Reports on the engine failure in HMCS Athabaskan are missing some important aspects of the problems this ancient warship is facing. One of the two cruise turbines failed, leaving one other plus the two high-speed turbines. The ship should be able to function with that degree of redundancy and indeed […]
Canadian Naval Identity
10 posts
CNR, Vol. 11, No. 2 (2015) Abstract In his article, Marc Milner notes that in the classic model of seapower the navy and the nation are fused into a single organic being. This is not the case in Canada. Milner points out that although Canada is dependent upon overseas markets […]
[* Moderator’s note: This is a revised and expanded version of the same article published yesterday, 8 March.] Steel will be cut in a few months for the first of the Harry DeWolf-class Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships (AOPS). The official date of the cutting will be an opportunity for […]
The announcement on 19 September to cut four ships from the Canadian naval fleet, the destroyers Iroquois and Algonquin and the replenishment ships Protecteur and Preserver, was done quite typically, on a Friday afternoon. The news release was phrased optimistically as “[a] transition to the future fleet.” The problem is […]
I am writing to express my concerns regarding the names announced recently for the RCN’s two future Joint Support Ships, Chateauguay and Queenston. A recent press release stated: “The names (of these two vessels) recognize the achievements and sacrifices of those early Canadian soldiers who fought and died in these […]
I have just learned that the names of the two new Berlin-class ships are to be HMCS Châteauguay and HMCS Queenston. A news release of the announcement by MND Rob Nicholson can be found here. It is well known that the Harper government has been pushing the War of 1812, […]
A lot of changes are taking place in the relationship between the Government of Canada and its military. The Veterans Charter is failing disabled soldiers, according to the Veterans’ Ombudsman, Guy Parent. The National Association of Federal Retirees is reporting that the President of the Treasury Board, Tony Clement, intends […]
On 16 August the government of Canada announced its decision to restore the historic names of the three environmental commands of the Canadian Forces; Maritime Command is now the Royal Canadian Navy. Those of us wearing naval uniforms are all members of the Canadian Forces first, but we have always […]
A quick internal polling of the CFPS fellowship on the question posed in this article’s title resulted in a general consensus that the navy’s name change is appropriate but not especially significant. The Canadian naval connection to the crown was not removed by dropping the ‘RCN’ name for the navy […]
*Moderator’s Note: The following statement was made by Senator Hugh Segal in the Debates of the Senate on 14 November 2007, during the 2nd Session of the 39th Parliament of Canada. It is contained in Hansard, Volume 144, Issue 11. The Navy Hon. Hugh Segal: Honourable senators, since November 2006, […]