HMCS WINDSOR (877)
HMCS WINDSOR
The History of HMCS WINDSOR
HMCS Windsor (SSK 877) is a long-range hunter-killer (SSK) submarine of the Canadian navy, the second ship of the Victoria class. She is named after the city of Windsor, Ontario. Windsor was purchased from the Royal Navy, and is the former HMS Unicorn.
The submarine was laid down as HMS Unicorn at Cammell Laird's Birkenhead yard on 13 March 1990. She was launched on 16 April 1992, and commissioned into the Royal Navy on 25 June 1993.
Looking to discontinue the operation of diesel-electric boats, the British government offered to sell Unicorn and her sister submarines to Canada in 1993. The offer was accepted in 1998. The four boats were leased to the Canadians for US$427 million (plus US$98 million for upgrades and alteration to Canadian standards), with the lease to run for eight years; after this, the submarines would be sold for $1.
Problems were discovered with the piping welds on all four submarines, which delayed the reactivation of Unicorn and her three sisters. Unicorn was handed over to the Royal Canadian Navy on 6 August 2001, and was commissioned as HMCS Windsor on 4 October 2003.
HMCS Windsor's displacement is approximately 2,200 tons surfaced and 2,400 tons submerged. Covered in anechoic tiles to reduce her detection by active sonar, the submarine is 70.3 metres long, 7.6 metres across the beam and has a deep diving depth in excess of 200 metres. The main hull is constructed of high tensile steel sections stiffened by circular internal frames. Equipment located outside the main hull is covered by the casing, which also gives the crew a safe walkway when the submarine is surfaced. The fin, which helps support the masts, serves as a kind of keel and provides a raised conning position.
HMCS Windsor has six torpedo tubes and can carry up to eighteen Mark 48 Mod 4 heavyweight torpedoes for use against surface and sub-surface targets.
HMCS Windsor's sonar sets allow her to locate and track ships and other submarines "passively", that is without transmitting on active sonar and thus giving away her location. She is fitted with radar for general navigation, attack and search periscopes (incorporating video recording and thermal imaging), and an electronic support measures suite. The ship has two diesel generators, each capable of producing up to 1,410 kilowatts, and one main motor. The generators are used to charge two main batteries, each consisting of 240 battery cells. These batteries are used to power the submarine, which can reach a submerged speed of up to 20 knots (37 km/h).
HMCS WINDSOR Statistical Data
- Pendant: 877
- Type: Submarine
- Class: Victoria (Ex-Upholder)
- Displacement: 2168 surfaced, 2455 dived tonnes
- Length: 231 m ft
- Width: 25 m ft
- Draught: 18 m ft
- Speed: 12 surfaced, 20 dived, 12 snorti kts
- Compliment: 7 Officers and 40 Crew
- Arms: Six forward 21" tubes for 18 Mk.48 Mod 4 torpedoes
- Builder: Cammall Laird, Birkenhead.
- Keel Laid: Feb-89
- Date Launched: 16-Apr-92
- Date Commissioned:
- Paid off:
More Images
HMCS WINDSOR comes out of refit. (Lookout Newspaper)
HMCS WINDSOR entering Halifax harbour, followed by a Canadian Patrol Frigate.