HMCS Halifax (FFH 330)
HMCS Halifax en route to Haiti in January 2010 as part of Operation Hestia
| |
History | |
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Canada | |
Name | Halifax |
Namesake | Halifax, Nova Scotia |
Builder | Saint John Shipbuilding Ltd., Saint John |
Laid down | 19 March 1987 |
Launched | 30 April 1988 |
Commissioned | 29 June 1992 |
Refit | HCM/FELEX September 2010 – September 2011 |
Homeport | CFB Halifax |
Identification |
|
Motto | Sior gaisgiel (ever brave/bravery endures) |
Honours and awards | Atlantic 1942–45, Arabian Sea[1] |
Status | in active service |
Badge | |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Halifax-class frigate |
Displacement |
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Length | 134.2 m (440 ft) |
Beam | 16.5 m (54 ft) |
Draught | 7.1 m (23 ft) |
Propulsion |
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Speed | 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph) |
Range | 9,500 nautical miles (17,600 km) |
Complement | 225 (including air detachment) |
Armament |
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Aircraft carried | 1 × CH-148 Cyclone |
HMCS Halifax (FFH 330) is a Halifax-class frigate that has served in the Royal Canadian Navy and Canadian Forces since 1992. Halifax is the lead ship in her class which is the name for the Canadian Patrol Frigate Project. She is the second vessel to carry the designation HMCS Halifax. She carries the hull classification symbol FFH 330.
She is assigned to Maritime Forces Atlantic (MARLANT) and is homeported at CFB Halifax in her namesake city, Halifax, Nova Scotia, a name that was also borne by HMCS Halifax (K237), a Flower-class corvette during the Second World War as well as the first warship built in Halifax, HMS Halifax (1768).[2]
Description and design
The Halifax-class frigate design of which Halifax belongs, was ordered by the
As built, the Halifax-class vessels
This gives the frigates a maximum speed of 29 knots (54 km/h; 33 mph) and a range of 7,000 nautical miles (13,000 km; 8,100 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) while using their diesel engines.[4][5] Using their gas turbines, the ships have a range of 3,930 nautical miles (7,280 km; 4,520 mi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph). The Halifax class have a complement of 198 naval personnel of which 17 are officers and 17 aircrew of which 8 are officers.[5]
Armament and aircraft
As built the Halifax-class vessels deployed the
As built, the anti-shipping role is supported by the
As built, the main gun on the
Countermeasures and sensors
As built, the decoy system comprises two
Two Thales Nederland (formerly Signaal) SPG-503 (STIR 1.8) fire control radars are installed one on the roof of the bridge and one on the raised radar platform immediately forward of the helicopter hangar. The ship is also fitted with Raytheon AN/SPS-49(V)5 long-range active air search radar operating at C and D bands, Ericsson HC150 Sea Giraffe medium-range air and surface search radar operating at G and H bands, and Kelvin Hughes Type 1007 I-band navigation radar. The sonar suite includes the CANTASS Canadian Towed Array and GD-C AN/SQS-510 hull mounted sonar and incorporates an acoustic range prediction system. The sonobuoy processing system is the GD-C AN/UYS-503.[5]
Modernization
The Halifax class underwent a modernization program, known as the Halifax Class Modernization (HCM) program, in order to update the frigates' capabilities in combatting modern smaller, faster and more mobile threats. This involved upgrading the command and control, radar, communications, electronic warfare and armament systems. Further improvements, such as modifying the vessel to accommodate the new Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone helicopter and satellite links will be done separately from the main Frigate Equipment Life Extension (FELEX) program.[6]
The FELEX program comprised upgrading the combat systems integration to CMS330. The SPS-49 2D long range air search radar was replaced by the
Service
The frigate's
