This document is intended to collect information about the electronics fit aboard the new Harry DeWolf class as it becomes available.

INTRODUCTION

Firstly, the two acronyms AOPS and and AOPV need to be understood.

Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship (note the singular) is the project name.  Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessels is what the RCN has designated as the ship type.  They are both valid but each is best used where the distinction applies, i.e., AOPS when writing about the building and AOPV when writing about RCN employment and ship operations. Naval HQ are preferring the use of AOPS at this time. It is  understand from them that senior bureaucrats and politicians are struggling with the AOPS-AOPV distinction at this time. Theoretically AOPS should go away when the project is stood down.  Of course, sailors being what they/are, will still refer to the ships as AOPS when  AOPV is actually meant.

As of October 2018, rhere are Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessels of the Harry DeWolf-class being built out of a total of five ordered: Harry DeWolf, Margaret Brooke and Max Bernays.  All are under construction at Irving's Halifax Shipyard.  Steel cutting for the fourth AOPV, the future HMCS William Hall, is anticipated soon.  Dewolf  was launched by being floated from a semi-submersible barge on 15 September 2018, and her naming ceremony took place on 5 October 2018  Later ships will be Frédérick Rolette and, if and likely contracted, Robert Hampton Gray. In the past, the launch and naming ceremony took place at the same time and place. With block construction, they are now separate.

BACKGROUNDER ON THE CLASS

The Future HMCS Harry DeWolf Naming Ceremony
From Navy News / October 2, 2018

On September 18, 2014, the Government of Canada announced the Royal Canadian Navy’s new class would be known as the Harry DeWolf class. The future Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship Harry DeWolf is named in honour of the celebrated wartime Canadian naval hero, Vice-Admiral Harry DeWolf.

The Harry DeWolf class will enhance the RCN’s ability to assert Canadian sovereignty in Arctic and coastal Canadian waters, and support international operations as required. This is the first time in its 108-year history that the RCN is naming a class after a prominent Canadian Navy figure. The remainder in the class will be named to honour other prominent Royal Canadian Navy heroes who served their country with the highest distinction: Margaret Brooke; Max Bernays; William Hall; and Frédérick Rolette.

The Harry DeWolf-class tasks will include, but are not limited to:
• Conduct presence and surveillance operations throughout Canada’s waters, including in the Arctic;
• Support Canadian Armed Forces in sovereignty operations;
• Participate in a wide variety of international operations, such as anti-smuggling, anti-piracy, and international security and stability;
• Contribute to humanitarian assistance, emergency response, and disaster relief domestically and internationally;
• Conduct search and rescue and provide communications relay to other units as required;
• Support CAF core missions, including capacity building in support of other nations; and,
• Support Other Government Departments in their ability to enforce their respective mandates.

Terminology

* First Launch: When a ship is moved from shore to water for the first time. The future HMCS Harry DeWolf was successfully lowered into the water under controlled circumstances.
* Naming Ceremony (formerly known as christening): A key milestone in a warship’s service life, this is the formal occasion when the name is bestowed.
*Sponsor: A person selected for her or his relationship to the ship’s namesake or role and who typically maintains a long term relationship with the ship and ship’s company. As the sponsor of the future HMCS Harry DeWolf, Madame Sophie Grégoire-Trudeau will break a bottle of sparkling wine on the ship’s bow to bestow good luck and to offer a brief statement or blessing for the ship and ship’s company.
* Acceptance: The acceptance of the future HMCS Harry DeWolf will follow a designated number of trials (approximately one year long). The Harry DeWolf will undergo rigorous, incremental testing to ensure it meets all requirements.
* Commissioning Ceremony: The ceremony, steeped in naval tradition, marks the formal acceptance of a warship into active service as part of the Royal Canadian Navy. At this point the vessel is entitled to the designation Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship.
 
 
 

The Harry DeWolf, AOPV 430, under construction. (A Shipsforcanada.ca photo)

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

Type: Patrol vessel
Class: AOPV
Displacement: 6,440 metric tonnes
Length: 103.6 m (340 ft)
Beam: 19 m (62 ft)
Installed power: Four 3.6 MW (4,800 hp) generators
Propulsion: Diesel electric; two 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 nautical miles (12,600 km)
Crew complement: 65

SENSORS and PROCESSING SYSTEMS

AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array)  Rada,
MESA (Multi-Role Electronically Scanned Array) Surveillance Radar
SATCOM (Link 16)
Multichannel VHF/HF Radio
Anti-missile detect systems,
Thales IFF system
Sonar
SAGEM Integrated Bridge Navigational System, The Integrated Bridge Navigational System is actually provided by OSI and SAGEM provide the Inertial Navigation System to OSI for inclusion in the IBNS. The SAGEM INS is very cool technology – a Hemispheric Resonant Gyro.
Damage/Machinery Control Systems

In September 2015, it was announced that the ships would be outfitted with SAGEM BlueNaute navigational systems.[41] On 7 October 2015, Thales IFF system was selected for use on the class. Terma currently provides its SCANTER 6002 radar system to Lockheed Martin Canada as part of the Combat Management System (CMS 330), which was selected by Irving Shipbuilding Inc. for the Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships

ARMAMENT:

1 × BAE Mk 38 25 mm gun
2 × M2 Browning machine gun
Aircraft carried:
Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone, or
Bell CH-146 Griffon

Credits and References:

1)  http://shipsforcanada.ca/our-stories/first-arctic-and-offshore-patrol-ship-assembled-at-halifax-shipyard
2) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_DeWolf-class_offshore_patrol_vessel
 
 

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Oct 21/21