Canadian AOPV On Antarctic Mission

Arctic Offshore Patrol Vessel (AOPV) Margaret Brooke has set sail on a mission to Antarctica, marking a new first for the Royal Canadian Navy.

The Harry DeWolf-class ship set sail from Halifax earlier this month on a deployment that will see her circumnavigate South America and visit the most southerly continent for the first time.

The mission, named Operation Projection 2025, will help RCN build ties with Latin American nations and will support domestic scientific research; Margaret Brooke is also playing host to a team of government scientists.

The Harry DeWolf-class vessels are designed to enhance RCN’s ability to assert Canadian sovereignty in Arctic and coastal Canadian waters, and support international operations.

The 103-metre vessels have ice-breaking capability, a top speed of 17 knots, and a range of almost 7,000 nautical miles. They carry a BAE 25mm Mk 38 machine gun and naval version of the M242 Bushmaster cannon.

Rear-Admiral Josée Kurtz, Commander Maritime Forces Atlantic and Commander Joint Task Force Atlantic called the deployment “a historic moment as our Navy takes a step further south.”

Margaret Brooke’s Commanding Officer Commander Teri Share called Projection 2025 “a once-in-a-career mission.”

• You can read more details on the Canadian Government website