Panel 5
AFGHANISTAN
2002-2014
THE FIRST CANADIAN ARMED FORCES CONTRIBUTION TO THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST TERRORISM IN SOUTHWEST ASIA CAME AT SEA.
WITHIN HOURS OF CANADA'S DECISION TO DEPLOY FORCES IN SUPPORT OF OPERATION "ENDURfNG FREEDOM", A CANADIAN FRIGATE ALREADY AT SEA WAS ORDERED TO PROCEED TO THE ARABIAN GULF REGION.
SOON AFTER, A FOUR SHIP CANADIAN TASK GROUP DEPLOYED FROM CANADA, THE FIRST COALITION TASK GROUP TO ARRIVE IN THE GULF.
AN ADDITIONAL CANADIAN FRIGATE.DEPLOYED AS AN INTEGRAL MEMBER OF A U.S. AIRCRAFT CARRIER BATTLE GROUP.
THIS AT SEA COMPONENT OF THE AFGHANISTAN MISSION REFLECTED THE NEED TO USE NAVAL FORCES TO CONTROL THE USE OF THE SEA TO PROJECT POWER ASHORE.
CANADIAN SHIPS PROVIDED PROTECTION TO AMPHIBIOUS GROUPS INSERTING GROUND FORCES INTO AFGHANISTAN, AS WELL AS AIRCRAFT CARRIERS LAUNCHING STRIKE AIRCRAFT AND SHIPS FERRYING MATERIEL INTO THE REGION.
CANADIAN NAVAL FORCES WERE ALSO TASKED TO INTERDICT ENEMY LEADERSHIP AND CONTRABAND SMUGGLING AT SEA.
BEYOND THE STEADY EMPLOYMENT AT SEA, MORE THAN 1,300 CANADIAN SAILORS DEPLOYED ASHORE IN AFGHANISTAN TO PROVIDE LOGISTICS, INTELLIGENCE AND FORCE PROTECTION.
NAVAL CLEARANCE DIVERS WERE RELIED UPON TO PROVIDE PROTECTION TO AFGHAN AND COALITION FORCES AGAINST THE SCOURGE OF IEDS.
ONE NAVY CLEARANCE DIVER DIED WHILE PERFORMING THIS MISSION.
IN SUPPORT OF THIS MISSION, THE ENTIRE CANADIAN NAVAL SURFACE COMBATANT FLEET DEPLOYED REPRESENTING 32 SHIP/ CREW DEPLOYMENTS TO THE GULF REGION.
A TESTAMENT TO THE ROYAL CANADIAN NAVY THAT PRIDES ITSELF ON BEING, "READY AYE READY"