Let me interject a bit on the integration of Canadian ships into US CVBGs. I sailed with HMCS Calgary in 2000 during the PACMEF in the Persian Gulf. Let me just say this for the record that we did every bit as much as the Americans did. Without going into specifics, I know that Calgary took on missions that were very novel for the time and for this the ship was recognized. It was partly because of our training and partly because of our inebriated spirit that we were recognized by RAdm. Buck for a job well done. He personally flew down with a briefcase full of CPSMs for the ship's company and he presented them to us in New Zealand prior to Armistice Day. Long story short, we worked well with the Americans and maintained a good working rapport until we separated and headed for home after the Cole bombing.
CPFs are truly a multi-role ship and I will put them up against a steamer any day for capability and reliability. Those things needed to go because they were getting old. The oldest CPF is now approaching the 15 year mark, and FELEX will hopefully take it the rest of the way. Canada needed and still needs new ships, but they are just so capital intensive now that the politicians can take their time while the Navy rusts away. I did my last sail on Algonquin, whose sister ship Huron was just recently decommissioned, those things are now old and should go the way of Huron. I hope that the current trend of replacing the broken junk holds so that Canada can continue to have a truly world class navy and continue to operate with our elephantine southern neighbour.
CPFs are truly a multi-role ship and I will put them up against a steamer any day for capability and reliability. Those things needed to go because they were getting old. The oldest CPF is now approaching the 15 year mark, and FELEX will hopefully take it the rest of the way. Canada needed and still needs new ships, but they are just so capital intensive now that the politicians can take their time while the Navy rusts away. I did my last sail on Algonquin, whose sister ship Huron was just recently decommissioned, those things are now old and should go the way of Huron. I hope that the current trend of replacing the broken junk holds so that Canada can continue to have a truly world class navy and continue to operate with our elephantine southern neighbour.