After eight months of operations, Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Charlottetown will leave the Middle East to begin the journey home. She is expected to arrive in Halifax, Nova Scotia, her home port, in mid-September.

HMCS Charlottetown has been deployed since January 8, 2012. Between January 24 and April 20, she operated with NATO allies participating in Operation ACTIVE ENDEAVOUR in the Mediterranean Sea. In April, Charlottetown deployed to the Arabian Sea region joining Combined Task Force 150 (CTF 150) to conduct maritime security operations. Within days of joining CTF 150 the Ship had a significant “win” by intercepting some drug traffickers and stopping 600 pounds of hashish from getting to their intended destination.

HMCS Charlottetown was the first ship to deploy with the ScanEagle Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). There was also a CH-124 Sea King helicopter detachment embarked in the ship. Both assets were primarily employed in maritime search and surveillance. The ship, the UAV, and the helicopter worked as a dynamic team throughout the deployment to gather information about pattern of life and to take steps to intervene when necessary.

“This has been one of the longest deployments in recent Royal Canadian Naval history,” said Commander Wade Carter, Commanding Officer of HMCS Charlottetown. “My crew has worked extremely hard throughout this deployment and I’m particularly proud of how seamlessly they transitioned from Operation Active Endeavour to working with CTF 150 in the Arabian Sea region. We are all looking forward to returning home to friends and families who have supported us throughout this deployment.”

Commodore Ancona, Deputy Commander Combined Maritime Forces, paid tribute to the Ship, saying “HMCS Charlottetown has been a crucial and much valued asset to CMF – we thank both the Ship and crew for a job well done and wish them bon voyage and a safe passage home”.

HMCS Charlottetown will be replaced by another Canadian multipurpose patrol frigate, the Victoria-based HMCS Regina,which left Victoria, British Columbia, on July 3, 2012.