[GOC]: Operation Projection 1

[Nathan]

Operation Projection 1999-2000 ​ Objectives​ Forward deployment of Canadian Armed Forces​ Rapid Response Force​ Status​ Ongoing​ Deployed Assets ​ Royal Canadian Navy ​ HMCS Halifax (FFG330) 181 Ratings, 7 Officers 2 RHIBS Armament 8 × MK 141 Harpoon SSM 16 × Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile SAM/SSM 1 × Bofors 57 mm Mk 3 gun 1 × Phalanx CIWS (Mk 15 Mod 21 (Block 1B)) 6 × .50 calibre machine guns (M2HB-QCB) 24 × Mk 46 torpedoes Mod 5 HMCS Iroquois 258 Naval Crew 30 Aircrew from 423 Maritime Helicopter Squadron 1x Sea King Helicopter 2 x RHIBS Armaments 32 × VLS, Standard SM-2MR Block IIIA SAMs 1 × 76 mm (3 in)/62 OTO Melara 6 × 12.75 in (324 mm) tubes firing Mark 46 Mod 5 torpedoes 1 × Phalanx CIWS (Block 1B) 6 × M2 Browning machine guns HMCS Protecteur 320 Naval Crew In addition, 45 Crew from 423 Maritime Helicopter Squadron 2 x Sea King Helicopters 2 x RHIBs Armaments 2 x 20mm Phalanx CIWS 6 x .50 calibre machine guns Royal Canadian Airforce 423 Maritime Helicopter Squadron Total 17 (9 Aircrew, 8 Officers) 1 Sea King Helicopter Based onboard HMCS Halifax Fleet Ready Escort (High Readiness Standby) ​ Royal Canadian Navy HMCS Vancouver (FFG331) 181 Ratings, 17 Officers​ 2 RHIBS Standby Location: CFB Esquimalt ​ Armament 8 × MK 141 Harpoon SSM​ 16 × Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile SAM/SSM​ 1 × Bofors 57 mm Mk 3 gun​ 1 × Phalanx CIWS (Mk 15 Mod 21 (Block 1B))​ 6 × .50 calibre machine guns (M2HB-QCB)​ 24 × Mk 46 torpedoes Mod 5​ ​ ​ 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron Total 17 (9 Aircrew, 8 Officers) 1 Sea King Helicopter Based onboard HMCS Vancouver​

 

[Nathan]

Departing ​ Zulu Time: 12:30pm The docks of CFB Halifax bustled with activity as last minute provisions, supplies and ammunition was brought onto the port's namesake ship HMCS Halifax. The logistics officer was on deck checking off each of the supplies brought onboard with the crew forming a large human conveyor belt between the gangway and the ships hold. Captain James Phillips meanwhile was on the port side with a TV News crew "Thank you for speaking to us Captain, what is the purpose of this deployment?" "This deployment marks the first major deployment of a Royal Canadian Navy warship in many years. Our goal is simple, to protect the interests of Canada while engaging with the international community. The deployment is to give Canada a first response capability to any major international crisis and to ensure that Canada can continue to exercise our freedom of the Seas. "Where are you going?" "Wherever the winds take us. Our first stop will be the Mediterranean, which is a area of the world that Canada has not been too for many years. We hope to conduct many goodwill visits along the way, show off the finest Canadian engineering and make new friends along the way. We have the scope to deploy anywhere internationally, whether on our own or with other elements of the Canadian Forces. All in all, my men are excited to explore the world, which is what most of them signed up for." "Thank you Captain" Preparations took a few more hours, as sunset begun to creep in. The RCN ship was now ready to go. Against the orange glow of sunset, some of crew mounted their positions along the side of their ships in their formal wear. Standing too attention, they lined the ship bow to stern. Essential crew remained on duty in the bridge, engine room and other essential functions. Sailors in full body armour mounted the General Purpose Machine guns on Deck, others carried C7 Rifles for self defence. The Sea King helicopter remained parked in the hanger, the RHIBS firmly stored on the ship's davits. With the command given from the captain, the ship slipped it's moorings and begun it's long awaited departure for the Mediterranean. Along the river banks, hundreds of regular Canadians, the ships friends and family had turned out to wave the crew off as they slipped into the sunset. Travel Map FN>GN>HN>IM Two Encrypted messages have been sent to both the United Kingdom and the state of Israel United Kingdom "Dear Ministry Of Defence" A Canadian warship vessel, HMCS Halifax, is currently on operations. The ship will be patrolling the Mediterranean. Our vessel will require refuelling midway to it's destination. With your kind permission, we would like to use the Port of Gibraltar to facilitate this. If permission is granted, we will rearm, refuel and depart within 48 hours. We intend to host a ceremonial function on board to which local dignitaries and citizens will be invited to attend. We will also host tours of the vessel" Kind Regards, Simon Welsh, Canadian Prime Minister" Jamie Israel "Dear Ministry Of Defence" A Canadian warship vessel, HMCS Halifax, is currently on operations. The ship will be patrolling the Mediterranean. Our vessel wishes to pay a visit to your nation. With your kind permission, we would like to use the Port of Haifa to facilitate this. If permission is granted, we will rearm, refuel and depart within 48 hours. We intend to host a ceremonial function on board to which local dignitaries and citizens will be invited to attend. We will also host tours of the vessel" Kind Regards, Simon Welsh, Canadian Prime Minister" Zak

