Canadian Forces Maritime Command
Encyclopedia
The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) (French: Marine royale canadienne), is the naval force
of Canada. The RCN is one of three environmental commands within the unified Canadian Forces
. Operating 33 warships and several auxiliary vessels, the Royal Canadian Navy consists of 8,500 Regular Force
and 5,100 Primary Reserve sailors, supported by 5,300 civilians. Its current commander is Vice-Admiral Paul Maddison
, , Commander Royal Canadian Navy
.
Founded in 1910
as the Naval Service of Canada and given royal sanction in 1911, the RCN was placed under the Department of National Defence in 1923, and amalgamated with the Royal Canadian Air Force
and the Canadian Army to form the unified Canadian Forces
in 1968, where it was known as the Maritime Command until 2011. Over the course of its history, the RCN served in the First and Second World Wars, the Korean War
, the First Gulf War, the Afghanistan War and numerous United Nations
peacekeeping missions and NATO operations.
by then-Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier
, the Naval Service of Canada was intended as a distinct naval force for the Dominion, that, if necessary, could be placed under British
control. The bill received royal assent on 4 May 1910. Initially equipped with two former Royal Navy
vessels, HMCS Niobe
and HMCS Rainbow, the service was renamed Royal Canadian Navy by King George V
on 29 August 1911.
During the first years of the First World War, the RCN's six-vessel naval force patrolled both the North American West and East coasts to deter the German naval threat, with a seventh ship, HMCS Shearwater joining the force in 1915. Just before the end of the war in 1918, the Royal Canadian Naval Air Service
was established with the purpose of carrying out anti-submarine operations; however, it was disbanded after the armistice of 11 November.
After the war, the Royal Canadian Navy overtook certain responsibilities of the Department of Transport's Marine Service, and slowly started to rebuild its fleet, with the first warships specifically designed for the RCN being commissioned in 1932. At the outbreak of the Second World War, the Navy had 11 combat vessels, 145 officers and 1,674 men. During the Second World War, the Royal Canadian Navy expanded significantly, ultimately gaining responsibility for the entire Northwest Atlantic theatre of war. By the end of the war, the RCN had become the third-largest allied navy in the world after the United States Navy
and the Royal Navy
. During the Battle of the Atlantic, the RCN sank 27 U-boat
s and sank or captured 42 enemy surface vessels, while successfully completing 25,343 merchant crossings. The navy lost 24 ships and 1,797 sailors in the war.
From 1950 to 1955, during the Korean War
, Canadian destroyers maintained a presence off the Korean peninsula, engaged in shore bombardments and maritime interdition. During the Cold War, the navy developed an anti-submarine capability to counter the growing Soviet
naval threat. In the 1960s, the Royal Canadian Navy retired most of its Second World War vessels, and further developed its anti-submarine warfare capabilities by acquiring the Sikorsky CH-124 Sea King, pioneering the use of large maritime helicopters on small surface vessels. At that time, Canada was also operating an aircraft carrier, HMCS Bonaventure
, operating the McDonnell F2H Banshee fighter jet until 1962, as well as various other anti-submarine aircraft.
government of Lester B. Pearson
, the Royal Canadian Navy, Royal Canadian Air Force
and Canadian Army were amalgamated to form what is today the Canadian Forces
, a single command structure under the Department of National Defence, at the time overseen by Defence Minister Paul Hellyer
. The controversial merger saw the Royal Canadian Navy re-designated as Maritime Command (MARCOM), forcing sailors and shore-based personnel to adopt the common Canadian Forces rifle green uniform. Ship-borne and shore-based aircraft in support of MARCOM were organized into the "Maritime Air Group" which came under MARCOM command; in 1975 the Maritime Air Group units and equipment were transferred to the newly formed Air Command (now renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force). The unification of the Canadian Forces
in 1968 is the first time a nation with a modern military combined its sea, land and air elements under a single structure.
The 1970s and 1980s saw a rationalizing of MARCOM's fleet, with the addition of the Iroquois class destroyer
, which were later updated to air-defence destroyers, and the construction of the Halifax class frigate
into the mid-1990s. Several fleet rationalization proposals were made during this era, both by the civil service and the Department of National Defence, as well as by the Centre for Military and Strategic Studies
. In 1990, Canada deployed three warships to support the Operation Friction
. Later in the decade, MARCOM deployed ships to patrol the Adriatic Sea
during the Yugoslav Wars
and the Kosovo War
. More recently, Maritime Command provided vessels to serve under Operation Apollo
and to combat piracy off the coast of Somalia
.
The Conservative
government of Stephen Harper
announced on August 16, 2011 that Maritime Command was to regain its former name, the Royal Canadian Navy.
(NDHQ) in Ottawa
, Ontario
. Since 1968, the Royal Canadian Navy is an environmental command of the Canadian Forces
, charged with maintaining and generating forces for one of four operational commands, primarily Canada Command
and the Expeditionary Command
, but also the Canadian Operational Support Command
and to a lesser extent, the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command
.
(MARLANT), is headquartered and homeported at CFB Halifax
in Halifax, Nova Scotia
and is supported by CFS St. John's
in Newfoundland
. Attached to MARLANT and CFB Halifax is Royal Canadian Air Force
's 12 Wing Shearwater, based at Shearwater Heliport
, which provides shipborne air support for the Atlantic Fleet. The RCAF's 14 Wing Greenwood provides fixed-wing air support for MARLANT through 404 Maritime Patrol and Training Squadron and 405 Maritime Patrol Squadron. Other Atlantic Fleet facilities are CFAD Bedford, an ammunition depot, and two radio stations, Naval Radio Section (NRS) Newport Corner and NRS Mill Cove
.
The Atlantic Fleet, with 19 warships and a number of auxiliary vessels, is responsible for Canada's Exclusive Economic Zone
on the East Coast, as well as Canada's Area of Responsibility in the Atlantic Ocean
and the eastern Arctic Ocean
.
