The Canadian Department of National Defence said the HMCS Vancouver, a Halifax-class frigate deployed in the Indo-Pacific, has completed a forward rearmament while deployed abroad under Operation Horizon.
The exercise was performed at the Broome Port Jetty in Western Australia and involved months of coordination and execution with the Australian Defence Force and members of the Australian Defence Industry, with planning commencing in January. The ammunition used to rearm the vessel was transported from Canada aboard a Royal Canadian Air Force CC-177 Globemaster to Darwin, where it was moved to Broome.
The activity marks a milestone in the North American nation’s capability to rearm away from home. “The work that the sailors, aviators and soldiers serving aboard HMCS Vancouver completed will be used as an example of how much we can achieve as a navy working with our allies around the world,” said Cdr. Tyson Bergmann, commanding officer of HMCS Vancouver.
The Halifax-class warship is one of three ships deployed by the Canadian government in the region. Before joining Operation Horizon, HMCS Vancouver participated in the biennial Exercise Rim of the Pacific 2024 in Hawaii.