Halifax class Frigate (1988)

The decision was taken on 22 December 1977 to order six ships of a projected twenty vessel programme, but lengthy delays have afflicted the programme, and a contract to build the first six was not awarded to St John Shipbuilding Ltd, New Brunswick until June 1983. Design was shared between St John SB and Paramax Electronics, and three hulls were subcontracted to Marine Industries Ltd. of Sorel, Quebec (now MIL-Davie). In December 1987 six more were ordered. The lead-ship Halifax started trials in August 1990 and was accepted in June 1992. The last of class entered service by 1996, but there have been several delays. They are all today in service, thanks to an extensive modernization program from 2007 called FLETEX.

HMCS Calgary leaves Pearl Harbor in July 2014

Development

The Halifax-class frigate, also referred to as the “City class” was a project of multi-role patrol frigate to replace what was essentially escort destroyers designed for the first ones, all the way back to 1947. These made today the bulk of the post-cold war Canadian navy, since 1992. Today they are helped by the Kingston-class coastal defence vessels (1996-99) ad recent Harry DeWolf-class offshore patrol vessels (commissioned 2021-24).
The origin went all the way back to 1975 and the 1977 Canadian Patrol Frigate Project. HMCS Halifax was already planned as a lead ship of twelve Canadian-designed/Canadian-built ships combining traditional ASW capabilities of previous destroyers, and additional anti-surface and air capabilities, which was new. Part of it was determined by the recent retirement of the aircraft carrier HMCS Bonaventure in 1971. However, changes of government meant of naval policy, including the major reforms of 1968 which amalgamated all branches into the single “Unified Canadian Forces”, a controversial merger homing to radically cut back on management budgets.

This was at first an ambitious program of twenty vessels, but the order for the first six ships was delayed until 22 December 1977, years after the until planning. This new frigate design emerged from the Canadian Patrol Frigate Program ordered by the Canadian Forces in 1977 as replacement for the aging St. Laurent, Restigouche, Mackenzie, and Annapolis classes specialiaed in anti-submarine warfare. In July 1983, the federal government approved the budget for the design and construction of the first six frigates and second batch FY1987. The program was dubbed “general purpose warship” but they still keep a particular focus on ASW capabilities. But delays amounted.

The contract was not awarded to the St John Shipbuilding Co. of New Brunswick before June 1983, and construction only started in March 1987, ten years after beign planned. This forced a new rounds of modernization programs for existing DDEs. Planned for the cold war, none of these ships would see it in fact, and their general conception was already outdated. Nevertheless, for multipurpose helicopter Frigates, they were a balanced design, with the advantage of costs reduction due to the large production at the same yard, St John. The only exception was MIL-Davie of Lauzon for Ville de Quebec, Regina and Calgary. The twenty vessels figure was never approached. Instead 12 vessels were completed until 1998, numbered HFF-330 to 341, and they were alternatively called “Halifax class Frigates”.

All ships of the class are named after capital cities of Canadian provinces (St. John’s, Halifax, Charlottetown, Fredericton, Québec City, Toronto, Winnipeg, and Regina), the capital of Canada, Ottawa, and the major cities of Calgary, Montreal, and Vancouver, hence the “city class”. Although they still shared a few traits with the previous Iroquois class helicopter destroyers. Changes were in a smaller, less bulky hull, lower structures, a single square funnel (like in the TRUMP upgrade), and they were significantly smaller at 3600 tonnes standard, 4750-4770 tonnes FL compared to 5,100 t fully loaded after TRUMP for the previous Iroquois class. One of the major design change was a solid mast of the British style instead of the usual derrick, added space for the armement, and a larger helideck with an aft lower deck for the ASW towed sonar.

They shared some hull elements though with the previous Iroquois class, but a few meters longer and larger, with a much longer quarterdeck aft, extending to over the stern’s VDS with a large helideck and large hangar for a single Sea King helicopter, or Merlin EH-101, and today a CH-148 Cyclone helicopter. Armament was rather comprehensive, and of US origin, notably with a SAM and SSM capabilities with Harpoon launchers. But they had mostly European sensors, albeit a US sonar suite. A single super-fast 57 mm gun forward provides an all around artillery capability, antimissile protection is ensured by two CIWS units, decoys and chaff, ECM/ESM.

Design of the class

Hull and general design

Fwd part of the plans (shipbucket)

As built with a displacement of 4,750 long tons (4,830 t) for 134.65 metres (441 ft 9 in) lenght overall or 124.49 metres (408 ft 5 in) between perpendiculars they were already longer, with a prow’s cut shape for extra seakeeping, which was new but enabled to lower it, and a more generous beam of 16.36 metres (53 ft 8 in) with a draught of 4.98 metres (16 ft 4 in). All this participated, with lower strtuctures in general, to some marging in stability and enablinf log term upgrades. They were in general slightly larger than the Iroquois-class destroyers, always paradoxal as they were “frigates”, and better armed at that.

A greater automation enabled a reduction to 236 personnel: 219 naval personnel, inc. 17 officers, 17 aircrew (8 officers). During their FELEX/HCM upgrades 19 berths were added for CTG personnel for a maximum of 255 personal. To compare this was 280 for the Iroquois class. They carried no boats but a rib for spe cops on the funnel’s starboard side and had a serie of standard NATO inflatable rafts, mostly on the hangar’s sides. The helideck also had saferty nets all around. Just like previous designs, internal communication enabled to cross the entire ship from prow to stern without stettping outside. The ships were also protected NBC and had air conditioning.

Aft part of the plans (shipbucket)

Powerplant

The City class frigates had two shafts fitted with Escher Wyss controllable pitch propellers. This was an innovation, underlined by the adoption of a CODOG system like the previous Iroquois class: The beating hart of this system was pair of trusted General Electric (US/CAN) LM2500 gas turbines rated for 47,500 shaft horsepower (35,400 kW) combined, added to a single SEMT Pielstick (FR) 20 PA6 V 280 diesel engine which by itself generating 8,800 shaft horsepower (6,600 kW). This primary group gave them a top speed of 29 knots (54 km/h; 33 mph) just like the previous destroyers, with a range of 7,000 nautical miles (13,000 km; 8,100 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) on diesel engines. On gas turbines alone it fell to 3,930 nautical miles (7,280 km; 4,520 mi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph). Compared to 4,500 nmi (8,300 km; 5,200 mi) for the Iroquois class, so this was a net improvement. The Pacific ships could reach considerable distances, even taking part in operations close to China if needed.

Armament

ASW suite

As built the mainstay of ASW capabilities remained their CH-124 Sea King helicopter, acting in concert with shipboard sensors to extant their search and destroy mission. The helicopter deck was fitted with the Canadian “bear trap” system for launch and recovery in rough weather, up to sea state 6. The Halifax class carried for short range two twin Mark 46 torpedo tubes, launching the Mark 32 Mod 9 torpedo. There were compartments on either side of the forward end of the helicopter hangar to launch them, fixed. No revolving torpedo tube bank.

Anti-shipping suite

As built these ships carried the RGM-84 Harpoon Block 1C surface-to-surface missile. They were mounted in two quadruple launch tubes, placed at the main deck level, between funnel and helicopter hangar. Replaced by the Block 2 after 2010s refits.

RGM-84D Harpoon Block 1C

1C upgrade introduced 1985: Increased range, selectable pop up or sea skimming mode, ECCM improvements and plottable waypoints.
Dimensions: 4.63 m x 0.343 m x Wingspan 0.9 m
Weight: 690 kg
Guidance: Initial: Inertial navigation, radar altimeter, Terminal phase in Active radar homing
Warhead: 221 kg WDU-18/B penetrating HE-fragmentation with delayed impact fuse
Booster: solid propellant rocket motor +Teledyne J402-CA-400 turbojet: Mach 0.9
Range 150 km, Sea skimming.

RGM-84 Harpoon Block 2

Upgrade of Block 1E with GPS aided inertial navigation and improved hardware. Integrates also improved ECCM capabilities and Block 1D re-attack capability.
Dimensions: 5.28 m x 0.343 m x Wingspan 0.9 m
Weight: 785 kg
Guidance, same as above.
Warhead, same as above.
Propulsion, same as above.
Range up to 280 km, same.

RIM-7M Sea Sparrow

For anti-aircraft self-defence, the mainstay were two launchers for Sea Sparrow missiles. They were located in two fixed, vertical, VLS-like Mk 48 Mod 0 eight-cell launchers port and starboard of the funnel for 16 missiles in all. These were not “true” VLS as they were not buried into the hull and rather installed vertically alongside the funnel, close by the way to her Harpoon missile canisters. The location improved her balance but this was unusual and proper to this class.
The original RIM-7M was capable to hit a target as low as 8 metres (26 ft), so able to destroy sea-skimming missiles such the Exocet.
Mass 510 lb (230 kg), Length 12 ft (3.7 m) x 8 in (20 cm), wingspan 3 ft 4 in (1.02 m).
Carries a 90 lb (41 kg) annular blast fragmentation warhead with proximity fuze and expanding rod, 27 ft (8.2 m) kill radius.
It was powered by a Hercules MK-58 solid-propellant rocket motor for 4,256 km/h (2,645 mph) at max 10 nmi (19 km).

ESSM (RIM-162) Evolved Sea Sparrow (post refit)

Available from 2004 and gradually replacing the RIM-7 or NSSM. Capabilities similar to the Standard SM-2.
Dimensions: 3,66 m x 254 mm diameter, 280 kg
Carries a 39 kg fragmentation warhead
Powerplant: solid-fuel engine
Mach 4, range 50 km
Target detection: semi-active radar targeting.

Bofors 57 mm Mark 2

The forecastle was given a Bofors 57 mm (2.2 in)/70 calibre Mark 2. It long derived from the 1950s sjöautomatkanon L/60. The 57 mm sjöautomatkanon L/70 Mark I appeared in 1970, followed by the Mark 2 in 1981, a proven but already sold system, replaced in 195 by the Mark 3.
It fired a 2.4-kg (5.3 lb) shell at 200 rounds per minute (40 rds magazines) at a range beyond 17 kilometres (11 mi). 128 rounds in ready racks in mount
Elevation −10°/+75° (40°/s), 360° traverse at 55°/s.

Bofors 57 mm Mark 3

Installed following the 2010+ refits.

Full Specs:

Full weight 14,000 kg (31,000 lb) including 1,000 rounds onboard at 6.5 kg (14 lb) each
Barrel length 3,990 mm (157.09 in), with flash hider 4,345 mm (171.06 in)
Shell 57 × 438 mm R (m/70) 6.1 kg (13 lb) complete round, 2.4 kg (5.3 lb) pre-fragmented shell
Single barrel with progressive RH parabolic twist, 24 grooves.
Electronic firing, −10°/+77° (44°/s) elevation and full 360°/57°/s traverse
Rate of fire 220 rounds/min.
Muzzle velocity 1,035 m/s (3,400 ft/s) (HE)
Effective range 8,5 km (9,300 yd), Max 17 km (19,000 yd)/45°
120 ready rounds, 40 in dual hoists, 1,000 in mounting.
Sight: Gyro-stabilized in local control.

GDLS Phalanx Mk.15 Mod 1 CIWS

Next for close range and anti-missile duties, a Raytheon/General Dynamics Phalanx Mark 15 Mod 21 Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) was installed on top of the helicopter hangar. It was the last insurance below the Sea Sparrow bubble. Both however only were defensive and relatively short range.
This was rounded up by no less than eight 12.7 mm (0.50 in) Browning machine guns to face asymetric threats.

Block 1B Baseline 1 CIWS (2015)

The Block 1B PSuM introduced in 1999 adds a FLIR sensor against surface targets, low-observability missiles. The operator could visually identify and target threats. It comes also with automatic acquisition video tracker, optimized gun barrels (OGB), and Enhanced Lethality Cartridges (ELC).
Unitary GDLS cost £8-12M. Elevation/Traverse −25°/+85°. 6-barrel system.
Fires 20×102 mm tungsten APDS or HE incendiary tracer, 20 mm.
4,500 rpm (75 rounds/second), mv 3,600 ft/s (1,100 m/s)
Effective firing range 1,625 yd (1,486 m), max 6,000 yd (5,500 m).

Rafael Naval remote weapon system (NRWS)

The Israeli Rafael Mini Typhoon Naval Remote Weapon Station (NRWS) replaced after upgrades the Browning M2HB on board. It uses the same base HMG but with an auto feed system and remote operations with day/night cameras.

Sensors

CEROS 200 FC radar on HMCS_Ottawa

The City class comprised a range of sensors.
-First were two Thales Nederland (ex-Signaal) SPG-503 (STIR 1.8) fire control radars. They were installed one on the roof of the bridge, plus one on the raised radar platform forward of the helicopter hangar.
-The main air warning sensor was the Raytheon AN/SPS-49(V)5 long-range active air search radar (C-D bands)
-For medium range the Ericsson HC150 Sea Giraffe, air and surface search model (G-H bands)
-For navigation the Kelvin Hughes Type 1007 I-band navigation radar.
-The sonar suite comprised the CANTASS Canadian Towed Array, and the GD-C AN/SQS-510 hull-mounted sonar with an acoustic range prediction system.
-There was also the sonobuoy processing system GD-C AN/UYS-503.

Command and Control

In the 1980s with the US showing the way with AEGIS, it was obvious that command and control, to full exploit the possibility of new real time 3D arrays, the Frigates would be equipped with a state of the art tactical command and control system. The suite was developed in Canada, includin the following:
-Shipboard Integrated Communications System (SHINCOM) from DRS Techn. Canada
-Shipboard Integrated Machinery Control (SHINMACS) developed by CAE.
-Shipboard Integrated Integrated Processing and Display System (SHINPADS) developed by Sperry Computer Systems in Winnipeg with US assistance.
The latter used a redundant and distributed computer architecture exported for use in US military control systems.
It was not as developed as AEGIS but was as efficient and tailored for the more restricted armament of the Frigates. By all means this was a far better system that any previous Canadian destroyer.

Active Protection

MASS Decoy on HCMS Ottawa

The City class had a decoy system comprising two BAE Systems ‘Shield Mark 2’ decoy launchers. They sent chaff up to 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) as well infrared rockets to 169 metres (185 yd) at incoming missiles. Itr used a confusion or centroid seduction modes dependiong on the threat nature.
The torpedo decoy used the US system AN/SLQ-25A Nixie towed acoustic decoy developed by Argon ST.
There was also the radar warning receiver CANEWS (Canadian Electronic Warfare System)
This was rounded up by terminal radar jammers SLQ-501 and SLQ-505 developed respectively by Thorn and Lockheed Martin Canada.

Air Group

The confident beast of burden of the RCAN was still there, albeit the park had been savaged by budget cuts and lack of maintenance. Plus the age of these platofmrs started to add-up in the 1990s. The last were retired in 2018 after a last round of upgrades. It was replaced by the Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone.

CH-148 Cyclone

A key asset to replace the 50-yrs old Sea King (1963-2018) to the modern Canadian Navy, the Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone is a twin-engine, multi-role shipborne helicopter developed by Sikorsky as a variant of the Sikorsky S-92 for Canadian shipboard operations. It entered service with the RCAF in 2018 for ASW, surveillance, search and rescue, utility and transport notably in international security efforts. In 2004 was signed a contract for 28 CH-148s delayed until 2015. 26 delivered so far, one lost at sea 2020, attributed to bugs and poor documentation.
They are deployed to the 406 Maritime Operational Training Squadron, 423 and 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadrons.

Specs

Crew: 4 (2 pilots, 1 tactical coordinator, ACSO/sensor operator, AES OP)+ 6 SAR, 22 utility.
Dimensions 56 ft 2 in (17.12 m), 14.78 m (48.5 ft) folded, x 17 ft 3 in (5.26 m) x 15 ft 5 in (4.70 m).
Empty weight: 15,600 lb (7,076 kg) S-92, MTO 29,300 lb (13,290 kg)
Powerplant: 2 × General Electric CT7-8A7 turboshaft engines, 3,000 shp (2,200 kW) each
Main rotor diameter: 58 ft 1 in (17.70 m), 2,650 sq ft (246 m2) area
Top speed: 165 knots (190 mph, 306 km/h), cruise 137 kn (158 mph, 254 km/h), ceiling 15,000 ft (4,600 m).
Armament: 2 × MK-46 torpedoes (BRU-14 mount pylons), Door-arm GMPG. Optional buoys and VDS.

⚙ specifications
Displacement	4,770 t (4,690 long tons)
Dimensions	134.1 x 16.4 x 4.9 (440 ft x 53 ft 10 in x 16 ft 1 in)
Propulsion	CODOG, 2× GE LM2500 GT 47,500 shp, SEMT Pielstick Diesel 8,800 shp, 4x generators
Speed	30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph)
Range	9,500 nmi (17,600 km; 10,900 mi)
Armament	8 × MK 141 Harpoon SSM, 16 × Sea Sparrow SAM, Bofors 57 mm Mk 3, Phalanx CIWS, 24 × Mk 46 torpedoes Mod 5
Sensors	Saab Sea Giraffe, Thales SMART-S Mk 2, SAAB CEROS-200 FCR, AN/SQS-510 +AN/SQR-501 CANTASS
Air Group	CH-148 Cyclone helicopter, landing pad + hangar
Crew	255

Modernizations

In 2007, the Canadian Gvt. announced a refit for the ageing Halifax class in service for more than 12-16 years. This was Halifax Class Modernization Project (HCMP), also integrating for cost saving measures and keeping more hulls active, with the Frigate Equipment Life Extension (FELEX) project. In November 2008, Lockheed Martin Canada led a teal comprising Saab AB, Elisra, IBM Canada, CAE Professional Services, L-3 Electronic Systems, xwave which won the competition and was awarded the contract. Construction phase was completed in November 2016 and by May 2021 the program was announced closed out, with full operational capacity reached already for the class on 31 January 2018.

So the new program was voted and funded for $3.1 billion total on 5 July 2007 and scheduled to take place between 2010 to 2018. The goal was to extend service lives up to the 2030s initially. The final program was established at $4.3 billion, comprising $2 billion for combat systems, $1.2 billion for mid-life refits, consisting in powerplant revisions, all electronic systems, electrical network, ect. $1 billion was used for other upgrades.
Delays and restrictions from the International Traffic in Arms Regulations however caused delays in modernization, and forced to use as much non-American equipment as possible. Canada, Sweden, Germany, Netherlands and Israel provided such systems. This concerned not only the passive and active weapons and all sensors as well as a new combat architecture. It was completed on the west coast by Victoria Shipyards, 29 April 2016, with Regina returning into service and Calgary was the lead ship refitted at Victoria, followed by Winnipeg, Vancouver, Ottawa. On the east coast, 29 November 2016 Toronto, was the last handed back to the Royal Canadian Navy at Halifax Shipyard.

FELEX

Hewitt Equipment was awarded a contract to replace the diesel generators by June 2015, an upgrade to be performed over 10 years, optionally extended to 22 years on both coasts. New speeds are expected to 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph) and range improved.

Combat Management and Sensors upgrades

Combat system architecture/combat management system: CMS330 from Lockheed Martin Canada, using part of the Saab 9LV Mk4 combat management system (“CanACCS-9LV”), a further development of SHINPADS. So retraining was relatively easy.
The Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS) L-3 MAPPS for systems management, development of SHINMACS.
Sirius long-range Infrared Search and Track (IRST) by Thales Canada (used on the Sachsen-class frigates) used to track low radar cross-section aircraft and ships.
CEROS 200 Fire Control Radar: By Saab, Radar and Optronic Tracking system interfacing wth the new SAMs on board as well as the new Bofors Mark 3. Part of the 9LV Mk4.
Sea Giraffe SG-150 HC Upgraded multi-function search radar.
Smart-S Mk2 S-band radar By Thales supplied, optimized for medium-to-long-range search and target designatio, 3D multibeam radar delivered 2010-2015.
Pathfinder ST MK 2. Nav Radar By Raytheon Anschütz, part of the 9LV Mk4, delivered from 2015.
Multi Ammunition Softkill System: MASS, developed by Rheinmetall as fully computerized countermeasure, launching decoys that operate in all relevant wavelengths.
Elbit Systems Electronic Warfaresuite: Including active jamming and tracking systems.
Passive Electronic Countermeasures Systems: Provided by Rheinmetall Waffe Munition GmbH

Multi-band Terminals (NMT): New satcom and antenna on the forward port and starboard sides of the hangar, linking with with satellites in geostationary orbit via Ka band.
Maritime Satellite Communications Upgrade (MSCU): AN/USC-69(V3) antenna on the hangar top.

Combat Upgrades

Currently the RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) replaced the Sea Sparrow. With its much greater range it allowed to double the defenseive bubble of the ships.
Bofors 57 mm Mk 3: An upgrade of the Mark 2 performed by BAE Systems Canada at Karlskoga between 2010 and 2016, installed in Halifax and Victoria.
Naval remote weapon system (NRWS) were requested through a tender to replace the M2HB heavy machine guns.
CIWS: Raytheon Canada received $180 million and eight years to upgrade this to the Block 1B Baseline 1 configuration.

This went from October 2011 with the ambitious National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy to replace not only the Halifax class, but the Iroquois-class destroyers as well, with 15 new River-class destroyers with the first metal cut being performed in 2025. In the meantile a constant upgrade program keeps the current Halifax class operational and up to face the latets threats. In fact they are even scheduled to serve into the 2040s.

Career of the “City class”

With now 33 years of service for the lead ship and counting for the others, and a radical upgrade in 2007-2010, the “city class” is nearly overdue for replacement. Not only them but also the Iroquois class DDE. In a new international context including the rapid rise of China in the Pacific and uncertain future for NATO as an ongoing war in Ukraine cast some doubts on a possible future world war three, Canada needs to ramp up its game, notably to be present with the RN if things went south on two fronts.

Until recently, Canada planned replacement is the “Canadian Surface Combatant”, quite an ambitious vessel, part of the new class of “super frigates” of 7,000-8,000 tonnes of displacement, basically destroyers in disguise. The program is aiming at replacing the former Tribal and City class ships by 15 new modular vessels, beginning was planned initially for the mid to late 2020s, as part of the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy. Construction was confirmed and ordered on 28 June 2024 but the first HCMS Fraser, is scheduled to be laid down at Irving Shipbuilding and Lockheed Martin Canada-BAE Systems consortium, Halifax in 2025. The name is now fixed as the “river class destroyer”.

Halifax was laid down at Saint John Shipbuilding in New Brunswick, laid down on 19 March 1987, launched on 30 April 1988 and completed on 29 June 1992 and based at CFB Halifax. This was first warship constructed in Canada since 1971, posing a number of issues or “re-learning” forgotten skills and explaining long completion delays. She was provisionally accepted by the Canadian Forces in June 1991 and took a year in sea trials to work out scores of issues, as a prototype for the whole class. This led to modifications in later vessels and she was definitively commissioned on 29 June 1992.
On 2 April 1994 she relieved HCMS Iroquois in the naval blockade of Yugoslavia but in transit her diesels broke down. She was forced to continue on gas turbines and was back to CFB Halifax on 9 September. By early 1995 she made a European tour, with several port visits notably in the frame of 50th D-Day celebrations. She also took part in NATO “Linked Seas” off Portugal and was back home in June.

On 18 March 1996 she was back in the Adriatic with the Yugoslavian embargo force as flagship. In 1998 she took part in NATO “Strong Resolve” off Norway and took part in the search for Swissair Flight 111. She was later part of NATO’s STANAVFORLANT (26 July-15 December 2000).
She departed Halifax on 15 August 2001 to join STANAVFORLANT and on 8 October 2001 was deployed in the Indian Ocean after September 11 attacks, first Canadian ship on station, north Arabian Sea with USS Carl Vinson carrier battle group (CBG). She was relieved by Toronto in December and back home in February 2002.
On 13 January 2010 she took part in Operation Hestia off Haiti in relief efforts after the January earthquake with Athabaskan. She was deployed at Jacmel ahd used her helicopters as roads were cut off and airport was too small for large aircraft. She also provided air traffic control. She left on 19 February.] On 4 September she started her major refit at Irving Shipbuilding (Halifax) over 18-month.

She provided qualification for the new CH-148 Cyclone helicopters replacing the sea king and by September 2015 followed Athabaskan to NATO “Joint Warrior” and “Trident Juncture”. In 2016 she started another year-long refit and was back active on 27 September 2017.
In October 2018, she took part in NATO Trident Juncture. On 26 October 2018 a minor fire was reported in her starboard gas turbine, extinguished quickly so she resumed her deployment.
On 6 July 2019 she sailed for the Mediterranean for NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2), Operation Reassurance as flagship. She was hiowever soon back to port due to an oil leak in an engine roomn repaired and she was back in duty for six months and back home on 24 January 2020.
She was at sea on 1 January 2021 for NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1) for six months again via Lisbon, as flagship agaisn and back on 19 July. The crew was soon isolated when reported ill by COVID-19 with other cases tested positive.
On 22 February 2022 it was announced she would followed HMCS Montréal for Operation Reassurance to Central and Eastern Europe after the invasion of Ukraine. She joined Standing NATO Maritime Group 1, Baltic Sea and back home in July. More to come…

