The Chief of the Defence Staff General Jonathan Vance recognized two crews of Her Majesty's Canadian Ship (HMCS) St. John's on April 4 for their exceptional service and performance during 2017. The Canadian Forces Unit Commendation is a group award created to recognize distinguished service by a military unit.
While deployed on Operation REASSURANCE in 2017 as part of Canada's contribution to NATO assurance measures in the Mediterranean and Black Seas, HMCS St. John's spent weeks tracking Russian naval forces near Syria, including a Kilo-class diesel submarine.
As Force Antisubmarine Warfare commander, St. John's crew displayed incredible tenacity, tactical acumen, and leadership over assigned international forces while tracking Russian subsurface forces. Decisive actions in the face of Russian naval cruise missile firings bolstered coalition intelligence operations and situational awareness throughout the region, bringing great credit to the Canadian Armed Forces.
Later that same year, with a new crew onboard, St. John's was set for a six-month deployment in early 2018 and was busy completing its work-up when Hurricane Irma passed through the Caribbean in early September.
HMCS St. John's altered its plans for work-up training and instead became an integral part of what became Operation RENAISSANCE Irma Maria, arriving in the Turks and Caicos region in September 2017.
Chief Petty Officer Second Class Scott Macpherson, the ship's chief engineer, said at the…
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