Royal Canadian Navy commissions fifth Harry DeWolf-class patrol ship
The Royal Canadian Navy commissioned HMCS Frédérick Rolette, its fifth Harry DeWolf-class Arctic and offshore patrol ship (AOPS), in a ceremony on Friday, June 13.
Built by Irving Shipbuilding of Nova Scotia, the AOPS has a length of 103.6 metres, a beam of 19 metres, and accommodation for 65 crewmembers and 20 additional personnel. A diesel-electric propulsion system allows the ship to achieve a top speed of 17 knots in open water.
At a cruising speed of 14 knots, the vessel can sail up to 6,800 nautical miles, allowing it to conduct extended patrols in the higher latitudes within its intended area of operations.
The ship's armament consists of one 25mm autocannon and two 12.7mm machine guns. The vessel also boasts 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 Royal Canadian Navy's fifth AOPS honours Lieutenant Frédérick Rolette, a Canadian-born officer who served in the Provincial Marine of Upper Canada and distinguished himself during the War of 1812.
The Harry DeWolf-class ships have come under scrutiny due to cost overruns and technical issues that became evident from the time the ships were introduced into service.
An investigation conducted in December 2022 found that the potable water systems on the first five AOPS also include valves and fittings made from alloys with lead content that exceeds allowable levels, raising the risk of contamination among crews.
In July last year, HMCS Max Bernays suffered a mechanical issue related to its seawater cooling system, causing it to take on an estimated 20,000 litres of water while it was participating in the biennial Rim of the Pacific multi-national naval exercise off Hawaii.
