Wikipedia

HMCS Margaret Brooke

HMCS Margaret Brooke (AOPV 431) is the second Harry DeWolf-class offshore patrol vessel for the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN). The class was derived from the Arctic Offshore Patrol Ship project as part of the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy and is primarily designed for the patrol and support of Canada's Arctic regions. Named after Sub-Lieutenant Margaret Brooke, an RCN nursing sister who tried to save another person during the sinking of the ferry SS Caribou during World War II. Margaret Brooke was ordered in 2011, laid down in 2016 and launched in 2019. The vessel began contractor sea trials in May 2021, and she was delivered to the Royal Canadian Navy for post-acceptance sea trials on 15 July 2021. The official naming ceremony for the ship was conducted on 29 May 2022 in conjunction with that for sister ship Max Bernays. The vessel was commissioned on 28 October 2022.

HMCS Margaret Brooke participates in Operation Nanook, 2022
History
Canada
NameMargaret Brooke
NamesakeMargaret Brooke
Ordered19 October 2011
BuilderIrving Shipbuilding, Halifax, Nova Scotia
Laid down29 May 2017
Launched10 November 2019
Commissioned28 October 2022
HomeportHalifax
Identification
MottoMagnanimi sunt fortes (Latin for 'Merciful are the brave')
StatusIn service
General characteristics
TypeHarry DeWolf-class offshore patrol vessel
Displacement6,615 t (6,511 long tons)
Length103.6 m (339 ft 11 in)
Beam19.0 m (62 ft 4 in)
Draught5.7 m (18 ft 8 in)[1]
Ice classPolar Class 5
Installed power4 × MAN 6L32/44CR (4 × 3.6 MW)[1]
Propulsion
Speed
  • 17 kn (31 km/h; 20 mph) (open water)
  • 3 kn (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph) in 1 m (3 ft 3 in) ice
Range6,800 nmi (12,600 km; 7,800 mi) at 14 kn (26 km/h; 16 mph)
Boats & landing
craft carried
Complement65
Armament
  • 1 × BAE Mk 38 25 mm gun
  • 2 × M2 Browning machine gun
Aircraft carriedSikorsky CH-148 Cyclone or other helicopters/CU-176 Gargoyle UAV
Aviation facilitiesHangar and flight deck

Design and description

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The Harry DeWolf-class offshore patrol vessels are designed for use in the Arctic regions of Canada for patrol and support within Canada's exclusive economic zone. The vessel is 103.6 m (339 ft 11 in) long overall with a beam of 19.0 m (62 ft 4 in). The ship has a displacement of 6,615 metric tons (6,511 long tons). The ship has an enclosed foredeck that protects machinery and work spaces from Arctic climates. The vessel is powered by a diesel-electric system composed of four 3.6-megawatt (4,800 hp) MAN 6L32/44CR[1] four-stroke medium-speed diesel generators and two electric propulsion motors rated at 4.5 megawatts (6,000 hp) driving two shafts. Margaret Brooke is capable of 17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph) in open water and 3 knots (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph) in 1-metre (3 ft 3 in) first-year sea ice.[5] The ship is also equipped with a bow thruster to aid during manoeuvres and docking procedures without requiring tugboat assistance.[6] The ship has a range of 6,800 nautical miles (12,600 km; 7,800 mi) and an endurance of 120 days.[7] Margaret Brooke is equipped with fin stabilizers to decrease roll in open water but can be retracted during icebreaking.[8][2][9]

Margaret Brooke is able to deploy with multiple payloads, including shipping containers, underwater survey equipment or landing craft. Payload operations are aided by a 20-metric-ton (20-long-ton; 22-short-ton) crane for loading and unloading. The ship is equipped with a vehicle bay which can hold can pickup trucks, all-terrain vehicles and snowmobiles. The ship also has two 8.5-metre (27 ft 11 in) multi-role rescue boats capable of over 35 knots (65 km/h; 40 mph). The ship is armed with one BAE Mk 38 25 mm (0.98 in) gun and two M2 Browning machine guns. The patrol ship has an onboard hangar and flight deck for helicopters up to the size of a Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone. Margaret Brooke has a complement of 65 and accommodation for 85[8][2][9] or 87.[10]

Service history

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The order for the Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships was placed on 19 October 2011 with Irving Shipyards of Halifax, Nova Scotia, as part of the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy.[11] The ship was constructed in 62 blocks, which were then pieced together into three larger blocks. These three "mega blocks" were fitted together to form the hull of the ship.[8] On 13 April 2015 the government announced a second ship would be named Margaret Brooke. During World War II, Margaret Brooke, a navy nursing sister, was decorated for her actions during the sinking of the passenger ferry SS Caribou.[12][13] The vessel's keel was laid down on 29 May 2017[14] and the vessel was launched on 10 November 2019.[15] The ship began contractor sea trials in May 2021.[16] The vessel was delivered to the Royal Canadian Navy for post-acceptance sea trials on 15 July 2021.[17] The naming ceremony was held on 29 May 2022 in conjunction with that for sister ship Max Bernays.[18]

