HMCS Vancouver (FFH 331)
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.jpg/300px-HMCS_Vancouver_(FFH_331).jpg) HMCS Vancouver (FFH 331) |
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| Career (Canada) |  |
|---|---|
| Namesake: | City of Vancouver, British Columbia |
| Builder: | Saint John Shipbuilding, Saint John, NB |
| Laid down: | 19 May 1988 |
| Launched: | 8 July 1989 |
| Commissioned: | 23 August 1993 |
| Homeport: | CFB Esquimalt |
| Motto: | Semper vigilans (ever on guard) |
| Fate: | Active in service |
| Badge: | A square-rigged British ship of the line sailing west on the ocean |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Halifax-class frigate |
| Displacement: | 3,995 tonnes (light) 4,795 tonnes (operational) 5,032 tonnes (deep load) |
| Length: | 134.2 m |
| Beam: | 16.5 m |
| Draught: | 7.1 m |
| Propulsion: | 2 × LM2500 Gas turbines 1 × SEMT Pielstick Diesel engine |
| Speed: | 30 knots (56 km/h) |
| Range: | 9,500 nautical miles (17,595 km) |
| Complement: | 225 (including air detachment) |
| Armament: | 24 × Honeywell Mk 46 torpedoes 16 × Evolved Sea-Sparrow SAM 8 × RGM-84 Harpoon SSM 1 × 57 mm Bofors Mk2 gun 1 × 20 mm Vulcan Phalanx CIWS 6 × .50 Caliber machine guns |
| Aircraft carried: | 1 × CH-124 Sea King |
The third HMCS Vancouver (FFH 331) is a Halifax-class frigate, launched in July 1989 as the second vessel of her class.
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[edit] Construction
The Halifax-class frigates of which Vancouver belongs to was ordered by the Canadian Forces Maritime Command in 1977 as a replacement for the aging Saint Laurent, Restigouche, Mackenzie and Annapolis classes of Destroyer Escorts (DDEs), which were all tasked with anti-submarine warfare.[1] In 1983, the federal government approved the budget for the design and construction of the first batch of six new frigates of which Vancouver was a part of out of twelve that were eventually built.[1] To reflect the changing long term strategy of Maritime Command during the 1980's and 1990's, the Halifax-class frigates was designed to be more of a general purpose warship with particular focus on anti-submarine capabilities.
The design of the Halifax-class frigates reflected many advances in ship construction, such as a move to a prefabricated unit construction method, where the ship, is assembled from prefabricated units in a drydock, instead of the traditional keel-laying.[1] Furthermore, the design of Halifax class frigate incorporated many new technical improvements. For example, the Halifax class is first to be equipped with the Integrated Machinery Control System(IMCS), which allows for a very high degree of computer control for the machinery plant.
Vancouver was 'laid down' on 19 May 1988 at Saint John Shipbuilding in New Brunswick, the second ship of her class. She was launched on 8 July 1989. After trials, she then was commissioned on 23 August 1993 in her namesake city of Vancouver alongside Canada Place, third ship of the class, as sister ship HMCS Toronto commissioned almost a month before her. After commissioning, she was assigned CFB Esquimalt, British Columbia on Vancouver Island as the first Halifax-class frigate to be based out of CFB Esquimalt.
[edit] Career
The end of the Cold War before she was commissioned meant that Vancouver's abilities against submarines were less valuable than when she was designed, however, she has served Canada in good stead since her launch, and recently has formed an important part of Canada's contribution to the 'war on terror'.
[edit] War On Terror
In the last few years, Vancouver has been a primary part of Canada's anti-terrorism naval forces in the Middle East. For instance, Vancouver has been integrated part of an American carrier battle group, led by the USS John C. Stennis in 2002. Because of the similarities between the Canadian and American navies, especially in terms of rules of engagement and communications equipment, it is relatively easy for a Halifax-class frigate such as Vancouver to serve with her American counterparts. Unlike her sister ships such as HMCS Halifax, Vancouver seldom serves as part of a Canadian-led battle group.
[edit] Operation Apollo
During Operation Apollo, Vancouver had been used to intercept suspicious and unknown vessels at sea, and had on occasion boarded vessels to prevent the escape of fugitives onboard ships, and the transit of contraband. After a distinguished but unremarkable tour of service in the Arabian Sea, her role in Apollo ended. She was replaced by another Halifax-class frigate to serve much the same role. Vancouver has also spent time carrying the Canadian flag more locally, including a trip to Oregon in 2003 and a visit to her namesake city of Vancouver to celebrate the tenth anniversary of her being commissioned.
[edit] Crest
The ship's crest of the Vancouver depicts a square-rigged, Royal Navy ship of the line sailing west along the ocean. The vessel in the crest is intended to represent HMS Discovery, which, under the command of Captain George Vancouver, mapped much of North America's north-western coast and learned more about the area than had hereto been discovered. Among the geographical locations named after Vancouver is the city Vancouver, British Columbia, the namesake of Vancouver. The crest has been maintained through the history of all three Canadian vessels named Vancouver, right up until the most recent Halifax-class frigate, HMCS Vancouver.
[edit] Heritage
The modern Vancouver is the third Canadian ship to bear the name. The first HMCS Vancouver was a destroyer, among the earliest ships delivered to the Royal Canadian Navy. Formerly the HMS Toreador of the Royal Navy, Vancouver was paid off in November 1936. Less than six years later, the second Vancouver was commissioned for the Second World War. A Flower-class corvette, Vancouver served until the end of the war, until it was paid off in late June, 1945. It would be another forty years until the name Vancouver was once again active in the Canadian navy, when the modern Vancouver was planned as part of the Halifax-class. Vancouver is one of the most often used names in Canadian naval history, with only HMCS Ottawa having been used more frequently.
[edit] External links
[edit] References
[edit] Gallery
 HMCS Vancouver boarding a ship during Operation Apollo |
_2.jpg/120px-HMCS_Vancouver_(FFH_331)_2.jpg) HMCS Vancouver |
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