Canadian Ships HMCS Ottawa, Regina and Protecteur sailed from Esquimalt Harbour, B.C. yesterday to take part in conventional maritime warfare training off the coast of Southern California from October 7 to 11.
“This exercise provides another excellent opportunity for ships of the Pacific Fleet to train in partnership with ships of the US 3rd Fleet,” said Rear-Admiral Bill Truelove, Commander of Maritime Forces Pacific. “This not only showcases the Navy’s operational readiness, but our commitment to the Pacific region while strengthening defence relationships with our allies.”
Military personnel from Canada and the United States will participate in Task Group Exercise (TGEX), which is designed to build and strengthen interoperability between the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) and the United States Navy (USN). This interoperability enhances Canada’s maritime contribution to global security. Commodore Bob Auchterlonie, Commander Canadian Fleet Pacific, will be in command of the combined exercise.
RCN ships will join USN ships Mobile Bay, Dewey, Ingraham, McClusky and Gary for exercises designed to strengthen individual and collective skills through demanding and realistic training at sea. This year’s training objectives include improving competency in conventional maritime warfare operations such as anti-submarine, anti-aircraft, and anti-surface warfare training. Live fire exercises will also occur.
Exercises like TGEX offer valuable training opportunities for the RCN in order to maintain operational readiness and deploy on joint operations in a rapid and effective manner when called upon by the Government of Canada. These joint operations can range from the provision of humanitarian aid and disaster relief to full-combat operations alongside our allies anywhere in the world.
[mappress] Press release, October 3, 2013