The Royal Canadian Navy's Pacific Fleet, known as Maritime Forces Pacific
or MARPAC, is headquartered at CFB Esquimalt
in British Columbia
. Staffed by 4,000 military personnel and 2,000 civilian personnel, the organization is commanded by Rear-Admiral Nigel S. Greenwood.
With fourteen warships and several auxiliary vessels homeported in Esquimalt, the Pacific Fleet is responsible for Canada' Exclusive Economic Zone on the West Coast and Canada's Area of Responsibility in the Pacific Ocean
and the western Arctic Ocean. Fleet Naval Facility Cape Breton provides repair and maintenance services to the Pacific Fleet. The Royal Canadian Air Force's 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron, based at Patricia Bay Heliport
but under the control of 12 Wing Shearwater, provides shipborne helicopter support for the Pacific Fleet, while 19 Wing Comox provides fixed wing maritime air support for MARPAC through 407 Long Range Patrol Squadron.
(NAVRESHQ), located at the Pointe-a-Carcy Naval Complex in Quebec City, Quebec, is responsible for twenty four Naval Reserve Divisions across the country. The base is also home to Canadian Forces Fleet School Quebec and HMCS Montcalm. The Naval Reserve, composed of 4,000 reservists, is commanded by Commodore David W. Craig, .
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The Navy operates 29 surface warships and 4 submarines. The surface ships carry the designation Her Majesty's Canadian Ship
(HMCS) : three Iroquois class
guided-missile destroyers, twelve Halifax class
multi-role patrol frigates, twelve Kingston class coastal defence vessels, and two Protecteur class
replenishment vessels. In addition to the surface vessels, the RCN owns 4 currently inactive Victoria class submarine
s acquired from the Royal Navy in 1998. These warships carry the designation Her Majesty's Canadian Submarine
. The Royal Canadian Navy also maintains and operates HMCS Oriole, a historic sail ship commissioned in 1921 that now serves as a sail training vessel. Although it carries the royal designation, it is not counted as an active warship of the Royal Canadian Navy.
harbour tugs, five Glen class harbour tugs and two fireboats of the Fire class
.
through the 1 Canadian Division and 12 Wing Shearwater on behalf of the Royal Canadian Navy. The RCAF operates twenty seven Sikorsky CH-124 Sea King helicopters in the anti-submarine warfare and search and rescue role, eighteen Lockheed CP-140 Aurora in anti-submarine warfare and area surveillance role, and one CP-140A Arcturus in strategic surveillance role.
is a program to replace the current Protecteur class
resplenishment vessels with two to three new joint support ships, providing support to naval task groups, a limited sealift capability and limited theatre command and control. The Arctic Patrol Ship Project
, announced in 2007, is a program to build six to eight polar class arctic offshore patrol ships and to establish the Nanisivik Naval Facility
, a deep water port in Nunavut
. The Halifax-class frigate is currently undergoing a mid-life extension program, while the 24 Sea King helicopters that currently provide shipborne air support for the Navy frigates and destroyers are set to be replaced by 28 Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclones. A CBC News report has suggested that the RCN is considering the purchase of nuclear submarines to replace the diesel-electric Victoria-class submarine fleet; however, no agenda has been tabled publicly by the Canadian government.
have pay grades ranging from OF-1 to OF-9. The only OF-9 position in the Canadian Forces is the Chief of the Defence Staff
, who may or may not be from the Navy. The highest position occupied in the current Royal Canadian Navy structure is OF-8, a Vice-Admiral who serves as the Chief of the Maritime Staff. OF-6 (Commodore) to OF-9 (Admiral) are referred to as flag officer
s, OF-3 (Lieutenant-Commander) to OF-5 (Captain(N)) are referred to as senior officers, while OF-2 (Lieutenant(N)) and OF-1 (Sub-Lieutenant) are referred to as junior officer
s. Naval Cadets are referred to as subordinate officer
s. All officers of the Canadian Forces receive a commission from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Queen of Canada. The Commissioning Scroll issued in recognition of the commission is signed by the Governor General of Canada
as Commander-in-Chief and the serving Minister of National Defence.
Naval officers are trained at the Royal Military College of Canada
in Kingston
, Ontario
, the Royal Military College Saint-Jean in Saint-Jean, Quebec
and the Naval Officer Training Centre VENTURE in Work Point, Esquimalt
, British Columbia
. Some specialized candidates may be commissioned without attending the Royal Military College, the plan is known as Direct Entry Officer (DEO) Plan.
s, and together with OR-6 (Petty Officer 2nd Class, referred to as senior non-commissioned officer) form the senior cadre of the non-commissioned (enlisted) members
of the military. OR-5 (Master Seaman) and OR-4 (Leading Seaman) are referred to as junior non-commissioned officers, while OR-3 (Able Seaman) and OR-2 (Ordinary Seaman) are referred to as private
s.
All regular force
non-commissioned members of the Canadian Forces undergo basic training
at the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School
in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu. Recruits then attend occupation-specific training at various locations across Canada.
The Queen's or King's Ceremonial colours (also referred to as the Sovereign's Colour) for the navy have been consecrated and presented four times: in 1939 by King George VI in Esquimalt, BC, in 1959 by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip in Halifax, NS
, in 1979 by the Queen Mother
in Halifax, NS
and in 2009 by the Governor General of Canada
and Commander-in-Chief Michaëlle Jean
in Halifax, NS
. On each occasion two identical colours were presented, one for the Atlantic fleet and one for the Pacific fleet. The current colours consist of a ceremonial standard
with the Maple Leaf flag in the top left canton
, the monarch's royal cypher
for Canada (a capital E on a blue background, surrounded by a circlet of gold Tudor roses and laurels, surmounted by a crown) and an anchor (from the Royal Canadian Navy's naval jack) on the lower right fly
. These elements are found on the 1979 and 2009 colours. The colours from 1959 and 1939 consisted of a Royal Navy
white ensign with the Queen's or King's cipher in the middle.
