The Demise of the Canadian Surface Fleet
By Jeff G. Gilmour, 27 April 2024
In 2010, with great fanfare, the federal government in Canada announced the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS) that was intended to strengthen this country’s marine industry. To date, things have not gone well. The initial program promised that a number of types of ships would be built for both the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) and the Canadian Coast Guard at two shipyards; Seaspan in Vancouver and the Irving Shipyard in Halifax – a third shipyard, Davie in Levis, Quebec, was later added.
Many of the projects have been seriously delayed, as noted by the Auditor General, or could be cancelled based on budget projections. For example, several years ago the Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) estimated the fifteen Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC) ships would cost over 88 billion dollars. There is no possible way such costs can be absorbed by the DND budget, which has already been substantially reduced. The eventual outcome might be two or three CSCs coming out of Irving. The other negative fact from this particular program is that the first of these ships is not expected until the 2030s and the final one some time around 2048-49.
The premise of this article is to sound the death knell of the surface fleet of the RCN in the future. The war in Ukraine has already shown how effective drones have been against Russian ships in the Black Sea/Crimea. Add to that list cruise, ballistic and hypersonic missiles and the surface fleets around the world are now exposed targets, including the US Navy carrier groups. For the latter fleet, this requires it to operate further and further offshore, which affects the range their aircraft have to hit potential land targets.
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Preview Next Issue: Spring 2024 CNR issue
Volume 20, Number 1 (2024)
This spring issue marks 20 years of producing Canadian Naval Review. How time flies! It seems like just yesterday we started this journey – but it’s been 20 years and we still haven’t run out of interesting things to discuss in CNR. We’re a bit biased, but we think this issue is another great one. Prepare to be amazed and delighted!
In this issue, we’re very pleased to present an interview with Rear-Admiral Josée Kurtz that took place at the end of January. CNR Editor Ann Griffiths sat down and had a great chat with the Admiral, discussing everything from budgets to RCN priorities to personnel to assets to tampons in the men’s washrooms.
Our first article, “A Case Study on the Creation and Use of a Bridge Simulator,” is an inspiring story about what you can do if you have the determination, energy and enthusiasm to do it. Read this and you can learn about building your own simulated bridge simulator for $30,000! This article goes well with the Editorial for this issue which is also about bridge simulators. Our next article is a nod to the 100th birthday of the RCAF, entitled “The Influence of the RCAF on the RCN (Air Branch).” The article examines the historic interaction – which was not always amicable – and development of the relations between the RCN and RCAF.
In this issue we also have a smorgasbord of tasty Making Wave commentaries. We learn about: RCN recruitment and suggestions for its improvement; how utilizing uncrewed vehicles may be more challenging for Canada than for other countries; the problems of procurement; a suggestion that Canada should join the AUKUS submarine deal; and the future prospects of naval task groups as the CSCs are built. As well, we have our usual columns. We know what Russia is doing in its West (i.e., invading/attacking Ukraine!), but what about the territories on its Pacific coast? And we learn that, despite recent news of some extra funding for the military, Canada is nonetheless in NATO’s ‘quadrant of shame.’
Naturally, there are amazing photos to illustrate everything! We have no doubt that you will find this issue insightful and engaging. See the Table of Contents below.
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