×
Aircraft / Aviation Vehicles & Artillery Small Arms Warships & Submarines Military Ranks Military Pay Scale (2024) Special Forces

HMCS Ottawa (FFH-341)


Multi-Mission Frigate Warship


Canada | 1996



"HMCS Ottawa FFH-341 was the last of twelve multi-mission frigates commissioned for service into the RCN."

Power & Performance
Those special qualities that separate one sea-going vessel design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for HMCS Ottawa (FFH-341).
CODOG (COmbined Diesel-Or-Gas): 2 x General Electric LM2500 gas turbines developing 47,500 horsepower with 1 x SEMT-Pielstick marine diesel engine developing 8,800 horsepower to 2 x Shafts astern.
Propulsion
30.0 kts
34.5 mph
Surface Speed
9,472 nm
10,900 miles | 17,542 km
Range
Structure
The bow-to-stern, port-to-starboard physical qualities of HMCS Ottawa (FFH-341).
225
Personnel
Complement
440.0 ft
134.11 meters
O/A Length
54.0 ft
16.46 meters
Beam
23.0 ft
7.01 meters
Draught
5,500
tons
Displacement
Armament
Available supported armament and special-mission equipment featured in the design of HMCS Ottawa (FFH-341).
1 x 57mm Bofors Mk.3 turreted deck gun.
16 x Evolved Sea Sparrow medium-ranged Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) system.
8 x RGM-84 "Harpoon" anti-ship missiles.
1 x 20mm Phalanx Close-In Weapon System (CIWS).
24 x Mk.46 torpedoes.
6 x 12.7mm Browning Heavy Machine Guns (HMGs).
Air Arm
Available supported fixed-wing / rotary-wing aircraft featured in the design of HMCS Ottawa (FFH-341).
1 x Sikorsky CH-148 "Cyclone" navy helicopter supported from the stern-based helipad.
Ships-in-Class (12)
Notable series variants as part of the HMCS Ottawa (FFH-341) family line as relating to the Halifax-class group.
HMCS Halifax (FFH-330); HMCS Vancouver (FFH-331); HMCS Ville de Quebec (FFH-332); HMCS Toronto (FFH-333); HMCS Regina (FFH-334); HMCS Calgary (FFH-335); HMCS Montreal (FFH-336); HMCS Fredericton (FFH-337); HMCS Winnipeg (FFH-338); HMCS Charlottetown (FFH-339); HMCS St. John's (FFH-340); HMCS Ottawa (FFH-341)
Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 06/27/2023 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

Delays and rising costs eventually limited the planned twenty-strong Halifax-class multi-mission frigate group of the Royal Canadian Navy(RCN) to just twelve warships. The type was requested in December of 1977 (as part of the "Canadian Patrol Frigate Project" - CPFP) in an effort to modernize the RCN's Blue Water capabilities and succeed an aging line of escort and frigate types then in service. The end result were the dozen warships focused on anti-submarine operations (the Soviet Navy being the enemy of the day) along Canada's long-running coastline and beyond. The first contracts for the series were not handed out until June 1983 and this resulted in two batches of six ships being built to the Halifax-class standard - the first of the line becoming HMCS Halifax (FFH-330) herself.

HMCS Ottawa (FFH-341) became the last of the ships built and this vessel was laid down by Saint John Shipbuilding of Saint John, New Brunswick on April 29th, 1995. She was launched to sea for trials on May 31st, 1996 and formally commissioned into service with the RCN on September 28th, 1996 with pennant number "FFH-341". Today (2020) she homeports out of CFB Esquimalt and remains in active service with the Canadian fleet.

HMCS Ottawa follows the established Halifax-class design standard: she is rated at 5,300 tons under standard load and has a running length of 440 feet, a beam of 54 feet, and a draught of 23 feet. Power is from a CODOG (COmbined Diesel-Or-Gas) propulsion scheme involving 2 x General Electric LM2500 gas turbines providing 47,500 horsepower and 1 x SEMT-Pielstick marine diesel adding 8,800 horsepower of its own. These are used to drive twin propeller shafts under stern and allow the vessel to reach speeds just beyond 30 knots out to ranges of 9,500 nautical miles.

