After completing a successful six-month deployment on Operation REASSURANCE, Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Charlottetown was replaced by HMCS St. John’s.
Since joining the Operation as part of the Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1) last August, HMCS Charlottetown engaged 13 navies with stops in 11 ports across seven countries.
Photo: Corporal J.W.S. Houck, Formation Imaging Services
This was HMCS Charlottetown’s second deployment on Operation REASSURANCE, following the first which took place in the last half of 2016. During this second deployment, she sailed the Baltic Sea, Northern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. During this time, the ship was involved in Exercise NORTHERN COAST 17 in the Baltic Sea with the goal to enhance the ability of participants to meet present and future security challenges in the maritime environment.
HMCS Charlottetown was also involved in Exercise BRILLIANT MARINER 17 in the Mediterranean Sea in training NATO and Partner Forces within the framework of a crisis response scenario.
Photo: J.W.S. Houck, Formation Imaging Services
During its deployment, HMCS Charlottetown also contributed to supporting a safe and secure environment for civilian vessels operating in the Mediterranean Sea with the aim of facilitating economic activities within the region as part of NATO’s Operation SEA GUARDIAN.
“HMCS Charlottetown’s officers and crew have worked tirelessly to enhance NATO’s forward-deployed presence, knowing that HMCS St. John’s will continue to achieve operational success under the NATO flag,” said Commander Nathan Decicco, Commanding Officer, HMCS Charlottetown.
Operation REASSURANCE is the Canadian Armed Forces’ contribution to NATO’s assurance and deterrence measures. This is done through the provision of military capabilities for training, exercises, demonstrations and assigned NATO tasks.