Image: HMCS William Hall
Credit: Twitter/@IrvingShipbuild
The Royal Canadian Navy’s (RCN) fourth Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship (AOPS), His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) William Hall, was delivered to the fleet.
Designed to assert and uphold Arctic sovereignty, the Harry DeWolf-class Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessel significantly enhances the Canadian Armed Forces’ (CAF) capabilities and presence in the Arctic. With its considerable space to transport cargo, small vehicles, and deployable boats, the AOPV brings versatility and support to a wide range of domestic CAF operations with the ability to support global peace and security in coordination with our allies and partners.
As the RCN takes delivery of HMCS William Hall, the next steps will include sea trials, warm and cold weather trials, and other post-delivery evaluation tasks. The full commissioning ceremony for HMCS William Hall is expected to take place sometime next year, after the conclusion of the trials.
Since the inaugural deployment of first in class, HMCS Harry DeWolf in 2021, these ships have seen multiple deployments to Canada’s Arctic regions, the South-Eastern Pacific Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, and have contributed to the Hurricane Fiona response in Newfoundland. HMCS William Hall will remain at His Majesty’s Canadian Dockyard Halifax while post-acceptance work, sea trials and final ship preparations are completed, and subsequently will officially be commissioned into the RCN fleet.
In support of Canada’s defence policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged, the Government of Canada continues to deliver the modern, functional, and effective ships that the RCN needs to support operations, while also rebuilding Canada’s marine industry with the creation of hundreds of new jobs under Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy.
“We celebrate the next important milestone for the National Shipbuilding Strategy and the Royal Canadian Navy with the arrival of our fourth new Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessel, HMCS William Hall. This new asset to Canada’s fleet has been made possible by the vital work of our shipbuilders and the thousands of Canadians that have contributed to the construction of this new ship. We will continue to provide the Royal Canadian Navy with the ships needed to protect our country, while creating good jobs for Canadians.” The Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence
“The delivery of our fourth Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessel, HMCS William Hall, brings the Royal Canadian Navy ever closer to achieving our full fleet of six modern, ice-capable ships. Each of the AOPV represents an advanced capability and skillset for the Navy, and our allies, and we are proud that this ship will soon be officially welcomed into the RCN Fleet.” Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee, Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy
ADDITIONAL INFO
• The Harry DeWolf-class ships are highly versatile vessels that can be used on a variety of missions at home and abroad, such as coastal surveillance, search and rescue, drug interdiction, support to international partners, humanitarian aid, and disaster relief.
• The ships of the Harry DeWolf-class will be affiliated with regions of the Inuit Nunangat. The first affiliation between HMCS Harry DeWolf and the Qikiqtani Inuit of Nunavut was formalized in May 2019 and HMCS Margaret Brooke was affiliated with Nunatsiavut in 2022. Affiliation between an HMC Ship, its sailors and civilian communities is a long-standing and honoured naval tradition, with relationships lasting throughout the service-life of the ship.
• AOPV’s are known as the Harry DeWolf-class, named in honour of Vice-Admiral Harry DeWolf, a Canadian wartime naval hero. First in class, HMCS Harry DeWolf, was delivered to Canada on July 30, 2020, and was officially commissioned into RCN service on June 26, 2021.
• The second AOPV, HMCS Margaret Brooke, was named in honour of the Royal Canadian Navy Nursing Sister Lieutenant-Commander Margaret Martha Brooke, who was decorated for gallantry during the Second World War. HMCS Margaret Brooke was officially commissioned into RCN service on October 28, 2022.
• The third AOPV, HMCS Max Bernays, was named in honour of Chief Petty Officer Max Bernays, a Canadian naval hero who served as the Coxswain of HMCS Assiniboine during the Second World War’s Battle of the Atlantic, and was officially delivered to the RCN on September 2, 2022.
• The fourth AOPV, the HMCS William Hall, is named in honour of William Hall, the first person of African descent, the first Nova Scotian, and the first Canadian naval recipient of the Victoria Cross.
• AOPV’s five and six, HMCS Frédérick Rolette, and HMCS Robert Hampton Gray, are currently in various stages of production, with the planned delivery of one new ship every year until 2025.
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