HMCS VILLE DE QUEBEC (2nd) (332)
HMCS VILLE DE QUEBEC (2nd)
The History of HMCS VILLE DE QUEBEC (2nd)
The currently operating HMCS Ville de Quebec (FFH 332), a Halifax-class frigate, has been a vital asset to the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) since its commissioning on July 14, 1994, at Quebec City. As the third ship of its class, built under the Canadian Patrol Frigate Project, it was laid down on December 16, 1988, and launched on May 16, 1991, by MIL Davie Shipbuilding in Lauzon, Quebec. Designated as Canada's only fully bilingual warship, it is assigned to Maritime Forces Atlantic (MARLANT) and homeported at CFB Halifax, where it serves to protect Canadian sovereignty in the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans and enforce laws in its territorial sea and exclusive economic zone. Designed to replace aging destroyer escorts, the frigate excels in anti-submarine, anti-surface, and anti-air warfare, equipped with advanced systems like the 57mm Bofors gun, Harpoon missiles, and Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles, and it supports a CH-148 Cyclone helicopter for enhanced operational reach.
In its early years, HMCS Ville de Quebec quickly established itself in international operations. In April 1993, before its official commissioning, it relieved HMCS Annapolis in enforcing a United Nations embargo off Haiti. By 1995, it participated in NATO's Exercise Strong Resolve off Norway and later deployed to the Adriatic Sea for a six-month tour to enforce an arms embargo against the former Yugoslavia. In 1998, it assisted in recovery efforts following the Swissair Flight 111 crash off Nova Scotia, showcasing its versatility in humanitarian roles. The frigate returned to NATO's Standing Naval Force Atlantic (STANAVFORLANT) in 1999 for a three-month tour, and in 2001, it carried the ashes of Vice-Admiral H.G. DeWolf for a ceremonial committal in Halifax's Bedford Basin, marking a significant moment in RCN history. In 2005, it deployed to the Gulf of Mexico to support U.S. disaster relief efforts after Hurricane Katrina, and in 2008, it joined NATO's Standing Naval Reaction Force Maritime Group One to protect relief shipments off Somalia, demonstrating its global reach.
The frigate underwent a significant modernization as part of the Halifax Class Modernization/Frigate Life Extension (HCM/FELEX) program from October 2014 to December 2015, upgrading its command systems, sensors, and weapons, including the integration of a Telephonics IFF Mode 5/S interrogator and Rheinmetall's Multi-Ammunition Softkill System. Despite a fire in a diesel generator during work-up trials in March 2016, which was quickly suppressed with no significant damage, the ship resumed operations, conducting a tour of the Great Lakes and Saint Lawrence Seaway in September 2016. In 2018, it marked the first international deployment of the CH-148 Cyclone helicopter, joining Operation Reassurance in the Mediterranean and Black Seas with Standing NATO Maritime Group 2, visiting Israel and Croatia before returning in January 2019. In 2020, it deployed to the Arctic for Operation Nanook alongside allied navies, reinforcing Canada's northern presence.
Most recently, in April 2025, HMCS Ville de Quebec embarked on Operation HORIZON, a high-profile deployment to the Indo-Pacific region as part of the United Kingdom's Carrier Strike Group, centered on a Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier. Departing Halifax on April 7 after over a year of preparation, including combat system and communication upgrades, the frigate aimed to enhance interoperability with allied navies and promote a rules-based international order. With a crew of approximately 240, including Royal Canadian Air Force personnel for its Cyclone helicopter, the ship is equipped with advanced digital technology to support data-driven operations. This deployment underscores its role in strengthening Canada's strategic partnerships and maritime presence, continuing its legacy as a versatile and enduring component of the RCN, expected to serve until the 2030s when replaced by the River-class destroyers.
HMCS VILLE DE QUEBEC (2nd) Statistical Data
- Pendant: 332
- Type: Canadian Patrol Frigate
- Class: Halifax
- Displacement: 5, 235 tonnes
- Length: 135.5 m / 444.5 ft
- Width: 16.4 m / 54 ft
- Draught: 6.15 m / 20 ft
- Speed: 29+ kts
- Compliment: 180 + 45 Transients Officers and Crew
- Arms: 8 Harpoon, 16 VL Sea Sparrow, 1 - 57 mm Bofors Mk. 2 DP, 1 - 20mm Phalanx CIWS, 4 - Mk. 32 12.75" TT, 6 - 12.7 mm M.G, 1 Helicopter.
- Builder: Marine Industries Ltd., Sorel Quebec
- Keel Laid: 17-Jan-89
- Date Launched: 16-May-91
- Date Commissioned: 14-Jul-94
- Paid off: