Canadian Sea Power

NAMAZU ADDRESSES THE ENGLISH SPEAKING NATIONS, THE FLEET REVIEWS CONTINUE WITH THE CANADIAN NAVY.

Namazu giant Japanese catfish and former demigod, now maritime analyst

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Greetings English speaking bipeds. I know it has been a long time coming I had every intention of moving much faster on my reviews of the collective naval and coast guard strength of the English speaking peoples. Unfortunately, to be accurate requires a great deal of research and I have no research staff. Needless to say I've bogged down. None the less I'd like to present to you a picture of the Canadian Navy as it stands at the moment that I finished my research. Canada is an important middle power and its naval strength reflects that. Their Navy is impressive and professional but frankly just a bit small for the nation's real needs. Canada tries to maintain a standing professional navy sufficient to protect its extensive coast line and to make serious contributions to Canada's naval alliances such as with NATO. Unfortunately this basis for size is turning out to be a bit too small for Canada's real needs in the second decade of the 21st.century. First, that old bear Russia is acting up big time in the High Arctic and making overextended territorial claims some of which are to traditional Canadian waters. As we have mentioned in these postings before, the Dragon, China, is making demands in the High Arctic despite having no adjacent territory. Canada's navy is at the moment a two ocean Navy at a time in history when the nation needs a three ocean navy, the third fleet needing to be purpose built for High Arctic operations. While Canada's contribution to NATO is adequate its need for extended reach in the Pacific is growing and not being met. As you look through the present actual fleet statistics as best as we could determine them at the moment we believe that you will see an impressive navy that is just a bit too small and not growing at a time when the nation needs its to grow.

Current fleet

Warships

Halifax class frigate

The major capital combatant in the Royal Canadian Navy is the Halifax Frigate, multi mission air operations capable warships equipped with Sikorsky CH -124 Sea King helicopters, anti submarine torpedoes as well as anti ship and anti aircraft missiles. Most were built between 1992 and 1996 and are presently undergoing a service life extension program that should be complete by 2016. We found a number of ship lists for this class but the Wikipedia list had hyperlinks to individual webs sites for the individual ships. We have reproduced the Wilkpedia list for this class below. BY clicking on th eindividual ship's name you should be able to pull up a photo of the ship and a write up on its individual history directly from Wikipedia. Then simply click on your return arrow to come back here and resume your exploration of the present status of the Canadian Navy.:.

Active Halifax-class frigates
Name	Pennant number	Commissioned	Builder	Fleet
HMCS Halifax	FFH 330	29 June 1992	Saint John Shipbuilding	Atlantic
HMCS Vancouver	FFH 331	23 August 1993	Saint John Shipbuilding	Pacific
HMCS Ville de Québec	FFH 332	14 July 1994	MIL Davie Shipbuilding	Atlantic
HMCS Toronto	FFH 333	29 July 1993	Saint John Shipbuilding	Atlantic
HMCS Regina	FFH 334	29 December 1993	MIL Davie Shipbuilding	Pacific
HMCS Calgary	FFH 335	12 May 1995	MIL Davie Shipbuilding	Pacific
HMCS Montréal	FFH 336	21 July 1994	Saint John Shipbuilding	Atlantic
HMCS Fredericton	FFH 337	10 September 1994	Saint John Shipbuilding	Atlantic
HMCS Winnipeg	FFH 338	23 June 1995	Saint John Shipbuilding	Pacific
HMCS Charlottetown	FFH 339	9 September 1995	Saint John Shipbuilding	Atlantic
HMCS St. John's	FFH 340	16 June 1996	Saint John Shipbuilding	Atlantic
HMCS Ottawa	FFH 341	28 September 1996	Saint John Shipbuilding	Pacific

Iroquois class destroyer

These are guided missile destroyers totaling three in number. These are still useful vessels but aging having been built in the 1960s. Their present use is as area air defense ships. Again we turn to the Wikipedia ship list via hyper link on the ship's name if you would like a general description of the individual ships

Active Iroquois-class destroyers
Name	Pennant number	Commissioned	Builder	Fleet
HMCS Iroquois	DDG 280	29 July 1972	Marine Industries Limited	Atlantic
HMCS Athabaskan	DDG 282	30 September 1972	MIL-Davie Shipbuilding	Atlantic
HMCS Algonquin	DDG 283	3 November 1972	MIL-Davie Shipbuilding	Pacific