The use of the service colours of the Royal Navy
were granted to the RCN in 1925. Two service colours were sent to Halifax and Esquimalt. In 1937 they were retired, and new colours sent. The official presentation of the King's Colour was not completed until 1939. The Royal Canadian Navy's retired colours are laid up at Beechwood Cemetery in Ottawa, Ontario.
in Halifax, the Canadian War Museum
, the Naval Museum of Alberta
and naval museums on several bases. Several Royal Canadian Navy vessels have been preserved including the hydrofoil HMCS Bras d'Or
and the submarines and . The corvette HMCS Sackville serves as Canada's Naval Memorial. A monument at Point Pleasant Park
in Halifax commemorates members of Royal Canadian Navy who have died in peacetime.
Navy
A navy is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake- or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions...
of Canada. The RCN is one of three environmental commands within the unified Canadian Forces
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
. Operating 33 warships and several auxiliary vessels, the Royal Canadian Navy consists of 8,500 Regular Force
Regular Force
In the Canadian Forces, a Regular Force unit or person is part of the full-time military, as opposed to being part of the Primary Reserve.Regular Force personnel are employed full-time, and have usually signed long-term contracts committing them to regular service...
and 5,100 Primary Reserve sailors, supported by 5,300 civilians. Its current commander is Vice-Admiral Paul Maddison
Paul Maddison
Vice Admiral Paul A. Maddison, OMM, MSM, CD is the Chief of the Maritime Staff, the head of the Royal Canadian Navy.-Career:Maddison enrolled in the Canadian Armed Forces in 1975. In 1980, he graduated from Royal Military College Saint-Jean with a Bachelor of Arts. He served on various vessels and...
, , Commander Royal Canadian Navy
Commander Royal Canadian Navy
The Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy is the commander and institutional head of the Royal Canadian Navy. The Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy is based at National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa, Ontario.-History of the post:...
.
Founded in 1910
The Creation of the Canadian Navy
At the onset of Confederation in 1867, political planners in Canada and Great Britain realized that Canada had substantial maritime interests to protect. Boasting the fourth largest Merchant Marine in the world, and deriving the majority of its foreign capital through maritime trading should have...
as the Naval Service of Canada and given royal sanction in 1911, the RCN was placed under the Department of National Defence in 1923, and amalgamated with the Royal Canadian Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
and the Canadian Army to form the unified Canadian Forces
Unification of the Canadian Forces
Unification of the Canadian Forces took place in 1968 when the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army, and Royal Canadian Air Force were merged to form the Canadian Armed Forces....
in 1968, where it was known as the Maritime Command until 2011. Over the course of its history, the RCN served in the First and Second World Wars, the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, the First Gulf War, the Afghanistan War and numerous United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
peacekeeping missions and NATO operations.
1910–1968
Established following the introduction of the Naval Service BillNaval Service Bill
The Naval Service Bill of 1910 was a piece of Canadian government legislation, which was put forward by Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier. Prior to the bill's introduction Canada did not have a navy of its own, a state of affairs that left the Dominion dependent on the British Royal Navy for...
by then-Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier
Wilfrid Laurier
Sir Wilfrid Laurier, GCMG, PC, KC, baptized Henri-Charles-Wilfrid Laurier was the seventh Prime Minister of Canada from 11 July 1896 to 6 October 1911....
, the Naval Service of Canada was intended as a distinct naval force for the Dominion, that, if necessary, could be placed under British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
control. The bill received royal assent on 4 May 1910. Initially equipped with two former Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
vessels, HMCS Niobe
HMS Niobe (1897)
HMS Niobe was a ship of the Diadem-class of protected cruiser in the Royal Navy. She served in the Boer War and was then given to Canada as the first ship of the then newly-created Royal Canadian Navy as HMCS Niobe. After patrol duties at the beginning of the First World War, she became a depot...
and HMCS Rainbow, the service was renamed Royal Canadian Navy by King George V
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
on 29 August 1911.
During the first years of the First World War, the RCN's six-vessel naval force patrolled both the North American West and East coasts to deter the German naval threat, with a seventh ship, HMCS Shearwater joining the force in 1915. Just before the end of the war in 1918, the Royal Canadian Naval Air Service
Royal Canadian Naval Air Service
The Royal Canadian Naval Air Service was established in 1918 during the First World War in response to the Royal Canadian Navy's recommendation that defensive air patrols be established off Canada's Atlantic coast to protect shipping from German U-boats.Britain warned Canada that an attack by a...
was established with the purpose of carrying out anti-submarine operations; however, it was disbanded after the armistice of 11 November.
After the war, the Royal Canadian Navy overtook certain responsibilities of the Department of Transport's Marine Service, and slowly started to rebuild its fleet, with the first warships specifically designed for the RCN being commissioned in 1932. At the outbreak of the Second World War, the Navy had 11 combat vessels, 145 officers and 1,674 men. During the Second World War, the Royal Canadian Navy expanded significantly, ultimately gaining responsibility for the entire Northwest Atlantic theatre of war. By the end of the war, the RCN had become the third-largest allied navy in the world after the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
and the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
. During the Battle of the Atlantic, the RCN sank 27 U-boat
U-boat
U-boat is the anglicized version of the German word U-Boot , itself an abbreviation of Unterseeboot , and refers to military submarines operated by Germany, particularly in World War I and World War II...
s and sank or captured 42 enemy surface vessels, while successfully completing 25,343 merchant crossings. The navy lost 24 ships and 1,797 sailors in the war.