The vessel, though not formally commissioned, was among the RCN ships deployed to the Arctic as part of the multinational military exercise Operation Nanook in August 2022. In September 2022, Margaret Brooke was tasked for hurricane relief efforts, after Hurricane Fiona's devastating impact to the Maritimes. The vessel provided assistance including damage assessment and welfare checks to the most impacted communities along the south coast of Newfoundland, where water access was the only means of entering the area.[19][20] The vessel was commissioned on 28 October 2022.[21]

In early 2024, Margaret Brooke was involved in a drug interdiction in the Caribbean Sea.[22] In June, the ship was deployed to Havana Harbour where Russian vessels, including the submarine Kazan and the frigate Admiral Gorshkov, were also present.[23] Minister of Defence Bill Blair said the ship was deployed as an act of deterrence directed at Russia.[24]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Margaret Brooke (4702515)". Sea-web. S&P Global. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
  2. ^ a b c "Arctic/Offshore Patrol Ships". Royal Canadian Navy. January 2015. Archived from the original on 31 October 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
  3. ^ "Irving Shipbuilding Selects Rosborough Boats to supply Multi-Role Rescue Boats for AOPS vessels". Irving Shipbuilding. 13 March 2017. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  4. ^ "ABCO Industries to Build 12m Landing Craft for Royal Canadian Navy". Baird Maritime. 17 October 2018. Archived from the original on 11 October 2019. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  5. ^ "Royal Canadian Navy's OPV HMCS Max Bernays starts sea trials". Navy Recognition. 26 July 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  6. ^ "Harry DeWolf class fact sheet". Government of Canada. 18 April 2024. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  7. ^ Malek, Aaron; Francis, Morgan (Fall 2022). "AOPS Concept of Operations" (PDF). Maritime Engineering Journal (102): 13. ISSN 0713-0058.
  8. ^ a b c Pugliese, David (16 January 2015). "Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships to be constructed in three "mega blocks"". Ottawa Citizen. Archived from the original on 31 October 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
  9. ^ a b "Harry DeWolf-class Arctic/Offshore Patrol Ship Factsheet" (PDF). Department of National Defence of Canada. January 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 October 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
  10. ^ "Largest Active Combat Ship Built in Canada - HMCS Harry Dewolf - Commissioned Today" (Press release). Irving Shipbuilding. 26 June 2021.
  11. ^ Woods, Allan (19 October 2011). "Two winners and one big loser in contest to build military ships". The Toronto Star. Archived from the original on 31 October 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
  12. ^ "New Royal Canadian Navy ship to be named after naval hero of SS Caribou sinking" (Press release). Government of Canada. 13 April 2015. Archived from the original on 14 April 2015. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  13. ^ MacVicar, Adam (16 March 2018). "Royal Canadian Navy ship named after Saskatchewan war hero". Global News. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
  14. ^ "Keel-laying ceremony for HMCS Margaret Brooke marks a shipbuilding milestone" (Press release). Department of National Defence of Canada. 29 May 2017. Archived from the original on 1 June 2017. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  15. ^ "Halifax Shipyard launches Canada's second Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship". globenewswire.com (Press release). Irving Shipbuilding. 10 November 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  16. ^ Ruskin, Brett (5 May 2021). "Irving Shipbuilding invites international staff to Halifax for its latest ship test". CBC News. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  17. ^ "Irving Shipbuilding delivers second Arctic patrol warship to Royal Canadian Navy". CTV News. 15 July 2021. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  18. ^ "Halifax Shipyard Marks Major Milestone with the Joint Naming Ceremony of HMCS Margaret Brooke and HMCS Max Bernays" (Press release). Irving Shipbuilding. 29 May 2022.
  19. ^ "Ottawa sending Canadian Forces to Newfoundland's southwest coast to help with Fiona cleanup". CBC News. 26 September 2022. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
  20. ^ Gillies, Rob (26 September 2022). "Canadian navy vessel headed to areas hit hardest by Fiona". ABC News. Associated Press. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
  21. ^ "His Majesty's Canadian Ship Margaret Brooke commissioned into service" (Press release). Department of National Defence of Canada. 28 October 2022. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
  22. ^ "Coast Guard offloads over $14 million worth of cocaine in Miami Beach". WSVN 7News. 1 March 2024. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  23. ^ Zimonjic, Peter (17 June 2024). "Minister defends Canadian navy ship's visit to Cuba with Russian vessels in port". CBC News. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  24. ^ Chase, Steven (17 June 2024). "Warship's visit to Cuba was intended to deter Russia, says minister". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
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