 HMCSHarry DeWolf pulls intoNaval Station Norfolk, 2021 | |
| 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 |
| Commissioned | 26 June 2021 |
| Homeport | Halifax |
| Identification |
|
| Motto | Vincit qui patitur (Latin for 'Whoever endures, conquers') |
| Status | Ship in active service |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Harry DeWolf-classoffshore patrol vessel |
| Displacement | 6,615 t (6,511long tons) |
| Length | 103.6 m (339 ft 11 in) |
| Beam | 19.0 m (62 ft 4 in) |
| Draught | 5.7 m (18 ft 8 in)[1] |
| Ice class | Polar Class 5 |
| Installed power | 4 × MAN 6L32/44CR (4 × 3.6 MW)[1] |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | |
| Range | 6,800 nmi (12,600 km; 7,800 mi) at 14 kn (26 km/h; 16 mph) |
| Boats & landing craft carried |
|
| Complement | 65 |
| Armament |
|
| Aircraft carried | Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone or other helicopters/CU-176 Gargoyle UAV |
| Aviation facilities | Hangar andflight deck |
HMCSHarry DeWolf (AOPV 430) is thelead ship ofits class ofoffshore patrol vessels for theRoyal Canadian Navy (RCN). The class was derived from theArctic Offshore Patrol Ship project as part of theNational Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy and is primarily designed for the patrol and support of Canada's Arctic regions. Named after Vice AdmiralHarry DeWolf, a former head of the RCN, the vessel was ordered in 2011,laid down in 2016 andlaunched in 2018. The vessel completed contractorssea trials in July 2020, was delivered to the RCN on 31 July 2020 and began post-acceptance sea trials.Harry DeWolf wascommissioned on 26 June 2021.
TheHarry DeWolf-classoffshore patrol vessels are designed for use in the Arctic regions of Canada for patrol and support within Canada'sexclusive economic zone. The vessel is 103.6 m (339 ft 11 in)long overall with abeam of 19.0 m (62 ft 4 in). The ship has adisplacement of 6,615metric tons (6,511 long 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)MAN 6L32/44CR[1] four-stroke medium-speeddiesel generators and two electric propulsion motors rated at 4.5 megawatts (6,000 hp) driving twoshafts.Harry DeWolf is capable of 17knots (31 km/h; 20 mph) in open water and 3 knots (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph) in 1-metre (3 ft 3 in)first-year sea ice. The ship is also equipped with abow thruster to aid during manoeuvres and docking procedures without requiringtugboat assistance. The ship has an operational range of at least 6,800nautical miles (12,600 km; 7,800 mi) at 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph) in open water[7] and an endurance of 120 days.[8]Harry DeWolf is equipped withfin stabilizers to decrease roll in open water but can be retracted during icebreaking.[9][2][10]
Harry DeWolf is able to deploy with multiple payloads, includingshipping containers,underwater survey equipment orlanding 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 holdpickup trucks,all-terrain vehicles andsnowmobiles. 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 oneBAE Mk 38 25 mm (0.98 in) gun and twoM2 Browning machine guns. The patrol ship has an onboardhangar andflight deck for helicopters up to the size of aSikorsky CH-148 Cyclone.Harry DeWolf has a complement of 65 and accommodation for 85[9][2][10] or 87.[11]
The order for theArctic Offshore Patrol Ships was placed on 19 October 2011 withIrving Shipyards ofHalifax, Nova Scotia, as part of theNational Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy.[12] 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 thehull of the ship.[9] On 18 September 2014, it was announced that the first ship of the class was to be namedHarry DeWolf in honour of Rear AdmiralHarry DeWolf, a decorated naval officer who served duringWorld War II in European waters and as the Royal Canadian NavyChief of the Naval Staff during the earlyCold War.[13] The ship was given thehull number AOPV 430.[2] On 18 June 2015 it was reported that the construction of test modules forHarry DeWolf was underway.[14] The first sections ofkeel were placed on 11 March 2016, but the officiallaying of the keel ofHarry DeWolf was held on 9 June 2016, marking the first naval construction in Canada since 1998.[15][16] On 8 December 2017, the three main sections ofHarry DeWolf were fitted into place.[17]
Harry DeWolf waslaunched on 15 September 2018. The vessel was loaded onto thesemi-submersible bargeBoa Barge 37 and taken out intoHalifax Harbour. There, the barge was submerged and the ship floated free, to be towed back to the shipyard.[18] The vessel was officiallynamed at Halifax on 5 October 2018 bysponsorSophie Grégoire Trudeau, the wife of Prime MinisterJustin Trudeau.[19]Harry DeWolf began builderssea trials on 22 November 2019.[20] The ship was delivered to the Royal Canadian Navy on 31 July 2020 and began post-acceptance sea trials.[21][22] The ship wascommissioned on 26 June 2021.[23]
Harry DeWolf embarked on its inaugural deployment on 3 August 2021.[24] It participated inOperation Nanook, Canada's annualsovereignty operation andmanoeuvre warfare exercise conducted in theArctic, alongsideHMCS Goose Bay and elements of theCanadian Coast Guard and theUnited States Coast Guard.[25] During this exercise, a new underwater listening device called the Towed Reelable Active-Passive Sonar (TRAPS) was trialled, testing advanced acoustic sensing capabilities for anti-submarine warfare operations.[26] The ship then proceeded through theNorthwest Passage, and docked atCFB Esquimalt on 4 October 2021.[27]Harry DeWolf left CFB Esquimalt on 22 October 2021, and sailed to the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean via thePanama Canal.[28] During this second leg of its journey, it took part inOperation Caribbe — Canada's contribution to the US-led anti-drug smuggling effortOperation Martillo — and seized almost 3,000 kilograms (6,600 lb) of cocaine.[29][28]Harry DeWolf returned toCFB Halifax on 16 December 2021, becoming the first Canadian naval vessel to circumnavigate North America sinceHMCS Labrador made a similar voyage in 1954.[29]
In August 2022,Harry DeWolf was among the Canadian warships that were to be deployed to the Arctic as part of the multinationalmilitary exercise Operation Nanook.[30] However, after two of four generators on the ship ceased functioning, the ship's participation in the exercise was cancelled due to a need to return to Halifax for repairs.[31] The ship was not expected to return to service until April 2023.[32]
In August 2023, after an operational hiatus for necessary repairs and extensive sailor training,Harry DeWolf departed from its homeport of Halifax for the 2023 iteration of the annual sovereignty Arctic deployment,Operation Nanook.[33][34]