Operation Nanook Explained

Operation Nanook (OP NANOOK; French: Opération Nanook) is an annual sovereignty operation and manoeuvre warfare exercise conducted by the Canadian Armed Forces in the Arctic. Sovereignty patrols in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago and northern Canada are conducted by the Canadian Rangers, Canadian Coast Guard in tandem with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The exercise portion is intended to train the different elements of the Canadian Armed Forces (Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Air Force and Royal Canadian Navy) to operate in the Arctic environment.

2007

Operation Nanook 2007 was the 2007 joint exercise of Maritime Command and the Canadian Coast Guard to train for disaster and sovereignty patrols in the Arctic.[1] [2] Similar exercises have been conducted every year since.

Elements of the Canadian Coast Guard and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police joined with elements of the Canadian Forces in the exercise.[2] The, the, the, CP-140 Aurora maritime patrol aircraft, reservists from the local Canadian Rangers, and Primary Reserve soldiers from across Canada composed the Canadian Forces component.

During the exercise Summerside played a drug smuggling vessel, nicknamed MV Rusty Bucket.[2]

2008

Operation Nanook 2008 was a joint exercise of Maritime Command and the Canadian Coast Guard, held in August 2008.[3] Canada conducted a similar joint exercise, also named Operation Nanook, in 2007.

The exercise was held from 11 to 25 August 2008. Two Canadian warships and two air force planes, a CC-138 Twin Otter and a CP-140 Aurora, took part in the exercises in Canada's Arctic. The frigate, the minesweeper and the Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker travelled along the Hudson Strait. The operation extended to Davis Strait and Frobisher Bay.

There have been 18 such humanitarian operations since 2002. As more Arctic ice melts, the ships sail through uncharted waters. Emergency response times were tested for such potential disasters as oil spills, or rescue operations such as responding to cruise ship emergencies.

General Walter J. Natynczyk, Canada's chief of Defence staff, Peter MacKay, Defence Minister as well as Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, and Steven Fletcher, Member of Parliament for Charleswood–St. James–Assiniboia and Parliamentary Secretary for Health, flew to Iqaluit, Nunavut, to officially launch the exercise on 19 August 2008 and observe the process.

2009

Operation Nanook 2009 was the 2009 joint exercise of Maritime Command and the Canadian Coast Guard to train for disaster and sovereignty patrols in the Arctic.Similar exercises were held in 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2011.

The operation ran from 6 to 28 August 2009.[4] [5] In addition to CCGS Pierre Radisson the operations had the participation of elements of the Canadian Rangers, Primary Reserve soldiers from across Canada, a force of reservists composed of local residents of Nunavut, the frigate HMCS Toronto and the submarine HMCS Corner Brook, and Canadian Forces aircraft.

General Walter J. Natynczyk, Chief of Canada's Defence Staff attended the exercise.[6] On 23 August 2009, Natynczyk met in Iqaluit with Admiral Tim Sloth Jørgensen, Chief of Denmark's Defence staff.

2010

Operation Nanook 2010 was the 2010 annual joint exercise of Maritime Command and the Canadian Coast Guard to train for disaster and sovereignty patrols in the Arctic.[7] [8] [9] [10] Similar exercises were held in 2007, 2008 and 2009. The operation ran from 6 to 26 August 2010.[7] [9] Members of the Canadian Forces Primary Reserve took part in ground exercises in conjunction with Canadian Rangers. Prime Minister Stephen Harper traveled to the Arctic to observe the exercise.[7] [8] Unlike previous exercises, foreign services participated.

Participating forces

The Royal Danish Navy sent and .[10] [11] Vædderen is a frigate-sized, launched in 1996. Knud Rasmussen was commissioned in 2008, the lead ship of a class specifically designed to patrol Baffin Bay.

The United States sent and . USS Porter is a United States Navy guided missile destroyer commissioned in 1999. USCGC Alder is a United States Coast Guard buoy tender homeported in Duluth, Minnesota, on the Great Lakes.

