Canada to command next Combined Task Force operation in the Persian Gulf
Melissa Atkinson
Managing Editor
March 10, 2008
Two Pacific Fleet warships are leaving this spring for a six-month deployment to the Persian Gulf with East Coast destroyer HMCS Iroquois.
HMC Ships Calgary and Protecteur will sail through the Panama Canal to join Iroquois for the transit to the Middle East.
On board the warships will be two Sea King air detachments, one in Iroquois and the other in Calgary.
Embarked in the destroyer will be the commander of the international Combined Task Force 150, Commodore Bob Davidson. His job will be to manage the coalition of 10 ships from various nations, including the U.S., Britain, Germany, France and Pakistan.
“It’s exciting to do this. It may be my last chance to do an operational mission. But I can’t do it alone. I have lots of great staff. There’s one thing Canada consistently brings to the table and that’s a level of excellence in our people.”
Cmdre Davidson says the decision to bring three Canadian warships on Roto 4 of Operation Altair, Canada’s naval contribution to the American-led war on terrorism, was based on the leadership opportunity for Canada to command the coalition of allied ships.
“We’re actively going to command the task force, so we felt we needed to offer up more than the basic one ship,” he explained. “This is also part of our contingency planning for our task group concept ability to bring East and West Coast ships together.”
Once in theatre, the ships will perform a myriad of maritime security operations in the Arabian Sea, Red Sea, and Indian Ocean to help detect, deter and protect against terrorist activity.
“The mission itself is very important to Canadians. We will be busy helping create the conditions to improve security and stability in the maritime domain in southwest Asia. Canada is a maritime nation and the unhindered movement of trade at sea is of critical importance to our economy,” says Cmdre Davidson. “Equally important, in my view, is the fact Canada is a rich nation and a member of the G8. As such, we have a responsibility to do our part to help bring stability to regions in need. And let’s remember that the mission is foremost one of countering terrorism and building the framework for peace and stability in the region.”
