Return from Operation Projection

By heading down for lunch on board HMCS SACKVILLE in HMC Dockyard, I was just in time to catch the return of Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels (MCDV) KINGSTON (MM 700) and SHAWINIGAN (MM 704). Both ships participated in a 5-month long cruise to Western Africa as part of Operation Projection. 

KINGSTON was already alongside when I arrived, and the crew were seeing their families for the first time in months.

Also alongside, and their crews manning the rails (of the outside ships at least), were VILLE DE QUEBEC (background), GOOSE BAY (left and aft of KINGSTON), and GLACE BAY (right and aft of KINGSTON).

SHAWINIGAN making her first appearance from my position.

Tugs alongside, SHAWINIGAN enters the camber.

The crew of GOOSE BAY doffing their caps to the arriving SHAWINIGAN.

Tugs easing SHAWINIGAN alongside KINGSTON.

Though small and under-armed (currently with only a pair of .50 calibre machine guns on the bridge wings), these ships still manage to provide useful service, and seem to be ideal for coastal missions showing the flag such as Operation Project along the coast of Western Africa.

Formerly armed with 40mm Bofors guns on mountings that could trace their direct lineage to the Second World War (the legendary "Boffin"), these ships were designed and built to be manned by the Naval Reserve and provide a notional mine warfare capability (or, at least, mine warfare training) along with other utility functions. While the 40mm gun has been removed from all the ships, and a remote weapons system trialed on GOOSE BAY not adopted for permanent installation, these ships have been deploying fairly widely in recent years, with the African coastal trips probably the most ambitious.

Photos this week: September 19-23

I don't have much time to write today, so I'll just share some of the photos I took this week around the harbour.

Norwegian Gem arriving in the fog on Monday morning.

If you look closely, you can see HMCS SUMMERSIDE sneaking in behind Norwegian Gem.

Norwegian Gem turned 180 degrees before coming alongside.

A large crane on a barge has been stored on the Dartmouth shore next to the Macdonald Bridge. It looked particularly interesting in the fog on Monday.

Bluenose v2.5 was in port this week, and the calm harbour on Monday made for nice reflections.

The Navy was also busy this week too, starting on Monday when GOOSE BAY and SUMMERSIDE emerged out of the fog. The Navy's paint scheme blends well into the fog, and I had to resort to manual focus for many of these shots, as there was not enough contract to use the autofocus. 

HMCS GOOSE BAY.

HMCS GOOSE BAY passing the George's Island lighthouse.

The fog thickened up a little bit before SUMMERSIDE could make her way in.

Friday provided two special treats, with GOOSE BAY and SUMMERSIDE anchored in formation at dawn, and HMCS ST. JOHN'S being hoisted on the Syncrolift for maintenance.

GOOSE BAY and SUMMERSIDE at dawn.

The Syncrolift was originally built to handle the OBERON class submarines purchased for the RCN in the 1960s, and there was originally a tent-shaped shed that the subs could be rolled into for long term maintenance and refits. In the mid-1980s, the Syncrolift itself was upgraded to handle up to 6000 tonne "NATO" frigates, and it could then handle the destroyers of the day. With the purchase of the VICTORIA class submarines in the late 1990s, the old shed was no longer big enough, and while the Syncrolift platform could lift the new subs, it could not support them to be rolled inshore as the VICTORIA class have a larger load density (e.g. higher tonnes per length) and the inshore portion of the platform (and associated winches) had to be upgraded once again. Around the same time, the sub shed itself was torn down, and replaced with the new structure shown in the photos below which can handle the VICTORIA class.

Blocked up on the Syncrolift, ST. JOHN'S is hoisted out of the water. 

The blocking under the ship has to be fairly tall in order to accommodate the ship's propellers, which draw considerably more water than the hull. If you look closely, you can see some of the old blue antifouling paint peaking out from underneath the current black colour. Prior to the blue, I believe a grey colour was used. You could probably write a short paper on the procession of different colours of antifouling paint used by the Navy over the years. 

The heaviest part (or greatest load density) of the ships and subs is the middle part of the ship, and the platform and winches under that portion of the ship have to be able to handle the larger load. You can see the smaller winches on the harbour side, with larger winches located under the ship's funnel (and machinery spaces). 

I got a good chuckle when I zoomed in on images of what I presume is one of hte Navy's boarding teams heading out on Friday, with several members holding what appeared to be Tim Horton's cups in their hands.