Wikipedia

CFB Halifax

Canadian Forces Base (CFB) HalifaxisCanada's east coastnaval baseand home port to theRoyal Canadian NavyAtlantic fleet, known as Canadian Fleet Atlantic (CANFLTLANT), that forms part of theformationMaritime Forces Atlantic (MARLANT).

Canadian Forces Base Halifax
Halifax, Nova ScotiainCanada
HMCSFrederictondocked at His Majesty's Canadian Dockyard Halifax
Coordinates44°39′23.63″N63°34′44.69″W/ 44.6565639°N 63.5790806°W/44.6565639; -63.5790806
Site information
OwnerDepartment of National Defence
OperatorRoyal Canadian Navy
Controlled byMaritime Forces Atlantic
Websitehttp://www.navy-marine.forces.gc.ca/en/about/structure-marlant-units.page
Garrison information
Current
commander		Captain(N)Sean Williams[1]

It is the largestCanadian Forces Basein terms of the number of posted personnel[2]and is formed from an amalgamation of military properties situated around the strategicHalifax HarbourinNova Scotia.

His Majesty's Canadian Dockyard (HMC Dockyard Halifax)

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History

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HMC Dockyard Halifax was acquired by the Canadian government from theRoyal Navyfollowing the withdrawal of British military forces from Canada in 1906. Prior to 1906, it was known asRoyal Naval Dockyard, Halifaxand is one of the oldest defence establishments in Canada, having been established by the Royal Navy during the 18th century as HM Dockyard. While awaiting transfer to Canada, the dockyard fell into disrepair. The dockyard was formally taken over from the British government by Canada in 1910, with no changes to the layout. The dockyard in 1910 comprised a naval hospital, a blacksmith shop, workshops, threeslipways,fivejetties,residences, coal and victualling stores and 75 other miscellaneous buildings.[3]

DuringWorld War I,the dockyard underwent significant expansion, acting as headquarters for theRoyal Canadian Navyand as the North American headquarters for the Royal Navy. During the 1917Halifax Explosion,the dockyard was severely damaged, with many of its buildings demolished. New ones were swiftly erected for the war effort. However, following the end of the war in 1918, the number of dockyard staff was reduced significantly.[3]

In 1939, the dockyards were extended to the north and south. With the onset ofWorld War II,this was still not large enough and the lands of the French Cable Company inDartmouth, Nova Scotiawere acquired and integrated into the base. In 1942, the Royal Canadian Navy acquired the Army Ordnance Depot in Dartmouth and an area on the east side ofBedford Basinwas turned into an ammunition depot. During the war, new construction replaced nearly every building that had existed prior to the war. HMC Dockyard encompassed 508 hectares (1,255 acres) after all the acquisitions. In 1943, the dockyard's lands were augmented with property inRenous, New Brunswickand another ammunition depot atNewcastle, New Brunswick.The Army Gun Wharf in Halifax became the victualling depot and two communications stations were established, one atAlbroand one atNewport Corners.The barracks building that becameHMCSScotianwas erected during the war.[3]

In 1948, theMaritime Museum of the Atlanticwas established on the premises of the dockyard. In the 1950s, an Underwater Training Unit, the School of ABCD Warfare and the Damage Control School were under the administration of HMCSStadaconaand operated out of dockyard facilities. The dockyard maintained a 35-ton lift crane on Jetty 3, a 45-ton lift crane on Jetty 4 and a 50-ton lift crane on the Gun Wharf. In 1953, a seaward defence base was constructed between Pier "B" and theyachtanchorage in the south end of Halifax.[3]

Current status

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HMC Dockyard Halifax is located on the western side ofHalifax Harbourat the southern end ofThe Narrows.It hosts the headquarters ofMaritime Forces Atlantic(MARLANT), the formal name for the Atlantic Fleet. HMC Dockyard Halifax contains berths for Canadian and foreign warships, Formation Supply Facility, Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Scott, shore-based training facilities as well as operations buildings for MARLANT and other organizations such asJoint Rescue Coordination Centre Halifax(JRCC Halifax).

HMC Dockyard Halifax also has an adjunct facility directly across the harbour on the Dartmouth shoreline with jetties and various buildings, includingDefence Research and Development Canada – Atlantic.

HMC Dockyard Halifax maintains exclusive control of several anchorage areas within the limits of Halifax Harbour and prevents civilian vessels from sailing in the vicinity of military facilities; afloating force protection boom systemwas constructed to prevent small vessels from unauthorized passage nearwarshipsand pierside facilities.

