TheRoyal Canadian Navy (RCN) is tasked to provide maritime security along the Pacific, Atlantic and Arctic coasts of Canada, exercise Canada's sovereignty over theArctic archipelago, and support Canada's multi-national and bilateral interests overseas. It comprises the Pacific Fleet atCanadian Forces Base (CFB) Esquimalt, and the Atlantic Fleet atCFB Halifax. Officially, CFB Esquimalt is onVancouver Island, in British Columbia, and is home to 15 vessels and 6,000 staff, the headquarters for Maritime Forces Pacific, His Majesty's Canadian (HMC) Dockyard Esquimalt, Fleet Maintenance Facility – Cape Breton (FMF-CB), Fire Fighting and Damage Control School, the Naval Officer Training Centre (NOTC Venture), and extensive housing. CFB Halifax is home port for the 18 vessels of the Canadian Atlantic Fleet and situated inHalifax, Nova Scotia. Officially, CFB Halifax employs 7,000 civilians and military staff, and hosts the Canadian Atlantic Fleet headquarters, HMC Dockyard Halifax, FMF Cape Scott, extensive maritime research facilities, an ammunition depot, and the four maritime squadrons of theRoyal Canadian Air Force that deploy helicopters aboard ships.^[1][2] TheCanadian Armed Forces are currently constructing a new naval facility atNanisivik, Baffin Island, to provide a summer port for RCN patrols in the Canadian Arctic.^[3]

The "effective strength" of the RCN is somewhat lower than official numbers would suggest due to serious personnel shortages. In late 2023, the commander of the RCN, Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee, reported that only 6,226 naval personnel could be considered part of the "effective strength" of the RCN, making numerous ships in the RCN inactive due to both crew shortages and broader operational readiness issues.^[4] In early 2024 it was reported that 54 percent of the navy's frigates, submarines, arctic and offshore patrol ships, and maritime coastal defence vessels were considered "unserviceable".^[5]

With the loss of area air defence capabilities in 2015 (and, temporarily, at-sea replenishment capabilities), the RCN was, at that time, classified as a Rank 5 navy (offshore regional coastal defence) on theTodd-Lindberg navy classification system, dropping from Rank 3 (multiregional power projection).^[6] Commissioned vessels are designated as 'His Majesty's Canadian Ship' (HMCS), minor ships as 'Patrol Craft Training' (PCT) and auxiliaries as 'Canadian Forces Auxiliary Vessel' (CFAV).^[7]

TheVictoria class are British-built diesel-electric fleet submarines designed in the late 1970s to supplement theRoyal Navy's nuclear submarine force. They were decommissioned at the end of theCold War. In 1998, Canada purchased the submarines to replace the agingOberon-class submarines. Refit for Canadian service included the removal of sub-Harpoon missile firing and mine-laying capabilities, installation of torpedo launch systems and upgrades to weapons and fire control systems. Each vessel holds 53 crew.^[8]

TheHalifax-classfrigates are multi-role vessels with anti-submarine, anti-aircraft and anti-ship capability. In response to recent global security interests, the role of the class has shifted from open ocean tolittoral engagement. Innovations in operational tactics have allowed the vessels of this class to adapt to new asymmetric surface threats. To ensure effective long-term capacity in this new threat environment the ships underwent a refit, including passive and active weapons, radars, and new combat architecture to meet the modern requirements. As of 2018, all twelve ships had been refitted. Each holds a complement of 225 officers and crew. All ships of the class are named after major Canadian cities.^[9][10]

TheHarry DeWolf-classoffshore patrol vessels are warships from the Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship (AOPS) procurement project, part of theNational Shipbuilding Strategy. In July 2007 the federal government announced plans for acquiring six to eighticebreaking warships for the RCN. The class is based on theNorwegian Coast Guard shipNoCGV Svalbard, and is named after Vice AdmiralHarry DeWolf. The class is equipped with a hangar and flight deck and can operate theSikorsky CH-148 Cyclone. The ships can deploy with multiple payloads, includingshipping containers, underwater survey equipment orlanding craft and have a 20-tonne (20-long-ton; 22-short-ton) crane for loading and unloading. They are for use in theArctic regions of Canada for patrol and support within Canada'sexclusive economic zone.^[11][12][13]

TheKingston-classcoastal defence vessels are multi-role vessels built and launched from the mid- to late-1990s and are crewed by a combination of Naval Reserve and Regular-Force personnel. Each vessel displaces 970 t and runs with a complement of between 31 and 47 officers and crew. Their main missions are counter narcotics, coastal surveillance, sovereignty patrol, route survey, and training. The ships' capabilities include a mechanicalminesweeping system, a route survey system, and a bottom object inspection vehicle.^[16][17]

Orca-classpatrol vessels are primarily used for one-to-six-week long 'at sea'naval officer training. Regular force boatswains, engineers and naval communicators serve in these ships to train junior officers and non-commissioned sailors. They also patrol coastal waters for pollution infractions and fishing violations, and are frequently tasked for search and rescue operations. They operate year-round in the coastal waters ofBritish Columbia.^[18][19]

• MV Asterix

• HMCS Oriole (KC 480)
• HMSTVGoldcrest (KC 2355)
• HMSTVTuna (KC 2372)
• HMSTVOsprey (CAN 4510)
• HMSTVEagle (CAN 4511)

• CFAVSikanni (YTP 611)
• CFAVStikine (YTP 613)

• Unnamed (YDT 11)
• CFAVGranby (YDT 12)
• CFAVTonnerre (YDT 21)
• CFAVSechelt (YDT 610)
• CFAVSooke (YDT 612)

• CFAV Firebird (YTR 561) – retired in 2014 and awaiting disposal
• CFAV Firebrand (YTR 562)

^[21]

• CFAVPelican (YAG 4)
• CFAVGemini (YAG 650)
• CFAVPegasus (YAG 651)
• CFAVAlbatross (YAG 661)
• CFAVBlack Duck (YAG 660)

The National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy will invest more than $60 billion into the development of Arctic capable patrol vessels, frigate-class surface warships, and long-range auxiliary supply vessels. Delivery has been initiated on a class of sixHarry DeWolf-class vessels under theArctic Patrol Ship Project (AOPS). (A further two AOPS are planned for theCanadian Coast Guard).^[22][23]

Canada has been encouraged to invest in new submarines.^[24] In July 2024, Canada launched the process to acquire up to 12 conventionalattack submarines.^[25]

Potential suppliers:

• Germany and Norway offered to Canada a collaboration on the Arctic defence and theType 212CD submarine.^[26] Canada signed a letter of intent to establish a maritime partnership, but it does not commit Canada to the purchase of the Type 212CD.^[27]
• South Korea approached Canada to supply its submarine to Canada.^[27]
• Sweden with Saab expressed interest in participating to a potential competition.^[27]

Canada will acquire up to 15 new warships via theRiver-classdestroyer program. The program is in the test module construction phase (with the first three ships having been ordered in 2024). The RCN has upgraded all current frigates with advanced systems and life extension maintenance to maximize operational capability into the 2030s.^[28]

The commercial containershipMV Asterix is currently in service as a fleet supply vessel, to meet operational requirements until the two newProtecteur-class auxiliary vessels are completed.^[29][30]

On 29 April 2019 Ocean Industries was awarded a contract to build four tugboats to replace both the Fire-class fireboat (one retired in 2014) and Glen-class tugs to be delivered beginning in 2021.^[31]

In May 2019, it was announced that theSkeldar V-200unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) would be acquired for both the RCN and Canadian Special Forces. As a light helicopter UAV, it will be capable of operating from a range of RCN vessels.^[32] In addition, in 2024 the Teal 2 small quadcopter for lightintelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR) tasks was acquired, while the RCN ISTAR project is expected to introduce a larger, longer-range UAV.^[33][34]

• Origins of the Royal Canadian Navy
• History of the Royal Canadian Navy
• List of ships of the Royal Canadian Navy
• Hull classification symbol (Canada)
• His Majesty's Canadian Ship
• List of aircraft of the Royal Canadian Navy

• Fleet of the Royal Canadian Navy
• Ships of the Royal Canadian Navy
• Lists of ships of Canada
• Canadian military-related lists

• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• Use Canadian English from May 2015
• All Wikipedia articles written in Canadian English
• Use dmy dates from December 2024