The RCN's future River Class destroyers

Back on June 28th, the Halifax Shipyard hosted a ceremonial steel cutting for the new River Class of destroyers that are being built for the Royal Canadian Navy. I attended the event and wrote a piece that is appearing in the September 2024 issue of Warships International Fleet Review - which should be hitting Canadian shelves shortly, if not already. Atlantic News in Halifax usually carries the magazine, as Chapters/Indigo often has it as well. The cover looks like this:

My story appears on Pages 32 through 34:

The new ships will look something like this, based on this rendering provided courtesy of the RCN:

My article covers some of the challenges faced by the program and how they are being addressed. If you are interested, please check it out!

Ceremonial cutting of steel for the first River Class destroyer and the first Canadian Coast Guard AOPV.

Launch of the future HMCS William Hall

The fourth of six new AOPVs to be built for the Royal Canadian Navy, the future HMCS William Hall, was launched by Irving Shipbuilding on Sunday. I caught her being towed back to the shipyard after launching. Halifax Shipping News has photos of the actual launch process.

Only a week before, the ship was still on land and looking like she wasn't going anywhere fast.

Two slightly modified additional ships (making a total of eight) will be built for the Canadian Coast Guard, once the ships for the Navy are complete.

Vickers 3"/70 Twin A.A. Mark 6 mounting

Earlier today I saw a discussion around the guns used on the ST. LAURENT, RESTIGOUCHE, MACKENZIE, and ANNAPOLIS classes of destroyer escorts that served in the RCN starting in the 1950s, in particular the Vickers 3"/70 and the FMC 3"/50.

The latter was used on all four classes (originally both fore and aft on the ST. LAURENT class, forward on the ANNAPOLIS class, and aft on the RESTIGOUCHE and MACKENZIE classes), while the former was used only as the forward mounting on the RESTIGOUCHE and MACKENZIE classes. 

I have previously written a bit about both mountings on the Hazegray and Underway website, where I variously wrote:

About the 3"/50:

"Mountings started out open to the weather, and fibreglass and aluminum gun shields were added later. The shields were relatively fragile, and photos often show the forward mounting facing aft to protect it from storm damage.

Mounted on the foc'st'le and quarterdeck of ST. LAURENT derived destroyer escorts, forward of the bridge. Also mounted in X position on Tribal class DDEs, and A position on ALGONQUIN and aft on CRESCENT after the latter two's ASW conversions. BONAVENTURE carried four of these mountings when originally commissioned, but had the two forward mountings removed during her 1967 refit. Of the MACKENZIE class ships, QU'APPELLE carried a second of these mountings forward in place of the 3"/70 Mk.6 found on the rest of the class members.

The two PROTECTEUR class AOR's were originally fitted with this mounting on the foc'st'le, but its location exposed it to damage from heavy seas, and it was removed in 1984. The mountings were preserved ashore, and one was re-installed on PROTECTEUR for her deployment to the Persian Gulf in 1990-91.
The mounting was originally fitted with an SPG 34 tracking radar right on the mounting, which was later replaced with an SPG 48 tracker between the barrels (see photo 6). On NIPIGON and ANNAPOLIS, the SPG 48 and GUNAR fire control system was replaced with the Mk.69 GFCS and integral SPG 515 tracker during their DELEX refits."

and about the 3"/70:

"Mounted on the foc'st'le of destroyer escorts, forward of the bridge. This mount was originally developed for the RN for use in aircraft carriers, but was eventually installed in RN service only in the TIGER class cruisers, which mounted three mountings each (one forward, two amidships). This mounting experienced teething problems when entering service in RCN destroyer escorts, but these were eventually resolved. The ammunition handling system was apparently referred to as "the bottling plant" due to the high rate of fire achieved when working properly."

I came across some other information in my files on the 3"/70 that I thought I would post here. While originally marked CONFIDENTIAL and/or RESTRICTED, these documents were long ago declassified. I don't believe I have the entire document, but here is what I do have (hopefully they are legible) from either BRCN 1740 or CBCN 5902:

Page 1

Page 2

Page 3

A different cut-away view from a different document.

