HMCS Harry DeWolf reservists help intercept smuggling vessel

A group of Naval Reservists hailing from cities across Canada played a vital role during Her Majesty's Canadian Ship (HMCS) Harry DeWolf's recent drug seizures as part of Operation Caribbe, Canada's participation in U.S.-led enhanced counter-narcotics operations in the Caribbean Sea and Eastern Pacific. Reservists make up about a fifth of the 65-member ship's company.

For Sailor 1st Class (S1) James Forneri, from the Naval Reserve Division HMCS Griffon in Thunder Bay, Ont., the deployment on Op Caribbe allowed him to work alongside a partner nation for the first time.

"That team is super professional, it was amazing working alongside them," S1 Forneri said, referencing the United States Coast Guard (USCG) Law Enforcement Detachment embarked in Harry DeWolf for Op Caribbe. The Law Enforcement Detachment performed the boarding, searching and evidence collecting tasks during drug seizure operations, while Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) sailors drove the ship's multi-role rescue boats, operated the boats' C6 guns and supported the USCG team logistically.

As the lead ship of the new Harry DeWolf class of Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships, the ship and its crew returned to its home port of Halifax on December 16, 2021 after completing an historic circumnavigation of North America. The ship departed Halifax on August 3, sailing north to take part in Operation Nanook, Canada's premiere Arctic operation. While in the Arctic, the ship and its crew charted its course via the fabled Northwest Passage, a first for the RCN since 1954.

Upon completion of Nanook, the ship sailed on to Canada's West Coast, then down the western seaboard of North America and into the Caribbean Sea and Eastern Pacific, where it took part in Caribbe.

It was during Caribbe that the ship made its first two drug busts - milestones for both Harry DeWolf and the class. The Naval Reservists on board played vital roles in what happened during those two drug seizures.

In the days leading up to the November 18 seizure, Sailor 1st Class (S1) Alexander Shelton, a naval combat information operator whose home unit is HMCS Brunswicker in Saint John, N.B., was part of the team that tracked the suspect vessel, interpreting intelligence to help create a plan of approach.

In the early hours of the morning of the interdiction, boatswains Sailor 2nd Class (S2) Mohamed Kaseem, from HMCS Prevost in London, Ont., S1 Jeremy Théberge, from HMCS Jolliet in Sept-Îles, Que., and S1 Jacob Fleck-Giesbrecht, from HMCS Nonsuch in Edmonton, ensured the ship's two multi-role rescue boats were fueled and ready to deploy.

Boatswains and boat drivers S1 Andrew Henderson, from Nonsuch, and S1 Samuel Gagné, from HMCS Scotian in Halifax, were in the boarding party ready room alongside members of the USCG Law Enforcement Detachment, preparing to chase down the suspect vessel.

S1 Luc Gillis, a naval communicator from HMCS Griffon, and S1 Forneri drove the boats and manned their C6 gun mounts, providing command presence during the boarding procedure.

The approach was directed by naval warfare officers like Lieutenants (Navy) Scott Patchett, from Prevost, and Joe Cheng, from HMCS Discovery in Vancouver. They are responsible for safely guiding Harry DeWolf closer to its target.

The final parts of the team which intercepted the vessel were made up of members always standing by to assist. Logistics officer Lieutenant Commander Craig Lemoine, from Winnipeg's HMCS Chippawa, kept the members supplied, and cook S1 Veronique Bouchard, a police officer whose home reserve unit is Montreal's HMCS Donnacona, ensured the crew was fueled from dawn to dusk in the galley. He also prepared the hangar to receive possible detainees or rescuees from the U.S. Coast Guard team.

For many of the reservists on board, their participation in the deployment illustrates the beauty of the reserve life - the balance between a civilian career and military experiences creates endless opportunities.

"I really enjoy travelling and having the opportunity to contribute to Operation Caribbe has been an incredible experience for me," said S1 Shelton.

For S1 Bouchard, this deployment was the experience of a lifetime - taking part in Harry DeWolf's historic maiden voyage.

S1 Gillis and S1 Forneri joined for the challenge of operating the first vessel in the RCN's new fleet of Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships.

"It's an incredible experience for any reservist, and anyone interested should definitely put their name forward," said S1 Gillis. "I'm now returning to my home unit, another small, tight-knit family, and can't wait to share my experiences with them," he said of Naval Reserve Division HMCS Griffon.

Whether it was a first deployment, or another to add to the memory book, reservists aboard Harry DeWolf for its historic first voyage helped the ship circumnavigate North America by way of the Northwest Passage and Panama Canal, saw polar bears and icebergs while interacting with Canada's Inuit communities, interdicted two vessels of interest resulting in the seizure of 2,589 kg of cocaine on Operation Caribbe, and enhanced professional skills as sailors in their trades.

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