Victoria class submarines

Diesel electric submarines obtained from Great Britain in 1998 from an up to date but mothballed fleet. These conventional submarines were put through a refurbishing program and are now in service. Such vessels add an element of risk and uncertainty to any sovereignty violator since an enemy can never be quite sure where they are. These small conventional submarines are a nice weapon for area defense. Their range and endurance however assure that these are not strategic weapons. The Wikipedia ship list below will link you to individual ship descriptions, hull histories and photos.when you click on the ship's name

Active Victoria-class submarines
Name	Pennant number	Commissioned	Builder	Fleet
HMCS Victoria	SSK 876	December 2000	Cammell Laird	Pacific
HMCS Windsor	SSK 877	October 2003	Cammell Laird	Atlantic
HMCS Corner Brook	SSK 878	March 2003	Cammell Laird	Pacific
HMCS Chicoutimi	SSK 879	October 2004	Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering	Pacific

Protecteur class auxiliary vessel

These underway replenishment ships are a vital range extender for when the Royal Canadian Navy operates alone far from home waters and a much appreciated contribution to allied operations such as NATO fleet exercises. The mastery of underway replenishment is a mark of a modern and accomplished navy these vessels are also designated as oil replacement vessels and can transfer fuel and lubs oil as well as dry cargoes. These are sturdy work horse vessels with considerable service life but they were built in the 1960s. A navy that may soon have far reaching needs as a member of the Pacific community of nations as well as the North Atlantic community could use more of these range extenders. The Wikipedia ship list below will take you to individual ship pictures and descriptions.

Active Protecteur-class auxiliary vessels
Name	Pennant number	Commissioned	Builder	Fleet
HMCS Protecteur	AOR 509	30 August 1969	Saint John Shipbuilding	Pacific
HMCS Preserver	AOR 510	30 July 1970	Saint John Shipbuilding	Atlantic

Kingston class patrol vessels

The Kingston Class coastal defense vessels were originally designed as mine sweepers and are still capable of such operations. The apparent need for such services has diminished with the general decline in nation state to nation state confrontations and area denials. Actions by the Chinese in the PAcific may soon generate a new demand for such vessels. The vessels are now operated by the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve with primary missions of domestic coastal surveillance and reserve training. Some have been in service since 1996.All should have considerable remaining service lives. Again the Wikipedia ship list provides individual ship information when you click on the ship's name.

Active Kingston-class coastal defence vessels
Name	Pennant number	Commissioned	Builder	Fleet
HMCS Kingston	MM 700	21 September 1996	Halifax Shipyards	Atlantic
HMCS Glace Bay	MM 701	26 October 1996	Halifax Shipyards	Atlantic
HMCS Nanaimo	MM 702	10 May 1997	Halifax Shipyards	Pacific
HMCS Edmonton	MM 703	21 June 1997	Halifax Shipyards	Pacific
HMCS Shawinigan	MM 704	14 June 1997	Halifax Shipyards	Atlantic
HMCS Whitehorse	MM 705	17 April 1998	Halifax Shipyards	Pacific
HMCS Yellowknife	MM 706	18 April 1998	Halifax Shipyards	Pacific
HMCS Goose Bay	MM 707	26 July 1998	Halifax Shipyards	Atlantic
HMCS Moncton	MM 708	12 July 1998	Halifax Shipyards	Atlantic
HMCS Saskatoon	MM 709	5 December 1998	Halifax Shipyards	Pacific
HMCS Brandon	MM 710	5 June 1999	Halifax Shipyards	Pacific
HMCS Summerside	MM 711	18 July 1999	Halifax Shipyards	Atlantic

SAIL TRAINING SHIP:

HMCS Oriole (KC 480)

Support and auxiliary vessels

Orca-class training tenders

Small Coastal patrol Craft of Limited Range and on scene duration part of the training system and Coastal Surveillance mission. Again the ship list is from Wikipedia.

OTHER SMALL UTILITY CRAFT:

Torpedo and Sound Ranging Vessels

CFAV Sikanni (YTP 611)
CFAV Stikine (YTP 613)

Yard Diving Tenders

Unnamed (YDT 11)
CFAV Granby (YDT 12)
CFAV Sechelt (YDT 610)
CFAV Sooke (YDT 612)

Fireboats

Tugboats

Yard Auxiliary General

CFAV Pelican (YAG 4)
CFAV Gemini (YAG 650)
CFAV Pegasus (YAG 651)
CFAV Albatross (YAG 661)
CFAV Black Duck (YAG 660)

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Thursday, March 21, 2013