Deployment for Op Projection

HMCS Montreal and MV Asterix departed on Sunday for Operation Projection in the Indo-Pacific. This is the first time an East Coast frigate will deploy for this operation, although Asterix has participated before. The weather for departure was cold and wet and will hopefully allow the crews to look forward to their southern deployment.

Montreal departing HMC Dockyard.

MV Asterix departing from HMC Dockyard.

Montreal is expected to be away until October 2023, while Asterix may stay longer and join up with the next two (West Coast) ships that will join Op Projection.

Naval and Cruise Ships

Cruise ships are regular visitors to Halifax during the summer months, but things ramp up in September and October, sometimes with three or more in port at a time - sometimes they can be seen arriving in a line in the harbour approaches. Friday only saw two arrivals, but at least they did line up for a photo.

Zuiderdam and Serenade of the Seas.

Zuiderdam.

Serenade of the Seas.

The Grey Funnel Line was also active this week. HMCS ST. JOHN'S was busy getting ready for a training cruise, which may be combined with a relief mission to hurricane stricken locations down south, Hurricane Irma having just devastated several islands and now heading for Florida.

HMCS ST. JOHN'S.

HMCS ST. JOHN'S.

HMCS ST. JOHN'S.

HMCS ST. JOHN'S.

On Friday, HMCS MONTREAL arrived back in Halifax from a training cruise.

HMCS MONTREAL.

HMCS MONTREAL.

On the port side of her funnel, in a location where RHIBs are normally carried, there were two Meggitt Hammerhead target drones stacked.

The Meggitt Hammerhead drone can be see to the left beside the funnel, and there seems to be another under it.

Hammerheads are remote control drones that are used for training and target practice. They are built locally by A.F. Theriault & Son Ltd. for Meggitt Training Systems.