She was laid down on 19 May 1988, launched on 8 July 1989 and completed on 23 August 1993, based at CFB Esquimalt. After trials she was commissioned on 23 August 1993, assigned to CFB Esquimalt in British Columbia, first in class to be based there. May-July 1994 saw her at RIMPAC off Hawaii. There was a Pacific cruise with many port visits. Next with HCMS Regina she amde another Pacific training cruise and in 1995, joined a US carrier battle group. In 1997 she made another Pacific training cruise and then RIMPAC 1998. Accompanied by HCMS Protecteur she visited Vladivostok, second time Canadian warships visited Russia.
After the 11 September 2001 attacks she was prepared for the Middle East, joining USS John C. Stennis CBG via Hong Kong (29 November 2001) and was in the Persian Gulf in 19 December and enforcing sanctions on Iraq, back to to Esquimalt on 28 May 2002.
She took part in RIMPAC 2006 and Operation Apollo in the Arabian Sea (traffic control) and made a trip to Oregon in 2003, then to Vancouver for her 10th anniversary.
On 10 July 2011, she joined the NATO-led Operation Unified Protector as part of the Libyan civil war, albeit delayed by a small fire in boiler. Canadian participation was called Operation Mobile and she relieved Charlottetown, until 1 November 2011, then transferred to Operation Active Endeavour on 15 November and back home on 10 January 2012.
Her major refit started on 6 May 2013 to Seaspan Marine Corp. at Victoria Shipyards over 18-month (HCM/FELEX), completed in May 2014.
By October 2015 with Calgary and Chicoutimi she was in a joint Task Group Exercise off southern California and in April 2016 tested the new Harpoon Block II to test land strike capabilities.
From June 2016 she departed with Saskatoon and Yellowknife for RIMPAC naval exercise, a training cruise around the Pacific and Aussie exercise “Kakadu”.
HCMS Vancouver took part in the RNZN 75th Birthday Celebration (19–21 November) at South Island but took part in a relief operation at Kaikōura. In 2018, she was deployed to the Pacific, and trained with the Fijian Navy. In June-July 2018 with Ottawa and the supply ship MV Asterix she took part in RIMPAC 2018 off Hawaii. She was also at RIMPAC 2022, helping enforcing UN sanctions against North Korea and by September 2022, she made a freedome of navigation in the Taiwan Strait with USS Higgins. By mid 2024 she was at RIMPAC 2024 with HMCS Max Bernays and Asterix.

Quebec City was laid down at MIL Davie Shipbuilding in Lauzon, Quebec, laid down on 16 December 1988, launched 16 May 1991 and completed on 14 July 1994, and based at CFB Halifax. On 9 February 1995 she departed Halifax for NATO “Strong Resolve” off Norway. In July she was at STANAVFORLANT, Adriatic Sea, blockade against Yugoslavia and back on January 1996. In 1998 she searched for Swissair Flight 111. In 1999 she was in STANAVFORLANT for three-month.
On 2 September 2005 she was in a joint Canadian Forces Maritime Command/Coast Guard Gulf of Mexico operaiton in Louisiana disaster relief efforts after Katrina. 300 Canadian sailors were in Biloxi, Mississippi assisting in the cleanup and reconstruction and delivering supplies to Pensacola.
In 2008 she was in Standing NATO Maritime Group 1. On 6 August 2008 she was redeployed for NATO relief for Somalia from pirates, arrivinh on 19 August 2008, escorting World Food Program vessels from Mombasa to Mogadishu.
The summer of 2012 saw her in a cruise on the Great Lakes, visiting 14 cities for the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812. She started her FELEX modernization from October 2014 at Halifax until December 2015. On 3 March 2016 in trials she had a fire in a diesel generator while in Dockyard, and three crew members ended in hospital as precaution. She multiplied port visits along the Great Lakes-Saint Lawrence Seaway by September 2016.
On 18 July 2018 she departed for Operation Reassurance in the Mediterranean and Black Sea, relieving HMCS St. John’s. She also deployed for the first time the new Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone helicopter. By October 2018 she took part in NATO exercise Trident Juncture North Atlantic-Baltic and Mediterranean for Operation Reassurance, NATO Maritime Group 2, stopping in Israel and Croatia and back on 21 January 2019.
In August 2020 she was in the Arctic for Operation Nanook with MV Asterix and HMCS Glace Bay, and Danish, French, U.S. ships. More to come.

HCMS Toronto was laid down at Saint John Shipbuilding, Saint John, New Brunswick on 22 April 1989, launched on 18 December 1990 and completed on 29 July 1993. She was based at CFB Halifax. In 1994 she deployed to the Adriatic (NATO blockade of Yugoslavia) and 1995 with Halifax and Terra Nova she made port visits lined to WW2 V-day celebrations and NATO Linked Seas off Portugal. In 1996 she cruised in the St. Lawrence Seaway and Great Lakes.
In January 1998 she joined NATO’s STANAVFORLANT and on 10 February was deployed in the Persian Gulf (sanctions against Iraq) with a US fleet, back on 16 June. On 5 December she was back for Operation Apollo, War in Afghanistan, back on 27 May 2002. From January to July 2004 she was in Operation Altair as part of USS George Washington CBG, part of Operation Enduring Freedom. She had a great lakes summer 2005 cruise afterwards.
On 6 September 2005 she was deployed with HCMS Athabaskan, St. John’s, and Coast Guard Sir William Alexander into the Gulf of Mexico for relief and help after the Hurricane Katrina. In 2008 she was deployed with Shawinigan and CCG Pierre Radisson for an Arctic patrol via Frobisher Bay (Operation Nanook). In 2009 she was in Caribbean Sea for drug patrols (Operation Caribbe) and again in 2011. She took part in Operation Artemis, ROTO 2 in January 2013-February 2014 inc. a crew swap in July 2013.
She relieved Regina in the Mediterranean in Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 and was in the Black Sea for Operation Reassurance, leading TU.02 with the Spanish frigate Almirante Juan de Borbón and Romanian frigate Regele Ferdinand, USS Ross and four other navies. On 8 September 2014 she was overflied agressively by two Russian Su-24. In November 2014, six of her crew helped fight a fire while on shore leave in Antalya (Turkey). She had a fire herself in her auxiliary machinery room on 25 December 2014, extinguished, but had personal affected by the smoke. She also took part in three naval exercises and led TU-2 in the Black Sea until relieved by Fredericton by January 2015.
Back home she started her FELEX refit at Irving Shipyards, until 29 November 2016. By January 2018 she trained with MV Asterix off Nova Scotia.
In October she was in Europe, UK waters, but had there significant electrical problems and ended powerless, later restored so she headed for Belfast for repairs, and there, had a small fire in her starboard gas turbine enclosure, quickly extinguished. She was back in Canada and on 19 January 2019 departed for the Mediterranean and Operation Reassurance in Black Sea (she visited Odessa in Ukraine).
She was back home on 4 August 2019 and on 22 August 2019 had a new fire when docked in Halifax under routine maintenance, extinguished within 20 minutes. More to come.

She was laid down MIL Davie Shipbuilding, Lauzon, Quebec, laid down on 6 October 1989, launched on 25 January 1992, completed on 30 September 1994. She was based at CFB Esquimalt. In May 1995 she sortied with Vancouver to Southeast Asia for naval exercises and in March 1995 with MV Protecteur, DD Algonquin and frigate Winnipeg she was back to the Eastern Pacific for exercises, stopping in Vietnam, and taking part in RIMPAC off Hawaii. In February 1997 she joined a CBG in the Persian Gulf (sanctions aganst Iraq) and back agan in June-December 1999 with USS Constellation CBG. In February 2003 she was in the Indian Ocean a for Operation Apollo (support of the War in Afghanistan) until May. She left Esquimalt on 3 July 2012 for the Arabian Sea and TF 150 on 21 August until back on 14 March 2013.
In her 2013 westpac, she stopped at Manila. In 2014 she was off the coast of Somalia for Operation Artemis. On 30 April 2014 she was annoounced to be deployed for the crisis in Ukraine but started a FELEX refit in May 2015, back in 29 April 2016.
On 6 February 2019 with MV Asterix she was in a WestPac and on 18 February, had her Cyclone helicopter damaged when landing on Asterix, sent to Guam for inspection. In March 2019 she sailed for the Middle East, Operation Artemis. She intercepted a dhow carrying 2,569 kg (5,664 lb) of hashish and an unregistered fishing vessel with hashish agains, and on 24 April, with 1.5 tonnes of hashish and heroin in international waters off Oman and Yemen. She also joined the Charles de Gaulle CBG and made a 4th seizure on 3 May. On 18 June she was in the Taiwan Strait for freedom of navigation mission, and buzzed by two Chinese Sukhoi Su-30 at 30 metres (100 ft). She was back home on 19 August 2019 after UN sanctions on North Korea and Operation Talisman Sabre 19.
In November 2019 she received a singular camouflage reminsicent of 1944 Canadian ships for the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic.
On 29 August 2020 she fired two Harpoon at SINKEX (RIMPAC 2020). In July 2024 she performed an Arctic patrol to the Bering Strait, meeting the Chinese polar research vessel Xue Long 2. More to come.

Calgary was laid down on 15 June 1991, launched on 28 August 1992, completed on 12 May 1995, based at CFB Esquimalt. From 10 July 1995 she departed for the Persian Gulf (sanctions on Iraq) until December. She asissted the bulk carrier Mount Olympus, rescuing all 30 crew. She was also part in the NATO blockade of Yugoslavia and Exercise “Tandem Thrust” in 1999, but suffered a diesel generator breakdown. In 2000 she was in the Persian Gulf relieving Regina. She returned in the Persian Gulf in 2003 for Operation Apollo, performing 24 boardings of suspected vessels and departed on 1 November 2003.
In 2008 she sailed with Protecteur and Iroquois to the Horn of Africa and CTF 150 in maritime interdiction, drug smuggling and piracy between Somalia and Yemen. In 2009 she was in the Caribbean Sea for drug patrols (Operation Caribbe).
On 6 June 2011 she started her major refit at the Seaspan Marine Corporation in Victoria over 18-month and had sea trials by the fall 2013. She took part in RIMPAC 2014 in June, with China being present. Calgary and Winnipeg, Yellowknife and Brandon left in October 2014 for the San Francisco Fleet Week and TGEX with the USN. By October 2015 she sailed with Chicoutimi and Vancouver for TGEX 2015 and in June 2016 with Vancouver, Saskatoon and Yellowknife for RIMPAC.
Bt 25 February 2018 she had a massive oil spillage while sailing in the Georgia Strait, circled back to locate the oil sheen and treatment by the Canadian Coast Guard and Environment Canada, deploying Orca-class patrol vessels and a CP-140A Aurora but never found the oil spill.
On 30 July 2018, Calgary left Esquimalt for five-month Westpac, Exercises with Japan, South Korea, New Zealand and Australia with MV Asterix, stopping notably at Da Nang in Vietnam, roamed the South China Sea, East China Sea and visited Japan and Australia, assisting UN blockade on North Korea. She was back home i=on 18 December 2018.
On 23 April 2021 as part of CTF 150 she intercepted a suspected smuggler, recovered 1,286 kg (2,835 lb) of heroin and 24 hours later another with 360 kg (790 lb) of methamphetamine worth $23.22 million combined. She took part in Talisman Sabre off Australia and was back home on 31 August. More to come.

HMCS Montréal was laid down at Saint John Shipbuilding in New Brunswick on 8 February 1991. She was launched on 28 February 1992, completed on 21 July 1994 and based at CFB Halifax. By January 1995 she joined the NATO mission in the Adriatic over Yugoslavia, twice as flagship, and back on 19 July 2005. In 1997 she saw some 12,500 anechoic tiles added to her hull to test acoustic reduction, but it was not a success. She visited Russia, St Petesrburg as part of a NATO fleet in 1998 for the 300th anniversary of the Russian Navy and also represented Canada for the Millennium International Fleet Review in NYC.

In July 2000 she watched the rogue merchant ship GTS Katie, refusing to deliver its military cargo to Canada, claiming unpaid fees. On 30 July HMCS Athabaskan and Montréal watched her and launched Operation Megaphone, a detachement was landed by CH-124 Sea King and boarded her. She was escorted into port.
In 2002 she took part in Operation Apollo in support to Afghanistan operations from 9 September to 25 April 2003. In 2004 she made her first trip to the Arctic (also first since 1982) and by January 2005 she took part in the NATO rapid reaction force. She lost a crewmember on 8 February 2005 (lost overboard).
She took part in Operation Nanook in 2010 and tested the new CH-148 Cyclone helicopter which needed modifications with night-vision green filters and reinforced flight deck.

