DDH-282 HMCS Athabascan, 'Operation FRICTION' 1990

Last crawled date: 2 years, 11 months ago

In August 1990, Athabaskan was hurriedly refitted with new weapons and sensors for Operation FRICTION, the Canadian Forces' assistance to coalition Operation Desert Shield. The weapons included a Close-In Weapons System (CIWS). Athabaskan was appointed flagship of the Canadian Naval Task Group, which included the destroyer HMCS Terra Nova (DDE 259) and supply ship HMCS Protecteur (AOR 509). The Task Group was sent to the central Persian Gulf, with other coalition naval forces, through the fall of 1990. After Operation Desert Storm began in January 1991, the Task Group undertook escort duties for hospital ships and other vulnerable naval vessels of the coalition. The Ticonderoga-class cruiser USS Princeton (CG-59) detonated two Iraqi bottom-moored influence mines (MANTAs) at the north end of the Persian Gulf and was seriously damaged. Athabaskan was not assigned to the area, but the commanding officer of Princeton specifically requested her assistance. Unlike most ships of her size, she could simultaneously operate two large CH-124 Sea King helicopters, which could search out mines for long periods. Athabaskan and her helicopters helped both ships avoid mines until the minesweeper USS Adroit escorted them out of the minefield. As a gesture of solidarity, Athabaskan winched over several flats of beer for the crew of Princeton, since United States Navy vessels were dry. 280 overhaul, mostly new model, texture mapped, yadda yadda yadda external simulation platform. Latest mesh and texture updates,, further pixel smashing, fumduckers repaired. #Algonquin #AntiSubmarine #Athabascan #bear_trap #Canada #cold_war #DDG #DDH #DDH280 #Desert_Storm #Destroyer #HMCS #Huron #Iroquois #NATO #Navy #Operation_FRICTION #RAST #RCN #Sea_King #Ship #Tribal_class #warship