HMCS Calgary’s record breaking Operation Artemis completed

HMCS Calgary’s boarding party team and command team stand with heroin seized during counter-smuggling operations on June 6. Photo by Cpl Lynette Ai Dang, CAF Photo

Capt Jeff Klassen
HMCS Calgary
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HMCS Calgary completed their two-month rotation on Operation Artemis June 14, working with the 34-nation Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) and the Canadian-led Combined Task Force 150 (CTF-150). The warship conducted maritime interdiction operations intended to stop the flow of illicit revenue to regional criminal and terrorist organizations.

Frigate and crew set two records while performing on this mission.

Their 17 successful counter-narcotics seizures were the most any single warship has made on any rotation in the history of CMF – setting the record not only in terms of number of seizures, but also in terms of weight of narcotics seized and wholesale dollar value.

The Canadian warship also set the record for the largest single heroin seizure in CMF history.

“Our success was truly a team effort both at the ship-level and at the operational level,” said Commander Mark O’Donohue, Calgary’s Commanding Officer. “While we are very proud of our success as a ship, we always try to keep in mind this success was accomplished within the framework of great support from CTF-150 and other organizations in the Canadian Armed Forces.”

Calgary worked with CTF-150 headquartered in Bahrain, a Royal Canadian Air Force CP-140 Aurora aircraft, and the warship’s embarked CH-148 Cyclone helicopter to detect suspicious vessels at sea, following a rigorous process in accordance with applicable domestic and international law.

When deemed appropriate, Calgary sent a boarding team to embark the vessels and seize illicit goods. These boardings were mostly conducted by the warship’s embarked Naval Tactical Operations Group team, call sign Reef; however, the ship’s organic boarding team, call sign Alpha Wave, conducted boardings during the latter part of the operation.

While on Op Artemis, Calgary conducted exercises with the United States Navy, Pakistani Navy, and French naval assets. Another highlight of the operation was the rescue of a sea turtle stuck in tangled fishing nets.

Calgary now moves on to the second leg of Operation Projection. The major highlight will be Exercise Talisman Sabre in late July.

The warship is set to return to Esquimalt in early September.

“I want to make sure that everyone back home knows how much we appreciate the support we’ve been getting. Our success is your success, and we can’t wait to be reunited with everyone when we return,” said Cdr O’Donohue.

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