Navy rejects War of 1812 names for new ships because Canadians have no interest in War of 1812

Navy rejects War of 1812 names for new ships because Canadians have no interest in War of 1812

The new ships will be called HMCS Protecteur and HMCS Preserver, to honour the service of those two Canadian ships over the years

Vice-Admiral Ron Lloyd, commander of the Royal Canadian Navy, addresses the crowd at a Change of Command Ceremony for Maritime Forces Atlantic and Joint Task Force Atlantic in Halifax on Friday, Sept. 1, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

David Pugliese, Ottawa Citizen
September 12, 2017

---

The Royal Canadian Navy has jettisoned the War of 1812-inspired names selected by the previous Conservative government for its new joint support ships and will revert to calling the vessels by the names of the service’s previous supply ships.

The new ships will be called HMCS Protecteur and HMCS Preserver, to honour the service of those two Canadian ships over the years.

The Conservative government’s decision to name the joint support ships after War of 1812 battles never sat well with navy officers, according to defence sources.

The navy announced Tuesday that the vessels will instead be known as Protecteur-class ships.


The other joint supply ship will be named after the HMCS Preserver, which was retired in 2016.

Vice-Admiral Ron Lloyd, commander of the Royal Canadian Navy, said many sailors — both serving and retired — have strong bonds to the former HMC Ships Protecteur and Preserver. “As we move forward with the future fleet of the Royal Canadian Navy, we will do so without forgetting where we come from and where we have been,” he said in a statement. “This renaming serves as a tribute to the dedication and sacrifices of the generations of sailors who have served in the past ships of the Protecteur-class.”


As part of its efforts to promote the anniversary and history of the War of 1812, the Conservative government announced the Joint Support Ships would be named the Queenston-class. The names previously intended for the vessels were Queenston and Chateauguay, in recognition of the land battles of Queenston Heights and Chateauguay.

Canadian military personnel were also instructed to wear a War of 1812 commemorative pin. Then-defence minister Peter MacKay said the efforts were to show Canadians that their country was “born out of conflict” and that they should appreciate their history.

But Conservative efforts to highlight the anniversary of a war between England and the U.S., which saw Canada invaded by American forces, didn’t seem to resonate with Canadians. Despite the government spending $30 million on anniversary celebrations and events, various opinion polls showed the public had little interest.


One of the new joint support ships will be named after the HMCS Protecteur, which was retired in 2015.

Retired Canadian navy Capt. Kevin Carle said the new names are a welcome change. ”Naming the ships after War of 1812 battles was not something many in the navy could relate to,” said Carle. “The change is great news.”

The recommendation to the Liberal government on the new names was made by the Ships Naming Committee, which consists of a small group of senior Royal Canadian Navy personnel, naval historians and veterans.

“The renaming perpetuates the Battle Honours awarded to the forbearers of these ships and allows the future ships to add their own Battle Honours to the Preserver and Protecteur legacy,” the navy said in a news release.

Defence minister Harjit Sajjan said many Canadians in the navy community have pride in the names Protecteur and Preserver. “I have no doubt that the future Protecteur and Preserver will continue to serve Canadians with distinction,” he added in a statement.


A painting depicting the victory of the USS Constitution over HMS Guerriere in the War of 1812. DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY — NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER

This will be the second time in Royal Canadian Navy history that the name Protecteur will be used, and the third time for Preserver. The last ships to bear the name Protecteur and Preserver were brought into service in 1969 and 1970, then paid off in 2015 and 2016 respectively.

The navy pointed out that when the joint support ships were named in 2013 the names Protecteur and Preserver were not available since those ships were still operating. With the removal of both vessels from service, the navy now has the opportunity to reuse the names.

The joint support ships will be built at Seaspan shipyards in Vancouver. The first is expected in 2021. The vessels will provide the navy with the capability to refuel and resupply warships at sea, in addition to providing support for humanitarian and other missions.

http://nationalpost.com/news/canada/canadian-navy-rejects-war-of-1812-names-for-new-ships-because-canadians-have-no-interest-in-war-of-1812