Sailors onboard Royal Canadian Navy Halifax-class frigate HMCS Montréal (FFH 336) in the Mediterranean Sea are among 1,375 Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) deployed to Europe in support of NATO’s Operation Reassurance guarding the Alliance’s Eastern Flank. The vessel has participated in several NATO missions, patrolling the Atlantic Ocean as part of Standing Naval Force Atlantic (STANAVFORLANT) and its successor Standing NATO Response Force Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1). Since 2014, the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) have deployed a frigate on a persistent rotational basis to be employed for exercises and operational tasks in the NATO Maritime Command’s areas of responsibility.
On January 19, 2022, HMCS Montreal departed Halifax for Europe to join with Standing NATO Maritime Group 2. On March 19, 2022, HMCS Halifax departed Halifax for Europe to join with Standing NATO Maritime Group 1. HMCS Montreal and Halifax’s deployments are part of a range of military activities undertaken by the CAF to support NATO assurance and deterrence measures. These activities include the provision of military capabilities for training, exercises, demonstrations and assigned NATO tasks and demonstrate Canada’s commitment to promote security and stability in Central and Eastern Europe.
The Canadian Armed Forces has members serving on Operation REASSURANCE in Central and Eastern Europe. They are there as part of NATO assurance and deterrence measures. These measures aim to reinforce NATO’s collective defence. It also shows the strength of Allied solidarity. During this operation, the CAF is conducting training, exercises, and some NATO-specific tasks. The CAF support to NATO helps make Central and Eastern Europe more secure and stable. It also shows that the CAF is a professional force that is ready for any task.
HMCS Montréal is a Halifax-class frigate that has served in the Canadian Forces since 1993. Montréal is the seventh ship in her class which is based on the Canadian Patrol Frigate Project. She is the second vessel to carry the designation HMCS Montreal. She is assigned to Maritime Forces Atlantic ( MARLANT ) and is homeported at CFB Halifax. Montréal serves on MARLANT missions protecting Canada’s sovereignty in the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans and enforcing Canadian laws in its territorial sea and Exclusive Economic Zone. The vessel is designated as a Bilingual Language Unit in the Royal Canadian Navy.