Aboard is a crew of about 225 personnel that includes an air arm managing the functions of one or two Sikorsky CH-148 "Cyclone" navy helicopter(s). The warship (as modernized) is outfitted with the Saab "Sea Giraffe" HC150 G-band air/surface-search radar, the Thales SMART-S Mk.2 3D system, and the Saab CEROS-200 Fire Control System (FCS). Additionally, the hull houses an AN/SQS-510 sonar unit and carries the AN/SQR-501 CANTASS Passive towed array, variable depth sonar unit. Electronic Warfare (EW) is handled through the TKWA/MASS (Multi-Ammunition Softkill System).

Armament for this fighting frigate consists of 1 x 57mm Bofors turreted deck gun, 1 x 20mm Phalanx Close-In Weapon System (CIWS), 16 x "Evolved Sea Sparrow" (ESS) Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAMs), 8 x Mk 141 "Harpoon" anti-ship missiles, up to 6 x 12.7mm Heavy Machine Guns (HMGs), and 24 x Mk 46 torpedo reloads. Her multi-mission mindset means that her armament suite is designed to tackle just about every at-sea threat - whether operating independently or as part of the main fighting force.

The CH-148 Cyclone helicopter (supplanting the older CH-124 "Sea King" series) supported through a combination helipad/hangar over the stern provides an all-important over-the-horizon capability, extending the range and tactical value of the vessel. The helicopter is a relatively new development by the American Sikorsky Aircraft company and was inducted into the RCN ranks during July of 1018 after a prolonged development period. The series is based in the successful Sikorsky S-92 civilian type and modified for the over-water, at-sea role to accomplish various tasks, primarily those related to Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) and anti-ship duty but also can include replenishment and Search and Rescue (SAR) sorties.

Like other warships in the group, HMCS Ottawa was given an extensive refit/modernization under the Frigate Equipment Life EXtension (FELEX) program to keep the vessels viable in the modern age. Changes were made to the armament, radar, EW and communications systems as well as Command and Control (C2) capabilities to broaden support for combating smaller, more agile vessels. During this time, the helipad and hangar facilities were modernized to accept the incoming fleet of CH-148 helicopters. The work on the class took place between 2010 and 2018.

The changes have added years to the class which is expected to survive against modern threats into the 2030s.

Beyond some goodwill stops early in her career, Ottawa has taken part in RIMPAC with her allies and other fleet-related exercises. Her voyages have taken her throughout Pacific, Indian, and Persian Gulf waters. During September of 2019, she was identified transiting the Taiwan Strait amidst rising tensions between China and the West.

Content ©MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.

September 2019 - HMCS Ottawa was identified transiting the Taiwan Strait amid rising tensions between China and the West.

Operators
Global operator(s) of the HMCS Ottawa (FFH-341). Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national naval warfare listing.

Shipbuilder(s): Saint John Shipbuilding Ltd - Canada
National flag of Canada

[ Canada ]
1 / 1
Image of the HMCS Ottawa (FFH-341)
Image from the United States Department of Defense DVIDS image database.

Going Further...
HMCS Ottawa (FFH-341) Multi-Mission Frigate Warship appears in the following collections:
HOME
NAVAL WARFARE INDEX
WARSHIPS BY COUNTRY
SHIPBUILDERS
COMPARE WARSHIPS
SHIPS BY CONFLICT
SHIPS BY TYPE
SHIPS BY DECADE
MODERN VESSELS
Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Cookies

2024 Military Pay Scale Military Ranks of the World U.S. Department of Defense Dictionary Conversion Calculators Military Alphabet Code Military Map Symbols Breakdown U.S. 5-Star Generals List WWII Weapons by Country World War Next

The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value only and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com. No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

Part of a network of sites that includes GlobalFirepower, a data-driven property used in ranking the top military powers of the world, WDMMA.org (World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft), WDMMW.org (World Directory of Modern Military Warships), SR71blackbird.org, detailing the history of the world's most iconic spyplane, and MilitaryRibbons.info, cataloguing military medals and ribbons. Special Interest: RailRoad Junction, the locomotive encyclopedia.


©2024 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • Content ©2003-2024 (21yrs)