Forces to get rid of navy's supply ships

Esquimalt-based vessels unable to refuel at sea for 2 years; Patrol planes also ditched in cost-cutting

 

David Pugliese, CanWest News Service

Published: Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Victoria Times

 

The Canadian Forces plans to get rid of its two refuelling and supply ships, one of which is based at CFB Esquimalt, a move that will leave the navy unable to refuel vessels at sea for at least two years until replacements are built.

 

The recommendation is part of a military plan to pare down its ships, surveillance aircraft and helicopters to help pay for new equipment in the future. The cuts include six Aurora maritime patrol aircraft and one Iroquois-class destroyer -- moves that will also have an impact on the Island. Five of the military's 18 Auroras are based at CFB Comox, while one of its three destroyers is based at CFB Esquimalt.

 

The plan, which is contained in the Conservatives' "Canada First" defence strategy, calls for the military to phase out the destroyer and the two supply ships -- Esquimalt-based HMCS Protecteur and Halifax-based HMCS Preserver -- over the next three to four years.

 

The defence strategy acknowledges that the Joint Support Ship, the replacement for the existing refuelling vessels will not be in the water until at least 2012. But it says the navy will somehow "manage the risk" of operating without refueling and supply ships for a two-year period.

 

The cuts are necessary, the paper says, in order to fund new "much-needed" purchases. It highlights previously announced plans to buy medium-lift helicopters, tactical and strategic airlift planes and aerial drones, as well as search and rescue and northern utility aircraft. The military will also look at the eventual replacement of CF-18 fighters, according to the strategy paper, which has yet to be made public.

 

In the document, Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor acknowledges that the military must make "difficult decisions," but argues it must "consider the pressing needs of the military against other government priorities."

 

Starting this year, the military will start taking its Griffon helicopters out of service. The 20- to 25-per-cent reduction of the 85 Griffons will free personnel and money to buy Boeing Chinook helicopters.

 

As it gets rid of the Auroras, the air force will purchase approximately 12 aerial drones to be located at CFB Comox and CFB Greenwood in Nova Scotia for domestic surveillance and overseas operations. The first of those will be in operation starting in 2008. The purchase of longer-range drones would be considered in the future.

 

Work will be stopped on the ongoing $900 million modernization program for the Aurora, and the remaining aircraft will be re-assigned to Arctic sovereignty patrols.

 

Liberal Senator Colin Kenny, chairman of the senate's defence committee, criticized the government's plan to scrap the Aurora, saying it won't provide proper surveillance on the coast.

 

According to the report, the navy will also begin work on the acquisition of the future surface combatant fleet, a new type of vessel that will come into service in 2018. The army will get rid of most of its Air Defence Anti-tank Systems (ADATS), a ground-based air defence missile system, keeping them just long enough to provide protection for the 2010 Winter Olympics in B.C.

Hi Herman,

 

Can you, or another of our northern friends give us a brief synopsis of the "Canada First" defence (yes defense with a "c") strategy.

 

Thanks

Pete, you can find out more here.

 

Be advised, though, Canadian defence strategy tends to be kinda wispy.