Solutions Needed Now

By Ted Barnes, 17 March 2024

170807-XN177-066 YOKOSUKA, Japan (Aug. 7, 2017) The British Tide-class Royal Fleet Auxiliary fleet tanker RFA Tiderace (A137) arrives at Fleet Activities (FLEACT) Yokosuka for a scheduled port visit. FLEACT Yokosuka provides, maintains, and operates base facilities and services in support of the U.S. 7th Fleet's forward-deployed naval forces, 71 tenant commands, and 26,000 military and civilian personnel. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Peter Burghart/Released)

It was recently noted in the media that the CAF is in a death spiral. While I don’t share that exact sediment there is neglect by the government that we need to collectively solve quickly. It’s really telling when the public even agrees that the CAF needs to be funded more. I won’t comment too much on other elements as I could fill pages of issues, but the RCN is quickly shrinking to a point where it is currently impossible to crew new platforms completely and grow our ranks.

Recruitment, retention, aging platforms and infrastructure and a whole duffle bag of other issues not to mention ongoing cutbacks by the government has led us to this point where the RCN is struggling to be relevant despite a war by proxy in the Ukraine that could very well turn global at any time. Promises of 2% GDP spending and a promise to reduce operations to reconstitute the CAF went unfulfilled and our allies are wondering what we are waiting for. Perhaps it’s time to rethink how we do business and structure the CAF around things we can do and be useful until we can rebuild our fleet and fleet support.

First up buy five AOR’s such as the Tide Class. They can be built relatively cheaply and quickly offshore and staffed by federal government workers with a small contingent of RCN personnel onboard. At least three or more can support, on a continuous basis, our allies logistically and would go a long way to paying back our allies for years of, frankly, freeloading. The others in conjunction with our two JSS would support future CSC task groups and NATO operations. In a few years when the JSS become operational, crew them with civilian personnel under the existing fleet auxiliary and a small naval contingent. If we don’t do this, then sailors will have to come from somewhere and place unacceptable pressure on those we have left. Get rid of Asterix as it’s too expensive to keep unless the government wants to purchase it. Sever our relationship with Federal Fleet and operate it as a humanitarian assistance/disaster relief (HADR) ship and not associated with the RCN. As it stands, we simply don’t have the personnel to crew support units without reallocating personnel from other areas that may be vital.

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Current Issue: Winter 2024 CNR issue

Volume 19, Number 3 (2024)

Another issue of Canadian Naval Review is coming soon. As you’ll see, we continue to produce ‘insightful and engaging’ material! Pour a hot beverage, settle into a comfy chair and prepare to be delighted!

The issue begins with an Editorial by John Orr which examines recent developments in the Multi-Mission Aircraft Project. Then our first article, “The RCN and African Maritime Security: Forward Security Strikes Back?” looks at little-known activities of the RCN – i.e., operations and exercises with African countries. These activities are important but, as the authors point out, they currently lack a strategic focus.

The second article, “Learning Destroyers: Harry DeWolf and HMCS Patriot, 1925-1926,” tells us about how a young Harry DeWolf learned his trade on the destroyer HMCS Patriot, after which he became one of the RCN’s most effective officers in WWII. The third article, “A Peripheral Theatre: Rethinking Conflict in the Arctic,” examines the literature on conflict in the Arctic and proposes a new framework. The author suggests that referring to the Arctic as a region of cooperation, or alternatively a place for resource competition, no longer fits the reality and proposes a theory that the potential for conflict in the North is dependent on geopolitical dynamics in Europe and the Pacific. Our final article, “Public Communication for the Halifax-class Frigates,” examines a sample of the media coverage of the Halifax-class procurement to see how it was perceived in the media, with an eye to learning lessons for the coverage of the CSC.

As usual, we have a number of thought-provoking Making Wave commentaries and columns. For example, we have a column about subsea cable security in the Indo-Pacific region, and a look at how/why the RCN eagerly awaits the Defence Policy Update.

This is just a sample of what you’ll find in the winter issue. Of course there are amazing photos to illustrate everything! We know that you will find this issue interesting. See the Table of Contents below.

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