high-readiness certification during the exercise, which Ellis called “a huge milestone.”

“Victoria’s crew will really benefit from the entire experience and I dare say the surface ships [and other submarines] will benefit from having Victoria as an opponent,” Ellis said. “Everyone can learn from each other here.”

The super-drill, which is held every two years, is aimed at building relationships between Pacific nations, considered key to keeping the Asia-Pacific corridor safe.

Ellis compared some portions of the exercise to a pick-up hockey game, where players swap teams in order to understand how others operate. “We’ll do that during the exercise to enhance the ability to work together but also to show off [our navy’s] independent capabilities.”

CFB Esquimalt-based war ships HMCS Algonquin and HMCS Ottawa are also participating, as are the base’s fleet diving unit and a Sea King helicopter from 442 Squadron at CFB Comox.

The first week starts with myriad safety meetings and communications tests before the ships start more intense live training, including missile trials, aircraft landing and anti-warfare drills.

The exercise ends with a fast-paced, four-day “real world” scenario that incorporates land, sea and aircraft capabilities, said Ellis, who is the commander of combined task force 176, an amphibious group led by USS Essex.

This year marks the first time Canadian officers have been given senior leadership positions in the exercise, which is typically dominated by the United States.

“The fact that Canada is playing a key role speaks to the size of our contributions to RIMPAC, which is second to the United States in this case,” said Brig.-Gen. Michael Hood, the combined forces air component commander for the exercise.

Rear-Admiral Ron Lloyd has been assigned deputy commander combined task force, the command structure in charge of the exercise.

April - In This Month - Royal Canadian Navy

In April 1916 The Admiralty advises the Canadian Government that German U-boats may be crossing the Atlantic, that they may operate close to Canadian and Newfoundland coasts, and that it will take a craft fitted with at least a 12-pound (5.45 kg) gun to put them out of action.

April 01, 1941 The armed merchant cruiser HMCS Prince Henry intercepts the German freighters Hermonthes and Muenchen.

April 03, 1935 Lieutenant J. P. Connolly, RCNVR, is appointed Commanding Officer to raise a Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve (RCNVR) Half-Company in Halifax, Nova Scotia. This unit would later become HMCS Scotian and is still in service.

HMCS Fredericton (337)

April 05, 1995 The Halifax Class frigate HMCS Fredericton (337), while enroute to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, answers a distress call from the yacht Longo Barda, saving her from capture by pirates that are armed with mortars and automatic weapons.

April 06, 1944 The River Class frigate HMCS Nene (K270) commissions into the Royal Canadian Navy. She is paid off 11 June 1945.

April 07, 1948 HMCS Magnificent (21), Canada's second aircraft-carrier commissions into the Royal Canadian Navy. She is paid off 14 June 1957.

April 08, 1941 The Flower Class corvette HMCS Chilliwack (K131) commissions into the Royal Canadian Navy. She is paid off 9 July 1945.

April 08, 1951 The “V” Class destroyer HMCS Sioux (225) sails for her second tour of duty in the United Nations Korean operations.

April 10, 1918 A decision is taken to establish air stations at Cape Race, Newfoundland (2 dirigibles and 2 kite balloons), Sydney, Nova Scotia (6 flying boats, 3 dirigibles and 4 kite balloons), Halifax, Nova Scotia (6 flying boats, 3 dirigibles and 4 kite balloons) and Cape Sable, Florida (3 flying boats or 2 dirigibles). As Canada possesses none of the equipment or trained personnel, the United-States is asked to provide them, pending the time that a Canadian organization should be in a position to do so.

April 10, 1923 Lieutenant G. B. Jackson, RCNVR, is appointed Commanding Officer to raise a Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve (RCNVR) Half Company in Toronto, Ontario. This unit would later become HMCS York and is still in service.

April 12, 1943 The “D” Class destroyer HMCS Kootenay (H75) commissions into the Royal Canadian Navy. She is paid off 26 October 1945.

April 14, 1944 The River Class frigate HMCS Swansea (K328) and the British Egret Class sloop HMS Pelican destroy submarine U-448 in North Atlantic.

