Backgrounder: Operation NANOOK 2011

August 2011

Operation NANOOK 2011 in a PDF Format

Operation NANOOK 11 is the centrepiece of three sovereignty operations conducted annually by the Canadian Forces in Canada's North.

Following the success of previous NANOOK series of operations held in the area of Baffin Island, the operation this year maintains the momentum established in 2010 by conducting Operation NANOOK 11 in the Lancaster Sound area of Canada's Eastern and high Arctic from 4 to 26 August.

Exercising Canada’s Arctic sovereignty is a priority area of Canada’s Northern Strategy and such operations enable the Canadian Forces to demonstrate our ability to operate effectively in the challenging environment of Canada’s North.

NORTHERN OPERATION

Operation NANOOK 11 is a Joint (Navy, Army, Air Force and Special Forces), integrated (working with Whole of Government partners) and combined (multi-national) operation working under the authority of Canada Command, the military command responsible for all routine and contingency operations in Canada and continental North America.

Operation NANOOK 11 is a two part operation. The first part is a sovereignty and presence patrolling operation employing the Canadian Forces in the air, on land and at sea. This part of the operation is conducted from 4 to 20 August, 2011 on Cornwallis Island and at sea in Davis Strait, Baffin Bay and Lancaster Sound. This first part of Op NANOOK 11 will include the participation of our international partners from the United States and Denmark. The second part of Op NANOOK 11 is a Canadian whole-of-government exercise that includes a simulated major air disaster and a simulated maritime emergency exercise. The major air disaster exercise will be conducted in the vicinity of Resolute Bay, NU. The Canadian Coast Guard, supported by the Canadian Navy, will respond to a simulated maritime emergency in the Strathcona Sound, NU area of northern Baffin Island. Our international partners (United States and Denmark) will depart Op NANOOK 11 prior to the beginning of this part of the operation, allowing a Canadian only response to these northern emergency exercises.

Military operations will emphasize Canada’s sovereignty in the north and enhance the skills of soldiers, sailors and airmen and women by using their knowledge, skills and experience in a challenging environment.

The Canadian Forces has operated and trained in the north for many decades. During each Operation NANOOK the Department of National Defence, in partnership with other federal departments and agencies, conducts a major training exercise designed to validate processes and procedures which protect Canadian citizens. This year the exercise is focused on the Government’s ability to respond to the event of a major air disaster. While the Department of National Defence is the lead department for search and rescue (SAR), upon completion of the SAR phase of the Major Air Disaster Exercise (MAJAID), our whole-of-government partners take the lead.

In addition to the Canadian Forces, the MAJAID involves the Canadian Coast Guard, Transportation Safety Board, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Environment Canada, as well as the Government of Nunavut and the community of Resolute Bay.

The maritime emergency exercise will be conducted by the Canadian Coast Guard supported by the Canadian Navy. The scenario for this simulated emergency involves a vessel in distress in the Strathcona Sound area of Nunavut.

CHALLENGING GEOGRAPHY

Resolute Bay, Nunavut will host the Joint Task Force (North) Headquarters Forward during Operation NANOOK 11. The main camp will be established at the Resolute Bay airport. Soldiers of 37 Canadian Brigade Group with Canadian Rangers from 1 Canadian Ranger Patrol Group and helicopters from 1 Wing will patrol the area around Resolute Bay and Cornwallis Island.

The Naval task group, made up of Canadian, United States Coast Guard and Danish Navy ships will conduct air defence, search and rescue, fisheries patrol, maritime surveillance and mapping operations in the Davis Strait, Baffin Bay and Lancaster Sound areas throughout the period of Operation NANOOK 11. The CH-146 Griffon helicopters and CC-138 Twin Otter will operate from Resolute Bay, a CP-140 Aurora maritime surveillance aircraft will operate from the civil airport in Iqaluit, Nunavut and CF-18 Hornet aircraft will be operate from Goose Bay, Labrador in support of Operation NANOOK 11.

PARTICIPANTS

Joint Task Force (North) is one of six Regional Joint Task Forces reporting to Canada Command in Ottawa. Joint Task Force (North) is responsible for the conduct of all routine and contingency operations in Canada's Arctic. Joint Task Force (North) is headquartered in Yellowknife, NWT, and commanded by Brigadier-General Guy Hamel.

Operation NANOOK 11 will involve more than 1100 participants from the Canadian Forces Navy, Army, Air and Special Forces. In addition, over 100 personnel from other participating countries will take part.

Participants include:

The Canadian Forces. Elements from, or entire units, as listed below:

• Canada Command Headquarters, Ottawa
• Joint Task Force (North) Headquarters, Yellowknife
• Canadian Operational Support Command, Ottawa
• Canadian Special Operations Forces Command, Ottawa
• HMCS ST JOHN’S (340), Halifax
• HMCS MONCTON (708), Halifax
• HMCS SUMMERSIDE (711), Halifax
• Composite Dive Team (CDT)
• Arctic Response Company Group from 37 Canadian Brigade Group, Moncton
• Immediate Response Unit from 2nd Battalion, Royal 22e Régiment, Quebec City
• 1 Canadian Ranger Patrol Group, Yellowknife
• 5 Canadian Ranger Patrol Group, Halifax
• Joint Force Air Component Commander, 1 Canadian Air Division Winnipeg
• 8 Air Communications and Control Squadron, 8 Wing Trenton
• 405 Maritime Patrol Squadron (CP-140 Aurora), 14 Wing Greenwood
• 429 Transport Squadron (CC-177 Globemaster III), 8 Wing Trenton
• 435 Transport and Rescue Squadron (CC-130 Hercules), 17 Wing Winnipeg
• 436 Transport and Rescue Squadron (CC-130 Hercules), 8 Wing Trenton
• 425 Tactical Fighter Squadron (CF-18 Hornet), 3 Wing Bagotville
• 438 Tactical Helicopter Squadron (CH-146 Griffon), St. Hubert
• 440 Transport Squadron (CC-138 Twin Otter), Yellowknife
• 4th Air Defence Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery (UAV), Gagetown
• Canadian Forces Land Advance Warfare Centre, 8 Wing Trenton

Other Governmental Departments:

• Canadian Coast Guard, Central and Arctic Region
  • CCGS Des Groseilliers
  • CCGS Henry Larsen
  • CCGS Terry Fox
  • Marine Communications and Traffic Services Iqaluit
• Public Safety Canada, Arctic Region, and Government Operations Centre, Ottawa
• Royal Canadian Mounted Police
• Transport Canada
• Canadian Transportation Safety Board
• Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada
• Natural Resources Canada
• Environment Canada
  • Canadian Ice Service
• The Government of Nunavut

Municipal partners:

• Communities of Resolute Bay, Pond Inlet, Grise Fjord, and Iqaluit

Corporate Partner:

• FIRST AIR

Volunteer organization:

• Civil Air Search and Rescue Association (CASARA)

International partners:

• United States Coast Guard
  • USCGC Willow (WLB 202)
• Royal Danish Navy
  • HDMS Hvidbjœernen (F360)
  • HDMS Ejnar Mikkelsen (P571)

For more information, please contact:

R Cameron
Op NANOOK 11 Public Affairs Officer
Phone: (613) 990 4568

Or:

Lieutenant (Navy) Paul Pendergast
JTFN Public Affairs Officer
Phone: (867) 873-0700, ext 6005
Email: paul.pendergast@forces.gc.ca.