The HMCS Chicoutimi members have received a Canadian Forces Unit Commendation for their actions on this tragic day one year ago.
Here is the text of today's CANFORGEN:
CANFORGEN 154/05 CDS 082/05 050300Z OCT 05
CANADIAN FORCES UNIT COMMENDATION - HMCS CHICOUTIMI
UNCLASSIFIED
WEDNESDAY 5 OCT 05 MARKS THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE TRAGIC ACCIDENT THAT OCCURED TO HMCS CHICOUTIMI AT SEA DURING HER TRANSIT TO CANADA FROM SCOTLAND. THE FIRE ON BOARD THE VESSEL THAT DAY FILLED THE SUBMARINE WITH THICK BLACK SMOKE AND RESULTED IN A TOTAL LOSS OF SERVICES AND PROPULSION. THE INCIDENT ALSO PRODUCED NINE CASUALTIES DUE TO SMOKE INHALATION AND MOST UNFORTUNATELY RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF ONE LIFE, THAT OF LT(N) CHRIS SAUNDERS
WHILE SUBMARINE CREWS ARE TRAINED TO HANDLE A GREAT VARIETY OF EMERGENCIES, THE PARTICULAR INCIDENT THAT CRIPPLED CHICOUTIMI WAS TOTALLY UNFORESEEN AND REQUIRED GREAT CONCENTRATION, PERSEVERENCE, AND INGENUITY FROM ALL ON BOARD. THE SHIPS COMPANY REACTED IN AN OUTSTANDING MANNER TO THIS DIFFICULT ORDEAL, AFFECTING AN IMMEDIATE RESPONSE TO THE FIRE AT SEA AND SUBSEQUENT EVENTS. THEY WORKED COURAGEOUSLY, WITH GREAT PURPOSE, TO SAVE THEIR SUBMARINE, AND ENDURED CONSIDERABLE HARDSHIP AND RISK IN SO DOING. IN THE FACE OF HEAVY SEAS, MULTIPLE CASUALTIES, REDUCED AIR QUALITY, AND THE TRAGIC DEATH OF ONE OF THEIR FELLOW SUBMARINERS, THE SHIPS COMPANY ACTED IN THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE SUBMARINE SERVICE AND THE CANADIAN FORCES
I WISH TO PERSONALLY COMMEND THE SHIPS COMPANY OF HMCS CHICOUTIMI FOR THEIR EXCELLENT RESPONSE TO THIS INCIDENT AND WISH TO ANNOUNCE THAT I HAVE AWARDED THE CANADIAN FORCES UNIT COMMENDATION IN RECOGNITON OF THEIR OUTSTANDING EFFORT IN SAVING THEIR BOAT
CANFORGEN 154/05 CDS 082/05 050300Z OCT 05
MENTION ELOGIEUSE DES FORCES CANADIENNES A L INTENTION DES UNITES - NCSM CHICOUTIMI
UNCLASSIFIED
LE MERCREDI 5 OCTOBRE MARQUE L ANNIVERSAIRE DU TRAGIQUE ACCIDENT EN MER DU NCSM CHICOUTIMI PENDANT SA TRAVERSEE DE L ECOSSE AU CANADA. EN CE JOUR FATIDIQUE, UN INCENDIE S EST DECLARE A BORD DU SOUS-MARIN ET UNE FUMEE NOIRE ET EPAISSE A RAPIDEMENT ENVAHI LES LIEUX LAISSANT LE SOUS-MARIN SANS ALIMENTATION ELECTRIQUE NI SYSTEME DE PROPULSION. NEUF MEMBRES DE L EQUIPAGE ONT SOUFFERT D INHALATION DE FUMEE ET MALHEUREUSEMENT, LE LTV CHRIS SAUNDERS N A PAS SURVECU
LES EQUIPAGES DES SOUS-MARINS SONT FORMES POUR GERER DE NOMBREUSES SITUATIONS D URGENCE, MAIS L INCIDENT QUI A PARALYSE LE CHICOUTIMI ETAIT TOTALEMENT IMPREVISIBLE. IL NECESSITAIT UNE GRANDE CONCENTRATION, DE LA PERSEVERANCE ET DE L INGENIOSITE DE LA PART DE TOUT LE MONDE A BORD. LES MEMBRES DE L EQUIPAGE ONT REAGI RAPIDEMENT ET BRILLAMMENT FACE A CETTE RUDE EPREUVE. MALGRE LES PREJUDICES SUBIS, ILS ONT FAIT PREUVE DE COURAGE ET ONT TRAVAILLE EFFICACEMENT EN VUE DE SAUVER LEUR SOUS-MARIN TOUT EN S EXPOSANT A DES RISQUES CONSIDERABLES. AUX PRISES AVEC UNE MER DEMONTEE, SUBISSANT DES BLESSURES, MALGRE UN AIR IRRESPIRABLE ET EBRANLE PAR LA MORT TRAGIQUE D UN DES LEURS, LES MEMBRES D EQUIPAGE DU NAVIRE ONT AGI DANS LE RESPECT DE LA GRANDE TRADITION QU EXIGE LE SERVICE A BORD DE SOUS-MARINS ET DANS LES FORCES CANADIENNES
J AIMERAIS FELICITER PERSONNELLEMENT LES MEMBRES DE L EQUIPAGE DU NCSM CHICOUTIMI POUR LEUR INTERVENTION REMARQUABLE ET DECISIVE FACE A CET INCIDENT ET JE SOUHAITE EGALEMENT ANNONCER QUE JE LEUR REMETS LA MENTION ELOGIEUSE DES FORCES CANADIENNES A L INTENTION DES UNITES EN RECONNAISSANCE DE LEUR EXCEPTIONNEL EFFORT POUR LA SAUVEGARDE DE LEUR SOUS MARIN
