HMCS Toronto leaves Halifax Harbour 14 Jan 2004
Posted on 07/23/2004 8:44:00 PM PDT by Clive
HALIFAX (CP) - Hundreds of family members and friends, some waving flags and balloons, lined a Halifax dockyard Friday to welcome home the crew of HMCS Toronto more than six months after the vessel left for the Arabian Sea.
Defence Minister Bill Graham, who was in Halifax to announce the military will spend $5 billion on 28 Sikorsky Cyclone helicopters, praised the 235 sailors and airmen for their contribution to the U.S.-led war on terrorism.
"I wanted to recognize the particularly demanding role that the Toronto played in a very difficult situation," he said at CFB Halifax.
"Have a great homecoming. And thanks a lot."
Vice-Admiral Ron Buck said the navy plans to deploy another Canadian vessel to the Gulf region sometime this fall.
"There will be a ship deploying very shortly . . . from Halifax that will return to what is called the standing naval force Atlantic," he said.
The captain of the Toronto said he was just thrilled to be home.
"Today's the best day of the whole deployment," said Capt. Bruce Belliveau.
"It's just great to come back to Canada. We've taken our values with us when we went to the Middle East, and I think we've made a big difference over there."
Belliveau said the crew saw its share of tense moments.
"Whether you're at sea or alongside in ports over there, the threat is very high. You never know when the terrorists may conduct an attack, so you have to be prepared at all times."
Many sailors ran down the gangway Friday, carrying roses for their loved ones waiting on the fogbound shore.
During the mission, boarding parties hailed 1,300 ships in the Gulf and boarded 123 as they searched for terrorist activity.
The Toronto performed 70 per cent of all boardings by the coalition in the region during the last six months.
No terrorists were found during the searches, Belliveau said in an interview via satellite-phone last week.
Since September 2001, Canada has sent 18 ships to the region to contribute to anti-terrorism missions.
The Toronto has been deployed twice in the last two years, first as part of Operation Apollo in 2002, then recently as part of Operation Altair.
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The Canadian Navy is back!!
They have another one??
They say they have two to frighten the terrorists. : )
HMCS Toronto leaves Halifax Harbour 14 Jan 2004
USS George Washington Carrier Strike Group. All five ships of the USS George Washington Carrier Strike Group seen breaking formation in the Arabian Gulf Region. In the centre, USS George Washington. Clockwise from top: USNS Supply, USS Bulkeley, HMCS TORONTO, USS Vella Gulf.
They done good, too.
Iroquois Class Guided Missile Area Defence Destroyers (DDG0:
DDH-280 HMCS Iroquois
DDH-281 HMCS Huron
DDH 282 HMCS Athabaskan
DDH-283 HMCS Algonquin
Toronto has 11 sisters.
The HALIFAX class are the work-horses of the Canadian Navy task group concept.
I'm confused. Despite the words in the article, are these military combat related aircraft, or support tacticle aircraft dropping white flags for the French, German, Russian troops to wave at the terrorists?
LOL ... Jokers.
"Let Fly"
TORONTO flys her Battle Ensign while she conducts manoeuvres with the USS George Washington Carrier Strike Group in the Arabian Gulf Region.
Manoeuvring in company. Three ships of the George Washington Carrier Strike Group seen together. From front to rear, HMCS TORONTO, USS George Washington, USS Vella Gulf.
Proceed to the vessel
The Naval Boarding Party embarks aboard a vessel in the Arabian Sea for inspection purposes.
Thank you, Canada. Any help is appreciated.
Not all is smooth sailing
TORONTO experienced some rough weather on her first days out of Halifax on OP ALTAIR
Thank you.
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