 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Canada | |
| Name | St. John's |
| Namesake | St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador |
| Builder | Saint John Shipbuilding Ltd.,Saint John |
| Laid down | 24 August 1994 |
| Launched | 26 August 1995 |
| Commissioned | 24 June 1996[1] |
| Homeport | CFB Halifax |
| Identification |
|
| Motto | Avancez (Advance) |
| Honours and awards | Arabian Sea[2] |
| Status | In active service |
| Badge |  |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Halifax-classfrigate |
| Displacement |
|
| Length | 134.2 m (440.3 ft) |
| Beam | 16.5 m (54.1 ft) |
| Draught | 7.1 m (23.3 ft) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 30knots (56 km/h; 35 mph) |
| Range | 9,500 nmi (17,594 km; 10,932 mi) |
| Complement | 255 (including air detachment)[3] |
| Armament |
|
| Aircraft carried | 1 ×CH-148 Cyclone |
| Aviation facilities | Hangar andflight deck |
HMCSSt. John's (FFH 340) is aHalifax-classfrigate that has served in the Canadian Forces and theRoyal Canadian Navy since hercommissioning in 1996. She is the eleventh of twelve ships in her class which is based on theCanadian Patrol Frigate Project.St. John's is named after the city ofSt. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, a port city associated with Canadian naval history and heritage, and is the first ship in the Royal Canadian Navy to bear the name.
St. John's serves onCanadian Armed Forces missions protecting Canada's sovereignty in the Atlantic Ocean and enforcing Canadian laws in its territorial sea andexclusive economic zone.St. John's has been deployed on missions throughout the Atlantic Ocean, to the Indian Ocean; specifically thePersian Gulf andArabian Sea onanti-terrorism operations, to the north as far asGrise Fiord and to the Caribbean where she played a role in helping to stop the flow of illicit drugs to North America. She is assigned toMaritime Forces Atlantic (MARLANT) and her homeport is inHalifax, Nova Scotia.
TheHalifax-class frigate design, emerging from theCanadian Patrol Frigate Project, was ordered by theCanadian Forces in 1977 as a replacement for the agingSt. Laurent,Restigouche,Mackenzie, andAnnapolis classes ofdestroyer escorts, which were all tasked withanti-submarine warfare.[4]St. John's was ordered in December 1987 as part of the second batch of frigates.[5][6] To reflect the changing long term strategy of the Navy during the 1980s and 1990s, theHalifax-class frigates was designed as a general purpose warship with particular focus on anti-submarine capabilities.[4]
As built, theHalifax-class vesselsdisplaced 4,750 long tons (4,830 t) and were 134.6 metres (441 ft 9 in)long overall and 124.5 metres (408 ft 5 in)between perpendiculars with abeam of 16.4 metres (53 ft 8 in) and adraught of 5.0 metres (16 ft 4 in).[5][7] That made them slightly larger than theIroquois-class destroyers.[5] The vessels are propelled by two shafts with Escher Wyss controllable pitchpropellers driven by aCODOG system of twoGeneral Electric LM2500 gas turbines, generating 47,500shaft horsepower (35,421 kW) and oneSEMT Pielstick 20 PA6 V 280diesel engine, generating 8,800 shaft horsepower (6,562 kW).[7]
This gives the frigates a maximum speed of 29knots (54 km/h; 33 mph) and a range of 7,000nautical miles (12,964 km; 8,055 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) while using their diesel engines.[5][7] Using their gas turbines, the ships have a range of 3,930 nautical miles (7,278 km; 4,523 mi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph). TheHalifax class have a complement of 198 naval personnel of which 17 are officers and 17 aircrew of which 8 are officers.[7]
As built theHalifax-class vessels deployed theCH-124 Sea King helicopter, which acted in concert with shipboard sensors to seek out and destroy submarines at long distances from the ships. The ships have a helicopter deck fitted with a "bear trap" system allowing the launch and recovery of helicopters in up tosea state 6. TheHalifax class also carries a close-in anti-submarine weapon in the form of theMark 46 torpedo, launched from twin Mark 32 Mod 9 torpedo tubes in launcher compartments either side of the forward end of the helicopter hangar.[7]
