Canada's Irving Shipbuilding has floated out the future HMCS Robert Hampton Gray, the Royal Canadian Navy's sixth and final Harry DeWolf-class Arctic and offshore patrol ship (AOPS).
Upon completion, the AOPS will measure 103.6 by 19 metres and will displace 6,615 tonnes. Accommodation will be available for 65 crewmembers and 20 additional personnel while a diesel-electric propulsion system will allow the ship to achieve a top speed of 17 knots in open water.
At a cruising speed of 14 knots, the vessel will be able to sail up to 6,800 nautical miles, allowing it to conduct extended patrols in the higher latitudes within its intended area of operations. Armament will consist of one 25mm autocannon and two 12.7mm machine guns.
The vessel will also feature a flight deck and hangar for accommodating either a CH-148 Cyclone 13-tonne utility helicopter or a CH-149 Cormorant 14-tonne search and rescue helicopter.
The navy's sixth AOPS honours Lieutenant Robert Hampton Gray, a Royal Canadian Navy fighter pilot who was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions against Japanese forces in the closing days of World War II. The action for which Lieutenant Gray received the decoration occurred just days before the Japanese announced their intention to surrender unconditionally to the Allies, bringing an end to the conflict.