Cdn warships arrive in Florida

Canadian Press via Sun Media ^

[Clive]

PENSACOLA, Fla. (CP) - A hurricane relief convoy of three Canadian warships pulled alongside a pier at a U.S. navy base in Pensacola on Monday after a six-day journey from Halifax.

The ships - HMCS Athabaskan, Toronto and Ville de Quebec - were carrying thousands of tonnes of relief supplies, everything from blankets and diapers to generators. They

will be in port for at least a day before heading farther into the disaster zone left by hurricane Katrina.

Lt.-Cmdr. Elissa Smith of the U.S. navy said the Canadians will likely be employed in shore projects such as cleaning up schools in Gulfport and Biloxi, Miss.

Smith said a Canadian Coast Guard vessel, the icebreaker Sir William Alexander, is en route and will have the task of restoring navigational buoys swept away by Katrina.

[Enchante]

Sure glad that Canada could send an icebreaker to the Gulf of Mexico!! That'll be real handy there.....

All kidding aside, the help is much appreciated and shows neighbors can put aside differences to help each other.... and I'm sure the icebreaker can do plenty of useful things beside clear lanes to the Arctic....

[slapshot]

Thank you Canada

Despite the loony govt. they have, everyday Canucks (and I use that in a positive endearing manner eh), especially those raised outside Toronto, Ottowa, and Montreal environs,are generally very supportive of the US and will be with us when we need them i.e "when the gloves are dropped".

I worked with the RCAF in Cold Lake Alberta (aptly named) when I was employed by my rich uncle part time (NG).

Thanks and I am tipping a labatts for you Canadians for your support. Keep your head you cement heads eh??..

[steveyp]

Canada?

[Trajan88]

Props to the land of the maple leaf!

[Old Seadog]

Typical Canadian Warship

[Eagle Eye]

Aha! That's what those USN LCATs were unloading, the Canadian Fleet.

[MD_Willington_1976]

LOL..not quite

Guided Missile Area Air Defence Destroyer

http://www.navy.forces.gc.ca/mspa_fleet/irq_tour_ac_e.asp

[pointsal]

Wool blankets in New Orleans...

[AtlantaBelle]

I really wanted to say something vaguely humorous and insulting about Canadians doing anything to get to spend more time in Florida...that is ungenerous so I wont.
Thank you Canada.

[Junior]

Cdn warships arrive in Florida

Where they were promptly unloaded from their trailers and put in the water.

[NorthOf45]

LOL, not quite. Here are some shots from last Tuesday ...


General Rick Hillier, Chief of the Defence Staff, addresses the crew of HMCS Athabaskan and thanks them for all their efforts as part of Operation UNISON.


General Rick Hillier, Chief of the Defence Staff, gets some one-on-one with some the crew of HMCS Ville De Quebec.


Another shot of General Rick Hillier with some of the crew of HMCS Ville De Quebec.


HMCS Athabaskan heads out of Halifax harbour accompanied by a Sea King helicopter. HMCS Toronto, along with HMCS Athabaskan, HMCS Ville De Quebec and the Canadian Coast Guard Ship Sir William Alexander, will depart with over 1000 personnel from Joint Task Force (Atlantic) in support of Operation UNISON, which will provide humanitarian aid to the areas in the Gulf of Mexico affected by hurricane Katrina.


HMCS Athabaskan sails out of Halifax harbour.


HMCS Toronto sails out of Halifax harbour.


Departure of HMCS Athabaskan, Ville De Quebec, and Toronto. The Canadian Coast Guard Ship Sir William Alexander will also accompany the Canadian Navy ships.

[Clive]

Yes, I rather enjoyed the concept of an icebreaker on ops in the Gulf of Mexico. I am looking forward to seeing some pictures.

But note that CCGS Sir William Alexander is a light icebreaker AND a major navaids tender and the latter function will be most useful in helping to restore navigation in the Mississipi River and the Gulf ports. That is the sort of task that this vessel was designed to do.

Also, the strengthened bow of an icebreaker could possible have some use.

[NorthOf45]

A couple more images of the convoy enroute ...


USS Patuxent, centre, fuels HMCS Toronto, right, and HMCS Athabaska on the Atlantic Ocean on route to the Gulf of Mexico on Thursday. A Sea King helicopter hovers above. (CP)


Two Canadian ships restock their fuel supplies from the American tanker Patuxent. (L-R) HMCS Toronto, USS Patuxent, and HMCS Athabaskan.

Hmmm ... I guess there was a photographer in that there Sea King (seen in the first shot).

[eyespysomething]

I'm grateful for their help.

I'm also surprised as I didn't know they had so many ships.

8-)

[Squawk 8888]

http://www.navy.forces.gc.ca/mspa_fleet/fleet_home_e.asp

[Levante]

Thank you, Canada!

[-YYZ-]

Cools pics of the at-sea refueling.

In case anyone was wondering, Canada does have its own at-sea refueling capability, albeit not as large as the one in that pic, but it must not have been available, or felt to be necessary, for this mission.

Speaking as a Canadian, we're glad to be of any assistance we can in this disaster.

[NorthOf45]

In case anyone was wondering, Canada does have its own at-sea refueling capability, albeit not as large as the one in that pic, but it must not have been available, or felt to be necessary, for this mission.

True, we have one on the west coast and one on the east coast (HMCS Preserver). Preserver is currently in dry dock in Halifax so it couldn't make the trip. It did respond to provide assistance to Florida in 1992 after hurricane Andrew hit.

[NorthOf45]

In case anyone was wondering, Canada does have its own at-sea refueling capability, albeit not as large as the one in that pic, but it must not have been available, or felt to be necessary, for this mission.

True, we have one on the west coast and one on the east coast (HMCS Preserver). Preserver is currently in dry dock in Halifax so it couldn't make the trip. It did respond to provide assistance to Florida in 1992 after hurricane Andrew hit.