As built, the anti-shipping role is supported by theRGM-84 Harpoon Block 1Csurface-to-surface missile, mounted in two quadruple launch tubes at the main deck level between the funnel and the helicopter hangar.[5][7] Foranti-aircraft self-defence the ships are armed with theSea Sparrowvertical launchsurface-to-air missile in two Mk 48 Mod 0 eight-cell launchers placed to port and starboard of the funnel. The vessels carry 16 missiles.[7] ARaytheon/General DynamicsPhalanx Mark 15 Mod 21 Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) is mounted on top of the helicopter hangar for "last-ditch" defence against targets that evade the Sea Sparrow.[7]
As built, the main gun on theforecastle is a57 mm (2.2 in)/70 calibre Mark 2 gun fromBofors.[a] The gun is capable of firing 2.4-kilogram (5.3 lb) shells at a rate of 220 rounds per minute at a range of more than 17 kilometres (11 mi).[7] The vessels also carry eight 12.7 mm (0.50 in) machine guns.[6]
As built, the decoy system comprises TwoBAE Systems Shield Mark 2 decoy launchers which firechaff to 2 kilometres (1 mi) and infrared rockets to 169 metres (185 yd) in distraction, confusion and centroid seduction modes. The torpedo decoy is theAN/SLQ-25A Nixie towed acoustic decoy from Argon ST. The ship's radar warning receiver, the CANEWS (Canadian Electronic Warfare System), SLQ-501, and the radar jammer, SLQ-505, were developed by Thorn and Lockheed Martin Canada.[7]
TwoThales Nederland (formerly Signaal) SPG-503 (STIR 1.8) fire control radars are installed one on the roof of the bridge and one on the raised radar platform immediately forward of the helicopter hangar. The ship is also fitted with RaytheonAN/SPS-49(V)5 long-range active air search radar operating at C and D bands, Ericsson HC150 Sea Giraffe medium-range air and surface search radar operating at G and H bands, and Kelvin Hughes Type 1007 I-band navigation radar. The sonar suite includes the CANTASS Canadian Towed Array and GD-C AN/SQS-510 hull mounted sonar and incorporates an acoustic range prediction system. The sonobuoy processing system is the GD-C AN/UYS-503.[7]
TheHalifax class underwent a modernization program, known as the Halifax Class Modernization (HCM) program, in order to update the frigates' capabilities in combating modern smaller, faster and more mobile threats. This involved upgrading the command and control, radar, communications, electronic warfare and armament systems. Further improvements, such as modifying the vessel to accommodate the newSikorsky CH-148 Cyclone helicopter and satellite links will be done separately from the main Frigate Equipment Life Extension (FELEX) program.[8]
The FELEX program comprised upgrading the combat systems integration to CMS330. The SPS-49 2D long range air search radar was replaced by theThales Nederland SMART-S Mk 2 E/F-band 3D surveillance radar, and the two STIR 1.8 fire control radars were replaced by a pair of Saab Ceros 200 re-control radars. A Telephonics IFF Mode 5/S interrogator was installed and the Elisra NS9003A-V2HC ESM system replaced the SLQ-501 CANEWS. An IBM multi-link (Link 11, Link 16 and Link 22 enabled) datalink processing system was installed along with twoRaytheon Anschütz Pathfinder Mk II navigation radars. Furthermore,Rheinmetall's Multi-Ammunition Soft kill System (MASS), known as MASS DUERAS was introduced to replace the Plessey Shield decoy system. The existing 57 mm Mk 2 guns were upgraded to the Mk 3 standard and the Harpoon missiles were improved to Block II levels, the Phalanx was upgraded to Block 1B and the obsolete Sea Sparrow system was replaced by theEvolved Sea Sparrow Missile.[9]
The frigate'skeel was laid down on 24 August 1994 bySaint John Shipbuilding Ltd. at their shipyard inSaint John, New Brunswick. The ship waslaunched on 26 August 1995 andcommissioned into the Canadian Forces on 26 June 1996 in St. John's, and carries thehull classification symbol FFH 340.[10]
On 7 August 1997 the frigate joinedNATO's Standing Naval Force Atlantic (STANAVFORLANT), returning to Canada on 18 December. The following year, the frigate took part in the NATO naval exercise Strong Resolve off Norway and deployed to theAdriatic Sea for operations with NATO's Standing Naval Force Mediterranean (STANAVFORMED). In 2000, the ship took part inUNITAS, a multi-national naval exercise.[10] As part ofOperation Apollo, Canada's contribution to theWar in Afghanistan,St. John's sailed to theGulf of Oman. LeavingHalifax, Nova Scotia on 1 May 2002, the frigate participated in fleet support and maritime interdiction missions. The warship returned to Halifax on 17 November 2002.[11]