The original Naval Yard clock has been restored and moved to the Halifax Ferry Terminal entrance while the original Naval Yard bell is preserved at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in Halifax, a museum which also features a large diorama depicting the Naval Yard in 1813 at its height in theAge of Sail.The dockyard was designated aNational Historic Site of Canadain 1923,[4]while Admiralty House was designated a National Historic Site in 1978.[5]

Stadacona

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Stadacona, referred to as HMCSStadaconabefore 1968 and frequently referred to as "Stad", is an adjunct to HMC Dockyard located west of the waterfront in theNorth Endof theHalifax peninsula.Prior to the arrival of the French, the location that would becomeQuebecwas the home of a smallIroquoisvillage called "Stadacona",after which the base is named.[6]Stadacona contains the Canadian Forces Naval Engineering School (with facilities atHerring Cove/York Redoubt,south of Halifax), the Canadian Forces Naval Operations School, the base hospital, the Canadian Forces Maritime Warfare Centre, and variousmesses.Stadacona is also home to the headquarters of5th Canadian Divisionand theMaritime Command Museum.

Stadacona was built as theBritish Army'sWellington Barracks,later known as the Nelson Barracks, as part of the Halifax Defence Complex. The British military forces departed from Canada in 1906. During World War II, the Royal Canadian Navy appropriated the site from the army and it was transformed into HMCSStadacona.

Historic structures

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Admiralty's Residence

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Admiralty House, Halifax (1819)

Almost all the original Royal Navy 18th and 19th century buildings were demolished in World War II to make way for machine shops, stores buildings and drill halls needed to man and maintain the hundreds ofcorvettesbeingcommissionedduring the crash expansion of the Royal Canadian Navy during the Battle of the Atlantic. Only one residence from 1814 and the Admiral's Residence from 1819 survived. The Admiral's residence (Admiralty House) is now theNaval Museum of Halifax.

Wellington Barracks

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Wellington Barracks, also known as Wellington House is located next to the former parade square within CFB Halifax. It was constructed by theRoyal Engineersbetween 1852 and 1860 and is ofneoclassicaldesign.[8]

Wellington Gate

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Wellington Gate, Göttingen Street (1850)

Wellington Gate was created in 1850 and named afterArthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington.The gate is lined on either side with two columns listing the battle honours of theRoyal Canadian Regiment,which was stationed at Wellington Barracks for several years.

Admiralty Garden

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Admiralty Garden CFB Halifax

The Admiralty Garden was created c. 1814 and has plaques and monuments displayed to honour persons and mark events, significant to Halifax's naval history. In 1972 the "Wall of Valour" was created to recognize the bravery decorations awarded to regular and reserve members of the Royal Canadian Navy.

There are a series plaques ofHistoric Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.

Plaque commemoratingGeorge Augustus Westphalwho participated in theBattle of Trafalgar

Faith Centre

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South row of Faith Centre plaques, CFB Halifax
East row of Faith Centre plaques, CFB Halifax
Window forHMCSShawinigan
HMSGood Hopecommemorating the first four casualties of the RCN[9]at theBattle of Coronelin 1914

The Faith Centre has numerous plaques andstained glasswindows that are dedicated to naval personnel who died in service aboard Canadian warships.

Royal Navy Burying Ground

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Royal Navy Burial Ground – Gravestones for the casualties of theUSSChesapeake(left) andHMSShannon(right), CFB Halifax, Halifax, Nova Scotia

TheRoyal Navy Burying Groundat Halifax has monuments to those served and lost in the medical facility as a result of capture of USSChesapeakeby HMSShannon.There are 84 grave markers, but as many as 500 people buried.[10][11][12][13]

Shearwater Heliport

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Shearwater Heliportis an airfield located on the eastern shore of Halifax Harbour in the community ofEastern Passagethat supportsCH-148 Cyclonehelicopters used on the RCN's warships based at CFB Halifax.

Formerly a separate base known asCFB Shearwater,the airfield was realigned as part of CFB Halifax during the mid-1990s. 12 Wing, aRoyal Canadian Air Forceunit that reports to1 Canadian Air Division,is the primary user of Shearwater Heliport and is headquartered there. DND properties that were formerly aligned to CFB Shearwater, such as the Hartlen Point Golf Course and the Shearwater Jetty, are now part of CFB Halifax.

12 Wing operates from two locations with four squadrons:

  • Shearwater Heliport
    • 406 Maritime Operational Training Squadronis an operational training squadron for training all maritime helicopter aircrew in the Canadian Forces.
    • 423 Maritime Helicopter Squadronis an operational squadron at Shearwater Heliport which providesCH-148 Cyclonehelicopters for Maritime Forces Atlantic warships.
    • 12 Air Maintenance Squadron provides aircraft maintenance and engineering support to 12 Wing's operational squadrons.
    • Helicopter Operational Evaluation and Test Facility (HOTEF) is responsible for researching and testing state-of-the-art equipment for the CH-148 Cyclone to enable crews to operate efficiently, ashore or while deployed.
  • Patricia Bay Heliport

Royal Artillery Park

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Cambridge Military Library,Royal Artillery Park

Royal Artillery Parkis a military park, which is part of CFB Halifax. In the far corner of the Royal Artillery Park, is a diminutive red brick building, theCambridge Military Library.This building was the social and literary centre of military Halifax. The Library opened in 1817 at Grafton Street, as an alternative to the more notorious choices of city entertainment. It moved to its present location in Royal Artillery Park in 1886 and was renamed Cambridge Military Library in 1902. The library was funded in part from Customs receipts collected by the British Army during its occupation of the port of Castine, Maine, during the War of 1812.

