<P> The Canadian Forces Maritime Experimental and Test Ranges (CFMETR) is a maritime test facility located on the EAST side of Vancouver Island, at Nanoose Bay . </P> <P> The ranges operated by CFMETR are located over an area of the Strait of Georgia--known as Area "Whiskey Golf"--that is several hundred metres deep, several dozen kilometres long and several kilometres wide over a seabed composed of soft mud and free of underwater obstacles . The facility employs a 3 - dimensional sonar tracking system for monitoring the performance and position of objects in these waters for real - time tracking . During periods of activity, the range area is closed off from all civilian maritime traffic as a safety measure . </P> <P> Equipment tested at the facility consists of a variety of devices, including sonobuoys, sonar systems (ship and aircraft), torpedoes and the repair and overhaul of the dipping sonar used on Canada's Sea King helicopter fleet . No explosives are used . </P> <P> This facility is unique in the Canadian Forces as it staffed by active military personnel from the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) and DND civilian employees, as well as a small number of U.S. Navy civilian employees from Naval Base Kitsap . The facility is operationally controlled as a field unit of NDHQ . There is a joint funding agreement between the Canadian and United States Governments . </P>

Canadian forces maritime experimental test range nanoose bay