On 3 July 2011 she hosted the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge from Montréal to Quebec City. In August she cruised from the St. Lawrence Seaway into Lake Ontario and the Great Lakes and on 5 July 2012 she entered Irving Shipbuilding in Halifax for her 18-month mid-life upgrade/mod. (HCM/FELEX) until 26 September 2013. She only was in full readiness by 9 March 2015, and later that year she took part in NATO “Joint Warrior” and “At Sea Demonstration 2015” off the Hebrides Islands bt October under the MTMD group to improve maritime integrated air and missile defence capabilities in coalition. In Faslane she hosted Prince Charles, just appointed C-in-C of the Royal Canadian Navy’s Atlantic Fleet. She was back home on 27 November 2015.
By April 2016 with Fredericton she was to be a test ships for planned reduced crew, until 24 October 2016. By May 2017 her crew took part in a relief operation to the Trois-Rivières port in Mauricie after a flood. In August 2017 she teamed with the Kingston-class HMCS Kingston and Moncton for Operation Nanook.
On 19 January 2022 she joined SNMG2 for Operation Reassurance and back on 15 July 2022. On 26 March 2023 with MV Asterix she was sent for the South China Sea and Indo-Pacific region and on 3 June, PLA’s Suzhou while in the Taiwan strait cut across the bow of USS Chung-Hoon (140 metres/150 yd) with Montréal being present. She was back home on 3 October and returned to the Pacific in April 2024 over six-month. More to come.

HCMS Fredericton was laid down 25 April 1992, launched on 26 June 1993, and completed on 10 September 1994, based at CFB Halifax. From February to April 1995 she was in the Persian Gulf (sanction against Iraq) and on 5 April, while in the Gulf of Aden she brought assistance to the yacht Longo Barda, attacked by pirates. Later she took part in Operation Sharp Guard over Yugoslavia from 14 December 1995, as flagship from 29 February to 11 March 1996 and back home on 4 April 1996. In 1996 she trained with NATO in the Norwegian Sea and was damaged by a storm underway back. She made three more such deployments in 1997, 2000 and 2001. She also took part in Operation Apollo from 5 March to 28 August 2003.

On 6 May 2009 a fire broke out in her forward engine room, suppressed within minutes and she made a detour to Halifax for inspections and repairs, and was underway on 25 October 2009 for the Gulf of Aden and Gulf of Oman as part of SNMG1 from November until February 2010 (piracy patrols). She joined also CTF 150 for counter-terror patrols in the Gulf of Aden-Gulf of Oman and was back on 4 May 2010 to be present at the 100th Anniversary of the Canadian Navy. On 18 November 2010 she bruised the hull of USNS Kanawha during a RAS (replenishment-at-sea) off Florida, no injuries, superficial damage.

This came just in time as on 6 October 2011 she entered Irving Shipbuilding for her FELEX refit and back to CFB Halifax on 24 January 2013, full readiness on September 2014. She was soon underway for the Mediterranean for Operation Reassurance on 30 December 2014 and Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 (SNMG2) in the Black Sea by March 2015, then ex. “Joint Warrior” by April. She ws in the Baltic by June 2015 for training, visited by PM Stephen Harper and MoD Jason Kenney, and tailed while in transit by two Russian ships at 7 nautical miles (13 km). She was back on 12 July 2015 but a later routine inspection urged repairs at Halifax. She later replaced Winnipeg in the Mediterranean from 5 January 2016 with SNMG2, policing smuggling of migrants to Europe. In April she became a test ships for planned reduced crew. She took part in Operation Reassurance in that format like Montréal and followed SNMG2 deployed to the Black Sea (Operation Reassurance).
In September 2016 she took part in NATO “Cutlass Fury” off the east North American coast. In November she was in the Caribbean and Cuba (first port visit in 50 years). By 20 January 2020 she returned for Operation Reassurance in the Black sea, stopped in Italy in March, yet escaped the COVID-19 pandemic.
On 29 April 2020 her CH-148 Cyclone crashed into the Ionian Sea, off Cephalonia with six service members killed and led the search with specialised salvage ship EDT Hercules, locating and retriving the wreckage on 25 May under 3,000 metres (9,800 ft). She was back on 28 July 2020. Investigation concluded to a bug between the autopilot and manual controls and led to modify the software.
On 24 July 2021 she started a six-month deployment with NATO and Norwegian FLOTEX 2021. On 18 November she had a fire in her forward engine room and loss of propulsion, recovered while being assisted by the Norwegian Coast Guard and after repairs in Trondheim. The bilge pump was being repair when it happened. She was back on 18 December and underway again on January 2023, for six-month in the Mediterranean, back in July. More to come.

HCMS Winnipeg was laid down on 20 March 1993, launched on 25 June 1994, completed on 23 June 1996 and sent to CFB Esquimalt. She departed Halifax on 16 January 1995 for the West Coast before commission. In 1996 she took partin in RIMPAC off Hawaii. From 1 April 1997 she took a 4 month tout at STANAVFORLANT and in 1998 took part in UNITAS. In March 2001 she accompanied USS Constellation CBG in the Persian Gulf (sanctions against Iraq) over six months, back on 14 September.

She took part in Operation Apollo in Afghanistan from 15 September 2002 to 2 May 2003. In April 2009 she was sent in the Gulf of Aden to escort relief supplies to East Africa and intervened to foil a pirate attack on the Norwegian tanker MV Front Ardenne. They were captured but they later released as having no legal means to prosecute them. On 12 August 2010 she teamed with HMCS Whitehorse to intercept MV Sun Sea carrying Tamil refugees from Sri Lanka to Canada.
In April 2012 she started her 18-month mid-life upgrad, operational on 10 April 2013 but rammed on the 23th while docked at CFB Esquimalt by the karge US trawler American Dynasty (US Seafoods), with six injured. She was sent for repairs when accelerated and veered starboard to the frigate. After repairs, Winnipeg, Calgary, Yellowknife and Brandon left on October 2014 for a Task Group Exercise with US-Japanese Navies off the US coast.
In January 2015, she sailed to the eastern Pacific for Operation Caribbe 2015 overr three weeks in June. Crossing Panama she joine dOperation Reassurance in the Mediterranean and then joined her sister Fredericton in the Pacific via Penang and Singapore. She was back to Esquimalt on 23 February.

Winnipeg and Ottawa left on 6 March 2017 for six-month deployment in the Pacific, back on 8 August. On 14 December 2020 she lost a crewmember overboard off California. On 17 August 2021 she made a four-month deployment to Asia and Operation Projection and Operation Neon as well as a freedom of navigation sail in coppany with USS Dewey, back on 15 December. In 2022, Winnipeg and Vancouver took part in RIMPAC followed by visits, notably to Cambodia, and Japan’s international Fleet Review. In late 2023 it was announced she would entered maintenance in 2024 after her October 2022 propellers damage. More to come.