 

[Zak]

With permission given from the Ministry of Defence to the Canadian Government, preparations would be undertaken by the Ministry of Defence with the security aspects raised by the Canadian Government. It was decided that after various meetings between high ranking officials that the 644th "Erez" Military Police Battalion would be activated under the banner of the Ministry of Defence to provide security over the event being undertaken at the Port of Haifa. The two hundred and seventy five personnel attached to the battalion had been briefed of the event and security aspects in relation to prevention of terrorism and it was decided that personnel would wear full uniform including bulletproof vests whilst carrying a fully loaded M4A1 carbine assault rifle or IWI Tavor TAR-21 depending on personal preference alongside a Jericho 941 sidearm with three extra magazines for each weapon.

Military Police Officer standing guard at Port of Haifa entrance conducting ID checks​

The Government of Israel had restricted access to certain areas of the port and only a number of dignitaries had been invited to the event including students of the National Security Studies Center at the University of Haifa which numbered at sixty six, a number of local residents numbering at one hundred and two & various officials from the Ministry of Defence and also attending was Deputy Prime Minister and Internal Security Minister Ayelet Shaked. Local residents and students attending the event would be background checked and given security clearance by Shin Bet (Israel's internal security agency.) who would also have undercover assets on the ground to secure important infrastructure and prevent and gather intelligence on any potential terror incidents which may affect the security of the event.

Ayelet Shaked, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Internal Security​

Nathan

 

[Nathan]

A Backup Option
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With HMCS Halifax now occupied with the Chinese warship and Mediterranean Sea tensions at boiling point, Operation Projection has now been changed to a different force. This will allow HMCS Halifax to deal with the incident at sea while allowing the mission to go ahead. HMCS Halifax will instead become the Atlantic Fleet Ready Escort vessel. The objective, is to provide a emergency response force to evacuate Canadian citizens if required. With orders received from the Minister of Defence, an additional two ships will now deploy to the region. HMCS Protecteur (A509) and HMCS Iroquois (DDG280) have been selected for this role. There has been no public comment on the destination of these ships, however the crew have told locals they are infact going on a training exercise into the Mediterranean Sea.

HMCS Iroquois
258 Naval Crew
30 Aircrew from 423 Maritime Helicopter Squadron
1x Sea King Helicopter
2 x RHIBS

Armaments

32 × VLS, Standard SM-2MR Block IIIA SAMs
1 × 76 mm (3 in)/62 OTO Melara
6 × 12.75 in (324 mm) tubes firing Mark 46 Mod 5 torpedoes
1 × Phalanx CIWS (Block 1B)
6 × M2 Browning machine guns

HMCS Protecteur
320 Naval Crew
In addition, 45 Crew from 423 Maritime Helicopter Squadron
2 x Sea King Helicopters
2 x RHIBs

Full Capacity of Fuel, Ammunition and dry cargo (food, water etc)

Armaments

2 x 20mm Phalanx CIWS
6 x .50 calibre machine guns

The vessels will travel in close formation with HMCS Iroquois leading the way. The ships will travel with active radar and sonar. Countermeasures (flares and chaff) will remain loaded in their canisters at all times.

