Source: Laura Nickerson Facebook

It’s happy homecoming day for the families and crew of HMCS Fredericton.

The Halifax-class frigate is back after a six-month deployment in the Mediterranean Sea for Operation REASSURANCE, where they operated as part of NATO defending security and stability in Europe.

“I’m glad to welcome the crew of HMCS Fredericton home following their successful participation in Operation REASSURANCE. Conducting operations with our NATO allies and defending security and stability in Europe as its being challenged is a significant endeavor and our crew rose to the task. The Royal Canadian Navy will continue it work to ensure that we have theresources ready to support such tasks in the future,” said Rear Admiral Steve Waddell, Deputy Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy.

“I am extremely proud of the crew of HMCS Fredericton. The dedication and commitment of the ship and its crew during this mission shows the high level of training and professionalism that are the hallmarks of our Canadian sailors. By participating in joint deployments with NATO, the Royal Canadian Navy demonstrates its ability to achieve success in complex operational environments in partnership with allies,” said Rear Admiral Josée Kurtz, Commander Joint Task Force Atlantic and Commander Maritime Forces Atlantic.

They have been replaced by HMCS Shawinigan and HMCS Summerside.

Quick Facts

• Canada has deployed Royal Canadian Navy ships on Operation REASSURANCE on a continuous, rotational basis since 2014, following Russia’s illegal invasion of Crimea.

• Operation REASSURANCE is Canada’s largest current international military operation. In addition to a persistent naval presence in European waters, it includes the Canada-led multinational NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group Latvia, and a Tactical Air Lift Detachment based out of Prestwick, Scotland.

• Standing NATO Maritime Forces are multinational, integrated maritime task groups made up of vessels from various Allied countries. These vessels are available to NATO to perform different tasks ranging from exercises to operational missions. They also establish Alliance presence, demonstrate solidarity, conduct routine diplomatic visits to different countries, support partner engagement, and provide a variety of maritime military capabilities to ongoing missions.

· In total, HMCS Fredericton sailed 35,186 nautical miles and visited seven countries, including a non-NATO port visit to Tunis, Tunisia in support of NATO’s Mediterranean Dialogue initiative and conducted a diplomatic visit to Split, Croatia in support of Canada-Croatia bilateral relations.

· During its deployment, HMCS Fredericton participated in three multinational exercises; Dynamic Manta 23, a NATO Maritime Command-led anti-submarine warfare exercise; Mare Aperto 23, an Italian navy-led maritime and amphibious exercise; and Flotex 23, a Spanish navy-led joint advanced exercise.

• HMCS Fredericton is a Halifax-class frigate with a crew of approximately 250 personnel of all ranks, including a CH-148 Cyclone air detachment. This vessel provides significant combat capability and a high degree of mission flexibility thanks to its onboard helicopter.