Canada sent,,, and . Montréal is a Halifax-class frigate, commissioned in 1993. Goose Bay and Glace Bay are Kingston-class coastal defence vessels, commissioned in 1996 and 1998. Henry Larsen was the only icebreaker among the vessels.

Commentary

The Russian newspaper Pravda described the exercise as "saber rattling".[7]

2011

Operation Nanook 2011 was a military training exercise held in Canada's Arctic in August 2011.[12] [13] It was the fifth such annual exercise. Vessels from the United States Navy, United States Coast Guard and the Royal Danish Navy participated in the exercise.

Two scenarios in the exercise had military and civilian personnel simulate reacting to air and maritime emergencies.[14] While the exercise was being conducted, a commercial airplane (First Air Flight 6560) crashed while approaching Resolute Bay Airport, a short distance away from where the exercise was being held. The military personnel involved in the exercise assisted in rescue and recovery operations.[15]

2012

Operation Nanook 2012 was a military training exercise held in Canada's Arctic in August 2012.[16] It was the sixth annual exercise. Vessels from the United States Navy, United States Coast Guard and the Royal Danish Navy participated in the exercise.

One scenario simulated intercepting a "vessel of interest" in Baffin Bay.[16] Another scenario had Canadian Armed Forces simulate being dispatched to a northern community, Tsiigehtchic, to assist the Royal Canadian Mounted Police with a "security event".

2014

Operation Nanook 2014 was the eighth annual Arctic joint training exercise run by the Canadian Armed Forces and the Canadian Coast Guard.[17] [18]

Royal Danish Navy and the United States Navy vessels participated. The Canadian Rangers also participated. Overall approximately 1,000 people took part in the exercise, including local officials.

The training involved several scenarios, including sending boarding parties to an uncooperative vessel, and the simulation of rescuing the complement of a grounded cruise ship.[17] [18]

2016

Operation Nanook 2016 was the tenth annual Arctic joint training exercise run by the Canadian Armed Forces and the Canadian Coast Guard.[19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25]

Most previous iterations of Operation Nanook took place mainly in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, while this one's events were set farther west, around Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, and Whitehorse, Yukon.[24]

visited Churchill, Manitoba, North America's only deepwater port on the Arctic Ocean connected to the North American railway grid.[25]

Mieke Coppes noted that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was on an official visit overseas during the 2016 Operation Nanook, while previous Prime Minister Stephen Harper had attended all previous operations. Coppes pointed out that the cruise ship Crystal Serenity was transitting the Northwest Passage with a thousand tourists, asserting this sign of global warming should put a greater priority on the exercises.[19]

2017

Operation Nanook 2017 took place from 12 to 27 August 2017. The training exercise took place in parts of Labrador and Nunavut and incorporated more than 720 military and civilian personnel. The Nunavut exercise focused on sealift disaster preparation and simulated the destruction of a barge carrying supplies to the Rankin Inlet community. Canadian Rangers and military personnel from 38 Canadian Brigade Group based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, participated in the Nunavut operation, along with civilians from several government departments. The Labrador operation, based out of Goose Bay, Labrador, focused on northern defence and security.[26] It was the first time Labrador hosted Operation Nanook. The beginning of the Labrador operation was delayed a couple of days due to inclement weather and a damaged helicopter.[27]

The Royal Canadian Navy deployed the Halifax-class frigate Montréal and the Kingston-class coastal defence vessels and Goose Bay.[28] The Royal Canadian Air Force dedicated three CC-138 Twin Otter aircraft, three CH-146 Griffon helicopters and two CH-147 Chinook helicopters, as well as a CC-130 Hercules and CC-177 Globemaster cargo aircraft to the entire operation.[26]

2018

Operation Nanook 2018 took place from 12 August to 4 September 2018.[29]

2020

Operation Nanook 2020 took place from July to August 2020. It was scaled down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and resulted in a ban on port visits. The emphasis of that year's exercise was naval readiness, focusing on ship tracking and naval gunnery. Participating ships included,,,, HMCS Glace Bay,,, and the .[30]