From 1950 to 1955, during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, Canadian destroyers maintained a presence off the Korean peninsula, engaged in shore bombardments and maritime interdition. During the Cold War, the navy developed an anti-submarine capability to counter the growing Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
naval threat. In the 1960s, the Royal Canadian Navy retired most of its Second World War vessels, and further developed its anti-submarine warfare capabilities by acquiring the Sikorsky CH-124 Sea King, pioneering the use of large maritime helicopters on small surface vessels. At that time, Canada was also operating an aircraft carrier, HMCS Bonaventure
HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22)
HMCS Bonaventure was a Majestic class aircraft carrier. She served in the Royal Canadian Navy and Canadian Forces Maritime Command from 1957 to 1970 and was the third and the last aircraft carrier to serve Canada. The ship was laid down for the British Royal Navy as in November 1943. At the end...
, operating the McDonnell F2H Banshee fighter jet until 1962, as well as various other anti-submarine aircraft.
1968–present
In 1968, under the LiberalLiberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
government of Lester B. Pearson
Lester B. Pearson
Lester Bowles "Mike" Pearson, PC, OM, CC, OBE was a Canadian professor, historian, civil servant, statesman, diplomat, and politician, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957 for organizing the United Nations Emergency Force to resolve the Suez Canal Crisis...
, the Royal Canadian Navy, Royal Canadian Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
and Canadian Army were amalgamated to form what is today the Canadian Forces
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
, a single command structure under the Department of National Defence, at the time overseen by Defence Minister Paul Hellyer
Paul Hellyer
Paul Theodore Hellyer, PC is a Canadian engineer, politician, writer and commentator who has had a long and varied career. He is the longest serving current member of the Privy Council, just ahead of Prince Philip.-Early life:...
. The controversial merger saw the Royal Canadian Navy re-designated as Maritime Command (MARCOM), forcing sailors and shore-based personnel to adopt the common Canadian Forces rifle green uniform. Ship-borne and shore-based aircraft in support of MARCOM were organized into the "Maritime Air Group" which came under MARCOM command; in 1975 the Maritime Air Group units and equipment were transferred to the newly formed Air Command (now renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force). The unification of the Canadian Forces
Unification of the Canadian Forces
Unification of the Canadian Forces took place in 1968 when the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army, and Royal Canadian Air Force were merged to form the Canadian Armed Forces....
in 1968 is the first time a nation with a modern military combined its sea, land and air elements under a single structure.
The 1970s and 1980s saw a rationalizing of MARCOM's fleet, with the addition of the Iroquois class destroyer
Iroquois class destroyer
Iroquois-class destroyers, also known as Tribal class, are a class of four helicopter-carrying, guided missile destroyers of the Canadian Forces. Launched in the 1970s, they were originally fitted out for anti-submarine warfare, but a major upgrade programme in the 1990s overhauled them for...
, which were later updated to air-defence destroyers, and the construction of the Halifax class frigate
Halifax class frigate
The Halifax-class frigate is a class of multi-role patrol frigates that have served the Royal Canadian Navy since 1992...
into the mid-1990s. Several fleet rationalization proposals were made during this era, both by the civil service and the Department of National Defence, as well as by the Centre for Military and Strategic Studies
Centre for Military and Strategic Studies
The Centre for Military and Strategic Studies at the University of Calgary is part of Canada's Department of National Defence nationwide security and defence forum research centres. Currently it has over 50 students at both the Masters and PhD level with...
. In 1990, Canada deployed three warships to support the Operation Friction
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
. Later in the decade, MARCOM deployed ships to patrol the Adriatic Sea
Adriatic Sea
The Adriatic Sea is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan peninsula, and the system of the Apennine Mountains from that of the Dinaric Alps and adjacent ranges...
during the Yugoslav Wars
Yugoslav wars
The Yugoslav Wars were a series of wars, fought throughout the former Yugoslavia between 1991 and 1995. The wars were complex: characterized by bitter ethnic conflicts among the peoples of the former Yugoslavia, mostly between Serbs on the one side and Croats and Bosniaks on the other; but also...
and the Kosovo War
Kosovo War
The term Kosovo War or Kosovo conflict was two sequential, and at times parallel, armed conflicts in Kosovo province, then part of FR Yugoslav Republic of Serbia; from early 1998 to 1999, there was an armed conflict initiated by the ethnic Albanian "Kosovo Liberation Army" , who sought independence...
. More recently, Maritime Command provided vessels to serve under Operation Apollo
Operation APOLLO
Operation APOLLO was the codename for an operation conducted by Canadian Forces in support of the United States in its military operations in Afghanistan. The operation took place from October 2001 to October 2003...
and to combat piracy off the coast of Somalia
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
.
The Conservative
Conservative Party of Canada
The Conservative Party of Canada , is a political party in Canada which was formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 2003. It is positioned on the right of the Canadian political spectrum...
government of Stephen Harper
Stephen Harper
Stephen Joseph Harper is the 22nd and current Prime Minister of Canada and leader of the Conservative Party. Harper became prime minister when his party formed a minority government after the 2006 federal election...
announced on August 16, 2011 that Maritime Command was to regain its former name, the Royal Canadian Navy.
Structure
The Royal Canadian Navy is headquartered at National Defence HeadquartersNational Defence Headquarters (Canada)
The National Defence Headquarters is the headquarters for Canada's Department of National Defence and the Canadian Forces. NDHQ actually comprises a collection of offices spread in buildings across the National Capital Region, however it is most commonly identified with the Major-General George R...
(NDHQ) in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. Since 1968, the Royal Canadian Navy is an environmental command of the Canadian Forces
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
, charged with maintaining and generating forces for one of four operational commands, primarily Canada Command
Canada Command
Canada Command is one of the seven commands of the Canadian Forces. Stood up on February 1, 2006, it is responsible for all domestic operations and national security missions; as an operational command, it works closely with the environment commands Canada Command (CANADACOM) (in French :...
and the Expeditionary Command
Canadian Expeditionary Force Command
Canadian Expeditionary Force Command is an operational element of the Canadian Forces for operations outside of Canada....
