Navy replaces frigate commanders months before Pacific deployment

OTTAWA — The Royal Canadian Navy has replaced the commander of one its frigates as well as his second-in-command months before the warship begins a tour of the Asia-Pacific region.

HMCS Calgary’s upcoming assignment includes enforcing sanctions against North Korea and possible run-ins with Chinese vessels.

The navy says the highly unusual moves are unrelated, despite coming within only a few days of each other. They nonetheless come at a critical time for the crew of HMCS Calgary, which is at CFB Esquimalt, B.C., and will head overseas in April for three months.

Cmdr. Jonathan Kouwenberg was removed as HMCS Calgary’s skipper on Jan. 20 after it was determined that despite months of training, the crew was not as ready for its mission as it should have been, according to Commodore Angus Topshee, commander of Canadian Fleet Pacific.

Kouwenberg’s executive officer, Lt.-Cmdr. John Forbes, was relieved of his command four days earlier after being found guilty of having turned off a smoke detector in HMCS Calgary’s wardroom and smoking when the frigate was docked in San Diego. He also encouraged his subordinates to smoke.

Kouwenberg, who took command of HMCS Calgary in June, has been replaced by Cmdr. Alex Barlow, who recently returned from a similar mission in the Pacific as commanding officer of another frigate, HMCS Ottawa.

HMCS Ottawa spent 46 days enforcing UN sanctions against North Korea, observing nine potentially illicit ship-to-ship transfers and helping intercept 13 vessels of interest.

It also sailed through the Taiwan Strait, much to China’s annoyance because China considers the waterway its own internal waters. Chinese warships and aircraft shadowed and buzzed another Canadian frigate, HMCS Regina, when it passed through the strait in June.

HMCS Calgary is expected to conduct similar operations.

“The well-being of any ship’s crew is paramount to operational success, particularly when a ship is preparing to deploy,” Topshee said in a statement Friday.

“The commanding officer therefore plays an integral and critical role in helping to ensure the morale and resilience of sailors on board, and this, along with ensuring HMCS Calgary’s operational readiness, will be among Cmdr. Barlow’s top priorities.”

Kouwenberg remains in the Canadian Armed Forces, and Topshee said no disciplinary action was required.

Following a summary trial on the wardroom smoking incident, Forbes was fined $3,000 and reprimanded, though Topshee said the Forces are deciding whether to take further action.

Forbes’ actions “violated the trust placed upon him by the Royal Canadian Navy as a member of HMCS Calgary’s command team,” Topshee said. “By virtue of his rank and position on board the ship, his actions encouraged subordinate officers to act against well-established rules.”

Topshee played down any impact the changes will have the frigate’s mission, but acknowledged: “In terms of morale and stability, there will be a period of transition.

“Building up morale and establishing trust between the command team and crew is therefore of the utmost importance during this time, and one of the top priorities of the incoming commanding officer.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 31, 2020.

Lee Berthiaume, The Canadian Press