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A native of Bedford, NS, Vice-Admiral Harry DeWolf CBE, DSO, DSC, CD was decorated for outstanding service throughout his career, which included wartime command of HMCS St. Laurent from 1939-40, and later, his 1943-44 command of HMCS Haida, known as the “Fightingest Ship in the RCN.” DeWolf earned the Distinguished Service Order for overseeing the rescue of 42 sailors from HMCS Athabaskan in 1944. He went on to command two of Canada’s aircraft carriers and served as Chief of the Naval Staff before retiring from the Royal Canadian Navy in 1960. Seasickness was an ongoing struggle for the most decorated Royal Canadian Navy officer of the Second World War.
Harry DeWolf is the namesake of the first of six Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships (AOPS) under construction for the Royal Canadian Navy at Halifax Shipyard.
Launched on September 15, 2018, the ship was officially named on October 5, 2018 by Mme. Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, the ship sponsor.
The future HMCS Harry DeWolf is now being prepared for delivery to the Royal Canadian Navy in winter 2020.
Commander Corey Gleason MMM, CD will serve as commanding officer for Canada’s first AOPS. Commander Gleason enlisted as a Navy Signalman in 1985; he has commanded the coastal defence vessel HMCS Yellowknife and served as the Executive Officer of both HMCS Ottawa and Sea Training Pacific.
