Interview with Captain(N) Jean Stéphane Ouellet, MSC CD, Commander Canadian Submarine Force.
Recently, Vanguard had the opportunity to talk with Capt(N) Jean Stéphane Ouellet about the Victoria-class Modernization project and the current status of Canada’s submarines. As native of Cap-Rouge, Quebec, Capt(N) Jean Stéphane Ouellet joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1991 and completed a Bachelor degree in History at the Royal Military College of Canada in 1996. On completion of his Naval Warfare Officer training, he immediately joined the submarine service and was awarded his Dolphins in 1999 after serving onboard both HMCS Ojibwa and Onondaga. He then proceeded to the United Kingdom to undergo conversion training for the newly acquired Victoria Class submarines.
After serving onboard various surface ships namely HMCS Anticosti, Halifax and Toronto as a Bridge Watchkeeper, he completed his Underwater Warfare Director Course in 2002 and joined the crew of HMCS Corner Brook as the Sonar Officer for her initial voyage to Canada in 2003. Shortly after he was selected for an exchange with the Dutch Submarine Service for which he attended a one-year language training in Ottawa to learn Dutch. Between 2004 and 2006 he served on all four Walrus Class submarines in various positions and was awarded his Dutch Dolphins.
He returned to Canada in 2006 and served as a submarine controller in Halifax for two years before completing the Submarine ORO Course in 2009. After a short stint as Windsor Combat Officer, he was selected for a second exchange posting this time with the Australian Submarine Service between 2010 and 2013. During his time down under, he served as Sonar Officer and subsequently as Operations Officer on board HMAS Waller and Collins. He was then selected by the RAN to serve as Executive Officer onboard HMAS Dechaineux from 2012 until the end of his posting overseas.
Upon his return to Canada, he served as Executive Officer of HMCS Chicoutimi. He then successfully completed the Norwegian Submarine Command Course in April 2015 and took Command of HMCS Victoria. He then assumed Command of HMCS Chicoutimi in 2016 and completed OP POSEIDON CUTLASS 17-3 in 2018, which was the longest and furthest Victoria Class submarine deployment ever attempted. The historical deployment also marked the return of a Canadian submarine presence in the Asia Pacific since 1968. In June 2018, he assumed Command of HMCS Victoria for a second time. Capt(N) Ouellet was promoted to his current rank and assumed Command of the Canadian Submarine Force in June 2019.
As the Commander Canadian Submarine Force (CCSF), can you please give the readers an assessment of the current state of the Victoria-class submarine fleet and how have the support organizations (both military and commercial) improved submarine availability and capability?
As you are probably aware, following very successful and concurrent expeditionary operations in 2017/18, the Canadian Submarine Force entered a period of reconstitution during which all submarines remained alongside and progressed different maintenance activities. In late 2020, Her Majesty’s Canadian Submarine (HMCS) Victoria returned to operations in the Pacific, followed shortly after by HMCS Windsor in the Atlantic in early 2021. Moreover, we are on the cusp of returning HMCS Corner Brook to operations which will mark the end of its Extended Docking Work Period (EDWP).
HMCS Chicoutimi is currently completing a transitional docking work period which is expected to be completed in late 2022 / early 2023. As such, we are soon to have three submarines in service which is a significant accomplishment for our relatively small submarine enterprise. So far, 2021 has been a great year during which both HMCS Victoria and HMCS Windsor participated in task group exercises and contributed to continental defence on the Pacific and Atlantic coasts respectively.
From an availability perspective, the recent maintenance periods of HMCS Windsor and Corner Brook and the ongoing maintenance periods of HMCS Chicoutimi will allow the transition to a new maintenance cycle which will see the platforms in operations for 9 years following 3-year EDWPs. The previous model allowed for 6 years of operations following EDWPs. As a result, it is expected that the availability of Victoria-class submarines will become more predictable and will slightly increase in the medium-to-long term.
From a capability perspective, all operational Victoria-class submarines are now fitted with the new BQQ-10 sonar. In addition, the Canadian Submarine Force will soon introduce the Mk48 7AT torpedo in its inventory. Finally, HMCS Corner Brook was fitted during the EDWP with a Universal Modular Mast and a new antenna which will enable near real-time, high-speed satellite communications ashore. HMCS Corner Brook will be the most modern platform of our submarine fleet when it soon returns to operations.
Personnel and training issues are always a critical path to maintaining a submarine capability – given that the pandemic restrictions have had a significant impact on fleet training and operations of navies worldwide, what are your concerns and plans for the Submarine Force rejuvenation post-pandemic?
Speaking in broad terms, the main impact that COVID-19 had on the Canadian Submarine Force was the lengthening of submarine work periods as the submarine enterprise adapted to operations in a COVID-19 persistent environment. This prevented the submarine force from significantly progressing the qualification of submariners at sea in 2020 as we had planned and created a training backlog. However, we made great strides in 2021 on clearing the backlog of trainees. As always, we carefully manage training at sea and are ensuring that 100% of available bunks are filled every time a submarine proceeds to sea. We also implemented a new training package for new submariners which is more task-orientated and aims to reduce the number of sea days required to obtain the basic submariner qualification.
