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Life in the fishbowl aboard HMCS Toronto
Halifax Herald ^ | January 14, 2004 | John Gillis and Jennifer Stewart

Posted on 01/14/2004 3:16:40 PM PST by Clive

Whether you love your job or hate it, chances are you can go home at the end of a shift and do whatever you please to unwind.

But the 235-person crew of HMCS Toronto won't have that convenience. Whether on duty or off, the group will scarcely be able to leave their workplace for the next six months.

The ship sails out of Halifax Harbour today as part of Canada's commitment to the U.S.-led war on terrorism to take part in Operation Enduring Freedom.

Cmdr. Bruce Belliveau, who will be at the helm, said Monday both ship and crew are "absolutely" ready for the job.

He said since the ship will be working 24 hours a day, about half the crew is on the job at any given time, and nobody gets an entire day off while the ship is at sea.

"Most people work 16-, 18-hour days at sea," he said.

Sleep is a priority in the remaining hours, but recreation is also vital in the cramped quarters of the 135-metre Halifax class frigate.

This is where the Canadian Forces Personnel Support Agency chips in.

Along with work supplies, there is a variety of popular DVDs and books - about 300 of each - loaded on board for the sailors. These are added to weekly as new releases and bestsellers hit the shelves in Canada.

For people who like to train in their spare time, several pieces of exercise equipment, including a brand new Bowflex home gym, are available around the clock.

Satellite technology helps sailors bridge the gap between themselves and home. More connected than ever before, crew can watch Canadian television, use the Internet and call home every three days.

The ship also has a small store to satisfy junk-food cravings or toiletry needs. The sleeping quarters feature tiers of three bunks about half the width of a normal bunk bed. There are curtains, but Cmdr. Belliveau said privacy is something sailors learn to live without.

"You get used to communal living when you're in a ship because there are few places to go that you're going to be alone," he said.

In port, usually only about a quarter of the crew are needed on board at any time. The rest are free to visit the city, barring security concerns.

Group activities are increasingly organized for onshore free time. And at least once during each deployment, the Personnel Support Agency organizes a "show tour" in which Canadian entertainers perform for the crew during a port call.

A spokesman for the agency said the show for this deployment has yet to be lined up, but he knows it will feature 14 artists, including male and female singers, dancers, comedians and a band.

HMCS Toronto will first sail to Norfolk, Va., to join some American vessels before continuing on to the Arabian Gulf.

It will be linked to a group of vessels including an aircraft carrier, and the crew may be involved in boarding other ships.

While the mission means a long spell away from home in spartan accommodations, Cmdr. Belliveau said that's just the navy way of life.


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: africawatch; canadiantroops; hmcstoronto
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1 posted on 01/14/2004 3:16:41 PM PST by Clive
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To: *AfricaWatch; blam; Cincinatus' Wife; sarcasm; Travis McGee; happygrl; Byron_the_Aussie; robnoel; ..
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2 posted on 01/14/2004 3:17:10 PM PST by Clive
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To: Great Dane; Alberta's Child; headsonpikes; coteblanche; Ryle; albertabound; mitchbert; ...
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3 posted on 01/14/2004 3:22:14 PM PST by Clive
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To: All
My apologies for pinging myAfrica list in error.

I had meant to ping just my Canada list.

4 posted on 01/14/2004 3:26:02 PM PST by Clive
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To: Clive
I'll bet they won't make it without breaking down en route. I'm sure the USN just can't WAIT to have one obsolete frigate show up!
5 posted on 01/14/2004 3:30:58 PM PST by Travis McGee (www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com)
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To: Clive
Canada, a once proud country, has been reduced to a shambles both morally, financially, and militarily. They do not have enough of a military to provide for the training and discipline of young men.

I have been fortunate to know some good Canadian men and women who joined - but they acknowledged that it would take about 2 hours for the US to take the country over, and that only because of how far Ottawa is from the border.

6 posted on 01/14/2004 3:38:30 PM PST by ikka
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To: Clive
A good friend of mine is now starting his Navy training. The saddest thing about it is that this is our most advanced ship. I shudder to think what other second-hand technologies we'll acquire in the next five years. How about moving from 120 or so total CF-18's and 68 or so Active Duty (including 3 training squadrons, you do the math) CF-18's to at least Super Hornets.

And to think I'm actually considering joining the Forces after University. (Air of course.)

7 posted on 01/14/2004 3:39:51 PM PST by AntiKev (PIlots take no special joy in walking. Pilots like flying. - Neil Armstrong)
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To: Clive

8 posted on 01/14/2004 3:42:24 PM PST by shaggy eel
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To: Clive
Q: Why are all Canadian sailors required to be at least 72 inches tall?
A: So they can walk home if their ship sinks.
9 posted on 01/14/2004 3:42:51 PM PST by Johnny_Cipher ("... now lessee, $60,000 divided one point three million ways equals ...")
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To: Clive
"Saint John Shipbuilding Ltd is the prime contractor for the Halifax class frigate or Canadian Patrol Frigate programme. Nine of the twelve ships were constructed at the Saint John shipyards in Saint John, New Brunswick and three ships at Marine Industries Shipyards in Sorel. The multi-purpose frigates were commissioned between 1992 and 1997."

"Halifax Class frigates, HMCS Regina and Fredericton, have been conducting maritime interdiction operations in the Persian Gulf in support of the international campaign against terrorism."

