HMCS Harry DeWolf

HMCS Harry DeWolf (AOPV 430) is the lead ship of its class of offshore patrol vessels for the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN). The class was derived from the Arctic Offshore Patrol Ship project as part of the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy and is primarily designed for the patrol and support of Canada's Arctic regions. Named after Vice Admiral Harry DeWolf, a former head of the RCN, the vessel was ordered in 2011, laid down in 2016 and launched in 2018. The vessel completed contractors sea trials in July 2020, was delivered to the RCN on 31 July 2020 and began post-acceptance sea trials.

Harry DeWolf under construction in May 2018
History
Canada
Name: Harry DeWolf
Namesake: Harry DeWolf
Ordered: 19 October 2011
Builder: Irving Shipbuilding, Halifax, Nova Scotia
Laid down: 11 March 2016
Launched: 15 September 2018
Identification:
Status: post-acceptance trials
General characteristics
Type: Harry DeWolf-class offshore patrol vessel
Displacement: 6,615 t (6,511 long tons; 7,292 short tons)
Length: 103.6 m (339 ft 11 in)
Beam: 19.0 m (62 ft 4 in)
Installed power: 4 × 3.6 MW (4,800 hp) generators
Propulsion:
  • Diesel-electric
  • 2 shafts
  • 2 × 4.5 MW (6,000 hp)
Speed:
  • 17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph) (open water)
  • 3 knots (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph) (icebreaking)
Range: 6,800 nmi (12,600 km)
Complement: 65
Armament:
Aircraft carried: Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone
Aviation facilities: Hangar and flight deck

Design and description

The Harry DeWolf-class offshore patrol vessels are designed for use in the Arctic regions of Canada for patrol and support within Canada's exclusive economic zone. The vessel is 103.6 m (339 ft 11 in) long overall with a beam of 19.0 m (62 ft 4 in). The ship has a displacement of 6,615 metric tons (6,511 long tons; 7,292 short tons). The ship has an enclosed foredeck that protects machinery and work spaces from Arctic climates. The vessel is powered by a diesel-electric system composed of four 3.6-megawatt (4,800 hp) generators and two diesel engines rated at 4.5 megawatts (6,000 hp) driving two shafts. Harry DeWolf is capable of 17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph) in open water and 3 knots (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph) while icebreaking in new year ice of 1-metre (3 ft 3 in) thickness. The ship is also equipped with a bow thruster to aid during manoeuvres and docking procedures without requiring tugboat assistance. The ship has a range of 6,800 nautical miles (12,600 km; 7,800 mi) and an endurance of 85. Harry DeWolf is equipped with fin stabilizers to decrease roll in open water but can be retracted during icebreaking.[1][2][3]

Harry DeWolf is able to deploy with multiple payloads, including shipping containers, underwater survey equipment or landing craft. Payload operations are aided by a 20-metric-ton (20-long-ton; 22-short-ton) crane for loading and unloading. The ship is equipped with a vehicle bay which can hold pickup trucks, all-terrain vehicles and snowmobiles. The ship also has two 8.5-metre (27 ft 11 in) multi-role rescue boats capable of over 35 knots (65 km/h; 40 mph). The ship is armed with one BAE Mk 38 25 mm (0.98 in) gun and two M2 Browning machine guns. The patrol ship has an onboard hangar and flight deck for helicopters up to the size of a Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone. Harry DeWolf has a complement of 65 and accommodation for 85.[1][2][3]

Construction

The order for the Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships was placed on 19 October 2011 with Irving Shipyards of Halifax, Nova Scotia as part of the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy.[4] The ship was to be constructed in 62 blocks, which would then be pieced together into three larger blocks. These three "mega blocks" would be fitted together to form the hull of the ship.[1] On 18 September 2014, it was announced that the first ship of the class was to be named Harry DeWolf in honour of Rear Admiral Harry DeWolf, a decorated naval officer who served during World War II in European waters and as the Royal Canadian Navy Chief of the Naval Staff during the early Cold War.[5] The ship was given the hull number AOPV 430.[2] On 18 June 2015 it was reported that the construction of test modules for Harry DeWolf was underway.[6] The first sections of keel were placed on 11 March 2016, but the official laying of the keel of Harry DeWolf was held on 9 June 2016, marking the first naval construction in Canada since 1998.[7][8] On 8 December 2017, the three main sections of Harry DeWolf were fitted into place.[9]

Harry DeWolf was launched on 15 September 2018. The vessel was loaded onto the semi-submersible barge Boa Barge 37 and taken out into Halifax Harbour. There, the barge was submerged and the ship floated free, to be towed back to the shipyard.[10] The vessel was officially named at Halifax on 5 October 2018 by sponsor Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, the wife of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.[11] Harry DeWolf began builders sea trials on 22 November 2019.[12] The ship was delivered to the Royal Canadian Navy on 31 July 2020 and began post-acceptance sea trials.[13][14]

References
  1. Pugliese, David (16 January 2015). "Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships to be constructed in three "mega blocks"". Ottawa Citizen. Archived from the original on 31 October 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
  2. "Arctic/Offshore Patrol Ships". Royal Canadian Navy. January 2015. Archived from the original on 31 October 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
  3. "Harry DeWolf-class Arctic/Offshore Patrol Ship Factsheet" (PDF). Department of National Defence of Canada. January 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 October 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
  4. Woods, Allan (19 October 2011). "Two winners and one big loser in contest to build military ships". The Toronto Star. Archived from the original on 31 October 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
  5. "PM Announces the Name of the First of the Royal Canadian Navy's Arctic/Offshore Patrol Ships". Prime Minister of Canada. 18 September 2014. Archived from the original on 22 September 2014. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
  6. Brooks, Patricia (18 June 2015). "Arctic patrol vessels 'really have started' construction, says Irving president". Halifax Chronicle Herald. Archived from the original on 3 August 2017. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
  7. "Timeline". Irving Shipyards. 2016. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
  8. Gunn, Andrea (10 June 2016). "Irving, Royal Canadian Navy celebrate construction milestone with wolf coin". Halifax Chronicle Herald. Archived from the original on 6 April 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
  9. "First Arctic patrol ship clicks into place at Halifax Shipyard". CBC News. The Canadian Press. 8 December 2017. Archived from the original on 31 October 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
  10. Ziobrowski, Peter (17 September 2018). "Canada's newest navy vessel, Future HMCS Harry DeWolf, enters the water". Halifax Chronicle Herald. Archived from the original on 31 October 2018.
  11. Sevunts, Levon (5 October 2018). "Royal Canadian Navy celebrates official naming of its future Arctic patrol ship". Radio Canada International. Archived from the original on 31 October 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
  12. "The future HMCS Harry DeWolf starts initial sea trials". halifaxtoday.com. 22 November 2019. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  13. Berthiaume, Lee (31 July 2020). "Canadian navy enters new era with long-awaited Arctic warship". The Canadian Press. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  14. "Government of Canada receives first new Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship" (Press release). Government of Canada. 31 July 2020. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
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