On 2 April 1994, Halifax sailed to relieve the destroyer Iroquois as Canada's contribution to the naval blockade of Yugoslavia in the Adriatic Sea.[8][10] While in transit to Adriatic, one of the ship's diesel engines broke down and the frigate was forced to continue on gas turbines only. Halifax's tour ended when the ship returned to CFB Halifax on 9 September.[8] In early 1995, the frigate sailed to Europe and made several port visits in connection with the 50th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe. Halifax then took part in the NATO naval exercise "Linked Seas" off Portugal, returning to Halifax in June.[8]
On 18 March 1996, Halifax departed for the Adriatic for a second tour with the embargo force, operating as
Halifax departed Halifax on 15 August 2001 to join STANAVFORLANT. However, on 8 October 2001 the ship was diverted for combat operations in the Indian Ocean following the September 11 attacks on the United States.[8][11] The frigate was the first Canadian ship on station and was deployed in the north Arabian Sea, integrated into the USS Carl Vinson carrier battle group.[11] Halifax was replaced by sister ship Toronto in December.[12] The ship returned to Halifax on 11 February 2002.[8]
On 13 January 2010, as part of Operation Hestia, it was announced that Halifax would be deployed to the waters around Haiti to assist in relief efforts after the January 2010 earthquake, along with the destroyer Athabaskan. Specifically Halifax was to be deployed outside the area of Jacmel, which was slow to receive aid due to the fact the roads were cut off and the airport was too small to handle large aircraft.[13] The frigate arrived off Jacmel on 18 January.[14] Halifax provided air traffic control for Jacmel Airport on the ship.[15] The ship departed Haiti's waters on 19 February.[16] On 4 September 2010, Halifax was turned over to Irving Shipbuilding's Halifax Shipyards, to start an 18-month mid-life upgrading and modernization.
Halifax participated in the acceptance trials of the new CH-148 Cyclone helicopters acquired for the Royal Canadian Navy.[17] In September 2015, Halifax, along with Athabaskan, were deployed for two large NATO training missions, "Joint Warrior" and "Trident Juncture".[18] Halifax underwent a year-long refit at Halifax Shipyard beginning in 2016. The vessel returned to service on 27 September 2017.[19] In October 2018, Halifax was among the Canadian ships sent to participate in the large NATO exercise Trident Juncture in the North Atlantic and Baltic Seas.[20] On 26 October 2018, a minor fire began in the starboard gas turbine in the forward engine room of Halifax. The fire was extinguished quickly and the frigate continued on her deployment.[21][22]
On 6 July 2019, Halifax sailed for the Mediterranean Sea to join Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2) as part of Operation Reassurance. Once the frigate joins SNMG2, Halifax will become flagship of the unit.[23] However, within 24 hours of the frigate's departure, Halifax returned to port after an oil leak was discovered in one of the engine rooms. The vessel's departure for the Mediterranean was delayed.[24] The oil leak was repaired and Halifax sailed for the Mediterranean, where the frigate spent six months. The vessel returned to Canada on 24 January 2020.[25]
Halifax departed Canada on 1 January 2021 to join the Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1) for six months.[26] Upon the vessel's arrival on 18 January in Lisbon, Portugal, command was transferred to Halifax as the flagship of the unit.[27] Upon the ship's return to Canada on 19 July, the crew was ordered to isolate aboard the ship in Halifax, after a crew member tested positive for COVID-19.[28] A second sailor tested positive for COVID-19 on 20 July,[29] and later a third.[30]
On 22 February 2022 the federal government announced that Halifax would depart again to accompany
References
Notes
Citations
- ^ "South-West Asia Theatre Honours". Prime Minister of Canada. 9 May 2014. Archived from the original on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 9 September 2015.