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In 2005, the frigate, with thedestroyerAthabaskan, frigateToronto and theCanadian Coast Guard shipSir William Alexander were sent toLouisiana to aid in recovery efforts following the devastation wrought byHurricane Katrina.[12] In 2008, the vessel took part inOperation Caribbe, Canada's contribution to an ongoing U.S.-led, multinational effort to interdict drug trafficking in the international waters of the Caribbean Basin and eastern Pacific Ocean.[citation needed] In September 2008, the frigate was sent to Haiti, carrying 350 tonnes of food and relief supplies after the nation had been hit by four hurricanes.[13]
In July 2010,St. John's took part in the International Fleet Review at Halifax, Nova Scotia, where QueenElizabeth II inspected a Guard of Honour on board to mark the centennial of the Royal Canadian Navy, and as part ofCanada Day celebrations.[14]
In August 2011,St. John's participated in the multinational six-week arctic sovereigntyOperation Nanook. During the operation, the ship visited several northern communities and participated in search-and-rescue and disaster response exercises in company withHMCS Summerside andHMCS Moncton as well as American and Danish ships.[15][16]St. John's deployed on Operation Caribbe from 3 October to 14 November 2011. During her deployment, she helped recover a drug cargo from a scuttled self-propelledsemi-submersible (SPSS) vessel. The recovery effort included the deployment of theFBI laboratory's technical dive team, which conducted dive operations on the scuttled SPSS fromUnited States Coast Guard cutterUSCGC Cypress. More than 6,700 kg (14,800 lb) ofcocaine was recovered from the vessel. The drugs, destined for distribution in North America, had an estimated street value of US$180 million.[17][18] During this deployment, theJoint Interagency Task Force South based out ofKey West, Florida, coordinated the joint efforts in allowing the US Coast Guard to make 38 arrests, and seized a total of 10,902 kg (24,035 lb) of cocaine and 1,144 kg (2,522 lb) ofmarijuana, equating to more than US$223 million.[19]
On 8 May 2013, the ship suffered an oil spill while at dock in Halifax Harbour. During a transfer of fuel within the ship a leak was spotted and the transfer was halted, but not before a significant amount of oil entered the water.[20] The Royal Canadian Navy was later fined $100,000 for the spill.[21] In the summer of 2013 the crew ofSt. John's conducted a replacement in place of the crew ofToronto inKuwait City, Kuwait.Toronto was in the middle of a deployment onOperation Artemis in support ofCTF 150.[22]St. John's completed her FELEX refit atHalifax Shipyards in October 2015.[23][24]
The vessel deployed to the Mediterranean Sea in January 2017 to joinStanding NATO Maritime Group 2.[25] As part of the deployment, the frigate patrolled the Black Sea.[26] The vessel returned to Canada on 17 July 2017 and was relieved by sister shipCharlottetown.[27] In September 2017,St. John's was deployed the Caribbean Sea to bring relief aid toTurks and Caicos afterHurricane Irma swept through the region.[28]St. John's provided aid toSouth Caicos. The ship was forced to leave the island after only a week due to the arrival ofHurricane Maria. Following the departure of the storm,St. John's was scheduled to return to South Caicos.[29] However, the frigate was dispatched later that month to bring humanitarian aid toDominica after Hurricane Maria devastated that island.[30] Once power was restored to the island's airport,St. John's sailed for Canada, arriving 5 October.[29]
St. John's departed Halifax on 16 January 2018 for deployment to the Mediterranean Sea as part of Operation Reassurance. The vessel relieved HMCSCharlottetown upon arrival.[31] The frigate returned to Halifax on 23 July, having participated in naval exercises in the northern Atlantic Ocean and Baltic and Mediterranean Seas. The ship was relieved byHMCS Ville de Québec.[32]
| Components | |
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| Bases | |
| Ships | |
| Aircraft (RCAF) | |
| History | |
| Units |
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| Leadership | |
