Vanguard Magazine

www.vanguardcanada.com FEBRUARY/MARCH 2019 17 1st Commanding Officers of HMCS Ships Harry DeWolf & Margaret Brooke at sea with their maritime brethren onboard CCGS Sir Wilfrid Laurier in Canada's Western Arctic honing the skills to operate north during the whole of the navigable season. RCN Officers: Commander Corey LE Gleason and Commander Michele Tessier. SWL Officers: Captain Simon Dockerill and Commander Richard Marriot. Photo: RCN Broadcast Unit, Jacek Szymanski interview tion, and engaged in the world through our lasting cooperation with arctic allies such as Denmark and Norway. Q When can we expect to see the first foray into the Arctic by the RCN in an AOPV? In short, we can expect our first venture into the Arctic to take place approximately 12 months after the first ship is delivered to the RCN. With this being said, a plan exists to trial the future HMCS Harry DeWolf's range of capabilities through a circumnavi- gation of North America. The ship will ex- perience the Canadian Arctic as well as the tropical waters of the Caribbean, and it will be introduced to the Canadian public on both coasts as well as in our Arctic commu- nities while it transits the Northwest Pas- sage. Also, the potential exists for the ship to conduct Maritime Interdiction Opera- tions while operating both west and east of the Panama Canal. This would prove a vari- ety of capabilities, including the functional- ity of the ship in relation to the CH-148 Cyclone as well as the ability to integrate a Law Enforcement Detachment. The feedback we have received about the vessel, its capabilities and the RCN's AOPV program in general has been resoundingly positive. In fact, as a result of this program's success, there have been multiple times where I have been asked to speak at engagements about this exciting new capability for the RCN. Q How is the RCN going to work with the Canadian Coast Guard as it relates to operating in the North, particularly in ice? What sort of agreement is in place or what's the relationship like? The RCN and the CCG are two sides of the same coin – indivisible in looking after the safety, security and defence of our great nation. Most recently, a joint RCN/CCG Concept of Operations was signed which will serve to reinforce sov- ereignty while ensuring the security and protection of the Canadian Arctic. It jointly ensures our activities are coordi- nated while we fulfill our different roles in Canada's Arctic. The RCN has also been enthusiastically taking advice from and conducted training with the CCG in order to build navigation and seamanship expertise in ice. What is certain is that both the RCN and CCG will be working closely togeth- er in order to ensure safety of navigation in the North and the security of Cana- da's Arctic sovereignty. We will continue to support one another's operations in the maritime domain and we will strive towards interoperability of our organi- zations. I am confident the existence of AOPVs in Canada's Arctic will strengthen the bond between our two organizations. Q What input has the RCN taken from native peoples (Inuit)? Canadian Rangers are the eyes and ears of the North, and they are routinely inte- grated into CAF exercises and operations in the Arctic, demonstrating the strong relationships between the CAF, RCN and the northern communities. The Rangers extend the CAF's reach into remote ar- eas of the region year-round and provide a wide range of experience in operating in such an austere environment. When oper- ating north, the CAF and RCN gain valu- able expertise from the Inuit and peoples of the North on land and at sea. Looking forward, once Harry DeWolf-Class is in full service, I personally look forward to the opportunity for the Inuit and peoples of the North to be personal advisors and serve in naval uniform in AOPVs, in a similar way the Canadian Rangers serve to support the Canadian Army and CAF as a whole.

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