Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Winnipeg returned to Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Esquimalt yesterday after a successful eight-and-a-half month deployment which included participation in Operations REASSURANCE and CARIBBE.

“HMCS Winnipeg is thrilled to return to Victoria after a challenging and rewarding operational deployment," Commander J. Jeffrey Hutchinson, Commanding Officer, HMCS Winnipeg. "I couldn’t be more proud of the accomplishments of the crew, their professionalism and effectiveness. After they have circumnavigated the globe in support of national objectives, I’m so pleased to be able to bring them home to their families and loved ones. Mission(s) accomplished.”

On Operation REASSURANCE, HMCS Winnipeg served with two Standing NATO Maritime Groups, supported NATO’s mission to build maritime situational awareness in the Mediterranean Sea, and participated in three successive multinational exercises, Exercises NORTHERN COAST, JOINT WARRIOR, and TRIDENT JUNCTURE, the largest NATO-led joint exercise in more than 20 years.

During the ship’s transit back to Canada, HMCS Winnipeg conducted port visits in India, Malaysia, Singapore and Japan, in support of the Royal Canadian Navy’s global engagement strategy. During these port visits, HMCS Winnipeg helped promote Canada’s security and national interests and further deepened relationships with other navies.

"On behalf of the Government of Canada, and all Canadians, I proudly welcome home the crew of HMCS Winnipeg," said Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan. "The ship and its crew made a number of valuable contributions around the world during its lengthy time away from home and have helped raise Canada’s profile around the world by participating in a number of operations and multinational exercises.”

HMCS Winnipeg departed CFB Esquimalt on June 15, 2015, to participate in Operation REASSURANCE, Canada’s contribution to NATO assurance measures in Central and Eastern Europe.

En route to Operation REASSURANCE, HMCS Winnipeg conducted surveillance patrols in support of Operation CARIBBE, Canada’s participation in the multinational campaign against illicit trafficking in the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific Ocean.

During the course of its deployment, HMCS Winnipeg conducted operations with 102 ships from 20 different NATO navies and visited 16 countries, including 10 NATO nations.
 
“I am very proud to welcome HMCS Winnipeg and her crew home after a long and highly successful deployment," said Rear-Admiral Gilles Couturier, Commander, Maritime Forces Pacific. "Winnipeg was the first modernized frigate to deploy from the Pacific Fleet and she executed each mission assigned to her during this extended deployment to a very high standard, directly contributing to international operations. This deployment and its achievements highlight the versatility of our Navy.”