, but also the Canadian Operational Support Command
Canadian Operational Support Command
The Canadian Operational Support Command is one of seven commands of the Canadian Forces...
and to a lesser extent, the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command
Canadian Special Operations Forces Command
Canadian Special Operations Forces Command , is a command of the Canadian Forces...
.
Maritime Forces Atlantic
The Royal Canadian Navy's Atlantic Fleet, known as Maritime Forces AtlanticMaritime Forces Atlantic
In the Canadian Forces, Maritime Forces Atlantic is responsible for the fleet and operations of the Royal Canadian Navy in the Atlantic Ocean and Arctic Ocean. The Commander of MARLANT is a two-star Rear Admiral....
(MARLANT), is headquartered and homeported at CFB Halifax
CFB Halifax
Canadian Forces Base Halifax is Canada's east coast navy base and home port to the Atlantic fleet, known as Maritime Forces Atlantic....
in Halifax, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
and is supported by CFS St. John's
CFS St. John's
Canadian Forces Station St. John's is a Canadian Forces Station located in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador.CFS St. John’s is located on north shore of Quidi Vidi Lake on part of the former site of Pepperrell Air Force Base, as well as a small adjunct area on St. John's Harbour...
in Newfoundland
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
. Attached to MARLANT and CFB Halifax is Royal Canadian Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
's 12 Wing Shearwater, based at Shearwater Heliport
CFB Shearwater
Canadian Forces Base Shearwater , commonly referred to as CFB Shearwater, was a Canadian Forces Base located in Shearwater, Nova Scotia on the eastern shore of Halifax Harbour in the Halifax Regional Municipality....
, which provides shipborne air support for the Atlantic Fleet. The RCAF's 14 Wing Greenwood provides fixed-wing air support for MARLANT through 404 Maritime Patrol and Training Squadron and 405 Maritime Patrol Squadron. Other Atlantic Fleet facilities are CFAD Bedford, an ammunition depot, and two radio stations, Naval Radio Section (NRS) Newport Corner and NRS Mill Cove
CFS Mill Cove
Canadian Forces Station Mill Cove is a former Canadian Forces Station and currently a naval radio station in Nova Scotia operated by the Canadian Forces.-History:...
.
The Atlantic Fleet, with 19 warships and a number of auxiliary vessels, is responsible for Canada's Exclusive Economic Zone
Exclusive Economic Zone
Under the law of the sea, an exclusive economic zone is a seazone over which a state has special rights over the exploration and use of marine resources, including production of energy from water and wind. It stretches from the seaward edge of the state's territorial sea out to 200 nautical...
on the East Coast, as well as Canada's Area of Responsibility in the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
and the eastern Arctic Ocean
Arctic Ocean
The Arctic Ocean, located in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Arctic north polar region, is the smallest and shallowest of the world's five major oceanic divisions...
.
Maritime Forces Pacific
Maritime Forces Pacific
In the Canadian Forces, Maritime Forces Pacific is responsible for the fleet and operations of the Royal Canadian Navy in the Pacific Ocean...
or MARPAC, is headquartered at CFB Esquimalt
CFB Esquimalt
Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt is Canada's Pacific Coast naval base and home port to Maritime Forces Pacific and Joint Task Force Pacific Headquarters....
in British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. Staffed by 4,000 military personnel and 2,000 civilian personnel, the organization is commanded by Rear-Admiral Nigel S. Greenwood.
With fourteen warships and several auxiliary vessels homeported in Esquimalt, the Pacific Fleet is responsible for Canada' Exclusive Economic Zone on the West Coast and Canada's Area of Responsibility in the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
and the western Arctic Ocean. Fleet Naval Facility Cape Breton provides repair and maintenance services to the Pacific Fleet. The Royal Canadian Air Force's 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron, based at Patricia Bay Heliport
Victoria International Airport
Victoria International Airport serves Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. It is north northwest of the city, in North Saanich, quite close to the town of Sidney on the Saanich Peninsula...
but under the control of 12 Wing Shearwater, provides shipborne helicopter support for the Pacific Fleet, while 19 Wing Comox provides fixed wing maritime air support for MARPAC through 407 Long Range Patrol Squadron.
Reserve
The Naval Reserve HeadquartersCanadian Forces Naval Reserve
In the Canadian Forces, the Naval Reserve or NAVRES is the Primary Reserve component of the Royal Canadian Navy.Headquarters for the Naval Reserve is in Quebec City and it oversees the operation of 24 divisions in other cities across Canada....
(NAVRESHQ), located at the Pointe-a-Carcy Naval Complex in Quebec City, Quebec, is responsible for twenty four Naval Reserve Divisions across the country. The base is also home to Canadian Forces Fleet School Quebec and HMCS Montcalm. The Naval Reserve, composed of 4,000 reservists, is commanded by Commodore David W. Craig, .
Warships
Her Majesty's Canadian Ship
The designation Her Majesty's Canadian Ship , is applied as a prefix to any Canadian Forces warship. In the reign of a king, the designation changes to His Majesty's Canadian Ship; the French version of the title remains unchanged in this instance...
(HMCS) : three Iroquois class
Iroquois class destroyer
Iroquois-class destroyers, also known as Tribal class, are a class of four helicopter-carrying, guided missile destroyers of the Canadian Forces. Launched in the 1970s, they were originally fitted out for anti-submarine warfare, but a major upgrade programme in the 1990s overhauled them for...
guided-missile destroyers, twelve Halifax class
Halifax class frigate
The Halifax-class frigate is a class of multi-role patrol frigates that have served the Royal Canadian Navy since 1992...
multi-role patrol frigates, twelve Kingston class coastal defence vessels, and two Protecteur class
Protecteur class auxiliary vessel
Protecteur-class auxiliary oiler replenishment ships are used by the Royal Canadian Navy to resupply ships at sea with food, munitions, fuel and spare parts. They have more sophisticated medical and dental facilities than smaller vessels...
replenishment vessels. In addition to the surface vessels, the RCN owns 4 currently inactive Victoria class submarine
Upholder/Victoria class submarine
The Upholder/Victoria-class submarines, also known as the Type 2400 , are diesel-electric Fleet submarines designed in the UK in the late 1970s to supplement the Royal Navy's nuclear submarine force....
s acquired from the Royal Navy in 1998. These warships carry the designation Her Majesty's Canadian Submarine
Her Majesty's Canadian Ship
The designation Her Majesty's Canadian Ship , is applied as a prefix to any Canadian Forces warship. In the reign of a king, the designation changes to His Majesty's Canadian Ship; the French version of the title remains unchanged in this instance...
