HMCS Harry DeWolf in ice (6-8 second exposure)
The Harry DeWolf class is an almost unique type of ship. Canada is building eight, six for their Navy and two for their Coast Guard. It is derived from the similar and perhaps slightly more capable Norwegian Coast Guard vessel Svalbard, which has made it to the North Pole and recently undertook a mission the Healy was unable to complete due to a machinery casualty.
They are classified as “Artic and Offshore Patrol Ships” or AOPS, rather than icebreakers, but they are clearly designed to operate in ice and are rated Polar Class 5 (Year-round operation in medium first-year ice, which may include old ice inclusions). In many ways they approximate the similarly sized and powered old Wind Class icebreakers. (2012 post on the class with updates in the comments here.)
Below are another photo and a couple of videos, but first the specs.
- Displacement: 6,615 t (6,511 long tons)
- Length: 103.6 m (339 ft 11 in)
- Beam: 19 m (62 ft 4 in)
- Draft: 6.5 m (21 ft 4 in) (estimate based on that of Svalbard)
- Propulsion Generators: Four 3.6 MW (4,800 hp)
- Propulsion Motors: 2 × 4.5 MW (6,000 hp)
- Speed: 17 knots
- Endurance: 6,800 nautical miles
- Crew: 65 (accomodations for 85)
- Armament: one 25mm Mk38 remote weapon system modified for Arctic Conditions and two .50 cal. machine guns (I do feel this is inadequate.)
HMCS Harry DeWolf looking forward, bow and 25mm Mk38 remote weapon system.
With China already building armed Arctic patrol vessels, the armament specified apprears to be woefully inadequate for the mission.
The real question is, what weapons can be made to work in the arctic and how would they be used? I want SLQ-32, NULKA, and whatever gun based CIWS can be made to work so as to be dual purpose. I doubt any surface ASW gear has any use whatsoever. In that it got built and works, this is a good ship. Light years more useful than their type 26 plans are at this point.
Fantastic ships. I wish the RN had a pair for Down South and the occasional trip Oop North.
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