[CAN] The Whisky War

[Alex]

Hans Island, Kennedy Channel, Arctic Circle​

Operation: Crown Royal Whiskey War Classified & Encrypted​

Operation Information

Hans Island is in the middle of the Kennedy Channel between Greenland and Ellesmere Island. A theoretical line in the middle of the strait goes through the island. Since the 1930s, the island has been in the middle of a disagreement between the Kingdom of Denmark and Canada. Canada and Denmark could not come to terms on Hans Island in 1973 when a border treaty was signed, leaving a gap in its border description. In 1984, Canada landed on the island with friendly intentions, planting its flag on the island and leaving a bottle of Canadian whisky. The Danish Minister of Greenland Affairs came to the island himself the same year with the Danish flag and a bottle of Snaps and a letter stating 'Welcome to the Danish Island'. Since then, the island has been left alone. However, with the new government having entered power, it was the hopes of Peter MacKay that Denmark and Canada would be able to revive this friendly back-and-forth regarding the island. The government has authorized for a single ship, equipped with a helicopter, a flag and a bottle of Crown Royal whiskey, to make the journey from CFB St. John's up to the island to land, put the Canadian flag and leave their bottle of whiskey before returning home to St. John's. The ship would follow the planned route of: GN > GO > GP > FQ > FR.

Deployed Forces
CFB St. John's HCMS Brian Mulroney (Halifax-class frigate)​ 229 Personnel x1 AS565SA Panther Helicopter x2 RHIBs x1 Canadian Flag x1 Bottle of Crown Royal Whiskey x1 Letter for the Danish HCMS Terry Fox (Terry Fox-class Icebreaker)​ 24 Personnel

 

[Alex]

HCMS Terry Fox in the Labrador Sea
​

Secret
In the newly constructed naval base, CFB St. John's, HCMS Brian Mulroney and HCMS Terry Fox waited in port. The 253 personnel set for the operation had had a good night's rest before the departure to set sail to Hans Island, the navy assured that both ships were fully fueled, fully supplied, and fully equipped. The Halifax-class frigate was equipped with 2 RHIBs and an AS565SA Panther helicopter (which was also assured to be fully fueled and supplied) to serve as a transport helicopter alongside other utility jobs. The Terry Fox-class icebreaker would be equipped with two lifeboats alongside every piece of equipment that they would need to lead the way through the spring Arctic ice to allow the frigate to reach its destination.

Furthermore, a Canadian flag, a single bottle of Crown Royal whiskey and a letter written by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Edward Reid were aboard the HCMS Brian Mulroney.

When all final preparations were made and the two ships were ready to make their journey they left CFB St. John's. HCMS Terry Fox took lead, going a steady 14 knots through clear waters and would slow to 3 knots when met with thick ice. HCMS Brian Mulroney would follow closely, but at a safe distance to prevent collision and assure that both ships would have ample warning if either needed to make an emergency stop or if they needed to change speeds. However, the distance between the ships would not be so far that the frigate would fall behind in possible re-frozen ice. HCMS Brian Mulroney would follow at speeds of 14 knots in clear waters and 3 knots when met with thick ice, the distance between the ships allowing for such speeds without issues.

The ships would follow their planned route and would reach their destination in roughly five days. They would remain in international waters and whenever possible, Canadian waters.

 

[Alex]

Crew of HCMS Brian Mulroney Raising the Canadian Flag on Hans Island
​

Secret
The journey from CFB St. John's up the Labrador Sea and into the Artic Circle was a long one but overall uneventful. The icebreaker, HCMS Terry Fox continued to lead HCMS Brian Mulroney through the ice. The Halifax-class frigate would adjust its speeds as necessary, lowering speed when they began going through ice and gaining speed when they reached clear waters. Both ships would assure that they remained at a distance that assured safety both from possible collision and from the frigate being left behind or stuck in ice. When the two ships saw Hans Island in the distance, they prepared the AS565SA Panther helicopter with gear and fuel to land on the island.

When the two ships were no less than three kilometers from the center of the island, the helicopter would be filled with the following supplies: a Canadian flag, a bottle of Crown Royal whisky, and a large bag built to survive harsh Arctic weather. Alongside these supplies were the pilot and co-pilot and seven of the crew of HCMS Brian Mulroney. Before take-off, the pilots would assure that the helicopter was fully fueled and not damaged in any way nor had any mechanical errors. When everyone was aboard and prepared, the supplies were secured to the aircraft's floor and wall to assure they would not slip anywhere, the crew put on their seatbelts and all doors were shut for safety purposes alongside keeping the cold out of the vehicle.

The helicopter safely lifted off HCMS Brian Mulroney's helipad and made its way towards Hans Island, meanwhile the frigate and HCMS Terry Fox would come closer to Hans Island. The ships would remain close to the island, but far enough to avoid any potential collision with the seabed. The helicopter reached Hans Island shortly before the two ships reached their destination and found an open and flat area to land down safely near the old flagpole that was left back in 1984. From there, the helicopter was turned off, and the crew disembarked with their supplies once the blades stopped turning.

Using the cables that kept the pole up, the crew brought down the pole, and took off the Danish flag. The Canadians carefully and respectfully folded up the flag and gently placed it inside the bag that they had brought with them. Alongside the flag in the bag was the bottle of Crown Royal whisky and the letter that had been written for the Danish. Once the Danish flag was inside the bag, they securely attached the Canadian flag to the pole and brought it back up using the same cables. The Canadian flag itself was made of a hard and somewhat thick material, enabling it to remain shown and sturdy with or without the wind for all to see. Lastly, as the flagpole was brought back up to its former position, one of the crew took a picture of the event for the newspapers of Canada.

Before they left, the crew placed the large bag against the flagpole and secured it with various rocks to assure that the bag wouldn't be blown away by potential strong winds. The bag itself was also waterproof, assuring the contents within were safe from potential water damage or even destruction. When this was done, they all re-entered the helicopter, taking the precautions that they had before liftoff from the frigate. Back in the air, the helicopter returned to the frigate, with the air of the air crew on the frigate itself, they slowly and safely landed back onto the helipad. The helicopter was turned off and once its blades stopped turning all the crew exited. The air crew of the frigate fold the blades of the helicopter and with the aid of the pilots they led the helicopter to the safety of the ship's hangar, where the helicopter would be tied down and secured.

Once this was completed, the two ships would continue at the same pace, speeds, and distances from each other that they had when they were making their way to Hans Island. The ships would make a U-turn around the island, entering the EEZ of Greenland for only a moment before re-entering Canadian waters and following the path of FR > FQ > GP > GO > GN back to CFB St. John's.

_____

For the eventuality of the Danish re-arriving to the island, the contents of the letter provided inside the bag and within a white envelope would be as follows:

To the people of the Kingdom of Denmark,

Welcome to Canada.

Enjoy your stay and please share a glass of our famous whisky provided inside this bag with your brothers and sisters.

Kindest Regards,
The Honourable
Paul Okalik
Premier of the Nunavut Territory

Nathan

 

[Alex]

Secret
Now have been just over five days, the two ships would have finally reached warmer waters and were finally able to return home to CFB St. John's. Upon their arrival to the base, the two ships would be emptied of their supplies and equipment and refueled for future use. The helicopter used would be returned to the hangars and reviewed for any potential damage. Lastly, the crews of HCMS Brian Mulroney and HCMS Terry Fox would all return back to the barracks and enjoy some off-time before eventually having to return to full-time duties as members of the Royal Canadian Navy.

Both ships would be safely and securely returned to storage at the base, awaiting future usage.

Operation: Crown Royal would officially be finished.