2021

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, major changes were made to Operation Nanook for 2021. The training was split into two groups, with ground operations moved from the High Arctic/Nunavut to near Yellowknife, Northwest Territories in March and a second phase to take place in the late spring/early summer months. The operation required that all participants self-isolate in various regions including Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Yellowknife, and no international participation was allowed. Land forces were transported to their training sites by CH-147F Chinook helicopters.[31]

2022

The Royal Canadian Navy deployed three ships to the Arctic, HMCS Harry DeWolf, Goose Bay and . Ships from the United States, French and Danish navies also took part. Lasting two months, the operation included scientific trials and patrols of the Northwest Passage.[32]

Notes and References

  1. News: HMCS Fredericton participates in Iqaluit Community Days . . 5 September 2007 . 23 October 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110609183910/http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/commun/ml-fe/vol_10/vol10_25/1025_full.pdf . 9 June 2011 . dmy-all.
  2. News: Canada Command completes largest deployment to date in the North . The Maple Leaf . 5 September 2007 . Robert . Frank . 23 October 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110609183910/http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/commun/ml-fe/vol_10/vol10_25/1025_full.pdf . 9 June 2011 . dmy-all.
  3. Web site: News and events: January 2008 – 31 December 2008. 20 August 2009. Department of National Defence. https://web.archive.org/web/20110706181627/http://www.marine.gc.ca/toronto/2/2-s_eng.asp?category=237&title=1554. dead. 6 July 2011.
  4. News: Military takes Arctic trip: Operation Nanook 09 let Canadian Rangers, regular Forces members exchange skills. 20 August 2009. Thompson . Elizabeth. Edmonton Sun. https://archive.today/20090903170634/http://www.edmontonsun.com/news/canada/2009/08/19/10520306.html. dead. 3 September 2009.
  5. News: CF exercise in the Arctic—OP Nanook 09. September 2009. Jeri . Grychowski. Trident News. https://web.archive.org/web/20110706205925/http://tridentnews.ca/News/tabid/54/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/315/CF-exercise-in-the-ArcticOP-NANOOK-09.aspx. dead. 6 July 2011.
  6. News: The Danish Chief of Defence, Admiral Jørgensen, pays a visit to Nunavut and Greenland to plan for future defence of the region. 20 August 2009. Canadian American Strategic Review. https://web.archive.org/web/20091007205453/http://www.casr.ca/doc-news-danish-cds-visit.htm. live. 7 October 2009.
  7. News: Arctic: Canada's Sabre-Rattling and Russia's Strategic Interests. Pravda. Bancroft-Hinchey. Timothy. 31 August 2010. 22 September 2010. The recently completed Operation Nanook (August 6 to 26), an operation which Canada began after Russia made claims to Arctic territories in 2007, involved an unprecedented degree of collaboration among military forces from Canada, the USA and Denmark: NATO member states. Yet is there not a commercial interest behind the sabre-rattling? . https://web.archive.org/web/20100904154804/http://english.pravda.ru/world/americas/31-08-2010/114818-canada_arctic-0/ . live. 4 September 2010.
  8. News: Canada stakes a claim to Arctic power, influence: Military operation, policy announcements show Ottawa's resolve. Edmonton Journal. Anita Dey . Nuttall. 28 August 2010. 20 September 2010. As the Canadian military exercise Operation Nanook 10 drew to a close this week and Prime Minister Stephen Harper travelled in Canada's North, the federal government made two key announcements that sum up the country's main Arctic priorities. . https://web.archive.org/web/20100830201028/http://www.edmontonjournal.com/opinion/Canada+stakes+claim+Arctic+power+influence/3454141/story.html?cid=megadrop_story . dead. 30 August 2010.
  9. Web site: The CH-146 Griffon makes its debut at Op Nanook. Aviation.ca. Jordan . Woodman. 26 August 2010. 20 September 2010. This year the CH-146 Griffon helicopter took part in Operation Nanook for the first time, providing a tremendous boost to the air component of this annual Canadian Forces (CF) northern sovereignty operation.. https://web.archive.org/web/20110706164840/http://weather.aviation.ca/content/view/9094/117/ . dead. 6 July 2011 .
