Cablegate: Hmcs Fredericton to Join Nato Coalition Fleets

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PP RUEHGA RUEHMT RUEHQU RUEHVC
DE RUEHHA #0061 2791749
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P R 061749Z OCT 09
FM AMCONSUL HALIFAX
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1431
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PRIORITY 0639
INFO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 0003
RUCNCAN/ALL CANADIAN POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUEHHA/AMCONSUL HALIFAX 1524

UNCLAS HALIFAX 000061

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/CAN, PM/ISO

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MOPS MARR PREL PTER PINR CA
SUBJECT: HMCS FREDERICTON TO JOIN NATO COALITION FLEETS

1. Her Majesty's Canadian Ship (HMCS) Fredericton will depart
Halifax in late November for a six-month mission to the Arabian
Sea and Indian Ocean as part of NATO's counter-piracy group.
The NATO group is a multinational, integrated maritime force
consisting of vessels from various NATO nations that train and
operate together as a single team. Fredericton will also
contribute to the NATO anti-terrorism maritime group, a
multinational, coalition fleet conducting maritime security
operations in and around the Persian Gulf, the northern Arabian
Sea, the Gulf of Oman, the Gulf of Aden, and part of the Indian
Ocean and the Red Sea.

2. In making the announcement of Fredericton's deployment on
October 5, Canadian Defence Minister Peter MacKay said this
contribution demonstrates the importance that Canada attaches to
international maritime security and its willingness, along with
Canada's international partners, to continue the fight against
piracy, and thus increase the level of security in the Arabian
Sea region.

3. Commissioned in 1994, HMCS Fredericton is a 4,750-metric ton
multi-role frigate, one of seven based in Halifax. It has a
crew of 240 and includes a Sea King helicopter and air
detachment. The ship has been working up since spring in
preparation for this deployment. See
http://www.navy.forces.gc.ca/fredericton for additional
information about the ship.

4. BIO NOTE: Fredericton's Commanding Officer, Commander
Steven Wadell is on his third deployment to the region. He
previously served aboard HMCS Algonquin and as Executive Officer
of HMCS Winnipeg during deployments to SW Asia and the Persian
Gulf. He commanded HMCS Charlottetown from June 2008 until
being named to the command of Fredericton in early 2009.

HILL

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