The largest naval exercise off Canada’s east coast in 20 years is underway 250 kilometers from Halifax.
Cutlass Fury is bringing ships, submarines and aircraft from six NATO nations together.
On Wednesday, the men and women onboard HMCS Fredericton fired anti-aircraft guns at moving targets pulled through the sky by one of 26 aircraft.
Maneuvers are also part of the 23-year-old frigate's strategy.
"The maneuvers are just for the air defense exercise that's going on. So there's aircraft flying around, and the maneuver is part of the tactics that we're doing with that,” says Lt. Joel MacDonaldfrom HMCS Fredericton.
In addition to HMCS Fredericton, 11 ships from the UK, Spain, Germany, France, Canada and the United States are taking part.
Anti-submarine warfare is the main objective of Cutlass Fury, although none of the ships or submarines will fire any actual torpedoes.
“For us, we'll deploy different types of sensors to try and acoustically gain contact on the submarine and track and localize them,” says PO 1 Shawn Swinimer, the ship’s underwater warfare director. “It is the world's biggest game of hide and seek.”
"It’s kind of a little game that we play, trying to find where they are. We want to find them before they find us," says Cdr. Yves Tremblay, HMCS Fredericton’s Commanding Officer.
The commander of the task force says the three submarines taking part have the advantage.
"Being able to find and track that submarine is the most important thing. When you know where it is, you know how to avoid it," says Capt. Craig Skjaerpen. "One of the torpedoes could easily take out a ship. It could take out an aircraft carrier."
The 11 NATO surface ships must work together and communicate before the hunter becomes the hunted.
"Obviously communication is very important. And it's very difficult when working with other nations that don't speak English as their primary language," says Naval Communicator MS Cruz Alerge.
Cutlass Fury isn't just an opportunity to practice anti-submarine warfare training, or work with our NATO allies. It's also a chance to work on team building exercises. Exercises began over the weekend on land with some sporting events.
Back on the ships, between submarine hunting tactics and emergency response training, it all makes for a long, tiring day.
Working all hours of the day, seven cooks prepare 1,200 meals for the 250 sailors.
In all, there are about 3,000 personnel involved.
"In some ways you could say it already is a success, because we're out here. We're operating together, we're communicating together,” says Capt. Skjaerpen.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Matt Woodman.
