Canadian frigate HMCS Charlottetown wraps up six months of NATO operations

Royal Canadian Navy frigate HMCS Charlottetown arrived at its Halifax homeport on January 19, wrapping up a six-month deployment with NATO’s Standing Maritime Group One (SNMG1).

HMCS Charlottetown joined SNMG1 in August 2017, sailing in the Baltic Sea, Northern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.

The two major exercises the frigate joined were the Baltic Sea drill Northern Coasts 17 and the Brilliant Mariner exercise which took place in the Mediterranean Sea.

HMCS Charlottetown also supported NATO’s operation Sea Guardian from September to December 2017. During this operation, the ship contributed to supporting a safe and secure environment for civilian vessels operating in the Mediterranean Sea, with the goal of facilitating economic activities within the region.

“Working alongside ships from other NATO member countries, HMCS Charlottetown has contributed to NATO’s operational capabilities in the region and has represented the very best of the Royal Canadian Navy,” said Commander Nathan Decicco, commanding officer of HMCS Charlottetown. “HMCS Charlottetown’s officers and crew have worked tirelessly to enhance NATO’s forward-deployed presence, knowing that HMCS St. John’s will continue to achieve operational success under the NATO flag.”

HMCS Charlottetown was replaced by HMCS St. John’s on Operation REASSURANCE on January 18, 2018.

This was HMCS Charlottetown’s second rotation on operation Reassurance; it was first deployed from June 2016 to January 2017.

Operation Reassurance refers to the Canadian Armed Forces’ activities in support of NATO assurance and deterrence measures through the provision of military capabilities for training, exercises, demonstrations and assigned NATO tasks.