MARITIME HORIZONS Strategic Pivots and Fleet Coastal Rebalancing
by Ken Hansen
Main photo: Master Corporal Angela Abbey / DND-MND Canada.
Inset: Photo courtesy MARPAC.
Main photo: HMCS Algonquin port side after being hit by supply vessel HMCS Protecteur (inset). How important is the Pacific Ocean? This is a ques-
tion of strategic importance, the answer to which may drive major policy changes and new institutional priori- ties. There is a lively discussion going on among Paul
McLeod, Jack Granatstein and Katherine Dedyna about whether or not the Royal Canadian Navy should ‘rebalance’ its Atlantic and Pacific fleets. They note the 60-40 split that favours the Atlantic fleet over the Pa- cific. Some of the aforementioned think that this ratio should be reversed to reflect the increasing importance of our national trade with Asian countries and to serve as a form of naval leverage against the rise of China’s maritime power. In his editorial column in the current issue of Cana-
dian Naval Review, Dr. Cmdre. (ret.) Eric Lerhe argues that Canada’s “three ocean posture needs review.” He notes the Obama doctrine has driven a rebalancing of the U.S. Navy to achieve a 60-percent Pacific emphasis by 2020, half of which will be forward deployed. He writes that distances are so great that Canada should probably allocate all of its replenishment ships to the West Coast. He also believes that submarines and
long-range patrol aircraft will be of greatest value in the Pacific, “but they would only be credible if they are permanently forward deployed – perhaps at Guam.” Lerhe recommends permanently attaching a Ca-
nadian frigate to USN carrier battle groups in the Indo-Pacific region, giving the new Berlin-class supply ships cold weather capability, and stationing “most if not all” of the Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships in Halifax. What should Canada do: ‘stand pat’ or adopt a new naval posture? Dedyna enumerates the current 33-ship fleet struc-
ture: The 15-vessel Pacific fleet comprises five frigates, a
destroyer, two submarines, a replenishment ship and six coastal defence vessels. There are 18 vessels on the Atlantic coast: seven frigates, two destroyers, two sub- marines, a replenishment ship and six coastal defence vessels. She reveals that the navy has no interest in chang-
ing its current fleet basing plan. Naval spokesperson Lt. Mark Fifield explains it this way: “Ships can be de- ployed to any location, regardless of where they are based.”
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