Charlottetown was laid down on 18 December 1993, launched on 1 October 1994, completed on 9 September 1995. She was based in CFB Halifax. In 1996 she spent her first tour at STANAVFORLANT and several naval exercises with Eastern European nations in the Baltic. In 1997 she was the first Canadian ship under the Confederation Bridge for a US naval exercises in southern waters. In 1998 she was back in STANAVFORLANT, relieving Toronto.

In January 2001 she was deployed in the Persian Gulf with USS Harry S. Truman CBG (sanctions against Irak) and later supported operations in Afghanistan from the Arabian Sea with Iroquois and Preserver from 20 Nov. 2001. She escorted also US troop transports near Pakistan and was back on 27 April 2002.
In 2008, she took part in narcotics interceptions in near-Pakistani waters. On 2 March 2011 she joined Operation Unified Protector in the 2011 Libyan civil war with USS Enterprise CBG. On 18 March she took part in Operation Mobile.
By 21 March she was announced off north Libya and on 12 May she engaged several small boats off Misrata. On 30 May she was fired by 12 BM-21 rockets off the coast, no damage nor injuries. In July 2011 she was relieved by Vancouver.

She sailed on 8 January 2012 to join NATO Operation Active Endeavor but stayed outside the conflict in Syria, relieving HMCS Vancouver.
She crossed the Suez Canal on 23 April 2012 for CTF 150 in the Arabian Sea and back home on 11 September 2012 after testing the Boeing Insitu ScanEagle, one lost due to engine failure. She had FELEX completed by June 2014.
On 27 June 2016 she took part in Operation Reassurance in the Mediterranean but had twenty members contracting an unidentified hand, foot, and mouth disease.She took part in Joint Warrior off Scotland and was back on 13 January 2017 for a full crew change. She returned to Europe on 8 August 2017, relieving HMCS St. John’s at SNMG1 (Operation Reassurance), visiting the Baltic in Augus and exercise Northern Coast and Brilliant Mariner in the Mediterranean by the fall. She was back home on 19 January 2018. By August she took part in Operation Nanook, stopping at Iqaluit, Nunavut and Nuuk in Greenland.
In early 2024 she took part in Steadfast Defender, largest NATO military exercise in 36 years and by June became flagship of SNMG2 in the Mediterranean. More to come.

HMCS was laid down on 24 August 1994, launched on 26 August 1995 and completed on 26 June 1996, based at FB Halifax. On 7 August 1997 she took her turn at STANAVFORLANT and was back on 18 December. In 1998 she was part of Strong Resolve off Norway and joined the Adriatic for STANAVFORMED. In 2000 she took part in UNITAS of south america. She took part also in Operation Apollo (War in Afghanistan) in the Gulf of Oman. Departing on 1 May 2002 she took part in more maritime interdiction missions, back on 17 November 2002.
In 2005 with Athabaskan, Toronto and Sir William Alexander she departed for Louisiana and relief help after Hurricane Katrina. In 2008, she was in drug patrols, Operation Caribbe. In September 2008 she brought relief to Haiti.

In July 2010, HCMS St. John’s was at the Canadian Fleet Review at Halifax, inspected by Queen Elizabeth II as part of Canada Day celebrations.
In August 2011 she took part in Operation Nanook. Her mission included SAR and disaster response with HMCS Summerside and HMCS Moncton. She made another round for Operation Caribbe in October-November 2011, recovering a scuttled self-propelled semi-submersible (SPSS) and helping the FBI laboratory and USCGC Cypress. This prize was 6,700 kg (14,800 lb) of cocaine worth US$180 million. She helped making 38 arrests, seizing 10,902 kg (24,035 lb) of cocaine.
On 8 May 2013 she had an oil spill while at dock in a transfer when a leak was spotted, transfer halted, no fire. The RCN was fined $100,000 for the spill. By the summer there was a crew swap in Kuwait City with Toronto during Operation Artemis with CTF 150. Back home she had a FELEX refit at Halifax completed by October 2015.

She returned to the Mediterranean from January 2017 for Standing NATO Maritime Group 2, patrolled the Black Sea and back home on 17 July 2017, relieved by Charlottetown. In September she was in the Caribbean Sea to bring relief to Turks and Caicos after Hurricane Irma, and then Dominica after Hurricane Maria, also restoring power to the island’s airport. She was back home on 5 October. She departed on 16 January 2018 for the Mediterranean and Operation Reassurance, relieving HMCS Charlottetown and back home on 23 July after exercises in the northern Atlantic, Baltic, Mediterranean, relieved by HMCS Ville de Québec.
More to come.

Ottawa was laid down 29 April 1995, launched 31 May 1996, and completed on 28 September 1996, based at CFB Esquimalt. With HCMS Nanaimo she was transferred to the West Coast on 16 November 1996 before commission, and was deployed in June 1998 to join USS Abraham Lincoln CBG in the Persian Gulf (UN embargo on Iraq). By February 2002 she took part in Operation Apollo, back on 17 August. On 6 June 2011 she made a 4.5 month WestPac with stops in Australia, South Korea, Singapore, and Japan and taking part in 7th Fleet exercises such as Operation Talisman Saber 2011 as well as CSG 9, then Fleet Week activities in San Diego on 26-30 September 2011, back home on 13 October.

She took part in the next RIMPAC 2012 (27 June to 3 August 2012) off Hawaii. On 25 August 2016 she rescued the crew from the burning trawler Sherry C off the British Columbia Coast. With Winnipeg she left Esquimalt on 6 March 2017 for a six-month deployment in the Pacific, back on 8 August.
In June-July 2018 with Vancouver and MV Asterix she took part in RIMPAC 2018 and by February 2019 she made a long training with the US Navy. On 6 August, she started a six-monthWestPac, assisting UN sanctions against North Korea. On 12 September 2019 she sailed through the Taiwan Strait. She was back home on 19 December. In 2023 she was sent to Japan for military exercises and while back had had three encounters with Chinese warships in the East China Sea, notably a close call with an agressive Luyang. She was back home in December.

In October 2024, she took part in Operation Horizon. On 26 December she performed anti-smuggling patrols off North Korea from late November to mid-December. On 7 February 2025 her commanding officer was relieved of command. More to come.

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