HMCS WINNIPEG (2nd) (338)
HMCS WINNIPEG (2nd)
The History of HMCS WINNIPEG (2nd)
HMCS Winnipeg (FFH 338), a Halifax-class frigate, has been a vital asset to the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) since its commissioning on June 23, 1995, in Esquimalt, British Columbia. As the ninth ship of its class, built under the Canadian Patrol Frigate Project, it was constructed at Saint John Shipbuilding in New Brunswick, launched on June 25, 1994, and delivered to the RCN in October 1994. Designed as a multi-role warship, it excels in anti-submarine, anti-surface, and anti-air warfare, equipped with Harpoon anti-ship missiles, Evolved Sea Sparrow anti-air missiles, torpedoes, and a Phalanx close-in weapon system. Assigned to Maritime Forces Pacific (MARPAC) at CFB Esquimalt, it patrols the Pacific and Arctic Oceans, enforcing Canada's sovereignty and laws within its territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zone.
HMCS Winnipeg's operational history is marked by extensive global deployments. In 1996, it participated in the multinational naval exercise RIMPAC off Hawaii, showcasing its capabilities early in its service. The following year, it served four months with NATO's Standing Naval Force Atlantic, demonstrating Canada's commitment to collective defense. In 1998, it joined Exercise UNITAS in South America, fostering interoperability with regional navies. From March to September 2001, it integrated into the USS Constellation Carrier Battle Group in the Persian Gulf, enforcing sanctions against Iraq. The frigate played a significant role in Operation Apollo, Canada's contribution to the War in Afghanistan, deploying to the Arabian Gulf from September 2002 to May 2003 for fleet support and maritime interdiction. In April 2009, it escorted UN relief ships in the Gulf of Aden, thwarting a pirate attack on the Norwegian tanker MV Front Ardenne, though legal constraints prevented prosecution of the captured pirates. In August 2010, alongside HMCS Whitehorse, it intercepted MV Sun Sea, a vessel carrying Tamil refugees off British Columbia's coast.
The frigate underwent a significant mid-life refit from April 2012 to April 2013 at Victoria Shipyards as part of the Halifax Class Modernization program, receiving upgrades to its combat management system, radar, electronic warfare, and communications systems. Despite an incident in April 2013, when the fishing trawler American Dynasty collided with it at Esquimalt, causing minor damage and injuries, the ship resumed active service. In 2014, it joined a Task Group Exercise with U.S. and Japanese navies, followed by deployments in 2015 to Operation Caribbe in the eastern Pacific, combating illegal trafficking, and Operation Reassurance in the Mediterranean, supporting NATO's assurance measures. In January 2016, it made historic port visits to Penang, Malaysia (the first by an RCN ship) and Singapore, strengthening regional ties.
From August to December 2021, HMCS Winnipeg deployed to the Indo-Pacific for Operations Projection and Neon, conducting surveillance and security missions, including a freedom-of-navigation transit through the Taiwan Strait with USS Dewey. In 2022, it participated in RIMPAC and visited Cambodia (a first for an RCN warship) before joining Japan's International Fleet Review. However, propeller damage sustained in October 2022 limited its operational capacity, leading to an extensive maintenance drydocking in January 2024. During its 2023 Exercise Trident Fury off British Columbia, it earned the nickname 'Submarine Samurai' from U.S. and Japanese forces for its anti-submarine prowess. Despite challenges, including the tragic loss of Master Seaman Duane Earle during a 2020 deployment, HMCS Winnipeg remains a cornerstone of Canada's naval presence, embodying its motto, 'One with the strength of many,' as it continues to serve into the 2030s, pending replacement by the River-class destroyers.
HMCS WINNIPEG (2nd) Statistical Data
- Pendant: 338
- 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: Saint John Shipbuilding, Saint John, NB
- Keel Laid: 20-Mar-93
- Date Launched: 25-Jun-94
- Date Commissioned: 23-Jun-95
- Paid off: