Halifax class frigate
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The Halifax Class Multi-Role Patrol Frigate (hull designation FFH) is a class of Canadian Navy frigates launched between 1992 and 1996.
HMCS Halifax was the first of an eventual twelve Canadian-designed helicopter-carrying frigates. They combine traditional anti-submarine capabilites with systems to deal with surface and air threats as well. The Halifax class are the work-horses of the Canadian Navy task group concept. All ships of the class are named after Canadian cities, with at least one from each province (Ontario and Quebec, the most populous provinces, have two each). They are sometimes referred to as "City-class" vessels.
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Weapons systems
Halifax-class frigates carry an array of weapons and sensor systems including 8 Harpoon long-range, anti-ship missiles, 16 Sea Sparrow surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), a Bofors 57mm rapid-fire gun, a 20mm Phalanx anti-missile close-in weapons system (CIWS), 8 x 12.7mm machine guns and 24 anti-submarine homing torpedoes. In addition, the ships can defend themselves using infra-red suppression, shield decoys, chaff, flares, a towed acoustic decoy, and radar and sonar jamming devices. The ship's torpedo-carrying helicopter extends its range of operational effectiveness.
Plans are currently in place to upgrade the Sea Sparrow weapons systems, add towed sonar arrays, and add newer screws and anechoic tiles to reduce noise emission. It is believed HMCS Montréal has already been upgraded in the latter regard.
Technical specifications
- Speed: 29+ knots
- Endurance: 7,100 nautical miles (13,000 km) at 15 knots (28 km/h) diesel. 4,500 nautical miles (8,300 km) at 15 knots (28 km/h) turbine
- Complement: 225 (including air detachment).
- Range: 9,500 nautical miles (18,000 km)
Halifax-class frigates displace 5,200 tons and use two General Electric LM2500 gas turbines as their primary powerplants, with a total power of 95,000 standard horsepower (71 MW).
List of ships
There are twelve Halifax-class ships in Canadian service:
- HMCS Calgary
- HMCS Charlottetown
- HMCS Fredericton
- HMCS Halifax
- HMCS Montreal
- HMCS Ottawa
- HMCS Regina
- HMCS St. John's
- HMCS Toronto
- HMCS Vancouver
- HMCS Ville de Quebec
- HMCS Winnipeg
In order of date of commission;
- HMCS Halifax (FFH-330)
- HMCS Toronto (FFH-333)
- HMCS Vancouver (FFH-331)
- HMCS Ville de Québec (FFH-332)
- HMCS Regina (FFH-334)
- HMCS Calgary (FFH-335)
- HMCS Montréal (FFH-336)
- HMCS Fredericton (FFH-337)
- HMCS Winnipeg (FFH-338)
- HMCS Charlottetown (FFH-339)
- HMCS St. John's (FFH-340)
- HMCS Ottawa (FFH-341)
External links
Official ship websites:
- HALIFAX Class Frigates (http://www.navy.dnd.ca/mspa_fleet/hfx_websites_e.asp)