. The Royal Canadian Navy also maintains and operates HMCS Oriole, a historic sail ship commissioned in 1921 that now serves as a sail training vessel. Although it carries the royal designation, it is not counted as an active warship of the Royal Canadian Navy.
Auxiliary vessels
The RCN operates auxiliary vessels to support the Canadian Forces, these vessels are not warships and do not carry the HMCS designation. Among the auxiliary ships operated by the Navy are eight Orca class patrol vessels, five Ville classVille class tugs
The Royal Canadian Navy operates five Ville-class harbour tugs.The five vessels are the CFAV Lawrenceville ,CFAV Parksville ,CFAV Listerville ,CFAV Merrickville andCFAV Marysville ....
harbour tugs, five Glen class harbour tugs and two fireboats of the Fire class
Fire class fireboat
The Royal Canadian Navy operates two Fire-class fireboats/Yard tractor tugs. The two vessels are the CFAV Firebrand and the CFAV Firebird ....
.
Aircraft
Since 1975, the maritime support aircraft are operated by the Royal Canadian Air ForceRoyal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
through the 1 Canadian Division and 12 Wing Shearwater on behalf of the Royal Canadian Navy. The RCAF operates twenty seven Sikorsky CH-124 Sea King helicopters in the anti-submarine warfare and search and rescue role, eighteen Lockheed CP-140 Aurora in anti-submarine warfare and area surveillance role, and one CP-140A Arcturus in strategic surveillance role.
Future
Several programs are underway to modernize the RCN fleet. The Joint Support Ship ProjectJoint Support Ship Project
The Joint Support Ship Project is a project undertaken by the Canadian Forces to provide Canada with three multirole naval vessels. The Joint Support Ship will enable a Naval Task Group to remain at sea for up to six times longer than is currently possible...
is a program to replace the current Protecteur class
Protecteur class auxiliary vessel
Protecteur-class auxiliary oiler replenishment ships are used by the Royal Canadian Navy to resupply ships at sea with food, munitions, fuel and spare parts. They have more sophisticated medical and dental facilities than smaller vessels...
resplenishment vessels with two to three new joint support ships, providing support to naval task groups, a limited sealift capability and limited theatre command and control. The Arctic Patrol Ship Project
Arctic Patrol Ship Project
In July 2007 The Government of Canada announced plans for the Arctic Patrol Ship Project which will see the construction of 6-8 vessels for the Royal Canadian Navy....
, announced in 2007, is a program to build six to eight polar class arctic offshore patrol ships and to establish the Nanisivik Naval Facility
Nanisivik Naval Facility
The Nanisivik Naval Facility is a Canadian Forces naval facility which is to be constructed on Baffin Island, Nunavut. The station will be built at the former lead-zinc mine site near the former company town of Nanisivik.-History:...
, a deep water port in Nunavut
Nunavut
Nunavut is the largest and newest federal territory of Canada; it was separated officially from the Northwest Territories on April 1, 1999, via the Nunavut Act and the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act, though the actual boundaries had been established in 1993...
. The Halifax-class frigate is currently undergoing a mid-life extension program, while the 24 Sea King helicopters that currently provide shipborne air support for the Navy frigates and destroyers are set to be replaced by 28 Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclones. A CBC News report has suggested that the RCN is considering the purchase of nuclear submarines to replace the diesel-electric Victoria-class submarine fleet; however, no agenda has been tabled publicly by the Canadian government.
Commissioned officers
Commissioned officers of the Canadian ForcesCanadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
have pay grades ranging from OF-1 to OF-9. The only OF-9 position in the Canadian Forces is the Chief of the Defence Staff
Chief of the Defence Staff
The Chief of the Defence Staff can refer to:*Chief of the Defence Force *Chief of the Defence Staff *Chief of the Defence Staff *Chief of the Defence Staff...
, who may or may not be from the Navy. The highest position occupied in the current Royal Canadian Navy structure is OF-8, a Vice-Admiral who serves as the Chief of the Maritime Staff. OF-6 (Commodore) to OF-9 (Admiral) are referred to as flag officer
Flag Officer
A flag officer is a commissioned officer in a nation's armed forces senior enough to be entitled to fly a flag to mark where the officer exercises command. The term usually refers to the senior officers in an English-speaking nation's navy, specifically those who hold any of the admiral ranks; in...
s, OF-3 (Lieutenant-Commander) to OF-5 (Captain(N)) are referred to as senior officers, while OF-2 (Lieutenant(N)) and OF-1 (Sub-Lieutenant) are referred to as junior officer
Junior officer
The term junior officer is sometimes used to make clear that an officer in a military or paramilitary unit is not in overall command. The term senior officer is reserved for the officer in overall command....
s. Naval Cadets are referred to as subordinate officer
Subordinate officer
Subordinate officer is a term used in some armed forces for a grade of officer above a non-commissioned officer but still not actually commissioned, usually still in training...
s. All officers of the Canadian Forces receive a commission from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Queen of Canada. The Commissioning Scroll issued in recognition of the commission is signed by the Governor General of Canada
Governor General of Canada
The Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...
as Commander-in-Chief and the serving Minister of National Defence.
Naval officers are trained at the Royal Military College of Canada
Royal Military College of Canada
The Royal Military College of Canada, RMC, or RMCC , is the military academy of the Canadian Forces, and is a degree-granting university. RMC was established in 1876. RMC is the only federal institution in Canada with degree granting powers...
in Kingston
CFB Kingston
Canadian Forces Base Kingston is a Canadian Forces Base located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.CFB Kingston is home to the Communications and Electronics Branch of the Canadian Forces. The base also hosts the Canadian Forces School of Communications and Electronics...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, the Royal Military College Saint-Jean in Saint-Jean, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
and the Naval Officer Training Centre VENTURE in Work Point, Esquimalt
CFB Esquimalt
Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt is Canada's Pacific Coast naval base and home port to Maritime Forces Pacific and Joint Task Force Pacific Headquarters....
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. Some specialized candidates may be commissioned without attending the Royal Military College, the plan is known as Direct Entry Officer (DEO) Plan.
| Commissioned Officer Rank Structure of the Royal Canadian Navy | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commander-in-Chief | Admiral Admiral (Canada) The rank of Admiral in Canada is typically held by only one officer whose position is Chief of the Defence Staff and the senior uniformed officer of the Canadian Forces. It is equivalent to the Army and Air Force rank of General.... |
Vice Admiral | Rear Admiral | Commodore Commodore (Canada) Commodore is the lowest of the flag officer ranks in the Royal Canadian Navy; it is equivalent to Brigadier General in the Army and Air Force. It is junior to Rear Admiral and Major General, and senior to Captain and Colonel.... |
Captain |
| N/A | OF-9 | OF-8 | OF-7 | OF-6 | OF-5 |
 |
|||||
| C-in-C | Adm | VAdm | RAdm | Cmdre | Capt(N) |
| Commander Commander (Canada) In the Royal Canadian Navy, the rank of Commander is a Naval rank equal to a Lieutenant-Colonel of the Army or Air Force. A Commander is senior to aLieutenantCommander or an Army or Air Force Major, and junior to a Captain or Colonel.... |
Lieutenant-Commander Lieutenant-Commander (Canada) In the Royal Canadian Navy, the rank of lieutenant-commander is the naval rank equal to major in the army or air force and is the first rank of senior officer... |
Lieutenant Captain (Canada) Captain is a rank in the Canadian military.In the Canadian Army and the Royal Canadian Air Force, the rank insignia of an army and air force captain is two wide bars.The rank insignia of a navy captain is four wide bars.... |
Sub-Lieutenant Lieutenant (Canada) Lieutenant is a rank of the Canadian Forces. As with the rank of Captain , the naval rank is superior to the Land/Air rank.A naval Lieutenant is equivalent to ranks with a NATO code of OF-2, whereas land/air Lieutenants are equivalent to ranks with a NATO code of OF-1.The rank insignia of a naval... |
Acting Sub-Lieutenant Lieutenant (Canada) Lieutenant is a rank of the Canadian Forces. As with the rank of Captain , the naval rank is superior to the Land/Air rank.A naval Lieutenant is equivalent to ranks with a NATO code of OF-2, whereas land/air Lieutenants are equivalent to ranks with a NATO code of OF-1.The rank insignia of a naval... |
Naval Cadet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-1 | Cadet | |
| Cdr | LCdr | Lt(N) | SLt | A/Slt | NCdt |
Non-commissioned members
Non-commissioned members of the Royal Canadian Navy have pay grades ranging from OR-2 to OR-9. OR-9 (Chief Petty Officer 1st Class), OR-8 (Chief Petty Officers 2nd Class) and OR-7 (Petty Officer 1st Class) are known as petty officerPetty Officer
A petty officer is a non-commissioned officer in many navies and is given the NATO rank denotion OR-6. They are equal in rank to sergeant, British Army and Royal Air Force. A Petty Officer is superior in rank to Leading Rate and subordinate to Chief Petty Officer, in the case of the British Armed...
s, and together with OR-6 (Petty Officer 2nd Class, referred to as senior non-commissioned officer) form the senior cadre of the non-commissioned (enlisted) members
Non-commissioned member
A non-commissioned member , in the Canadian Forces, is defined in the Queen's Regulations and Orders as:"… any person, other than an officer, who is enrolled in, or who pursuant to law is attached or seconded otherwise than as an officer to, the Canadian Forces…" Thus, an NCM is any member who is...
of the military. OR-5 (Master Seaman) and OR-4 (Leading Seaman) are referred to as junior non-commissioned officers, while OR-3 (Able Seaman) and OR-2 (Ordinary Seaman) are referred to as private
Private (rank)
A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
s.
All regular force
Regular Force
In the Canadian Forces, a Regular Force unit or person is part of the full-time military, as opposed to being part of the Primary Reserve.Regular Force personnel are employed full-time, and have usually signed long-term contracts committing them to regular service...
non-commissioned members of the Canadian Forces undergo basic training
Basic Military Qualification
Basic Military Qualification is the recruit training that is undergone to produce non-commissioned members of the Canadian Forces . It is designed to introduce ordinary citizens of Canada to the CF way of life by indoctrination of CF values, weapons training, first aid, fieldcraft, etc.BMQ is...
at the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School
Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School
The Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School is located at the Général-Jean-Victor-Allard Building in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec.CFLRS is a leadership training school for both primary reservist and regular forces....
in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu. Recruits then attend occupation-specific training at various locations across Canada.
