Atlantic Canada To Be Site Of International Naval Exercise

A major naval exercise involving warships from Canada, UK, US and other NATO countries is scheduled to begin this week off the coast of Atlantic Canada. CFB Gagetown in New Brunswick will provide a location for simulated bombing runs by Royal Navy Harrier Jump Jets flying off HMS Ark Royal

For the next two weeks, a major naval exercise involving about 20 different warships will unfold off the Atlantic coast.

It marks the first time that Canada will command an exercise of this magnitude from ashore with its own senior naval officers at the helm.

"You don't often get the training opportunities of this magnitude and it has been several years since Canada has led an exercise of this magnitude," said Major James Simiana at Maritime Forces Atlantic in Halifax.

"It is spectacular by any measure and it's a huge training opportunity for our sailors as well as the ones aboard allied vessels."

The exercise - dubbed Halcyon RV - will involve more than 5,000 sailors aboard the staggering number of destroyers, frigates and Maritime Coastal Defence vessels.

Task groups from Canada, the United States, Britain and NATO are all involved.

By: Shelldrake