The Royal Canadian Navy Halifax-class frigate HMCS Montreal made a port call in Incheon, South Korea, on June 27. As part of Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, the Government of Canada deploys three Royal Canadian Navy vessels annually under Operation HORIZON. This strengthens its previous Indo-Pacific military mission, Operation PROJECTION, by deploying the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), Canadian Army (CA), Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), Canadian Special Operations Forces (CANSOF), and other Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) elements in the region.
HMCS Montreal, which set sail in April from Halifax, Nova Scotia, is the first of the three vessels deployed annually to the Indo-Pacific under Operation HORIZON. During its journey from Halifax to South Korea, HMCS Montreal traveled through the contested Red Sea and participated in multiple joint naval exercises, such as Valiant Shield 2024 and the Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) in the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone, with its security partners in the Indo-Pacific region.
The Royal Canadian Navy vessel’s visit to South Korea aligns with Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, which recognizes South Korea as a strong democratic partner sharing bilateral and international strategic interests. This visit underscores Canada’s commitment to supporting South Korea’s efforts toward denuclearization, peace, and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula. The port call in Incheon highlights Canada’s diplomatic and military cooperation with South Korea, symbolizing engagement and collaboration with the Republic of Korea Navy and other security partners on the 74th anniversary of the Korean War.
Naval News got an opportunity to board HMCS Montreal at Incheon, tour the ship and interview the Commanding Officer, Commander Travis Bain.
Commander Bain responded regarding HMCS Montreal‘s port call to South Korea and its mission around the Korean Peninsula
“HMCS Montreal is deployed here on Operation Horizon, an initiative by Canada to maintain a military presence in the area supporting Canada’s Indo-Pacific strategy, which upholds peace, resilience, and a rules-based international order. Additionally, HMCS Montreal is conducting Operation Neon, Canada’s commitment to the United Nations Security Council’s resolution to prevent illegal arms and ballistic missile trade and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction by North Korea. In a reconnaissance role, HMCS Montreal is tracking and reporting illegal ship-to-ship transfers of materials.”
Commander Travis Bain
Commander Bain shared his experience working with ROKS Incheon (FFG-I), which escorted HMCS Montreal into the port of Incheon, and stated that the ship expects to exercise again with the ROK Navy after departing Incheon.
Regarding the recent incidents of dangerous flyovers by PLA fighters affecting both the Australian and Dutch navies supporting UNSCR sanctions on North Korea, Commander Bain replied that the ship is aware of these unsafe and unprofessional actions. However, while conducting several joint exercises in the Indo-Pacific region, HMCS Montreal has not encountered any such incidents, but the crew is always trained and ready to report back to the chain of command.
When asked about Operation Neon and the methods used in surveillance, the Commander explained the use of high-definition imaging systems to detect differences in cargo, changes in waterlines, and frequent changes of vessels’ names. The Canadian Navy has extensive experience in these types of surveillance missions since the Gulf Wars and cooperates with the RCAF’s CP-140 Aurora Maritime Patrol Aircraft to receive updated images from patrols to monitor and check illegal transfers of goods.
Lastly, Commander Bain found it very meaningful to be in Incheon, South Korea, where 74 years ago the Royal Canadian Navy sent three vessels—HMCS Cayuga, Athabaskan, and Sioux—to participate in the Incheon Landing. These vessels escorted the logistic support group and maintained a hunter-killer group to secure the perimeter from enemy submarines.
Maritime Security Discussion
On June 28, crew members from HMCS Montreal, a delegation of military attachés in Korea, the ROK Navy, and members of the UNC visited the Cheonan Memorial in Pyeongtaek. At the memorial, they observed the devastated remains of ROKS Cheonan (PCC-772) and the records of hostile actions around the Korean Peninsula, which North Korea denies.
After the visit to the memorial, Maritime Security Discussion was held on the HMCS Montreal, with opening remarks from the Vice Minister Mr. Hee-wan Lee, Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs (MPVA) and LtGen Macaulay, Deputy Commander of United Nations Command (UNC). Four speakers including Commander Travis Bain, and three academics Commander Dr. Hack-young Bae, Associate Professor at Korea National Defense University, Dr. Mason Richey, Associate Professor at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, and Dr. Jae-Jeok Park, Associate Professor at Yonsei University shared their thoughts on maritime security and cooperation between Canada and South Korea in the Indo-Pacific region.
Dr. Bae presented the importance of freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific region for South Korea, emphasizing its vital role as a major import route for raw materials and export route for semiconductors. He called for cooperation between Canada, with its experience in navigating the Northern Sea Route, and South Korea’s shipbuilding capabilities. Dr. Richey asserted that the G7 should expand to G9 to enhance cooperation and increase defense spending against threats in the Indo-Pacific from North Korea and China. Dr. Park stated that there should be increased security and naval cooperation between Asian countries and NATO. Lastly, Commander Bain, as a commanding officer at the forefront of maritime security, shared his thoughts on the importance of a rules-based order in maintaining maritime security.
