HMCS Montréal (FFH 336)

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For other ships with the same name, see HMCS Montreal.

HMCS Montréal
History
Canada
NameMontréal
Namesake
Montréal, Quebec
BuilderSaint John Shipbuilding Ltd., Saint John
Laid down8 February 1991
Launched28 February 1992
Commissioned21 July 1994[1]
RefitHCM/FELEX July 2012 – July 2013
HomeportCFB Halifax
Identification
MottoTon Bras Sait Porter L'Épée (We Stand On Guard For Thee)
Honours and
awards		Atlantic 1944–45,[1] Arabian Sea 2002–03[2]
Statusin active service
BadgeA coronet of fleur-de-lis and maple leaves superimposed upon a stylized mountain which borders a river.
General characteristics
Class and typeHalifax-class frigate
Displacement
  • 3,995 tonnes (light)
  • 4,795 tonnes (operational)
  • 5,032 tonnes (deep load)
Length134.2 m (440 ft)
Beam16.5 m (54 ft)
Draught7.1 m (23 ft)
Propulsion
Speed30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph)
Range9,500 nmi (17,600 km; 10,900 mi)
Complement255 (including air detachment)[3]
Armament
Aircraft carried1 ×
CH-148 Cyclone

HMCS Montréal is a

Standing NATO Response Force Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1). The vessel is designated as a Bilingual Language Unit in the Royal Canadian Navy.[4]

Description and design

The Halifax-class frigate design, emerging from the

Canadian Forces in 1977 as a replacement for the aging St. Laurent, Restigouche, Mackenzie, and Annapolis classes of destroyer escorts, which were all tasked with anti-submarine warfare.[5] Montréal was ordered in December 1987 as part of the second batch of frigates.[6][7] To reflect the changing long-term strategy of the Navy during the 1980s and 1990s, the Halifax-class frigates were designed as general purpose warships with particular focus on anti-submarine capabilities.[5]

As built, the Halifax-class vessels

CODOG system of two General Electric LM2500 gas turbines, generating 47,500 shaft horsepower (35,400 kW) and one SEMT Pielstick 20 PA6 V 280 diesel engine, generating 8,800 shaft horsepower (6,600 kW).[8]

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.[6][8] 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.[8]

Armament and aircraft

As built the Halifax-class vessels deployed the

sea state 6. The Halifax class also carries a close-in anti-submarine weapon in the form of the Mark 46 torpedo, launched from twin Mark 32 Mod 9 torpedo tubes in launcher compartments either side of the forward end of the helicopter hangar.[8]

As built, the anti-shipping role is supported by the

vertical launch surface-to-air missile in two Mk 48 Mod 0 eight-cell launchers placed to port and starboard of the funnel. The vessels carry 16 missiles.[8] A Raytheon/General Dynamics Phalanx Mark 15 Mod 21 Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) is mounted on top of the helicopter hangar for "last-ditch" defence against targets that evade the Sea Sparrow.[8]

As built, the main gun on the

57 mm (2.2 in)/70 calibre Mark 2 gun from Bofors.[a] The gun is capable of firing 2.4-kilogram (5.3 lb) shells at a rate of 220 rounds per minute at a range of more than 17 kilometres (11 mi).[8] The vessels also carry eight 12.7 mm (0.50 in) machine guns.[7]

Countermeasures and sensors

As built, the decoy system comprises two

AN/SLQ-25A Nixie towed acoustic decoy from Argon ST. The ship's radar warning receiver, the CANEWS (Canadian Electronic Warfare System), SLQ-501, and the radar jammer, SLQ-505, were developed by Thorn and Lockheed Martin Canada.[8]

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.[8]

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.[9]

The FELEX program comprised upgrading the combat systems integration to CMS330. The SPS-49 2D long range air search radar was replaced by the

Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile.[10]

Service history

Montréal was

launched on 28 February 1992. She was commissioned into the Canadian Forces on 21 July 1994 by Francine St-Pierre and carries the hull classification symbol FFH 336.[4] In January 1995 Montréal joined the NATO mission in the Adriatic Sea enforcing the United Nations blockade of Yugoslavia.[4][11] Twice she acted as the flagship of the force before returning to Canada on 19 July 2005. In 1997 as part of an experiment to reduce noise, the warship had 12,500 anechoic tiles added to her hull. The experiment was not successful. As part of a NATO fleet in 1998, Montréal sailed to Saint Petersburg, Russia as part of celebrations of the 300th anniversary of the Russian Navy. The frigate represented Canada in the Millennium International Fleet Review in New York City.[4]

