By Moderator, 12 August 2025
On 9 August the official Naming Ceremony was held for the future HMCS Robert Hampton Gray, the sixth and final Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship (AOPS) for the Royal Canadian Navy. Now that the navy has all of its AOPS, what is it planning to do with them in the Arctic?
I’m glad you asked. There will be a series of operations in the Arctic this summer and early fall involving the Canadian Armed Forces, with the RCN playing a big role. In the Western Arctic, in Operation Latitude, the RCN is deploying the Halifax-class frigate HMCS Regina and the Harry DeWolf-class (AOPS) HMCS Max Bernays. Departing from Esquimalt, British Columbia, these ships will operate alongside MV Asterix to enhance maritime awareness and monitor activities in the region. Op Latitude focuses on interoperability with the US military and supports the US-led Northern Edge 25 exercise, as well as other activities with Alaskan Command. [UPDATE: Maritime Forces Pacific announced that a mechanical issue has postponed the deployment of HMCS Max Bernays on this operation. No information on when/if it will join the group.] [UPDATE TO THE UPDATE: AIS tracking indicates that the ship has left Esquimalt, several days after the original date of deployment.]
In the Eastern Arctic, the RCN is deploying Harry DeWolf-class HMCS William Hall from Halifax to navigate the Northwest Passage as part of Operation Nanook-Tuugaalik, running from mid-August to early October. This operation focuses on increasing situational awareness in this strategically vital waterway while engaging with Northern communities along the route.
In the Northern Arctic, around Baffin Island, the RCN is collaborating with the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) on Operation Nanook-Nunakput from late August to mid-September. HMCS William Hall will operate CCG Cutter Pierre Radisson to conduct patrols and enhance reconnaissance. This deployment also involves the Canadian Army, Canadian Rangers and Royal Canadian Air Force assets.
These deployments indicate a growing focus on the Arctic as strategic competitors China and Russia increase their activity there. The deployments also illustrate continuing positive relationships with the US Navy, the CCG and the inhabitants of the North.
Image: Naming Ceremony of the future HMCS Robert Hampton Gray AOPV-435, the sixth and final AOPS for the RCN, at Irving Shipbuilding on August 9, 2025. Credit: Royal Canadian Navy
One thought on “The Final AOPS and RCN Arctic Deployments”
A small but significant correction to this article. The Canadian Coast Guard refers to all of their vessels as “Ships” – thus CCGS. The US Coast Guard refers to their vessels as “Cutters” as a relic of that organization’s origin from the Revenue Cutter Service. Since Canada has no such relic, Canadian Coast Guard Ships are properly referred to as Ship.