Following the Maritime Security Discussion, Vice Minister Mr. Hee-wan Lee presented Commander Travis Bain with a photograph of Canadian soldiers playing hockey on the frozen Imjin River during the Korean War. A total of 26,791 Canadian military personnel came to aid the Republic of Korea during the war, with 516 giving their lives. Of these, 381 are resting at the United Nations Memorial Cemetery (UNMCK) in Busan, South Korea.
On July 1, in celebration of the 157th anniversary of Canada’s founding on Canada Day, the crew of HMCS Montreal participated in various exchange activities, including a friendly street hockey game with foreign teams and Korean counterparts. They are scheduled to depart Incheon Port on July 2 for a maintenance period at the naval base in Busan.
Halifax-class Frigate
The twelve Canadian-built Halifax-class patrol frigates are multirole patrol frigates and the backbone of the RCN fleet. Under the Halifax-class Modernization project, most of their capabilities were updated, including a new combat management system, new radar, communication, integrated platform management systems, and upgraded air defense missiles. Through this modernization project, the Halifax-class frigates are to stay in service until the 2030s, when they will be replaced by the Royal Canadian Navy’s new fifteen River-class destroyers (DDGH).
Displacement: 4,770 tons
Length: 134 meters
Beam: 16 meters
Draught: 7.1 meters
Speed: Up to 30 knots (56 km/h)
Range: 7000 NM on Diesel, 3930 NM on Gas Turbines
Complement: 225 personnel (including the air-detachment)
Propulsion: Combined Diesel or Gas (CODOG), 2 x General Electric LM2500 Gas Turbine Engine (35400 kW) and 1 x SEMT Pielstick 20 PA6 V 280 Diesel Engine (6600 kW)
Weapon Systems
1 x 57mm Bofors Mk.3 Naval Gun System
2 x MK.48 Mod.0 VLS (8 cells) for RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles (ESSM)
2 x Mk-141 missile launcher holding 8 x RGM-84 Harpoon Surface-to-Surface Missiles
1 x Mk.15 Phalanx Block 1B Close-In Weapon System (CIWS)
2 x Mk.32 Mod.9 twin torpedo tubes for Mk.46 Mod.5 Torpedoes
Rafael Mini-Typhoon 50.cal Naval Remote Weapon Stations (NRWS)
Sensors
Raytheon / Anschütz Pathfinder X-band navigation radar (Left)
SAAB SG-180 Sea Giraffe 2D Air & Surface Search Radar (Right)
Thales SMART-S Mk.2 3D Surveillance Radar (Top)
SAAB CEROS-200 Fire Control Radar (Middle)
Raytheon / Anschütz Pathfinder S-band navigation radar (Bottom)
SQS-510 Hull-mounted Sonar
SQR-501 CANTASS (Canadian Towed Array Sonar System)
Combat Management Systems and Countermeasures
Combat Management System (CMS) 330
IBM Multilink-Data Link System (Link 11, Link 16, Link 22 capable)
Integrated Platform Management System
Rheinmetall Multi-Ammunition Soft Kill System (MASS)
Inflatable Decoy System
Aircraft
Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone Maritime Helicopter
Helicopter Haul down and Rapid Securing Device (HHRSD) / “Bear Trap” System
The navigational officer of HMCS Montreal gave a tour of the ship, showcasing the newly modernized systems and their updated capabilities for patrol and surveillance missions. The ship has added a new navigation system and an optical IR surveillance system on the bridge, as well as a digitalized vessel and machinery management system to track activities on the ship and the status of the propulsion system. Additionally, the new Combat Management System 330 and data link system help the vessel coordinate with other navies during missions and exercises.
The Royal Canadian Navy has a long tradition of being skilled in Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) and focuses on strengthening its ASW capability through missions and equipment. The Halifax-class, including HMCS Montreal, has an air detachment of the RCAF operating the CH-148 Cyclone maritime helicopter to track and engage submarines with torpedoes mounted on their hardpoints. Inside the CH-148 Cyclone, a total of four crew members, including two pilots, a tactical coordinator, and a sensor operator, are on board, equipped with a programmable sonobuoy launch system and L-3 HELRAS dipping sonar, which the pilot described as exceptionally effective in tracking submarines. Additionally, HMCS Montreal has a Helicopter Hauldown and Rapid Securing Device (HHRSD), also known as the “Bear Trap,” enabling helicopter operations in harsh weather conditions and up to Sea State 6.