My biggest concern right now is the recruitment of future submariners and as such, the Canadian Submarine Force is taking a more pro-active approach in recruitment than we have in the past.
Under Strong, Secure, Engaged the RCN is committed to the work in the Arctic and meaningfully contributes to joint action ashore, how do you see the Victoria-class contributing to this requirement?
As with any diesel-electric submarine, Victoria-class submarines are ideally suited to monitor choke points. As such, patrolling the approaches to Arctic Waters is an ideal task for our submarines. In addition, the high-frequency active component of the BQQ-10 sonar suite will further enhance our ability to safely operate in the Arctic as the platform will be better equipped to detect large objects such as icebergs.
Surveillance and reconnaissance of targets ashore is part of our core mandate in times of tension and as such, a Victoria-class submarine can be part of a vanguard component of any coalition task group that may be preparing to conduct operations ashore. In addition, the Canadian Submarine Force regularly operates with Special Forces and patrol pathfinders and exercises the deployment and recovery of those forces to support operations ashore.
As Strong, Secure, Engaged commits to the modernization of the four Victoria-class submarines through the Victoria-Class Modernization (VCM) program, what major improvements in operational capability, maintenance and habitability do you envision a post-VCM submarine will be able to bring to the table?
Through the Victoria-class Modernization (VCM) project, we will be implementing up to 17 distinct projects to upgrade the habitability, capability, and survivability of the class against current and evolving threats.
Habitability – Projects in this range will provide new bunks and mess decks with better lighting, ventilation, and USB ports to charge personal devices. Wash places and showers will be updated with changing areas to support mixed-gender crews. Improvements will also be made for food and supply storage; and a better waste handling system will be installed.
Capability – Key sensors will be replaced, including both the Search and Attack Periscopes and the Flank Array Sonar. We will also introduce integrated information functionality and decision support tools, in order to provide better understanding of the environment in and around the submarine and support command decision making. We will also install an Atmosphere Monitoring System, which will help to ensure the safety, health, and welfare of submariners at sea.
Survivability – We will help to reduce the submarines’ acoustic and electro-magnetic signature thereby reducing the probability of counter-detection. This will be done through electro-magnetic signature management and the introduction of new propellers and hull forms to reduce cavitation inception and hydrodynamic flow.
Are there areas of interest to you of which VCM is not addressing? Specifically, Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) and the covert launch, operation, and recovery of these systems?
The Royal Canadian Navy is very interested in Autonomous Underwater Vehicles and is investigating options for how they could be used by our current fleet and potentially pursued through future capital projects.
With the announcement this year of the stand-up of a small team to look at a replacement submarine, prior to forming a Major Crown Project (MCP), what are your thoughts on what key capabilities a future Canadian submarine should be able to do?
The Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP) team is in the early stages of looking at the capabilities that could be required of Canada’s next-generation submarine.
It is clear that submarines are a key element of a balanced fleet that enables the Royal Canadian Navy to project power responsively and effectively far from Canada’s shores, with the inherent flexibility and staying power required to succeed across a broad mission set.
They are highly effective weapons of strategic deterrence that enable Canada to project power and influence abroad, alone or in cooperation with allies, as well as to defend North American waters and maritime approaches, including the Arctic. Covert, well-armed, and capable of patrolling vast distances, submarines can provide support to maritime law-enforcement, narcotics trafficking, smuggling, and polluting cases, as well as conducting operations around the world, and contributing to continental defence, including in the Arctic.
Ultimately, the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project was established to inform timely governmental decision-making about a potential replacement class of submarines, and avoid any gap in submarine capabilities, such as these.
Moving forward, the CPSP team will be responsible for investigating all available options and responding to any questions the government may have, as it makes any required policy decisions.
It is important to note that the establishment of a Canadian Patrol Submarine Project represents standard and routine Naval Force Development work. Establishing a project to replace the Victoria-class in due course does not commit the government to any specific course of action, but instead preserves the time to make an informed decision when required.
What areas of technological development do you see as key for Canada to capitalize on in a future Canadian submarine?
While the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP) team is in the early stages of looking at the capabilities that could be required of Canada’s next-generation submarine, areas that could relate to the conduct of operations in Arctic waters warrant consideration, such as battery technology for instance.
Finally, the 2017 Standing Senate Committee and National Security and Defence report recommended that Canada has a fleet of 12 submarines, what are your thoughts on the overall numbers of submarines?
The RCN has undertaken a study to determine what size of a future submarine fleet would be required to support anticipated missions (both domestic and expeditionary), with an anticipated operational tempo, and cognizant of required maintenance cycles.
It’s important to highlight here that submarines are among the world’s most highly complex machines and that they operate in an unforgiving environment. This necessitates a highly rigorous material certification process to assure the safety of the crew and the submarine. This material certification is achieved through a time-based maintenance cycle which forms an essential element of the operational cycle of any class of submarine.
What this means is that the size of any fleet must be sufficient enough to support the range of missions that the government of Canada might require, and to be sustainable for potentially prolonged periods (with sufficient units in reserve to rotate in and out for rest and replenishment as necessary). The size of the fleet must also be sufficient to enable units to undergo periods of deep maintenance following operational periods, to ensure that they remain safe and effective.