Halifax, Nova Scotia – April 24, 2026 – His Majesty’s Canadian Ship William Hall (AOPV 433) set sail from its homeport in Halifax today, bound for Portsmouth, United Kingdom, to participate in the Royal Navy’s Exercise Tartan Lance.
The fourth vessel in the Royal Canadian Navy’s Harry DeWolf-class of offshore patrol ships, William Hall is an Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessel designed for operations in harsh environments, including ice-covered waters. Commissioned in May 2024 at Halifax, the ship is named in honour of Petty Officer William Hall, a Nova Scotian sailor and the first Black Canadian to receive the Victoria Cross for his bravery during the Relief of Lucknow in India in 1857.
According to the Royal Canadian Navy, the deployment will see William Hall integrate directly into Royal Navy mine countermeasures (MCM) operations. The crew will host Royal Navy operators aboard along with specialized MCM equipment, allowing both navies to test shared capabilities, refine tactics, and strengthen interoperability between Canadian and British forces.
“Exercises like Tartan Lance provide invaluable opportunities to work side-by-side with our closest allies,” a Royal Canadian Navy statement noted. “This deployment underscores Canada’s commitment to collective maritime security in the North Atlantic and beyond.”
The transit across the Atlantic will also serve as a valuable training opportunity for the ship’s crew, testing the vessel’s long-range endurance and operational flexibility far from home waters. Upon arrival in Portsmouth, William Hall will join multinational partners for the exercise, which focuses on mine warfare, countermeasure techniques, and high-end naval coordination.
This marks another significant international outing for the relatively new Harry DeWolf-class ships, which have already conducted Arctic patrols under Operation Nanook. The class is built by Irving Shipbuilding in Halifax and represents a key component of Canada’s modernized surface fleet, providing enhanced presence in both northern and offshore domains.
HMCS William Hall is expected to return to Halifax following the conclusion of the exercise later this year. The deployment highlights the growing collaboration between the Royal Canadian Navy and the Royal Navy in an era of increased focus on Atlantic security and NATO interoperability.
