Canadian anti-submarine drill Cutlass Fury concludes

The inaugural edition of the Royal Canadian Navy-hosted anti-submarine exercise Cutlass Fury has concluded.

More than 3,000 personnel from five partner nations took part in the joint maritime training event conducted off the coasts of Halifax, Nova Scotia, and St. John’s, Newfoundland, from September 12 to 23. The ships are now in Newfoundland where they are on a port visit and a post-exercise conference.

The high-tempo training conducted over the last two weeks was an opportunity for allies to work together to sharpen skills in advanced anti-submarine warfare. Cutlass Fury is aimed at improving operational readiness of the Canadian Armed Forces by enhancing cooperation and interoperability as well as strengthening the combat effectiveness between Canada’s military and its allies in the North Atlantic.

Cutlass Fury 2016 has included 11 ships, three submarines and approximately 25 aircraft from Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Spain and France.

Canadian participants included HMCS Fredericton, Athabaskan, Goose Bay, and Summerside, as well as HMC Submarine Windsor. Royal Canadian Air Force air units from Bagotville, Comox, Greenwood, Shearwater, Ottawa, and Winnipeg.

Commander Yves Tremblay, Commanding Officer of HMCS Fredericton, said: “HMCS Fredericton was honoured to be one of the Task Group flagships throughout the exercise and the ship’s company rose to the challenge. Being able to track submarines, defend against air attacks, operate the Sea King by the embarked air crew, and train the newly formed enhanced naval boarding party speaks volumes about the high calibre of our sailors and airmen and women, and the state-of-the-art capabilities of the modernized frigates.”

Cutlass Fury will be hosted bi-annually by Maritime Forces Atlantic.