Maritime Forces Pacific


In the Canadian Armed Forces, Maritime Forces Pacific is responsible for the fleet training and operational readiness of the Royal Canadian Navy in the Pacific Ocean. It was once referred to as Canadian Pacific Station.
The commander of Maritime Forces Pacific is also the commander of Joint Task Force Pacific, holding the rank of rear- admiral. Comd JTFP is responsible for all Canadian Forces operations in British Columbia and its adjacent territorial waters. Reporting to the commander is the commander of Canadian Fleet Pacific, holding the rank of commodore. This officer commands Canadian Fleet Pacific, and is responsible for the operation and readiness of all warships, auxiliaries and support vessels.

MARPAC facilities

MARPACHQ is at CFB Esquimalt in Esquimalt, British Columbia, near Victoria.
Whiskey 601 is the regularly used name for an often used naval weapons exercise area off the west coast of Canada. The area's official title was "W-601". The name was usually shortened to "Whiskey" by sailors in the Royal Canadian Navy. Whiskey 601 was notorious for rough seas and bad weather. Whiskey 601 was decommissioned as an exercise area in the 1990s.

MARPAC units

The RCAF unit 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron is part of 12 Wing Shearwater but is headquartered at Patricia Bay near CFB Esquimalt and works closely with MARPAC. The squadron provides the onboard helicopter detachments for CANFLTPAC ships.
After World War II to prior to Unification in 1968 the RCN's Pacific Command assignments: