First woman captain of a Canadian Navy vessel (I assume)/See Update

Commander Josée Kurtz:

HALIFAX – HMCS Halifax was preparing to steam through the city's harbour today under the control of Canada's first female commander of a warship.

Cmdr. Josée Kurtz says she's thrilled to be making her mark in history but adds that her gender doesn't seem to make much of a difference to her crew.

MIKE DEMBECK/THE CANADIAN PRESS

Commander Josée Kurtz reads over navigational charts on the bridge of the HMCS Halifax during a tour of the vessel on April 7, 2009. Kurtz is the first women in the Canadian military to command a warship.

Kurtz says she's seen significant changes in the acceptance of women in the navy since she joined two decades ago in Quebec.

She says she signed up when the navy started accepting women into its ranks and had to prove herself a little more than some of her male colleagues.

Kurtz, whose husband was a naval officer but is now home taking care of their daughter, will command the frigate as it goes through technical training and then for a major refit in 2010.

Halifax has a crew of about 220 sailors including 15 women.

Update: Not quite, "major" warship perhaps:

I suppose it is a matter of interpretation but one of the KIN Class [actually the Kingston herself] was captained by a female reservist 6 years ago or so. Perhaps it should say 'Major' warship.

http://www.navy.forces.gc.ca/marlant/2/2-e_eng.asp?section=9&category=36&id=3795