Algonquin fights
A/SLt Mark Fifield
HMCS Algonquin
SLt Kelsey Dauphinee (left) and LS Michael Pinkus (right) of HMCS Algonquin's Naval Boarding Party move into position on the deck of U.S. Navy training ship MV Atlas during a boarding party exercise as Algonquin waits the background.
Photo by A/Slt Mark Fifield, Navy Public Affairs
In late October, just before HMCS Algonquin sailed to San Diego to participate in a task group exercise with HMCS Protecteur and ships from the U.S Navy, the crew conducted work ups in extreme conditions.
Work ups are a high intensity series of drills and evolutions run by Sea Training Pacific staff, designed to prepare the ship's company for an extended deployment or mission overseas. Sailors expect constant stress, little sleep, and plenty of hard work.
At any moment the crew could be required to respond to simulated emergencies such as fires, floods, engineering breakdowns, or even an enemy attack on the ship resulting in mass casualties.
In addition to these emergencies, the crew must continue to provide services and logistical support. Even during high tempo operations, sailors still need to eat, sleep and pay the bills back home.
However, for Algonquin's crew, the challenges and hardships broadened when flu-like symptoms appeared and the sick bay grew busier by the hour. The sick were confined to their quarters to rest and were temporarily excused from their duties.
If that wasn't enough to deal with, the weather decided to up the ante with gale force winds and a sea state of seven. Anyone who has sailed in a destroyer knows it rocks and rolls during bad weather.
Seasickness was rampant throughout the ship and further depleted the crew, meaning the healthy were required to work longer hours and extra watches to fill the void.
Not only did the crew have its troubles, the ship itself also had an engineering breakdown in the steering compartment, which necessitated a return to port in order to resolve the problem. Upon coming alongside C Jetty, the morale of the crew was lifted by an impromptu banyan on the flight deck before they headed ashore for a much appreciated two days of Sunday routine.
"In my three decades in the navy I have never seen such a challenging start to workups like this one," said Algonquin's Coxswain, CPO1 Vital Syrard.
On Friday, Nov. 6, Algonquin departed Esquimalt Harbour once again, the crew more determined than ever to press on and continue the work-ups. Because the ship had lost so much time during the first phase of work-ups, the pace of the training schedule was accelerated by Sea Training. This was done to ensure all drills and evolutions would be completed prior to the ship arriving in San Diego.
The ship's company rolled with the punches and worked together as a cohesive unit in order to finish each task. At one point, many sailors claimed to hear the dreaded "Bong Bongs" in their sleep. However at the end of every day, all fires were extinguished and floods were stemmed, equipment was repaired, casualties were treated, and skills in various evolutions were honed and perfected.
"Most impressive was the fact that the ship's technical readiness actually improved each day during work-ups thanks to the crew's hard work and talent for improvising repairs," said Algonquin's Commanding Officer, Cdr Angus Topshee.
Algonquin and Protecteur are currently sailing off the coast of Southern California.