They will travel using route FN>GM>HM>IM

 

[Nathan]

With confirmation from the British government received, HMCS Protecteur and HMCS Iroquois would move side by side at the entrance to the Gibraltar straight. With their speed and course successfully matched. A wire is fired from Protecteur to the crew on Iroquois. With precision, the line is picked up and tied to the fuel receiving hatch on the Iroquois. With the line succesfully established, a paddleboard is raised before the fuel hose is pulled along the rope. The two ships continue to match speed and course the entire time, allowing the hose to be inserted into Iroquois, with another wave of the battle. The fuelling begins. Resupplies of flares, chaff and ammo is brought onboard as well as fresh stores and supplies via rope transfer and using the 2 ships Sea Kings to underslung transfers from deck to deck

With refuelling complete, the hose and lines are returned to Protecteur before the two ships part ways. HMCS Protecteur would pull into the port of Gibraltar, it's off duty men lining the sides of the ship in formal outfits as the ship enters the port. With careful seamanship the ship would berth in it's assigned area. Local companies and fuel is acquired for the ship ensuring it is once again fully stocked.

HMCS Iroquois continues on towards Israel following route JM>KM. It's radar and sonar remains on and its chaff and flares ready to fire at a moments notice. All use of personal communication and electronic devices has been prohibited onboard. The course will involve many random zig zags to prevent trailing by undesired forces.

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[Nathan]

With the port of Haifa now in site. HMCS Iroquois would continue to steam into the port. Due to the current climate, crew mounted weapons would be loaded and manned on the deck of Iorquois, it's chaff and flare launchers ready to fire at a moments notice. With careful navigation, the ship would dock into the port of Haifa. The ship would ensure to choose a berth closet to the exit of the port, facing towards the exit to allow a swift exit if needed.

Unlike the initial plan, public tours of the ship will be suspended for the time being. Crew with assault rifles would patrol the deck and infared cameras would search the waters around them. For the official function, a marque will be erected on the dock next to the ship. All crew are forbidden to drink alcohol, but for the guests the alcohol would be free flowing. All invited guests will be served canapés. A formal/military dress code has been implemented. The Canadian ambassador to Israel and embassy staff have arrived as guests. Once the Israeli guests arrive, the party will begin. Canadian tourist posters and information stands about the Canadian Defence Industries have been put up as well as a picture of the Queen.

Zak

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HMCS Protecteur has now left Gibraltar after refuelling. it will remain in the area of JM.

 

[Nathan]

With the port visit completed, HMCS Iroquois would work to dismantle the party marque before boarding their ship and departing back out to sea. Only once the ship was clear of the coastline would the defensive gunners on deck be stood down. The ships radar and sonar remain on and scanning for potential threats over the horizon. The ship will now patrol the area of KM, but remaining south of Cyprus and in international waters

HMCS Halifax upon arriving at HMCS Protecteurs location would quickly refuel it's stores and fuel. Upon refuelling, both ships will make the journey (JM>KM) to the area of the sea just below Greece. The ship will patrol from the westernly side of KM, but remaining west of Cyprus. HMCS Halifax will keep it's radar and sonar on throughout the patrol. All ships will be at heightened state of awareness with flare and chaff ready to fire. They will arrive in 20 hours time.

 

[Nathan]

With the situation in the Med now over, The deployed forces have now begun to transit home to their respective home ports.
HMCS Protecteur, HMCS Halifax (FFG330) and HMCS Iroquois will follow each other in a single file convoy via IM, HM, GM, FN. The journey home will take 40 hours. Prior to departing, HMCS Protecteceur refuels HMCS Haliax and Iroquois in order to fill their tanks. Onboard, there will be enough fuel in storage for Protecteur to refuel itself.

The ships will leave on their navigational radar. HMCS iroquois will also leave on it's long range radar. Chaff and flares remain ready to be fired at a moments notice.

Operation Protection I is now a completed operation.

 

[Nathan]

The 3 Canadian warships would slowly enter Halifax on a foggy spring morning. The fog would be in close but the expert skill of the pilots and the ships crew would allow all the vessels to carefully negotiation the entry to port. All 3 ships would have their crews lining the sides of the vessels while a 21 gun salute in fired.

Along the banks of the river, hundreds of Canadians would be on the sides waving Canadian flags and applauding the crew as the ships towered out of the fog. It would take some time for the 3 ships to negotiate into their berths. Once alongside, the crew would dismount the vessel once all necessary chores and shut down procedures are followed. Allowing the crew to reunite with their familes.