Minor war vessel involvement with Operation Persistence (Swiss Air Flight 111)

The tragic crash of Swiss Air flight 111 off Peggy's Cove brought many challenges for Canada's Navy. From the initial search and rescue phase to the salvage operation that is still taking place, the Navy, including the Minor War Vessels of Maritime Operations Group (MAROPSGRU) FIVE, has played a key role and has met each of these challenges. HMCS Kingston, Maritime Forces Atlantic (MARLANT) ready duty ship on 3 September, was recalled at 2:00 in the morning and was underway by 3:45 tasked with assisting HMC Ships Preserver and Ville de Quebec in the search for possible survivors. Once the focus of the operation switched from rescue to recovery, there was a requirement for a multi-purpose vessel capable of underwater operations. The new Kingston class Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels (MCDVs), which are designed to be quickly fitted with various payloads, provided a superior platform that was capable of fulfilling this requirement

Four Kingston-class vessels, along with the coastal support vessel HMCS Anticosti, participated in the recovery phase of Operation Persistence. HMC Ships Kingston, Moncton, Goose Bay and Glace Bay were fitted with the equipment required to conduct a search and survey of the sea bottom. HMCS Kingston commenced search operations on 5 September using side-scan sonar on loan from Klein Industries of the United States. Kingston was responsible for conducting a bottom survey in an effort to map the sea bottom along the suspected flight path of the downed aircraft. Upon completion of the survey, Kingston embarked a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) in order to investigate and, if necessary, recover debris. Shortly afterwards, HMC Ships Anticosti and Moncton, each fitted with additional ROVs, joined Kingston at the crash site and commenced bottom searches of their own, investigating and recovering debris on the ocean floor. On 8 September, HMCS Goose Bay, in the early phases of a maintenance period, received the order to proceed to the crash sight and assist in the recovery. After a very busy four days of preparations, Goose Bay sailed in order to relieve Kingston and commence recovery of personal effects and other debris deemed to be important to the crash investigation. By 22 September, the fourth Kingston class vessel had joined in the search. Glace Bay, with an SQS 511 route survey payload embarked, conducted a second survey of Swiss Air 111's flight path and the crash area. Over an 8-hour period, Glace Bay discovered 54 man-made objects on the sea bottom. This information was forwarded to the Naval Route Survey Section at the Bedford Institute of Oceanography, for identification and investigation/recovery at a later date.

Throughout Operation Persistence, the MCDVs and Anticosti utilised technologically advanced submersible equipment. The first was route survey equipment, used to map the ocean bottom. The SQS 511 route survey "tow-fish" is a terrain-following, multi-beam, side-scan sonar capable of producing high resolution, photo-like pictures of the sea floor. It is designed to detect sub-surface mine-like objects and send images to a control van where objects are visually identified. This equipment can be towed at a speed of 10 knots, survey an area covering 200 meters on either side of the tow and can be integrated with the ship's Mine Warfare Control System. Two ROVs were also used. The first, called a Phantom, is used primarily for identifying submerged objects. The second, the Deep-Sea Intervention System (DSIS), is a remotely operated submersible capable of reaching objects beyond the limits of conventional methods. The DSIS uses a cage, which is lowered into the water up to a depth of 1000 meters. Once the cage has reached the desired depth the vehicle is remotely driven out of the cage and is capable of reaching a distance of 300 meters. The vehicle's fitted equipment includes sonar and a high-resolution video camera, 2 manipulator/recovery arms each capable of lifting up to 388 kilograms. Each ROV is operated and maintained by a dive team and a technical consultant.

The MCDVs, crewed primarily by Naval Reservists, were among the first ships to arrive after the crash and remained on station throughout most of the operation. Each provided valuable information and recovered various forms of debris, assisting both the investigation and identification process. These coastal vessels have proven their worth in every operation in which they have participated, including Operation Persistence. They provide yet another fine example of the expertise and ingenuity that exists in today's Canadian Navy.

Sub-Lieutenant Wiggins serves aboard HMCS Goose Bay