Category Archives: Navy

HMCS Iroquois Final Sail-past tomorrow?

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I have heard a rumour that HMCS Iroquois’ final sail past will occur tomorrow. Due to cracks in her structure, she is due to be de-commisioned, and has already be de-amunitioned.

If anyone has more details, Please email Info@halifaxshippingnews.ca 

UPDATE: It appears there will be no sailpast. A Call to QHM revelealed they had no knowledge of it, and a former crew member emailed to say he talked to a current crew member who said there will not be one.

Anchor from HMCS Niobe Uncovered

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An anchor, believed to have belonged to His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS)Niobe, has been unearthed at HMC Dockyard in Halifax. HMCS Niobe was the first Canadian warship to enter Canada’s territorial waters, on October 21, 1910, a landmark event in the beginnings of the Naval Service of Canada.

As fate would have it, the discovery of the roughly 900-kilo (2000-pound) anchor was made just days before the commemoration of Niobe Day, which will from now on, be celebrated annually by the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) on the 21st day of October. An excavation crew working at HMC Dockyard recovered an anchor and chain buried beneath a demolition site on the morning of October 14. The anchor has been inspected, assessed against relevant documents and photographs, and is now believed to be that of HMCS Niobe.

The anchor was unearthed at former Jetty 4, where Building D-19, a Second World War dockside warehouse and one of the first structures at HMC Dockyard, once stood and is now being demolished.

The position of the anchor speaks to a particular time and function. The direction of the chain links is consistent with the position of the Niobe’s bow when employed as a depot ship and the size is consistent with an estimated size of the links of the Niobe’s anchor in a post-Halifax Explosion photo. 
While a list of stores left behind by the Royal Navy is not available, no vessels in the newly formed Royal Canadian Navy were large enough for this size anchor except for the Niobe, or possibly the Rainbow (based in Esquimalt, BC). Additionally there would have been no other use for a heavy chain and anchor at the discovery site, except to permanently moor a large vessel such as Niobe.

After she was paid off, Niobe functioned as a depot ship from July, 1915 until 1920 moored in Halifax Harbour. The Halifax Explosion on December 6, 1917, pulled the ship’s concrete embedded anchor from the harbour floor and dragged the ship. Once re-secured to Jetty 4, additional anchors were put in place including one to the shore from the stem and one from the stern. The anchor that has been discovered is believed to be one of these three bow anchors that were used to keep Niobe in place

The dimensions of the roughly 900-kilo (2000-pound) anchor are, 4 metres (13 feet) from crown to head, 4.1 metres (13.5 feet) across the stock, and 3.35 metres (11 feet) from bill to bill of the flukes. Additionally, each link of the anchor’s chain is 51 centimetres (20 inches) by 28 centimetres (11 inches) and weighs approximately 34 kilos (75 pounds)

HMCS Iroquois to be paid off January 2015

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As expected today’s technical briefing brought details of 4 warship decommissionings.

HMCS Iroquois will prepare for its official paying off ceremony in January 2015 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Cracks were found in the hull earlier this year, so this news was not unexpected.
 

 

 

 
HMCS Preserver is rapidly approaching the end of its operational life, which was planned for 2016. This Was a surprise announcement. 
 
  Engineering surveys conducted in recent months identified levels of corrosion in HMCSPreserver that have degraded the structural integrity of the ship below acceptable limits, specifically in the vicinity of the port side boiler room.
 
 As a result of its current material state, and considering the relatively short service life remaining for HMCS Preserver, the cost to reinstate this ship to full operational capability does not represent a responsible use of public funds. HMCS Preserver will therefore cease its operational life, remain alongside and prepare for pay off in the near future.
 
On the pacific side, 
HMCS Algonquin was involved in a collision at sea with HMCSProtecteur while conducting exercise manoeuvres en route to Hawaii. There were no injuries. The ship was able to return to its home port of Esquimalt, BC, to undergo a full damage assessment.
 
 It was assessed that HMCS Algonquin suffered extensive damage to its port side hangar and remained alongside in Esquimalt. Considering the relatively short service life remaining for HMCS Algonquin, which was scheduled to be retired in early 2019, and its current state of repair, the cost to re-instate this ship to full operational capability no longer represents a responsible use of public funds. As a result, HMCS Algonquin will begin preparations for pay off in the near future.
 
HMCS Protecteur will be officially retired after sustaining serious damage in a fire in February 2014. An extensive assessment of HMCS Protecteur has concluded that the ship was damaged beyond economical repair.
 
 Considering the relatively short service life remaining for HMCS Protecteur, which was scheduled to be retired in 2017, and its current state of repair, the cost to re-instate the ship to full operational capability would not represent a responsible use of public funds. As a result, the ship will remain alongside and be prepared for disposal as early as is practically feasible.

