The USCG Icebreaking tug Bristol Bay sailed for the great lakes today. these tugs seem to seasonally rotate between the Atlantic coast in summer, and the lakes in winter. Bristol Bay had been tied up at Tall Ships Quay, next to Nova Scotia Power.
To begin Operation Cutlass Fury, the participating forces performed a sailpast as they put to sea. The 2 supply ships sailed earlier this morning, and the 2 submarines at Shearwater are due to depart this afternoon. I missed the Lead Ship, A CPF. She was followed by USS BULKELEY
USS GONZALEZ (Above) and (below) HMS MONMOUTH
The French FREMM class frigate (above)FS LANGEUDOC is one of the Newest warships, where as the Canadian Tribal HMCS Athabaskan (below) is literally the oldest.
Joining the parade, but not part of the Exercises are Maritime Coastal defense Vessels Goose Bay (above) and Summerside (below)
Bringing up the Rear was HMCS Windsor. Also Notable was the New Cyclone overflying with 2 seakings.
HMCS Windsor was spotted on trials in the basin this afternoon.
Photo from a reader via the Facebook page
DND Press release:
NR – 12.022 – December 14, 2012
OTTAWA – Her Majesty’s Canadian Submarine (HMCS) Windsor returned to sea yesterday at Halifax, N.S., officially marking the completion of a deep maintenance cycle known as an Extended Docking Work Period.
“HMCS Windsor’s return to sea is a key milestone and her crew now embarks on another challenging journey as they focus on operations at sea,” said The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence. “I commend the outstanding efforts of Windsor’s crew, our Fleet Maintenance Facilities and of industry that have brought us to this point.”
“Over the next few months, Windsor will conduct additional crew training and trials on her path to high readiness,” said Vice-Admiral Paul Maddison, Commander Royal Canadian Navy. “This milestone builds on the achievements of HMCS Victoria and is another important step towards the Victoria-class Submarine Fleet achieving steady state.”
With the completion of the Extended Docking Work Period, HMCS Windsor will now conduct a series of sea trials, crew training and certifications to prepare for future operations, a process known as the Tiered Readiness Program. HMCS Windsor’s Tiered Readiness Program will closely resemble the one conducted by HMCS Victoria, the first Victoria-class Submarine to become operational and weapons certified to fire MK 48 Heavyweight Torpedoes.
The Victoria-class Submarine Fleet continues to progress towards steady state when three of four submarines will be available for operations. This will include a high readiness submarine available on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, HMCS Windsor and HMCS Victoria respectively, with a third submarine, HMCS Chicoutimi, available at standard readiness. HMCS Corner Brook will rotate into an Extended Docking Work Period in 2013. An Extended Docking Work Period provides the submarines’ 200-plus systems with the maintenance and upgrades needed to conduct operations on behalf of Canadians.
DND Photo
See http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/news-nouvelles/news-nouvelles-eng.asp?id=3979 for the current status of all 4 submarines.
(Above) Windsor coming off the Dock (Below) Turningoutside the camber
HMCS Windsor continued her trials today, and departed the dock. 2 weeks ago she completed diving tests just off the dock.
(Below) Decks awash (Above) Stern Going Down
HMCS Windsor returned to halifax Harbour just past noon today. After Some addtional in water Quay side tests, she will proceed to conduct a series of sea trials. In the Top picture she has just been pulled off the Synchrolift. Bellow, the tugs are Positioning to move her along side the jetty.
The Chronicle Herald is reporting that the navy will begin undocking HMCS Windsor from the synchrolift Wendsday morning at 6am. The Operation is expected to take about 6 hours to complete.
Photos to come tomorow morning.
The Much maligned Victoria Class Submarine program is finally making some Headway.
HMCS Windsor is being prepaired to move off the Sychrolift at the shipyard and to be put back into the water. Sources indicate this will happen in April.
HMCS Victoria (Above, DND Photo) has so far made the most Progress. She emerged from Reft, Has been Degaused In bangor washington at the US Navy’s Submarine base, And has Sucessfully dived and fired torpedos.
HMCS Cornerbrook, the One working submarine is tied up in Esquimalt, after suffering damage in a collision with the bottom. It will be going into an extended maintinace period. HMCS Chicoutimi is Also in BC Though heavily damaged by the fire that occured on her delivery trip.
HMCS Windsor appears to be having the wraps taken off at the Naval Dockyard. She has been ashore for the past few years undergoing a refit.
HMCS Preserver Also tied up at Halifax Shipyards Machine Shop Warf for a major Overhaul.
The Pilot boat about to board the pilot on the Inbound Atlantic Companion, Dockwise Target at Anchor, and HMCS Corner Brooke outbound.
