Allies get virtual tour of navy’s newest ship

The virtual tour of HMCS Harry DeWolf included the machinery control and engine rooms. Photo by Cpl David Veldman, CAF Photo

Trident Newspaper
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The annual San Francisco Fleet Week took its event online for 2020, offering a number of virtual experiences in lieu of the in-person tours and demonstrations that normally take place. Among the offerings were virtual ship tours, and the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) was happy to help out its allies.

The Canadian navy provided virtual video tours of Halifax-class frigates HMCS Toronto and HMCS Calgary, as well as its newest ship and first Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship, HMCS Harry DeWolf.

SLt Joe Cheng took viewers through the ship’s departments, including the all-ranks cafeteria, machinery control and engine rooms, sailors’ cabins, enclosed cable deck, bridge, and gun deck. The goal was to give our allies a brief introduction to the Harry DeWolf class and the capabilities the new ships will bring to the RCN in the coming years.

“She has a lot of capabilities and potential and we’re looking forward to showing that off at ports in person,” SLt Cheng said.

Similar videos were produced to introduce viewers to Toronto and Calgary.

Canada’s navy has a history of sending ships to take part in San Francisco’s Fleet Week, which has been held annually most years since 1981. Most recently, HMCS Vancouver was present for the 2018 edition, while HMCS Winnipeg took part in 2017.

RAdm Bette Bolivar, USN Region Southwest Commander, thanked the Canadian ships for taking part in the event, and said she looked forward to having Canadian allies working alongside her people in person in the near future.

“There’s fun and celebration, but Fleet Week is also about forming and maintaining partnerships, and this is a wonderful example of that.”

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