Thanks, Charlottetown - Great job!

By Charmion Chaplin-Thomas (CEFCOM PA) and Sub-Lieutenant Dianne Michon (MARLANT PA)

Sometime between midnight and dawn on 2 May 2008, HMCS Charlottetown cruised past the Atlantic wave marking — for a heartbeat of time — the intersection of 44’ 01” north latitude and 042’ 10” west longitude. At that moment, Charlottetown and her crew of 225 sailors, air personnel and officers left the Canadian Expeditionary Force Command (CEFCOM) area of responsibility and entered that of Maritime Command Atlantic. They’re in the home stretch now.

The Halifax-based frigate has just completed a six-month deployment on Operation ALTAIR, Canada’s maritime contribution to the United States-led Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. Since late November 2007, when she arrived in the Persian Gulf-Arabian Sea region, Charlottetown has been operating with Combined Task Force 150, the coalition fleet conducting the international campaign against terrorism in that area.

In a substantial “Bravo Zulu” message issued on 1 May 2008, Lieutenant-General Michel Gauthier, commander of CEFCOM, wrote, “Charlottetown’s role in denying the maritime environment to those who support terrorism has been an example for all coalition forces to emulate. Responsive and effective, Charlottetown has played a leading role in CTF 150 … counter-terrorism operations. Charlottetown is also to be commended for coming to the aid of no less than 25 distressed mariners, undoubtedly preserving lives at sea. … Charlottetown has squarely met all challenges and brought great credit to Canada throughout her deployment.”

Before heading home, HMCS Charlottetown will visit St. John’s, the capital of Newfoundland and Labrador, for a weekend port visit beginning on Saturday, May 3, 2008.

“After a very successful deployment in the Gulf region, my crew is quite excited to have the opportunity to make a quick stop in St. John’s and take part in the Battle of the Atlantic ceremony,” said Commander Patrick St-Denis, Charlottetown’s commanding officer. Regarding the deployment, Cdr St-Denis remarked that “the crew members excelled at all their tasks while deployed on Operation ALTAIR. Charlottetown continues to live up to the ship’s motto ‘All Challenges Squarely Met’.”

While in St. John’s, the Charlottetown crew will participate in the annual Battle of the Atlantic Sunday parade, which will take place on 4 May 2008. The sailors will march with contingents from Canadian Forces Station St. John’s and HMCS Cabot, the St. John’s division of the Naval Reserve, departing from the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary headquarters on Parade Street at 10:20 a.m. and arriving at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, where a memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m.

Viewers of CBC Television have a chance to see HMCS Charlottetown at work in the Persian Gulf. “The Forgotten Front”, a video feature by Eric Foss, will appear on CBC News: Sunday Night at 10:00 p.m. and on CBC Newsworld at 9:00 p.m. on 4 May 2008. The video is also available on line at http://www.cbc.ca/sunday/2008/04/041308_1.html.