In the early 1990s, the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) began operating the Halifax-class frigate, a group of ultimately twelve-strong, conventionally-powered vessels charged with undertaking various at-sea sorties including both offensive and defensive in nature. Among their number became HMCS Ville de Quebec (FFH-332) which was the third ship of the class. She was built by MIL Davie Shipbuilding of Lauzon, Quebec with her keel laid down on December 16th, 1988 and the warship was launched on May 16th, 1991. Formal commissioning took place on July 14th, 1994 with the assigned homeport of CFB Halifax.
The warship, along with all of her sisters, remains in active service with the RCN as of this writing (2018) and has been progressively updated since commissioning to include greater air defense support.
Background
Maritime defense remains a priority of Canada considering its long-running shorelines at both ends of the country with clear access to the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Its commitment to NATO is also at the root of an effective, all-modern naval force and, as such, actions were taken by the government in the late 1970s to build a new fleet of fighting frigates. Origins of HMCS Ville de Quebec begin in a late-1977 initiative to supply the RCN with a new class to feature modest gun (projectile-based) armament with a greater focus on anti-ship and antisubmarine capabilities with helicopter support facilities to boot.
Some twenty ships were initially envisioned as part of the modernization effort and these were to be headed by a first-batch of six warships. The type would be used to succeed an aging line of in-service Blue Water frigates and escort platforms though, as is the case with other optimistic Cold War-era programs, the soon-to-be "Halifax-class" was beset by various design and construction delays to the point that builder contracts were not awarded until the middle of the 1980s. Ultimately twelve ships made up the fleet.
The current fleet is divided between both Canadian coasts: seven are assigned to the all-important Atlantic Theater with the remainder of the group operating in the west.
Structural, Propulsion, and Performance
As completed, HMCS Ville de Quebec features a displacement of 4,000 tons under light load and over 5,000 tons under full load. Dimensions include a running length of 440 feet, a beam of 54 feet, and a draught of 23 feet. Power is from 2 x LM2500 gas turbines with 1 x SEMT Pielstick diesel engine driving power to 2 x Shafts under stern giving the vessel a maximum speed (in ideal conditions) of 30 knots and a range out to 9,500 nautical miles. Of note is that the engines are "raft-mounted" to reduce acoustic signatures.
The missile portion of the warship's armament suite consists of 16 x Evolved Sea Sparrow medium-ranged, Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAMs), 24 x Honeywell Mk 46 torpedoes, and 8 x RGM-84 "Harpoon" Anti-Ship Missiles (ASMs). Projectile-based weapons include 1 x 57mm Bofors Mk.2 turreted deck gun, 1 x 20mm Phalanx Close-In-Weapon System (CIWS), and up to 8 x 0.50 caliber Browning Heavy Machine Guns (HGMs) for extreme close-in work. The warship's helicopters also come equipped for the anti-ship/anti-submarine role as well as providing an active critical "eye-in-the-sky", over-the-horizon capability. All this is intended to provide the warship with the needed tools to take on most any airborne, sea-based or undersea threat known.
HMCS Ville de Quebec is outfitted with 2 x BAe Systems "Shield" Mk.2 decoy chaff launchers for self-preservation against missile attacks. 2 x Thales SPG-503 are fitted for fire control and the Raytheon AN/SPS-49(V)5 C-/D-band air-search radar is the active tracking installation. Kelvin Hughes provides the Type 1007 I-band navigation unit. The AN/SLQ-25A "Nixie" system serves in the towed decoy role to protect against enemy torpedoes and a bow-mounted sonar unit is used for submarine-hunting. The CAnadian Electronic Warfare System (CANEWS) serves as the Radar Warning Receiver (RWR) component alongside the SLQ-505 jammer suite.
Modernization Notes and Service
Due to her Cold War roots, Ville de Quebec was given a modernization to keep her viable on the changing battlefield. This included upgrade of all major pertinent mission systems including communications, fire control, search-and-tracking, and the EW suite. Modifications were also made to accept the new CH-148 Cyclone helicopter family (this aircraft detailed elsewhere on this site).
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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) Ships-in-Class
Offshore Bombardment
Offshore bombardment / attack of surface targets / areas primarily through onboard ballistic weaponry.
Land-Attack
Offshore strike of surface targets primarily through onboard missile / rocket weaponry.
Maritime Patrol
Active patroling of vital waterways and maritime areas; can also serve as local deterrence against airborne and seaborne threats.
Airspace Denial / Deterrence
Neutralization or deterrence of airborne elements through onboard ballistic of missile weaponry.
Fleet Support
Serving in support (either firepower or material) of the main surface fleet in Blue Water environments.
440.0 feet (134.11 meters) Length
54.0 feet (16.46 meters) Beam
23.0 feet (7.01 meters) Draught
5,300 tons Displacement
2 x General Electric LM2500 gas turbines developing 47,500 horsepower with 1 x SEMT Pielstick diesel engine developing 8,800 horsepower driving 2 x Shafts under stern; Also 4 x AEG Telefunken generators of 850kW. Propulsion
1 x 57mm Bofors Mk 2 turreted deck gun.
16 x Evolved Sea Sparrow anti-aircraft missile launchers.
8 x RGM-84 Harpoon surface-to-surface/anti-ship missiles in two quad-launchers.
1 x 20mm Vulcan Phalanx Close-In Weapon System (CIWS).
6 x 12.7mm heavy machine guns.
24 x Honeywell Mk 46 torpedoes.
1 x Sikorsky CH-148 "Cyclone" Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) helicopter). Stern-based helipad and full-service hangar for supporting a single medium-lift helicopter.
ORIGINAL:
1 x Sikorsky CH-124 "Sea King" ASW helicopter.
Images
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Image from the DVIDS defense network; released to the public.
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