In July 2000, the American merchant ship GTS Katie refused to bring its Canadian military cargo into port, claiming unpaid fees. On 30 July, the Canadian Forces sent the destroyer HMCS Athabaskan to maintain contact with the rogue ship and deployed Montréal the following day. As part of Operation Megaphone, a detachment of personnel was sent over by CH-124 Sea King to board Katie. The crew of the merchant ship offered no resistance and the ship was escorted into port.[12] The captain of the ship later claimed that the ship had been attacked and the boarding had been "dangerous".[12][13] The Canadian Defence Minister later rebuffed those charges, claiming the boarding had been necessary.[14]

In 2002, Montréal sailed to take part in

War in Afghanistan. Arriving on 9 September the frigate remained in theatre until 25 April 2003.[17] The warship had remained longer than usual in theatre due to a crash of a CH-124 Sea King aboard her replacement, the destroyer HMCS Iroquois.[18] In 2004, the frigate sailed to the Arctic, becoming the first major Canadian warship to visit the region since 1982.[19] In January 2005, Montréal deployed as part of a NATO rapid reaction force.[18] On 8 February 2005 a crewmember was lost overboard and subsequently pronounced dead.[20]

The warship participated in

Operation Nanook in 2010.[21] In 2010 Montréal engaged in acceptance trials for the new CH-148 Cyclone maritime helicopter. Several modifications had to be made for the trials to the ship, including adding night-vision friendly green filters to the flight deck landing lights and reinforcing the flight deck due to the Cyclone being heavier than the CH-124 Sea King.[22]
Montréal successfully completed the tests which included routine flying operations as well as responding to some critical situations.

Montréal with USCGC Eagle in 2011

On 3 July 2011, as part of their national Canadian tour, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge embarked on the vessel which conveyed them from Montréal to Quebec City.

sea trials for her new combat and weapons systems.[26] Montréal achieved Restricted Readiness on 9 May 2014. After further Sea Acceptance Trials and Work Ups, Montréal assumed Normal Readiness on 9 March 2015, being the fifth post-refit frigate to achieve this milestone.[citation needed
]

Trois-Rivières port, Mauricie, May 2017. The crew of HMCS Montréal were deployed to participate in flood relief efforts.

In late 2015, Montréal deployed for a large NATO naval exercise,

Prince Charles who was recently appointed as Commodore in Chief of the Royal Canadian Navy's Atlantic Fleet. Montréal returned to Halifax on 27 November 2015.[28]

The ship participated in further sea trials with the CH-148 Cyclone helicopters off the coast of Nova Scotia in March 2016.[29] In April it was announced that Montréal and sister ship Fredericton would be the test ships for the Royal Canadian Navy's planned reduced crew size trials.[30] On 24 October 2016, Montréal began her first deployment after conversion to an experimental ship.[31] In May 2017, 120 of the crew were deployed in the Mauricie region of Quebec to participate in flood relief efforts.[32] In August 2017, Montréal and the Kingston-class coastal defence vessels HMCS Kingston and HMCS Moncton departed Halifax to take part in the Operation Nanook in Canada's northern waters.[33]

On 19 January 2022, Montréal left Halifax to join SNMG2 as part of Operation Reassurance.[34] She returned to Halifax following the completion of her deployment on 15 July 2022.[35] On 26 March 2023, the frigate and the supply ship Asterix left Halifax on a deployment to the South China Sea and the Indo-Pacific region.[36] On 3 June, the People's Liberation Army Navy warship Suzhou cut across the bow of USS Chung-Hoon while the American destroyer was transiting the Taiwan Strait together with Montréal; the closest point of approach was 140 metres (150 yd).[37] The vessel returned to Halifax on 3 October.[38] The frigate departed for Pacific waters again in April 2024 for a six-month deployment.[39]

References

Notes

  1. ^ The /70 after calibre denotes the length of the gun barrel as a multiple of the calibre of the projectile. This means that the length of the gun barrel is 70 times the bore diameter.

