Trident Fury 20

HMCS Calgary (left) and HMNZS Te Kaha (right) conduct a sail past Esquimalt Lagoon as Te Kaha heads back to New Zealand after spending 18 months in Esquimalt completing an extensive upgrade and refit program.

HMCS Calgary (right) and HMNZS Te Kaha (left) conduct a sail past Esquimalt Lagoon as Te Kaha heads back to New Zealand after spending 18 months in Esquimalt completing an extensive upgrade and refit program.

Capt Jenn Jackson
TF20 PAO
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Today marks the beginning of Trident Fury 20 (TF20). It is a joint and multinational naval exercise that will continue until Dec. 13 off the coast of western Vancouver Island, as well as in the vicinity of Constance Bank, and the southern Gulf Islands. 

TF20 provides an opportunity for the Canadian Armed Forces to maintain operational readiness to deploy on joint operations in a rapid and effective manner alongside allies and other government organizations.

It will include participation from the Royal Canadian Navy, Royal Canadian Air Force, U.S. Navy, and U.S Coast Guard.

“Trident Fury 20 provides a full spectrum of air and sea tactical warfare training, with the aim of enhancing Canada’s ability to respond to offshore threats and unlawful acts from within a coalition environment,” says Commodore Angus Topshee, Commander Canadian Fleet Pacific and embarked Exercise Commander. “This exercise includes an array of events to enhance individual unit training and combat readiness including live fire, seamanship, maritime interdiction operations, anti-submarine warfare, surface warfare, air defence, mine counter-measures, and small boat defence.”

In addition, TF 20 supports pre-deployment training for HMCS Calgary, which is scheduled to depart for Operations Artemis and Projection in early 2021.

Even with the focus on Calgary’s pre-deployment training, TF20 also supports the Royal Canadian Navy’s domestic role. At home, maritime defence and security is the navy’s first priority, helping ensure that Canada’s maritime approaches are effectively monitored and protected.

“As virtually every Canadian depends on international maritime trade either for employment or for consumer benefits, exercises such as TF20 help ensure the continuing flow of goods by demonstrating our operational presence in the Northeastern Pacific,” adds Cmdre Topshee. “This is integral to the mission of the Pacific Fleet and through close cooperation with CAF Health Services and the Fleet Support Medical Unit, Pacific Fleet ships have sustained that role throughout 2020.”

In order to safely proceed to sea in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, members embarking on Pacific Fleet ships observed a pre-sail protocol designed to mitigate the risk of bringing the virus on the ship. The protocols involved quarantine periods and COVID-19 testing.

“We kept a close eye on the increasing number of cases on the island in the month preceding the exercise, and increased and adapted our protocols dynamically on the advice of our Health Services staff,” says Commodore Topshee. “These measures are constantly evolving as they are based on the latest scientific evidence and aim to ensure our sailors remain safe, healthy, and able to complete their mission throughout TF20 and into 2021.”

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  1. ron hopper says:

    Congrats to all ships and crews involved. Stay safe

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