Sounds like Canada is sending us one of their newest and best for this type mission. Canada and the United States fighting terrorism shoulder to shoulder - the world as it ought to be. If only their politicians would figure that out.

10 posted on 01/14/2004 3:46:18 PM PST by colorado tanker ("There are but two parties now, Traitors and Patriots")
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To: Clive
Oh for crying out loud!!....

This article is for the immediate consumption of the Canadian people.

The way I read it, the author is trying to portray the Cannuck sailors (and maybe sailorettes) as being so woefully deprived and inconvenienced as to warrant their sympathy and possibly immediate recall.

Oh, the horror of having to go to sea!

Can you imagine an American newsie writing this kind of drivel? It would never get passed the editor's desk.

FWIW: DD822, LPD12, CVA59, CVA66, CVA67, CVN68..Been there, done that...
11 posted on 01/14/2004 3:54:28 PM PST by CTOCS
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To: CTOCS; Jeff Head
I can see why we need an ASW frigate in the war on terror. < /sarcasm >
12 posted on 01/14/2004 4:00:59 PM PST by AppyPappy (If You're Not A Part Of The Solution, There's Good Money To Be Made In Prolonging The Problem.)
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To: Travis McGee
Canadian frigates routinely form part of escort screens for US CVs and have routinely participated in interdiction patrols in the Arabian Gulf since 1991.

They have also been deployed to indertdiction patrols since the invasion of Afghanistan since the War of Terrorism began.

The following is from the Canadian DND web site:

Canada-US Interoperability

CANADIAN NAVY TEAMS UP WITH U.S. CARRIER BATTLE GROUPS

One of the best examples of the effectiveness of Canadian and American defence co-operation is the integration of Canadian Navy frigates into United States Carrier Battle Groups.

Since the end of the Gulf War in 1991, Canada has contributed to the Arabian Gulf Multinational Interdiction Force enforcing UN sanctions against Iraq. In 1998, HMCS Ottawa integrated into a U.S. Carrier Battle Group as part of this force. This was the first time since the Korean War that another country had this level of interoperability with the U.S. Navy.

Since that first deployment, the Canadian Navy integrated into several United States Navy Carrier Battle Groups during sanction enforcement operations and multinational exercises.

HMCS Charlottetown is the first frigate from Maritime Forces Atlantic to be integrated into a United States Navy Carrier Battle Group. HMCS Charlottetown left its homeport of Halifax in January 2001, and returns from the Arabian Gulf in July.

"We're ready," said HMCS Charlottetown's Commanding Officer, Commander Ron Lloyd. "A great deal of work has been done to ensure that we are capable of fully integrating into the technically complex environment of an American aircraft carrier battle group. We're probably one of the few non-U.S. ships in the world that are ready now to do so."

HMCS Winnipeg, also deploying as part of a United States Navy Carrier Battle Group, leaves for the Arabian Gulf in March 2001 and will join the Multinational Interdiction Force as part of a U.S. Surface Task Force.

The Canadian Navy is the only foreign navy to successfully operate as part of U.S. Carrier Battle Groups. This success is due to the extensive training that the American and Canadian navies conduct together.

Furthermore, the Halifax-class frigate is a welcome addition to any coalition naval force because of the ship's highly skilled crew and its modern communications, sensors, and weapons systems. At 442 feet in length and only 4,750 tonnes, it is considered by Canada's allies as the most capable ship of its size in the world.


USS Abraham (CVN 72) and HMCS Ottawa (FFH 330) in the Arabian Sea, 1998

13 posted on 01/14/2004 4:12:57 PM PST by Clive
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To: Travis McGee
I'll bet they won't make it without breaking down en route. I'm sure the USN just can't WAIT to have one obsolete frigate show up!

Our own FFG sailors say very nice things about the Halifax class ships.

14 posted on 01/14/2004 4:21:43 PM PST by Poohbah ("Beware the fury of a patient man" -- John Dryden)
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To: Clive
Correction:
The picture caption should be:
USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) and HMCS Ottawa (FFH 330) in the Arabian Sea, 1998
15 posted on 01/14/2004 4:31:46 PM PST by Clive
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To: shaggy eel
Thank you, I have been trying to find a good picture of HMCS Toronto (FFH 333).

I could find pictures of other Halifax Class Frigates, but not one of Toronto.

16 posted on 01/14/2004 4:36:43 PM PST by Clive
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To: Clive
How much coal will the Canadian ship carry?

Does it have any weapons? Do the weapons have any ammunition? In case of a combat situation, how many mediators do they have on board? In case of a combat situation involving a foe of black or brown hostiles, would they be allowed to fire their weapon?

17 posted on 01/14/2004 4:43:24 PM PST by Tacis
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To: Clive
Well, well. The Canadian Navy still has a boat. And the poor dears in the crew aren't allowed to go home at 5 PM every night. I'll bet they have to work weekends, too. The horror!
18 posted on 01/14/2004 4:44:30 PM PST by ozzymandus
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To: Clive
,,, here's a picture of HMNZS Te Kaha that's done time in the Gulf for Operation Enduring Freedom. We get the same ribbing as you're getting in posts 17 & 18.


19 posted on 01/14/2004 5:14:23 PM PST by shaggy eel
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To: Clive
Try here, http://gwardnet.d2g.com/mac/maccdale/
20 posted on 01/14/2004 5:59:37 PM PST by Snowyman
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