25 replies to this topic

[VicHockeyFan]

I guess I'll put this under infrastructure, we saw lots of it.

Tour guide was informative an somewhat funny, we ran overtime but I think I'd give the tour a solid 8/10, especially considering the price. I didn't know we had so many 100-year-old buildings still in full use out there.

Post your pix, people!

[Mike K.]

Unfortunately I do not have the time to describe the photos at the moment but if someone could "guide" readers that would be much appreciated.

And the group photo shows several VV'ers who attended. Identify yourselves if you want I'm third from the left.

[VicHockeyFan]

HMCS Protecteur, supply ship, largest ship in the Pacific fleet.

[VicHockeyFan]

Graving dock, underneath the tarp is the submarine Victoria.

[VicHockeyFan]

"C"-jetty crane, runs on two rails about 25 feet apart, can service 6 ships at a time.

[VicHockeyFan]

Deck of the HMCS Winnipeg, one of our newest and most versatile guided-missile warships. The hangar holds a Sea-King.

[VicHockeyFan]

Our main tour-guide Darelle, a civilian.

[VicHockeyFan]

VV Headquarters, and the guns that took out Three Dots...

[Sparky]

Thanks for inviting me to tag along. Mike did a great job of posting pics of what we saw. VHF added the commentary...how the heck do you remember all that?

The only thing I have to add actually is a bit of a fetish of mine and that is anchors. I know, I have issues. There was this fantastic anchor, obviously placed by someone with the same illness.

You be the judge.



Oh and yes, I am the old fart on the right.

[D.L.]

Here are a few of my photos worth adding.

Camouflage Canadian flag




Always nice to see some tower cranes




Did you know there was more than one international airport in the Victoria area? This is one of the ships. Interesting sign, although it makes it difficult to climb the ladder. A Sea King helicoptor resides behind the large door at right.

[piltdownman]

^There is YYJ, YWH (Victoria Harbour Water Aerodrome), CAP5 (Victoria Airport Water Aerodrome), and CAB3 (Bedwell Harbour Water Aerodrome). All are classified as airports of entry.

[D.L.]

Bedwell Harbour, Pender Island?

[piltdownman]

^Yes, an odd international airport in the CRD.

[D.L.]

Oh.

Couple more pix.

[VicHockeyFan]

^ ^ Not a single ship at sea. If those Japs want to Pearl Harbour us, now is the time.

[sebberry]

[VANRIDERFAN]

Unfortunately I do not have the time to describe the photos at the moment but if someone could "guide" readers that would be much appreciated.

And the group photo shows several VV'ers who attended. Identify yourselves if you want I'm third from the left.


CFB Esquimalt Wardroom (Officers Mess), completed early 2000, it replaced the old Wardroom on Coleville Road and more importantly the Wardroom Annex on Admirals, more affectionatly known as "The Crack House"


Naval Electronics Testing Establishment Duntz Head. The 3"50 is now a museum piece. It used to be used for training Gun Directing Officers.



Brothers Island


HMCS ORIOLE, the Navy's Sail Training Ship



The good old 3"50 designed to shoot down Kamikazie aircraft. Used by the Canadian Navy until 1996.



One of the original buildings at HMC Dockyard. Completly rebuilt on the inside 3 years ago it is now home to CANFLTPAC (Canadian Fleet Pacific)

My two cents.

[D.L.]

Neat, thanks!

If anyone else is interested in taking a guided tour of CFB Esquimalt there is information on the tours here - http://www.navy.forc...ry=19&title=284

[Ms. B. Havin]

There's an article in today's TC about cuts to the Navy, which will affect CFB Esquimalt significantly, too:

Navy budget cuts likely to remove three ships from CFB Esquimalt - Budget targets: - Fleet reductions - Role of frigates - Combat system

By David Pugliese, Canwest News Service

(...)
Defence analyst Martin Shadwick said the move cuts the navy to the bone. "The sheer percentage of the fleet that will be unavailable is staggering," said Shadwick, a York University strategic studies professor. "It leaves the navy in the medium term with very limited capability." (source)

[Baro]

Wait, wasn't harper all nuts about expanding our sea power to protect our northern sovereignty and such?