Canada’s “Vigilance Continental Defence Corvette,” a Sort of OPC Evolved

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Let’s take another look at this program. It, like the OPC, is a VARD design. VARD also designed the Canadian Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships (AOPS), six completed for the Canadian Navy and two building for the Canadian CG. VARD is a Fincantieri company. Fincantieri also owns four shipyards in the US including Marinette Marine that built the 14 Keeper class WLMs, 16 Juniper class WLBs, USCGC Mackinaw, the Navy Freedom class LCS, and now the Constellation class frigates and Landing Ship Mediums.

It has been less than two months since we talked about this ship, but the video above shows that the concept has changed significantly compared to the video that accompanied that earlier post.

  • There is still no hangar large enough for a helicopter, but the flight deck is considerably larger.
  • The fantail deck that once hosted 40 foot containers now looks smaller but still large enough for 20 foot containers.
  • The idea of building two versions, one lightly armed and a second more heavily armed seems to have been abandoned.
  • SeaRAM has been deleted and 16 US standard Mk41 VLS are now standard.
  • Eight surface to surface Naval Strike Missiles are now standard.
  • A hull mounted sonar is now standard.
  • Two 30mm remote weapon stations have been added
  • The primary radar is now a multifunction 4D AESA

It is now very different from the original proposal, having grown from 75 to 107.7 meters.

Clearly there has been a movement in the concept from a small lightly equipped Offshore Patrol Vessel with emphasis on containerized/palletized capability to a full spectrum warship with at least some capability in anti-air, anti-submarine, anti-surface, and counter-unmanned systems. These must be seen as not only a replacement for the twelve 970 ton Kingston class “Coastal Defense Vessels” but also a a possible replacement for at least some of the now 30 to 34 year old Halifax class frigates. See the earlier post for a discussion of possible fleet mix.

So, how does this ship compare with the OPC?

Length is about 7 feet less than that of the OPC (107.7m vs 110). Beam is about one foot less (15.6m vs 16). Draft is about two feet less (4.5m vs 5.2). Displacement is not listed but based on the dimensions, probably about 3700 tons vs 4500, so probably 15 to 20% smaller.

Max speed is reportedly 26+ knots vs 22.5 for the OPC.

This ship is ice strengthened while the OPC is apparently not, though that was included in the original OPC solicitation.

Helicopter facilities are much better on the OPC. This seems to be a major weakness of the current design both for peacetime Coast Guard type missions and for wartime missions. Given how much the design has already changed, I would not be surprised to see a hangar added. There is one on the VARD 7-100 design which seems to be the basis of the design.

On the other hand, UAS can provide ISR and many WMECs deploy without an embarked  helicopter. Frequently we see WMEC270s with accommodations for immigrants erected on the flight deck. Certainly a ship like this would be a great improvement over a WME210 and in most respects a significant improvement over a 270.

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