  10. News: Canada Command - OP Nanook . Canadian Forces. August 2010. 22 September 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101130083856/http://www.canadacom.forces.gc.ca/daily/archive-nanook10-eng.asp#050810 . dead. 30 November 2010.
  11. News: 100816-G-4702D-012 Operation Nanook. Ninth District Public Affairs, US Coast Guard. 22 September 2010 . https://www.webcitation.org/5swDTrTFB?url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/ninth_cg_district/5011733834/ . dead. 22 September 2010.
  12. News: Operation Nanook 2011. Coast Guard Compass. Stephanie . Young. 23 August 2011. 18 August 2017. While Operation Nanook trained arctic operators it also focused on the partnerships that are so critical in performing missions in the cold, ice-infested environment. The international operation, designed to enhance maritime interoperability, featured the Canadian navy, army and air force, Danish military components, Royal Canadian Mounted Police and numerous other forces..
  13. News: Operation Nanook. Arctic Journal. 15 September 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20140821053303/http://www.arcticjournal.ca/index.php/news-item/operation-nanook-2011/. 21 August 2014. 21 August 2014. live . Since 2006, the federal government continues to increase its capabilities and operational expertise and capacity in affirmation of its Arctic Sovereignty strategy. This summer, Canada Command (Canadian Military headquarters in Ottawa) with the assistance of Joint Task Force North, based in Yellowknife, again conducted one of three annual Arctic safety and security exercises. This year, Operation Nanook 2011 patrolled the air, land and seas Since 2006, the federal government continues to increase its capabilities and operational expertise and capacity in affirmation of its Arctic Sovereignty strategy. This summer, Canada Command (Canadian Military headalong the extensive coastlines of Labrador, Baffin Island, and in the central High Arctic on and off Cornwallis Island..
  14. News: Evolution of Operation NANOOK . Prime Minister's Office (Canada). 24 August 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20140821193052/http://pm.gc.ca/eng/news/2012/08/24/evolution-operation-nanook. 21 August 2014. 21 August 2014. dead. Operation NANOOK 11 took place in the vicinity of Resolute Bay, Nunavut, from August 5 to 26, 2011, and consisted of two parts. The first, a sovereignty and presence patrolling exercise, was conducted in cooperation with the United States Coast Guard and the Royal Danish Navy. The second, a Canadian exercise that included simulated air disaster and maritime emergencies, demonstrated our country’s ability to respond to emergency situations in the North. The largest and northernmost Canadian Arctic military operation in history, Operation NANOOK 11 involved the participation of more than 1,100 CAF personnel and 180 members of the CCG. .
  15. News: Training, luck guided Resolute Bay air disaster response: military . Nunatsiaq News Online . George . Jane . 28 September 2011 . 25 February 2024.
  16. News: Evolution of Operation NANOOK . . 24 August 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140821193052/http://pm.gc.ca/eng/news/2012/08/24/evolution-operation-nanook . 21 August 2014 . 21 August 2014 . dead . As in previous years, this year’s Operation NANOOK will aim to provide a visible presence in the Arctic and demonstrate Canada’s ability to respond to situations and emergencies in the region. Operation NANOOK 12 is centred on two scenario-driven events in two separate locations in Canada's high North. The first involves the deployment of land and air forces to the Western Arctic to assist the RCMP in a security event in Tsiigehtchic, Northwest Territories. The second involves the deployment of CAF land, sea, air and special operations forces to the East to the Hudson Bay/Hudson Strait and Churchill, Manitoba, to intercept a vessel of interest..
