This article is part of a series on the international operation in Libya in 2011.
Canada’s involvement in the Libyan intervention began on 24 February 2011, when Minister of Foreign Affairs Lawrence Cannon announced plans for Canadians living in Libya to be evacuated from the country. At the same time, a Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Boeing CC-177 Globemaster III transport aircraft was deployed to Rome to stand by for a Non-Combatant Evacuation Operation (NEO). The following day, Canada launched Operation Mobile and formed Task Force Malta, which was tasked with evacuating Canadians and other foreign nationals from Libya. Operation Mobile became a combat mission on 19 March 2011, when the US Military’s AFRICOM launched Operation Odyssey Dawn in order to enforce UN Security Council Resolution 1973. On 22 March, Operation Mobile folded into Operation Odyssey Dawn, and NATO assumed command.
joint task force malta
CC-130J Hercules at Malta International Airport
Task Force Malta was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Anthony DeJacolyn of the 1st Canadian Division headquarters, and on the afternoon of 26 February launched the first evacuation flight of Canadian citizens from Libya by way of a CC-177 Globemaster III. Malta reached full capacity on 28 February, operating two Globemasters and two Lockheed CC-130J Hercules, with about 70 personnel total. The Task Force was deployed to Valletta, Malta, where both Canadian and other foreign citizens were evacuated to. The Task Force halted operations on 8 March, with the last flight departing Tripoli International and landing in Malta as planned.
JTF MAlta statistics
Personnel Deployed: 72
Operation Start: 24 February 2011
Operation End: 8 March 2011
Assets Deployed: (2) CC-177 Globemaster III; (2) CC-130J Hercules
Canadians Airlifted to Malta: 61
Other Citizens Airlifted to Malta: 130
task force naples
Task Force Naples was formed in early March 2011 to CEFCOM Headquarters in Ottawa and was tasked with resolving administrative issues and providing support to Operation Mobile. It stood down on 7 August.
Task Force charlottetown
HMCS Charlottetown during Operation Unified Protector
HMCS Charlottetown, a Halifax-class frigate, deployed from Halifax on 2 March to join the international operation in Libya. The vessel joined up with Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1) on 14 March, and arrived in the central Mediterranean on the 17th. Charlottetown was assigned to the multinational formation known as Combined Task Group 455.01, which consisted of 18 vessels (16 surface, two submarine) centered around the Italian aircraft carrier ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi. It supported the enforcement of the arms embargo authorized by UN Security Council Resolution 1970, patrolling the waters off Misrata. On 12 May, the vessel came under fire from shore-based artillery, making it the first Canadian warship to face enemy fire since the Korean War. The ship conducted hailings and boardings of suspect vessels, as well as providing security for other NATO vessels, and on several occasions defending Misrata against attack by pro-Gaddafi forces in small boats.
tf charlottetown statistics
Personnel Deployed: 287
Operation Start: 2 March 2011
Operation End: 18 August 2011
Asset(s) Deployed: HMCS Charlottetown; (1) CH-124A Sea King
Vessels Hailed: 313
Vessels Boarded: 5
task force vancouver
HMCS Vancouver sailing with USNS Lewis and Clark
HMCS Vancouver, another Halifax-class frigate, was dispatched from Esquimalt, BC, on 10 July, meeting up with the international fleet and relieving HMCS Charlottetown at Palma de Mallorca, Spain, on 18 August. The vessel took part in Combined Task Group 455.01, and assisted with security, air defense, and patrol.
tf vancouver statistics
Personnel Deployed: 263
Operation Start: 10 July 2011
Operation End: 31 October 2011
Asset(s) Deployed: HMCS Vancouver; (1) CH-124A Sea King
Vessels Hailed: 165
Vessels Boarded: 3
task force libeccio
CF-188 Hornets and a CC-150 Polaris fly over Ottawa after returning from Operation Mobile/Unified Protector
Originally the air component of Operation Mobile, Libeccio grew to include the land-based component of the operation as well, including the headquarters in Naples. The air wing was based in Sicily, hence its name, the Sicily Air Wing. The aircraft were divided between two bases, one at Vincenzo Florio Airport (Trapani-Birgi), and one at a major naval base at Sigonella. Trapani housed the majority of the RCAF assets, with seven CF-188 Hornets (three pairs and one spare), two CC-150 Polaris refueling tankers, two CC-130 Hercules set up as refueling tankers, and the Mission Support Flight. Sigonella housed the CP-140 flight, consisting of two aircraft.
tf libeccio statistics
Personnel Deployed: 1,939
First Sortie: 21 March 2011
Last Sortie: 31 October 2011
aircraft statistics
CF-188 Hornet Sorties: 946
CF-188 Hornet Flight-Hours: 3,881.7
CC-150 Polaris Sorties: 250
CC-150 Polaris Flight-Hours: 1,379.8
CP-140 Aurora Sorties: 181
CP-140 Aurora Flight-Hours: 1,403.1
CC-130J Tanker Sorties: 139
CC-130J Transport Sorties: 23
ordinance expended
500-pound GBU-12: 495
2,000-pound GBU-10: 188
500-pound GBU-38: 11
2,000-pound GBU_31: 2
fuel delivered
CC-150 Polaris: 14,711,472 lbs
CC-130 Hercules: 3,824,100 lbs
deployments
royal canadian air force
- 7 x McDonnell Douglas CF-188 Hornet | Multirole Fighter
3 Wing
425th Tactical Fighter Squadron
4 Wing
409th Tactical Fighter Squadron
- 2 x Boeing CC-177 Globemaster III | Strategic Transport Aircraft
8 Wing
429 Transport Squadron
- 2 x Lockheed CC-130J-30 Hercules | Tactical Transport Aircraft
- 8 Wing
436th Transport Squadron
- 2 x Airbus CC-150 Polaris | Aerial Refueling Tanker
- 8 Wing
437th Transport Squadron
- 2 x Lockheed CP-140 Aurora | Maritime Patrol Aircraft
14 Wing
405th Long Range Patrol Squadron
19 Wing
407th Long Range Patrol Squadron
- 2 x Sikorsky CH-124 Sea King | Maritime Patrol/Search-and-Rescue Helicopter
12 Wing
443rd Maritime Helicopter Squadron
royal canadian navy
- HMCS Charlottetown | Halifax-class Multirole Patrol Frigate
- 1 x RCAF CH-124 Sea King embarked
- HMCS Vancouver | Halifax-class Multirole Patrol Frigate
- 1 x RCAF CH-124 Sea King embarked
canadian special operations forces command
- Joint Task Force 2
All photos and videos courtesy of the Canadian Armed Forces.