| Non-Commissioned Member Rank Structure of the Royal Canadian Navy | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chief Petty Officer 1st Class Chief Petty Officer 1st Class Chief petty officer, 1st class, CPO1, is the most senior non-commissioned member rank of the Royal Canadian Navy. It is equivalent to a chief warrant officer in the Canadian Army and Royal Canadian Air Force... |
Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class Chief petty officer, 2nd class, CPO2, is a Naval non-commissioned member rank of the Canadian Forces. It is senior to the rank of petty officer 1st-class and its equivalents, and junior to chief petty officer 1st-class and its equivalents... |
Petty Officer 1st Class Petty Officer 1st Class Petty officer, 1st class, PO1, is a Naval non-commissioned member rank of the Canadian Forces. It is senior to the rank of petty officer 2nd-class and its equivalents, and junior to chief petty officer 2nd-class and its equivalents. Its Army and Air Force equivalent is warrant officer .The French... |
Petty Officer 2nd Class Petty Officer 2nd Class Petty officer, 2nd class, PO2, is a Naval non-commissioned member rank of the Canadian Forces. It is senior to the rank of master seaman and its equivalents, and junior to petty officer 1st-class and its equivalents... |
Master Seaman Master Seaman Master seaman , or matelot-chef in French, is a non-commissioned member rank of the Canadian Navy, which is between leading seaman and petty officer 2nd class . Technically, the rank is actually an appointment, with appointees holding the rank of leading seaman... |
Leading Seaman Leading Seaman Leading seaman is a junior non-commissioned rank or rate in navies, particularly those of the Commonwealth. When it is used by NATO nations, leading seaman has the rank code of OR-4. It is often equivalent to the army and air force rank of corporal and some navies use corporal rather than... |
Able Seaman Able seaman An able seaman is an unlicensed member of the deck department of a merchant ship. An AB may work as a watchstander, a day worker, or a combination of these roles.-Watchstander:... |
Ordinary Seaman |
| OR-9 | OR-8 | OR-7 | OR-6 | OR-5 | OR-4 | OR-3 | OR-2 |
 |
|||||||
| CPO1 | CPO2 | PO1 | PO2 | MS | LS | AB | OS |
Colours
|City of Halifax
Halifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...
, in 1979 by the Queen Mother
Queen mother
Queen Mother is a title or position reserved for a widowed queen consort whose son or daughter from that marriage is the reigning monarch. The term has been used in English since at least 1577...
in Halifax, NS
City of Halifax
Halifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...
and in 2009 by the Governor General of Canada
Governor General of Canada
The Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...
and Commander-in-Chief Michaëlle Jean
Michaëlle Jean
Michaëlle Jean is a Canadian journalist and stateswoman who served as Governor General of Canada, the 27th since Canadian Confederation, from 2005 to 2010....
in Halifax, NS
City of Halifax
Halifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...
. On each occasion two identical colours were presented, one for the Atlantic fleet and one for the Pacific fleet. The current colours consist of a ceremonial standard
Heraldic flag
In heraldry and vexillology, an heraldic flag is any of several types of flags, containing coats of arms, heraldic badges, or other devices, used for personal identification....
with the Maple Leaf flag in the top left canton
Flag terminology
Flag terminology is a jargon used in vexillology, the study of flags, to describe precisely the parts, patterns, and other attributes of flags and their display.-Description of standard flag parts and terms:...
, the monarch's royal cypher
Royal Cypher
In modern heraldry, a royal cypher is a monogram-like device of a country's reigning sovereign, typically consisting of the initials of the monarch's name and title, sometimes interwoven and often surmounted by a crown. In the case where such a cypher is used by an emperor or empress, it is called...
for Canada (a capital E on a blue background, surrounded by a circlet of gold Tudor roses and laurels, surmounted by a crown) and an anchor (from the Royal Canadian Navy's naval jack) on the lower right fly
Flag terminology
Flag terminology is a jargon used in vexillology, the study of flags, to describe precisely the parts, patterns, and other attributes of flags and their display.-Description of standard flag parts and terms:...
. These elements are found on the 1979 and 2009 colours. The colours from 1959 and 1939 consisted of a Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
white ensign with the Queen's or King's cipher in the middle.
The use of the service colours of the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
were granted to the RCN in 1925. Two service colours were sent to Halifax and Esquimalt. In 1937 they were retired, and new colours sent. The official presentation of the King's Colour was not completed until 1939. The Royal Canadian Navy's retired colours are laid up at Beechwood Cemetery in Ottawa, Ontario.
Heritage
This history of Royal Canadian Navy is preserved and presented at the Maritime Command MuseumMaritime Command Museum
The Maritime Command Museum is a Canadian Forces museum and National Historic Site located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada which collects, preserves and displays the artifacts and history of the Royal Canadian Navy...
in Halifax, the Canadian War Museum
Canadian War Museum
The Canadian War Museum is Canada’s national museum of military history. Located in Ottawa, Ontario, the museum covers all facets of Canada’s military past, from the first recorded instances of death by armed violence in Canadian history several thousand years ago to the country’s most recent...
, the Naval Museum of Alberta
The Military Museums
The Military Museums is a reorganization of the former Museum of the Regiments in Calgary, Alberta, announced by Sophie, Countess of Wessex, on June 3, 2006...
and naval museums on several bases. Several Royal Canadian Navy vessels have been preserved including the hydrofoil HMCS Bras d'Or
HMCS Bras d'Or
HMCS Bras d'Or is a name used by the Royal Canadian Navy and Canadian Forces MARCOM for several ships, named after Bras d'Or Lake, prototype hydrofoil , experimental hydrofoil , auxiliary minesweeper See also...
and the submarines and . The corvette HMCS Sackville serves as Canada's Naval Memorial. A monument at Point Pleasant Park
Point Pleasant Park
Point Pleasant Park is a large, partially forested municipal park at the southern tip of the Halifax peninsula. It once hosted several artillery batteries, and a well-preserved 18th century Martello tower can be found there...
in Halifax commemorates members of Royal Canadian Navy who have died in peacetime.
See also
- Canadian Coast GuardCanadian Coast GuardThe Canadian Coast Guard is the coast guard of Canada. It is a federal agency responsible for providing maritime search and rescue , aids to navigation, marine pollution response, marine radio, and icebreaking...
- Canadian Army
- Royal Canadian Air ForceRoyal Canadian Air ForceThe history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...