CFAD Bedford

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The Canadian Forces Ammunition Depot Bedford, informally referred to as the "Bedford Magazine", is a major Canadian Forces property occupying the entire northern shore ofBedford Basin.It houses all of the ordnance for MARLANT vessels and has a loading jetty and several nearby anchorages.

HMCSTrinity

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HMCSTrinityis the organization housed at Stadacona which is tasked with maintaining MARLANT communications with vessels and other Canadian Forces and allied units, as well as developing strategic and tactical operational intelligence for unit commanders.

HMCSTrinityoperates two remote radio transmitter/receiver stations near Halifax:

Windsor Park

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Windsor Park contains the Military Police Unit (Halifax), Health Promotion Services (PSP), Integrated Personnel Service Centre (IPSC), the Military Family Resource Centre, the Stadacona Band, CFB Halifax Curling Club,3 Intelligence CompanyHeadquarters as well as the Canex.

Housing

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Housing for CFB Halifax is provided to Canadian Forces personnel and their dependants at Windsor Park, a housing area built by theDepartment of National Defencein theWest Endof Halifax. Stadacona is home to Tribute Tower, a barracks for JR Ranks members. Base housing also used to be provided atShannon ParkandWallis Heightsin the North End of Dartmouth, however with defence cutbacks in the 1990s, this area has been sold for civilian use. Housing is available at the12 Wing Shearwatersite, which is part of CFB Halifax. A large number of service personnel own or rent civilian property in the area.

CFB Halifax Emergency Services

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The base is equipped with their own fire and rescue service with mostly land based vehicles.[14]Royal Canadian Navyships are also equipped to fight fires including tugs with the auxiliary branch. The City of Halifax'sHalifax Regional Fire and Emergencycan provide additional marine fire support if needed.

Commemorations and monuments

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See also

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Wikimedia Commons has media related toCFB Halifax.

References

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  1. ^"The Maple Leaf".16 September 2020. Archived fromthe originalon 6 August 2020.Retrieved17 November2018.
  2. ^"The Military in Nova Scotia - Key Facts | novascotia.ca".novascotia.ca.Retrieved2023-04-10.
  3. ^abcd"Gateway to the North Atlantic".The Crowsnest.Vol. 6, no. 2. Queen's Printer. December 1953. pp. 4–6.
  4. ^Halifax Dockyard National Historic Site of Canada.Canadian Register of Historic Places.Retrieved 9 March 2013.
  5. ^Admiralty House National Historic Site of Canada.Canadian Register of Historic Places.Retrieved 22 August 2012.
  6. ^Bumsted, J. M. Canada's Diverse Peoples: A Reference Sourcebook. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, 2003. 35.
  7. ^"Commissionaires may be affected in 'deep' DND cuts".CBC News.22 February 2013.Retrieved2 April2023.
  8. ^"Historic Places: Wellington Barracks".Canada's Historic Places.Retrieved2 April2023.
  9. ^"First Canadian Casualties in the RCN".The War at Sea. 24 December 2001.Retrieved21 October2014.
  10. ^"Unmarked graves sought in navy cemetery".CBC.18 July 2011.Retrieved21 October2014.
  11. ^"The Naval chronicle: containing a general and biographical history of the royal navy of the United kingdom with a variety of original papers on nautical subjects".London: J. Gold.Retrieved9 December2017– via Internet Archive.
  12. ^"The Naval Chronicle, for 1813: Containing a General and Biographical History of the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom; with a Variety of Original Papers on Nautical Subjects. Under the Guidance of Several Literary and Professional Men. Vol. XXIX. (from January to June.)".Joyce Gold. 9 December 2017.Retrieved9 December2017– via Internet Archive.
  13. ^"The Naval chronicle: containing a general and biographical history of the royal navy of the United kingdom with a variety of original papers on nautical subjects".London: J. Gold.Retrieved9 December2017– via Internet Archive.
  14. ^"Truckfax: CFB Halifax Fire Apparatus".21 September 2012.
  15. ^"Carroll".Awards to the Royal Canadian Navy.Retrieved21 October2014.
  16. ^Helgason, Guðmundur."Lady Nelson (Canadian Steam passenger ship)".German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net.Retrieved21 October2014.
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