Page 4

Page 5

The only other Navy to use this gun was the Royal Navy on their TIGER class cruisers, TIGER, LION and BLAKE.

The forward 3"/70 on TIGER. M.D. Thomas photo.

Two more of these mountings (for a total of 3 per ship) were mounted port and starboard farther aft, though these mountings were eventually removed in favour of a new helicopter hangar.

A note about copyright: The pages of the document on the Vickers gun is hosted on my Smugmug website, and therefore displays my copyright watermark, but this document would originally have been copyright of the Crown.

Battle of the Atlantic Sunday 2016

On Battle of the Atlantic Sunday, one did not need to look too far in the approaches of Halifax Harbour for reminders of the importance of seaborne traffic to Canada, as well as our ongoing dedication to helping make sure that it continues to pass unmolested. The modern equivalents of the freighters and convoy escorts that plied the North Atlantic during the Second World War were both evident Sunday morning, with the outgoing HMCS CHARLOTTETOWN passing the inbound container ship Allise P. Seventy-five years ago, both ships would have had the added complication of passing through the gate of an anti-submarine net that spanned between York Redoubt and McNab's Island, a firm delineation between the safety of Halifax Harbour and the dangers of U-boats at sea.

Outbound HMCS CHARLOTTETOWN passing the McNab's Island lighthouse. The anti-submarine net spanned from the spit of land upon which the lighthouse stands to York Redoubt.

Container ship Allise P inbound a few minutes later.

The submarine nets ran between the previous lighthouse on McNab's Island in the background, and York Redoubt from where the photo was taken. The two gate vessels in the centre of the image were responsible for opening and closing the gate in the nets to allow authorized ships to pass. They were First World War Battle class trawlers and were painted red and green to correspond to Port and Starboard for incoming ships. The submarine nets were installed by Foundation Maritime, and their Foundation Jupiter can be seen in the foreground. Ocean Eagle (top left), formerly an Admiralty Saint class tug named St. Arvans, was a tug owned by the Federal Government that was put under control of Foundation Maritime for the duration of the war. This photo is on display at the Canadian War Museum.

The first Sunday in May sees the commemoration of the Battle of the Atlantic that ended 71 years ago, and this year I was privileged to  accompany HMCS MONTREAL for the service and committal ceremony held off Point Pleasant Park, the latter being an opportunity to commit the ashes of veterans to the sea.

Arriving in Halifax by ferry that morning, I was treated to seeing a few of the ships "dressed overall" for the occasion, including HMCS ATHABASKAN (herself being the third ship of that name, the first having been lost off the coast of France during the Second World War).

HMCS ATHABASKAN (DDH 282).

Families of departed veterans as well as other passengers embarked MONTREAL and gathered on the helicopter deck, where we received a briefing from the ship's CO (via loudspeaker) and the Cox'n (in person).

MONTREAL's kisbee ring and ensign.

MONTREAL's Cox'n briefs the ship's guests.

After departing the jetty in HMC Dockyard, MONTREAL headed out to her destination off Point Pleasant Park. On our way down the waterfront, CSS Acadia (and the former HMCS ACADIA, as she served the RCN during both World Wars) dipped her flag as we passed.

CSS Acadia.

MONTREAL's wake as we headed out, with the George's Island lighthouse to the left and with McNab's Island in the background.

After arriving off Point Pleasant Park (where another service was already in progress at the Commonwealth War Memorial), some of the ship's company manned the starboard rail facing Point Pleasant Park.

Manning the starboard rail.

Soon, two padres held a commemoration service at the aft end of the helicopter deck to remember the personnel and ships lost during the Battle of the Atlantic.

Padres Lt (N) Sebastien Dupont and LCdr (Ret'd) Andrew Cooke.

Battle of the Atlantic Commemoration Service.

During the service, a bell is rung for each of the RCN ships lost during the war.

Ringing the ship's bell for each RCN ship lost during the Battle of the Atlantic.

After the service, the ship's ensign was lowered to half mast and the committal ceremony began.