April 14,1971 HMCS Gatineau (236) re-commissions in Esquimalt, British Columbia, as the first operational Improved Restigouche Escort Class (IRE) destroyer.

April 15, 1924 Acting-Lieutenant J. W. Hobbs, RCNVR, is appointed as Commanding Officer to raise a Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve (RCNVR) Half Company in Vancouver, British Columbia. This unit would later become HMCS Discovery and is still in service.

HMCS Esquimalt (J272)

April 16, 1945 The Bangor Class minesweeper HMCS Esquimalt (J272) is torpedoed and sunk by submarine U-190 with a loss of 39 of her crew. She is the last Canadian ship lost in the Second World War.

April 17, 1956 After being converted into Prestonian Class escort, the frigate HMCS Fort Erie (312) re-commissions into the Royal Canadian Navy. She is paid off 23 March 1965.

April 17, 1998 The Kingston Class minesweeper HMCS Whitehorse (705) commissions into the Canadian Navy. She is still in service and stationed in Esquimalt, British Columbia.

April 18, 1944 The River Class frigate HMCS Orkney (K448) commissions into the Royal Canadian Navy. She will be paid off 21 January 1946.

April 18, 1998 The Kingston Class minesweeper HMCS Yellowknife (706) commissions into the Canadian Navy. She is still in service and stationed in Esquimalt, British Columbia.

April 21, 1952 The Tribal Class destroyer HMCS Iroquois (217) sails for her first tour of duty in United Nations Korean operations.

April 23, 1947 HMCS Malahat commissions as the Naval Reserve Division for Victoria, British Columbia.

April 24, 1942 The Flower Class corvette HMCS Moncton (K139) commissions into the Royal Canadian Navy. She is paid off 12 December 1945.

April 25, 1941 The Flower Class corvette HMCS Nanaimo (K101) commissions into the Royal Canadian Navy. She is paid off 27 September 1945.

April 25, 1967 Parliament passes the Canadian Forces Reorganization Bill.

April 26, 1944 The Tribal Class destroyers HMCS Haida (G63 later 215), Athabaskan (G07) and Huron (G24 later 224) sink German torpedo boat T-29 in the Bay of Biscay.

The cruiser HMCS Ontario

April 26, 1945 The Minotaur Class HMCS Ontario (32), Canada’s last cruiser, commissions. She is paid off 15 October 1958.

April 26, 1956 After being converted into Prestonian Class escort, the frigate HMCS Lanark (321) re-commissions into the Royal Canadian Navy. She is paid off 19 March 1965.

April 28, 1944 The River Class frigate HMCS Charlottetown (K244) commissions into the Royal Canadian Navy. She is paid off 25 March 1947.

April 29, 1942 The Flower Class corvettes HMCS Orillia (K119) and HMCS Pictou (K146) commission into the Royal Canadian Navy. They are paid off 18 July 1945 and 16 July 1945, respectively.

April 29, 1944 The Tribal Class destroyer HMCS Haida (G63 later 215) sinks German torpedo boat T-27 in the Bay of Biscay.

April 29, 1944 The Tribal Class destroyer HMCS Athabaskan (G07) is torpedoed and sunk by German torpedo boat T-24 in Bay of Biscay with the loss of 128; 83 crew members are captured and 44 members are rescued.

April 29, 1953 The Tribal Class destroyer HMCS Huron (224) sails for her second tour of duty in United Nations Korean operations.

April 29, 1953 The Tribal Class destroyer HMCS Iroquois (217) sails for her second tour of duty in United Nations Korean operations.

April 29, 1974 The third HMCS Athasbaskan (282) embarks survivors and families of her predecessor for memorial service in the English Channel 30 years after the sinking of the original HMCS Athabaskan (G07).

Read-Admiral Murray

April 30, 1943 Rear-Admiral Leonard W. Murray, RCN, Flag Officer Atlantic Coast (FOAC), takes control of all allied shipping in the western North Atlantic as Commander in Chief (C-IN-C) Canadian North West Atlantic. Admiral Murray is the only Canadian officer to have ‘Commander-in-Chief’ status during the Second World War.