Expanding our naval Anglosphere

With the Indian Navy (and the USN):

Karl von Clausewitz once said, “...war is the continuation of politics by other means.” Deployed on Operation Altair since Sept. 10 as Canada’s maritime contribution to the campaign against terrorism, HMCS Ottawa has discharged all facets of the famous dictum.

The ship's participation in the Indian Navy-hosted Exercise Malabar, during the deployment phase of the operation, was such a case in point. It demonstrated the flexibility and range of opportunities the navy can bring to the Canadian Government. Ottawa participated in Exercise Malabar 06, taking place off the west coast of India from Oct. 24 to Nov. 5.

This was the ninth annual Exercise Malabar, which traditionally involves the U.S. Navy, though it is hosted and directed by the Indian Navy.

Ottawa’s presence marked the first ever participation by a Canadian ship [emphasis added]. It was also the first time a third nation has participated in what was previously a series of bi-lateral events.

The Halifax-class frigate was involved in the exercise as an integrated element of the San-Diego-based USS Boxer Expeditionary Strike Group (BOXESG), which Ottawa joined in Hawaii Sept. 25 prior to the ships’ passage across the Pacific to the theatre of operation.

Thirteen warships took part in Exercise Malabar 06. U.S. participants included Wasp Class helicopter carrier and group flagship USS Boxer; the cruiser USS Bunker Hill; destroyers USS Benfold and Howard; and United States Coast Guard Cutter (USCGC) Midgett. Although not an integral part of the BOXESG, the submarine USS Providence also joined the action for the duration of the exercise.

Indian participants included the destroyer INS Mysore, flagship of the group; the frigates INS Beas and INS Ganga; the supply vessel INS Shakti; the Type 209 submarine INS Shankush; and the Indian Coast Guard vessel CGS Samar...