Royal Canadian Navy deploys its warship HMCS Regina in the Arabian Gulf, as tensions with Iran escalate

Canadian naval sources announced that its Halifax class frigate, HMCS Regina has started the journey from its homeport of CFB Esquimalt yesterday.

Although the officials are claiming that the vessel will be joining the Combined Task Force 150, various defence analysts have claimed that the measure was aimed at giving a warning to Iran. Earlier this week, the Iranians had threatened to block the Strait of Hormuz, through which millions of barrels of crude oil passes every day.

Officials from the RCN informed the media that the current deployment of the vessel in the Middle-East is likely to last for around eight months. Rear Admiral Bill Truelove, an official with the RCN’s Maritime Forces Pacific claimed that the crew have been training for the deployment for the last few months, and they are looking forward to successfully take-on the challenges.

Regina will be replacing HMCS Charlottetown, another Halifax class frigate of the RCN which is currently deployed with the CTF-150. Charlottetown had made several significant naval voyages to the Strait of Hormuz in the last 2-3 weeks. Charlottetown was deployed in the Arabian Gulf this April, after completing another deployment in the Mediterranean.

Although the Canadian officials are refusing to reveal whether the HMCS Regina will participate in naval actions against Iran, independent observers claim that the vessel is likely to play a significant role in the Gulf if the Americans decide to act against any Iranian naval blockade. A number of American vessels are also currently deployed in the Arabian Gulf region.

The 4,000 tonne HMCS Regina is operated by a crew of close to 260 officers and seamen. The vessel, which was commissioned in 1993, is one of the 12 Halifax class frigates operating under the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN). Capable of attaining speeds of up to 30 knots, the vessel carries one CH-124 Sea King military helicopter on board. The frigate is armed with Evolved Sea-Sparrow and RGM-84 Harpoon missiles, in addition to Honeywell Mk 46 torpedoes and Bofors Mk2 cannons.