Halifax, NS – On March 22, 2025, the waterfront in Halifax buzzed with anticipation as HMCS Harry DeWolf nosed into its home port, fresh from a two-month stint in the Caribbean Sea. The ship and its crew were returning from Operation Caribbe, Canada’s contribution to a U.S.-led effort to choke off drug trafficking in the region. After weeks of high-stakes work, the sight of familiar faces—family and friends lining the docks—must have felt like a well-earned reward.
The Royal Canadian Navy’s first Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessel didn’t just cruise the turquoise waters for the scenery. Deployed since late January, Harry DeWolf clocked some serious mileage: 54 days at sea, 8,500 nautical miles under its keel, and a headline-grabbing assist on March 1. That day, the crew teamed up with a U.S. Coast Guard detachment to seize 750 kilograms of cocaine—a haul worth about $22 million on the street. It’s the kind of win that puts a dent in the drug trade and a feather in the cap of Canada’s naval reserves.
Cmdr. Ian Hull, the ship’s commanding officer, didn’t mince words about what the mission meant. “This deployment tested us, and we delivered,” he said in the official rundown. “From supporting our U.S. partners to keeping our skills sharp, I’m proud of how this team stepped up.” Half the crew—some 40 sailors—were reservists, a mix from units like HMCS Scotian in Halifax and HMCS Chippawa in Winnipeg. For many, it was their first taste of an overseas op, and they proved the Naval Reserve’s worth on a big stage.
Operation Caribbe isn’t new—Canada’s been pitching in since 2006—but this deployment stood out. Harry DeWolf visited ports in Curaçao and the Dominican Republic, showing the flag and strengthening ties with allies. Back home, Rear Adm. Brian Santarpia, head of Maritime Forces Atlantic, praised the effort. “They disrupted trafficking networks and showcased what our sailors can do,” he said. “It’s a testament to their grit and our partnership with the U.S.”
The ship itself, launched in 2018 and named after a WWII naval hero, is built for tough jobs. Designed to patrol icy Arctic waters, it swapped snow for sun this time, proving its versatility. Those 8,500 miles included a lot of open water—sometimes with no land in sight for two weeks straight. For the crew, it was a grind of watch rotations, maintenance, and staying sharp for whatever came next. That cocaine bust wasn’t luck; it was the payoff of training and teamwork.
By the time Harry DeWolf tied up in Halifax, the mission stats told a story: 18 days alongside in foreign ports, countless hours of coordination with the U.S. Coast Guard, and a tangible blow to the drug trade. For the families waiting ashore, though, the numbers mattered less than the sight of that grey hull. After two months apart, the reunions were the real victory.