- ^ Kenchington, Trevor (April 1993), "The Navy's First Halifax", Argonauta, vol. X, no. 2, Canadian Nautical Research Society, pp. 8–11
- ^ a b Milner, p. 284
- ^ a b c d e Macpherson and Barrie, p. 291
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Saunders, p. 90
- ^ "Halifax-class Modernization / Frigate Life Extension". National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces. Archived from the original on 17 February 2018. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
- ^ Scott, Richard (26 May 2016). "Halifax class upgrade on finals [CANSEC2016D2]". janes.com. Archived from the original on 17 February 2018. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Macpherson and Barrie, p. 293
- ^ Milner, p. 301
- ^ Tracy, pp. 225–226
- ^ a b Tracy, p. 265
- ^ Tracy, p. 266
- ^ "Canadian Forces head to port town of Jacmel". CBC News. 18 January 2010. Archived from the original on 17 February 2018. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
- ^ "Jacmel entre les mains de l'EICC". Radio-Canada (in French). Presse canadienne. 19 January 2010. Archived from the original on 17 February 2018. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
- ^ Romandie (20 January 2010). "Haïti : le Canada va rouvrir l'aéroport de Jacmel" (in French). Agence France-Presse. Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2010.
- ^ "Canadian death toll in Haiti set to jump". The Globe and Mail. The Canadian Press. 22 February 2010. Archived from the original on 17 February 2018. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
- ^ Pugliese, David (12 July 2015). "Cyclone helicopter sea trials – 322 landings and takeoffs from HMCS Halifax". Ottawa Citizen. Archived from the original on 17 February 2018. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
- ^ "HMCS Halifax, Athabaskan depart for NATO exercises". CBC News. 8 September 2015. Archived from the original on 17 February 2018. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
- ^ "Halifax (the ship) is back after $30 million overhaul". The Chronicle Herald. 27 September 2017. Archived from the original on 17 February 2018. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
- ^ Pugliese, David (25 October 2018). "Approximately 2,000 Canadian military personnel in Europe for major NATO exercise". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
- ^ Prentiss, Mairin (27 October 2018). "Navy says engine fire onboard HMCS Halifax 'minor'". CBC News. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
- ^ Pugliese, David (30 October 2018). "HMCS Toronto headed to Belfast for repairs after electrical problems cause loss of power". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
- ^ Draus, Alison (6 July 2019). "HMCS Halifax departs for 6-month overseas deployment in the Mediterranean". Global News. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
- ^ Benjamin, Graeme (10 July 2019). "Oil leak results in return of HMCS Halifax to dockyard". Global News. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
- ^ Moore, Matthew (24 January 2020). "HMCS Halifax returns home following 6-month deployment overseas (7 photos)". halifaxtoday.com. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
- ^ Renic, Karla; Draus, Alicia (1 January 2021). "Families send off HMCS Halifax crew as ship embarks on 6-month NATO mission". Global News. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
- ^ Melanson, Ryan (15 January 2021). "HMCS Halifax departs for six-month Operation Reassurance deployment". Royal Canadian Navy. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
- ^ "HMCS Halifax crew member tests positive for COVID-19, in isolation aboard docked ship". Toronto Star. The Canadian Press. 19 July 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
- ^ "2nd positive COVID-19 case confirmed on board HMCS Halifax". CBC News. 20 July 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
- ^ Walton, Victoria (28 July 2021). "The disease slows down, and so does doctor Strang". The Coast (Halifax). Retrieved 4 August 2021.
- ^ Veitch, Joanie (5 April 2022). "HMCS Halifax departs to join Operation Reassurance". Government of Canada. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
Sources
- Macpherson, Ken; Barrie, Ron (2002). The Ships of Canada's Naval Forces 1910–2002 (Third ed.). St. Catharines, Ontario: Vanwell Publishing. ISBN 1-55125-072-1.
- Milner, Marc (2010). Canada's Navy: The First Century (Second ed.). Toronto: University of Toronto Press. ISBN 978-0-8020-9604-3.
- Saunders, Stephen, ed. (2004). Jane's Fighting Ships 2004–05. Alexandria, Virginia: Jane's Information Group Inc. ISBN 0-7106-2623-1.
- Tracy, Nicholas (2012). A Two-Edged Sword: The Navy as an Instrument of Canadian Foreign Policy. Montreal, Quebec and Kingston, Ontario: McGill-Queens University Press. ISBN 978-0-7735-4051-4.
External links
- Official website
- Marine Log
- Port Visits Archived 14 July 2009 at the Wayback Machine