Orca-class Patrol Vessel

The ''Orca''-class patrol vessels are a class of eight steel-hulled training and surveillance vessels in service with the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) at Patrol Craft Training Unit (PCTU) Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Esquimalt. Based on the Australian design, all of the ''Orca'' vessels were constructed by Victoria Shipyards between November 2004 and November 2008. In addition to carrying the RCN designation of patrol craft training (PCT), the ''Orca'' class are not formally commissioned in the RCN and as such do not possess the His Majesty's Canadian Ship (HMCS) prefix.

Design and description

In the early 2000s, the Canadian Forces Maritime Command (MARCOM) began searching for a replacement for its aging 1950s-era wooden-hulled YAG 300 training tenders. While training aboard the YAG vessels was considered useful, initial training of naval officers was moving towards more modern land-based simulators that more accurately replicated the conditions aboard RCN capital ships. On 8 November 2004 the Department of National Defence (DND) announced a $69.7 million contract for six new ships, with an option for two more for a total budget of $90.7 million.

Based on the Australian Tenix Defence–designed Pacific-class , the Canadian-built ''Orca'' class shares the same hull design as the Australian vessel, but is 15 per cent larger. Stretched to the maximum allowed by the contract, the Canadian ''Orca'' class was designed to allow for the hull to withstand any increase in the size and weight of future equipment. With the change in size, also came a change to the propulsion system, crew accommodations and bridge structure.

Designed to accommodate a 12.7 mm M2 machine gun, the foredeck was strengthened and extra fire protection was added, requiring a new firemain supply to the new ammunition storage lockers. This redesign led to several systems, including the auxiliary seawater and bilge systems to be upgraded. In addition, requirements under the ''Canada Shipping Act'' and Canadian naval requirements also necessitated the installation of a third generator, changing the electrical supply to 120 volts/60 hertz and a redesigned water cooling system.

Designed as a stepping stone' to larger fleet warships", the ''Orca''s were also designed with a larger wheelhouse fitted with warship-grade navigational equipment. The large bridge offers expansive views all around, ensuring safety and enhancing training value. Below the bridge is a sixteen-seat training room with reconfigurable seating, desks and a multimedia centre, which also serves as a mess and medical area. As the training room sits atop the machinery space, a multi-component acoustic system and absorbent material was used for sound deadening.

The ''Orca'' class were the first vessels of its size to be built to the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) High-Speed Naval Craft (HSNC) A1 classification and are constructed using CSA G40.21 50W/350WT high-strength structural steel. Known for its reliability in cold climates, it is the same type of steel used in the Canadian s.

Each ''Orca''-class vessel shares the same dimensions of being long, a beam of , a draught of , and a displacement of . Powered by two Caterpillar 3516B marine diesel engines, each rated for at 1,600 revolutions per minute, they are capable of , and have an endurance of at . Able to be operated by a core crew of five, the maximum bunk space on the ''Orca''s is twenty-four with two two-bunk cabins for the crew (officer in charge, executive officer, senior bosun's mate, ''Orca''-class engineer) two six-bunk cabins and two four-bunk cabins for instructors and trainees. Each ''Orca'' carries one Zodiac SR2 inflatable rescue boat that holds two sailors.

Construction

During the early stages of the Second World War, the Canadian Government acquired fourteen large yachts from the United States and all were given animal names upon commissioning in the RCN. All but ''Orca'' and ''Raven'' perpetuate the names of those armed yachts and all have a connection to First Nations lore. ''Cougar'', ''Moose'', and ''Wolf'' are the third vessels to carry those names as they also perpetuate the names of Canadian Fairmile B motor launches used by the Canadian Forces Naval Reserve as training ships after the Second World War.

All eight ''Orca''-class vessels were constructed by Victoria Shipyards at Victoria, British Columbia with the first in class ''Orca'', was laid down in September 2005, launched in August 2006, and delivered to MARCOM in November 2006. The remaining ''Orcas'' delivered were: ''Raven'' in March 2007; ''Caribou'' in July 2007; ''Renard'' in September 2007; ''Wolf'' in November 2007; ''Grizzly'' in March 2008; ''Cougar'' in July 2008 and ''Moose'' in November 2008.

Employment

As dedicated training tenders, the ''Orca''s are primarily used to facilitate numerous one-to-six-week long at-sea training evolutions for training both regular and reserve force RCN naval officers. The vessels are also used to train non-commissioned members and provide an at sea experience for the teenage members of the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets. The ''Orca''s are considered vessels of opportunity for surveillance and search and rescue and are all homeported at CFB Esquimalt.

During Operation Podium, the Canadian Forces support of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, three ''Orca''s were temporarily fitted with 12.7 mm machine guns for port security duties.

On 15 June 2017, while was docked at CFB Esquimalt, ''Cougar'' struck the submarine as it was exiting the dockyard. The initial inspection following the collision showed only superficial damage to the protective gear around the submarine and only minor damage to ''Cougar''s propeller.

References

External links

DND/CF page on the ''Orca''-class vessels

{{Royal Canadian Navy

Ships built in Esquimalt

Auxiliary training ship classes
Auxiliary search and rescue ship classes
Naval ships of Canada
Fleet of the Royal Canadian Navy