Citations

  1. ^ a b "Volume 2: Extant Commissioned Ships – HMCS Montreal" (PDF). Official Lineages. National Defence and the Canadian Forces.
  2. ^ "South-West Asia Theatre Honours". Prime Minister of Canada. Archived from the original on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  3. ISSN 0713-0058
    . Retrieved 9 August 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d Macpherson and Barrie, p. 293
  5. ^ a b Milner, p. 284
  6. ^ a b c d e Macpherson and Barrie, p. 291
  7. ^ a b Gardiner and Chumbley, p. 47
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Saunders, p. 90
  9. ^ "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.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ Tracy, p. 225
  12. ^ a b "G-T-S Katie standoff ends". CBC News. 3 August 2000. Archived from the original on 17 February 2018. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
  13. ^ "Canadian navy boards ship carrying military supplies". The Independent. Associated Press. 4 August 2000. Archived from the original on 17 February 2018. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
  14. ^ "HMCS Athabaskan Carries Out Boarding of GTS Katie". National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces. Government of Canada. 3 August 2000. Archived from the original on 17 February 2018. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
  15. ^ "HMCS Montréal Departs To Join Operation Apollo". National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces. Government of Canada. 9 September 2002. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  16. ^ "HMCS Montreal prepares for anti-terrorism mission". CBC News. 27 August 2002. Archived from the original on 17 February 2018. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
  17. ^ "The Canadian Forces' Contribution to the International Campaign Against Terrorism". National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces. 7 January 2004. Archived from the original on 17 February 2018. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
  18. ^ a b "Navy frigate leaves for NATO exercise". CBC News. 13 January 2005. Archived from the original on 17 February 2018. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
  19. ^ Tracy, p. 293
  20. ^ "Canadian sailor missing in Baltic Sea". CBC News. 9 February 2005. Archived from the original on 17 February 2018. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
  21. ^ "Op Nanook Underway To Demonstrate Arctic Sovereignty". The Windsor Square. Archived from the original on 18 October 2014. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  22. ^ Craig, Lesley (29 March 2010). "Cyclone hits Shearwater". lookoutnewspaper.com. Archived from the original on 13 July 2011. Retrieved 10 April 2010.
  23. ^ "Canada royal tour: Frigate sails to Quebec City". BBC News. 3 July 2011. Archived from the original on 17 February 2018. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
  24. ^ Chouinard, Marco (3 October 2011). "Freedom of the City for HMCS Montréal" (PDF). Trident News. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 February 2018. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
  25. ^ "HMCS Montreal Done FELEX". Halifax Shipping News. 26 September 2013. Archived from the original on 17 February 2018. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
  26. ^ "HMCS Montreal on Trials". Halifax Shipping News. 22 May 2014. Archived from the original on 17 February 2018. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
  27. ^ Wilson, Sean (28 October 2015). "HMCS Montréal participates in multinational missile defence exercise". Royal Canadian Navy. Archived from the original on 17 February 2018. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
  28. ^ "HMCS Montréal returns to Halifax following NATO exercises". CBC News. 27 November 2015. Archived from the original on 17 February 2018. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
  29. ^ Pugliese, David (4 March 2016). "Cyclones conduct testing with HMCS Montreal". Ottawa Citizen. Archived from the original on 17 February 2018. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
  30. ^ Brewster, Murray (1 April 2016). "HMCS Montréal part of navy trial to experiment with reducing crews". CBC News. The Canadian Press. Archived from the original on 17 February 2018. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
  31. ^ "HMCS Montréal begins first deployment as X-Ship" (Press release). Royal Canadian Navy. 7 November 2016. Archived from the original on 17 February 2018. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
  32. ^ Smith, Stephen; Marandola, Sabrina (11 May 2017). "Armed Forces to stay in Quebec even after waters recede, Philippe Couillard says". CBC News. Archived from the original on 17 February 2018. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
  33. ^ Pugliese, David (15 August 2017). "Royal Canadian Navy ships to conduct operations in Canada's northern waters". Ottawa Citizen. Archived from the original on 17 February 2018. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
  34. ^ "HMCS Montreal deploys as the world watches the Ukraine crisis". SaltWire. 19 January 2022. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  35. ^ "HMCS Halifax and Montréal return from European NATO mission". CTV News Atlantic. 15 July 2022. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
  36. ^ Ramesar, Vernon (26 March 2023). "HMCS Montréal, supply vessel leave Halifax on 6-month deployment". CBC News. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  37. ^ LaGrone, Sam (3 June 2023). "Chinese Warship Harasses U.S. Destroyer in Taiwan Strait Transit". USNI News. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  38. ^ Krochak, Tim (3 October 2023). "Family, friends greet HMCS Montreal crew returning home after six-month deployment". Saltwire. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  39. ^ Bailey, Mitchell (14 April 2024). "Glitch delays HMCS Montreal departure from Halifax ahead of six-month operation". Global News. Retrieved 23 July 2024.

Sources

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