November 5, 2026 – His Majesty’s Canadian Ships (HMCS) Moncton and Edmonton returned to Halifax on Thursday November 5, 2026, concluding a deployment to European waters with the Standing North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Mine Countermeasures Group One (SNMCMG1) under Operation REASSURANCE.
From July to November 2026, the two ships contributed to NATO’s maritime security and mine countermeasures efforts as part of the Operation REASSURANCE Maritime Task Force. Their crews, supported by embarked clearance divers and autonomous underwater vehicle operators, conducted mine countermeasures operations throughout the deployment. HMCS Moncton also hosted a Royal Danish Navy mine countermeasures team for more than two months.
HMC Ships Moncton and Edmonton are equipped with REMUS 100 Autonomous Underwater Vehicles, capable of conducting rapid environmental assessments and seabed surveys to detect underwater threats.
The deployment brought Canadian sailors and specialist teams together with Allied personnel in support of maritime safety and regional stability. It also provided an opportunity for multinational cooperation, by joining the capabilities of Canada’s Kingston-class Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels (MCDVs) with those of Allied mine countermeasures forces.
SNMCMG1 forms part of NATO’s continuous, high-readiness presence at sea. This deployment marked the fifth time Canada has contributed Kingston-class MCDVs to NATO’s Standing Mine Countermeasures Groups through Operation REASSURANCE, reinforcing Canada’s commitment to collective defence.
“Today, we welcome home His Majesty’s Canadian Ships Moncton and Edmonton following their deployment on Operation REASSURANCE, said Rear-Admiral Pascal Belhumeur, Commander Maritime Forces Atlantic and Joint Task Force Atlantic.” Their sailors, clearance divers and autonomous underwater vehicle operators worked alongside North Atlantic Treaty Organization Allies to locate, identify, and safely dispose of historic sea mines and unexploded ordnance off the coast of Denmark. Their work to a safer maritime environment while building valuable real-world mine countermeasures experience and strengthening Allied interoperability.”
Lieutenant-Commander Justin Wong, Commanding Officer, HMCS Moncton, remarked, “Working alongside our North Atlantic Treaty Organization Allies, including the Royal Danish Navy team embarked on His Majesty’s Canadian Ship Moncton, made this deployment a shared undertaking. I am proud of the way our crew approached that responsibility, bringing care, professionalism and a willingness to learn from one another. As we return to Halifax, I want to thank everyone aboard and the loved ones at home who helped us see this mission through.”
The Commanding Officer of HMCS Edmonton, Lieutenant-Commander Michael Ronaldson, said “A deployment depends on people who can adapt, support one another and stay focused over many months away from home. The crew of His Majesty’s Canadian Ship Edmonton brought those qualities to their work with Standing North Atlantic Treaty Organization Mine Countermeasures Group One, and I am proud of the professionalism of the crew.”
Operation REASSURANCE, Canada’s largest overseas military operation since 2014, includes the deployment of Royal Canadian Navy ships in support of NATO deterrence and assurance measures through training, exercises, demonstrations, and assigned Alliance tasks.
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