HMCS Halifax embarks on 6-month Op Reassurance deployment

Above images courtesy of the Canadian Armed Forces and Department of National Defence. 

Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Halifax and its crew of 253 sailors departed for a six-month deployment on March 19, 2022.

During its deployment, HMCS Halifax will sail both the North Atlantic and European waters as part of Standing NATO Maritime Group One, under Operation REASSURANCE. Operation REASSURANCE is NATO’s assurance and deterrence measures in central and eastern Europe.

Participate in Range of Military Activities

“HMCS Halifax’s deployment is part of a range of military activities undertaken by the CAF to support NATO assurance and deterrence measures. These activities include the provision of military capabilities for training, exercises, demonstrations, and assigned NATO tasks and demonstrate Canada’s commitment to promote security and stability in Central and Eastern Europe,” said Capt Gregory Cutten, Public Affairs Officer Canadian Joint Operations Command (CJOC).

HMCS Halifax will deploy with an embedded Air Detachment, operating a CH-148 Cyclone helicopter from 12 Wing Shearwater.

This marks the eighth Cyclone helicopter to conduct flight operations as part of Op REASSURANCE.

Ceremony Held

A departure ceremony was held on March 19 to see the sailors off to their mission.

The ceremony was attended not only by family and friends of the sailors but also by Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Wayne Eyre, Minister of National Defence Anita Anand, and Commander Maritime Forces Atlantic RAdm. Brian Santarpia, plus media.

We bid farewell to #HMCSHalifax today along with the families of the ship's company, as they departed for Europe on #OpREASSURANCE. Wishing them a safe deployment with @NATO, as they make European waters more secure over the coming months. pic.twitter.com/YVGLCPtSAy

— General / Général Wayne Eyre (@CDS_Canada_CEMD) March 19, 2022

“We bid farewell to #HMCSHalifax today along with the families of the ship’s company, as they departed for Europe on #OpREASSURANCE. Wishing them a safe deployment with @NATO, as they make European waters more secure over the coming months,” tweeted out Gen. Eyre on the day the ship left Canadian waters.

This is HMCS Halifax’s third deployment on Operation REASSURANCE. It will join HMCS Montreal, which departed Halifax, NS, on Jan. 19, 2022.