24News.ca

HALIFAX - HMCS Windsor pulled into port in Halifax today after 105 days in the North Atlantic on international exercises, making it the longest deployment of any Victoria-class submarine to date.

The vessel arrived to dozens of family and friends waiting on a waterfront jetty under grey skies and cool temperatures.

Rear Admiral John Newton watched the sub sail into Halifax harbour from a small boat that accompanied the vessel along with HMCS Charlottetown.

Windsor, along with HMCS Athabaskan, Halifax, Montreal, Goose Bay, and Summerside, left in the fall to participate in training and combat readiness exercises.

It has had limited time at sea since the federal government acquired it and three other long-range, diesel-electric submarines from the Royal Navy in 1998.

The sub has been beset by mechanical problems and had to undergo extensive, costly repairs before recently returning to operations.