Setting the ensign to half mast.

After some words from the padres, the ashes of each veteran are committed to the sea. The box of ashes are placed on a plank and covered by the flag of their service, and the ashes are piped overboard as the box slides down the plank.

Ship's company facing starboard during the committal ceremony.

Ship's company facing starboard during the committal ceremony.

The committal party stands at the ready as family members look on.

The board is tipped, and a veteran's ashes are committed to the sea.

Each veteran's ashes were piped over the side.

A Lieutenant, the ship's Commanding Officer, and Cox'n (respectively) salute as a veteran's ashes are committed to the deep.

Of the three in uniform, the furthest is CPO1 Thomas Lizotte (Cox'n) and in the middle is Cdr Kristjan Monaghan (MONTREAL's CO).

With the committal ceremony over, food was served in the ship's hangar, and MONTREAL turned around to head back up the harbour to return to HMC Dockyard. I took this opportunity to head up to the foc'st'le to get a different perspective on this part of the trip.

MONTREAL's foc'st'le party facing to port on the trip back up the harbour.

Panorama of the foc'st'le, with the Halifax skyline on the left, and MONTREAL's Bofors 57mm Mk.3 on the right.

The first of the lines are thrown ashore from the foc'st'le. 

I would like to thank the ship's company of HMCS MONTREAL for being perfect hosts during the Battle of the Atlantic Sunday ceremonies. I always enjoy being able to document this event, but it is an added pleasure to watch the men and women of the Royal Canadian Navy at work.

For those interested, I also have an online gallery with all of my processed images from Sunday.

USS MILWAUKEE visit and HMCS CHARLOTTETOWN

USS MILWAUKEE (LCS-5) made her first (and possibly only) visit to Halifax this past weekend, arriving sometime Thursday night and departing on Monday morning. The Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) class is actually made up of two variants, the monohull FREEDOM variant (of which MILWAUKEE is a the third ship) and the trimaran INDEPENDENCE variant. They are designed to be relatively small (smaller than a frigate), stealthy, fast (47 knots for the FREEDOMs), capable of operating in shallow waters, and flexible. The FREEDOM class are being built at Marinette Marine in Wisconsin on the Great Lakes, and are the odd-numbered ships. MILWAUKEE's visit was during her maiden voyage to San Diego where she will be based. She is not the first of her type to visit: Halifax has previously seen FREEDOM and FORT WORTH during their departures from the Great Lakes.

USS FREEDOM (LCS-1) during her visit in 2008.

On Friday morning, MILWAUKEE was sitting at anchor in the harbour, waiting for a berth to free up in the Dockyard. 

USS MILWAUKEE.

MILWAUKEE being helped alongside on Friday by two tugs.

When I took the ferry this morning, MILWAUKEE's pollution boom had just been removed, and her radars were turning - usually a good sign of an impending departure. 

MILWAUKEE with HMCS CHARLOTTETOWN on the right.

MILWAUKEE was berthed opposite HMCS CHARLOTTETOWN, providing a nice comparison in sizes and contrast in paint colours. 

MILWAUKEE.

Most warships have proper funnels for exhaust gases from the ship's engines (in this case 2 gas turbines and 2 diesels), but the FREEDOM class uses exhaust ports located in the hull not far above the waterline (something I have previously only seen in minesweepers, as far as warships are concerned). Hence the black stains on the hull. I'm not sure if this is to free up space in the superstructure, reduce trunking requirements from the engine rooms up through otherwise usable space, or something to do with a reduction in the ship's heat signature. 

In addition, the FREEDOM class uses a semi-planing hull to achieve her 47 knot speed, and instead of propellers her engines power four waterjets.

I didn't have to wait for long before a couple tugs showed up and eased MILWAUKEE out into the harbour. 

I got rather lucky with a rather impressive sky as a backdrop for a number of my images. 

Departing soon after MILWAUKEE, HMCS CHARLOTTETOWN also headed out, possibly to exercise with MILWAUKEE. 

HMCS CHARLOTTETOWN.