- Reaction score
- 14,168
- Points
- 1,260
Related to my post in the "Russia in the 21st Century" thread, this article on The National Post:
I broadly agree with everything up until the last paragraph. HMA Ships Stuart and Parramatta are ANZAC-class frigates, which are roughly equivalent to our CPFs. They've sent two of them as well as an AP-3C, which is the same as if we sent 2 CPFs and an Aurora to, say, northern coastal BC or off the eastern coast of NL. Surely we can do that.
The Australians are a more mature country than Canada when it comes to national defence. As an isolated bastion of democracy located far from its European and North American allies, it has to be. Australia’s military isn’t enormous, but it is modern and powerful. Canada could learn from their example. With our larger population and economy, there’s no reason we can’t field at least as capable a force.
But right now, we don’t, and Canada’s navy is particularly badly off, with our frigates undergoing upgrades now, our submarines barely reaching an operational state and our elderly supply ships and destroyers heading off into retirement without replacements. If Mr. Putin decided to send us a message by putting a few warships off the coast of Vancouver Island or Halifax, it’s far from clear we’d be able to muster a force as capable of what the Australians already have.
http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2014/11/12/matt-gurney-russia-sends-warships-to-shirtfront-australia/
I broadly agree with everything up until the last paragraph. HMA Ships Stuart and Parramatta are ANZAC-class frigates, which are roughly equivalent to our CPFs. They've sent two of them as well as an AP-3C, which is the same as if we sent 2 CPFs and an Aurora to, say, northern coastal BC or off the eastern coast of NL. Surely we can do that.