HMCS Algonquin, Athabaskan, Iroquois and Protecteur to retire

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Global news Is reporting the navy will announce the retirement of four aging ships, HMCS Algonquin, Athabaskan, Iroquois and Protecteur.

Iroquois is suffering from cracks, Protecteur suffered a fire and both are beyond economical repair. Algonquin I don’t know about, but suspect Athabaskan will survive until due for a refit in a few years.

UPDATE: DND has invited press to a technical briefing teleconference with Admiral Mark Norman, Commander RCN at 3pm atlantic today.

AOPS Has A name

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The Government today announced the name of the first of the Royal Canadian Navy’s (RCN) Arctic/Offshore Patrol Ships (AOPS). Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship Harry DeWolf, named in honour of a wartime Canadian naval hero, will be the first of a fleet of AOPS designed to better enable the RCN to exercise sovereignty in Canadian waters, including in the Arctic. The Prime Minister made the announcement at His Majesty’s Canadian Ship Haida, formerly commanded by Vice-Admiral Harry DeWolf, which currently serves as a museum ship and is located on the waterfront of Hamilton, Ontario.

Subsequent ships in the class will be named to honour other prominent Canadians who served with the highest distinction and conspicuous gallantry in the service of their country. The Arctic/Offshore Patrol Ships Class will henceforth be known as the Harry DeWolf Class, with Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship Harry DeWolf as the lead ship.

A native of Bedford, Nova Scotia, Vice-Admiral Harry DeWolf (RCN) was decorated for outstanding service throughout his naval career, which included wartime command of His Majesty’s Canadian Ship St. Laurent from 1939-40, for which he was twice the subject of a Mention in Dispatches (a national honour bestowed for distinguished service). Later, his 1943-44 command of His Majesty’s Canadian Ship Haida helped that ship gain the reputation as “Fightingest Ship in the RCN,” participated in the sinking of 14 enemy ships, and for which he was again twice the subject of a Mention in Dispatches and awarded both the Distinguished Service Order and the Distinguished Service Cross. A consummate leader both ashore and afloat, his exceptional wartime service was recognized with an appointment as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire and as an Officer of the U.S. Legion of Merit. He was also awarded the Canadian Forces Decoration, soon after its creation, to recognize his good conduct throughout his career. He went on to become a popular and effective postwar Chief of the Naval Staff from 1956 until 1960. 

For the first time in its 104-year history, the RCN will name a class of ships after a prominent Canadian naval figure. Vessels have traditionally been named for cities, rivers and Native tribes.

SNMG-2 Arrives this Morning

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SNMG-2 is Currently inbound. 5 vessels are due, roughly spaced 1 hour apart.

 The First, USS Leyt Gulf took her pilot and should be in town in 40 minutes. (CG-55) is a Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser. Commissioned in 1987, shes homeported in Norfolk.

 She is Followed By the Lewis And Clark Class USNS Medgar Evers (T-AKE-13). Classed as a Dry Cargo ship, she is New, having been accepted in april 2012.

The Third Vessel is the Cruiser USS Anzio. Also Ticonderoga Class, She was commissioned in 1992.

Next is the German Bremen Class frigate, F208 FGS Niedersachsen. Commissioned in 1982, this is her last cruise before she is Decommissioned.


The 4th Vessel is the Turkish Frigate  TCG Kemalreis (F-247). She was commissioned in 2000, and built to a German design MEKO-200. variants of the design include the Anzac Class, and vessels used by Greece, Portugal and South Africa.

Photos to follow..

Update on SNMG-2

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SNMG-2 is due in Halifax on the 31st. At last check, It was made up of
FGS Niedersachsen (FFG) (Germany)
HMCS Regina (FFH) (Canada)
TCG Kemalreis (FFG) (Turkey)
USS Leyte Gulf (CG)(American)

USS Leyte Gulf and FGS Niedersachsen are confirmed attendees from various sources.
Halifax may see a west coast frigate.

Stand by for more details.

HMCS Toronto sails for Mediterranean tommorow

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Minister Nicholson will announce the immediate deployment of Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Toronto to join NATO Reassurance measures in the Mediterranean.
Media are invited to attend the departure ceremony for HMCS Toronto as the ship sets sail for the Mediterranean Sea. There will be no media availability.
HMCS Toronto will be replacing HMCS Regina, which has been part of Standing NATO Maritime Forces since May 2014.
Where: Canadian Forces Base Halifax Dockyard 
 
SNMG-2 which hmcs Regina is a part is scheduled to arrive in Halifax in the near future.

SNMG-2 to Exercise off North America.

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The Nato Standing Maritime group 2, will be departing Rota Spain for exercises on the Atlantic Coast.
though the Makup of the group Can change, it currently consists of :

FGS Niedersachsen (FFG) (Germany)
HMCS Regina (FFH) (Canada)
TCG Kemalreis (FFG) (Turkey)
USS Leyte Gulf (CG)(American)

Halifax may see a west coast frigate. More details when known.

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