  17. News: Operation NANOOK 14 . . 20 August 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140821024825/http://arcticjournal.com/press-releases/913/operation-nanook-14 . 21 August 2014 . 20 August 2014 . dead . Operation NANOOK 14, the premier annual Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) operation held in Canada’s North, will take place in Nunavut from August 20–29. This operation showcases CAF personnel working in close partnership with other federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal governments and agencies as well as aboriginal communities and the militaries of other Arctic nations..
  18. News: Op Nanook gets underway Wednesday near Iqaluit: Exercises to include simulated search and rescue of fishing boat, cruise ship grounding . CBC North. 19 August 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140820133731/http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/op-nanook-gets-underway-wednesday-near-iqaluit-1.2740178. 20 August 2014. live . About 800 military personnel are expected to take part. The military plans to use up to 35 ATVs and eight helicopters. Other aircraft will include C-17 Globemasters and C-130 Hercules, as well as Twin Otters from 440 Transport Squadron in Yellowknife. .
  19. News: Analysis: Questioning the Relevance of Canada's Operation Nanook . . Mieke . Coppes . 5 September 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170205103641/https://www.newsdeeply.com/arctic/articles/2016/09/05/analysis-questioning-the-relevance-of-canadas-operation-nanook . 5 February 2017 . 22 January 2017 . dead . dmy-all.
  20. News: Operation Nanook comes to a close for another year. CBC News. Mike . Rudyk. 2 September 2016. 22 January 2017.
  21. News: Operation Nanook 2016 now underway. Ottawa Citizen. David . Pugliese. 21 August 2016. 22 January 2017.
  22. News: Troops arrive in Rankin Inlet Aug. 9 to start Operation Nanook 2016. Nunatsiaq News Online. 9 August 2016. 22 January 2017. If you're planning to go out on the land near the Nunavut communities of Rankin Inlet or Chesterfield Inlet later this month, be prepared to encounter warring soldiers, helicopters, all-terrain-vehicles, Twin Otters and Royal Canadian Navy vessels..
  23. News: Operation Nanook 2016 underway in Canada's North. National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces. 23 August 2016. 22 January 2017. The operation comprises two scenarios. In one scenario, Canadian Armed Forces members will conduct Arctic security exercises in and around Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, from August 24 to 29 which will include patrols, search and rescue training, and simulated combat exercises. The other scenario, in the Whitehorse and Haines Junction areas of Yukon, from August 21 to September 2, 2016, will see a whole-of-government response to a simulated earthquake..
  24. News: Operation NANOOK. National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces. 19 September 2016. 22 January 2017.
  25. News: Royal Canadian Navy's HMCS Moncton pays visit to Port of Churchill: Churchill mayor says navy ship a positive sight after port shuts down. CBC News. 8 September 2016. 22 January 2017. HMCS Moncton was one of two navy vessels patrolling the Hudson Bay over the last week as part of the operation said Rear-Admiral John Newton, commander of Joint Task Force Atlantic and Maritime Forces..
  26. News: Military plans mock sealift disaster in Rankin Inlet . Brown . Beth . Nunatsiaq News . 9 August 2017 . 18 August 2017.
  27. Web site: Operation Nanook hits Labrador: An inside look as soldiers train for the north . CBC News . Barker . Jacob . 23 August 2017 . 24 August 2017.
  28. News: Royal Canadian Navy ships to conduct operations in Canada's northern waters . Ottawa Citizen . Pugliese . David . 15 August 2017 . 16 August 2017.
  29. News: Navy for a day: Iqaluit ship tour wraps up Op Nanook . Nunatsiaq News . Brown . Beth . 28 August 2018 . 3 September 2018.
  30. Web site: Allies testing naval readiness in Canada's Arctic . Brewster . Murray . CBC News . 4 August 2020 . 29 March 2021 .
  31. Web site: Canadian soldiers brave the cold for COVID-19-safe winter operation . CBC News . Twa . Alice . 7 March 2021 . 29 March 2021 .
  32. Web site: Canadian warships deployed to Arctic for two-month, multinational mission . Global News . The Canadian Press . 2 August 2022 . 3 August 2022.

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