HMCS Halifax was the first of an eventual twelve Canadian-designed and Canadian-built guided missile helicopter-carrying frigates. They combine traditional anti-submarine capabilities with systems to deal with surface and air threats as well. The Halifax class are the work-horses of the Canadian Navy task group concept. All ships of the class are named after major Canadian cities, with at least one from each province (Ontario and Quebec, the most populous provinces, have two each). They are sometimes referred to as "City-class" vessels.
In 2007 the Canadian government announced a planned refit of the Halifax class vessels, known alternately as HCM (HALIFAX Class Modernization) or FELEX (Frigate Life Extension).
Description
Weapons Systems
The Halifax's primary weapon is the CH-124 Sea King helicopter, which acts in concert with shipboard sensors to seek out and destroy submarines at long distances from the ship. The ship has a helicopter deck fitted with a RAST system allowing the launch and recovery of helicopters in up to Sea State 6. It is anticipated that the new maritime helicopter, the CH-148 Cyclone, which is slated to replace the Sea King, will be deployed onboard the frigates with only minimal alterations to the ships' structure required. The Halifax also carries a close-in anti-submarine weapon in the form of the Mark 46 torpedo, launched from Mark 32 Mod 9 torpedo tubes in launcher compartments either side of the forward end of the helicopter hangar.
A secondary anti-shipping role is supported by the RGM-84 Harpoon Block 1C surface-to-surface missile, mounted in two quadruple launch tubes at the main deck level between the ship's funnel and the helicopter hangar. For anti-aircraft self-defense the ships are armed with the Sea Sparrow vertical launch surface-to-air missile in eight-cell launchers port and starboard of the funnel. A Raytheon/General Dynamics Phalanx Mark 15 Mod 1 close-in weapon system (CIWS) is mounted on the roof of the helicopter hangar for "last ditch" defense against targets that evade the Sea Sparrow. The Navy has ordered upgrade kits to convert to the Phalanx Block 1B. The Block 1B upgrade includes a Thales Optronics HDTI5-2F thermal imager, improved Ku-band radar and longer gun barrel with a dual firing rate of 3000 or 4500 rounds/min.
The main gun on the fo'c'sle is a 57 mm 70 Mark 2 gun from Bofors. The gun is capable of firing 2.4 kg shells at a rate of 220 rounds/min at a range of more than 17 km. The Bofors is a multi-purpose weapon usable against surface and air targets.
Countermeasures
The ship's decoy system comprises four BAE Systems Shield Mark 2 decoy launchers which fire chaff to 2 km and infrared rockets to 169 m in distraction, confusion and centroid seduction modes. The torpedo decoy is the AN/SLQ-25A Nixie towed acoustic decoy from Argon ST (formerly Sensytech) of Newington, Virginia. The ship's radar warning receiver, the Canews (Canadian Electronic Warfare System), SLQ-501, and the radar jammer, SLQ-505, were developed by Thorn and Lockheed Martin Canada.
Sensors
Two Thales Nederland (formerly Signaal) SPG-503 (STIR 1.8) fire control radars are installed one on the roof of the bridge and one on the raised radar platform immediately forward of the helicopter hangar. The ship is also fitted with Raytheon AN/SPS-49(V)5 long-range active air search radar operating at C and D bands, Ericsson HC150 Sea Giraffe medium-range air and surface search radar operating at G and H bands, and Kelvin Hughes Type 1007 I-band navigation radar.
The sonar suite includes the CANTASS Canadian Towed Array supplied by General Dynamics - Canada (GD-C), formerly Computing Devices of Canada and GD-C AN/SQS-510 hull mounted sonar and incorporates an acoustic range prediction system. The sonobuoy processing system is the GD-C AN/UYS-503.
Propulsion
The Halifax class is powered by a CODOG (combined diesel or gas) system with two GE LM2500 gas turbines and one SEMT-Pielstick 20PA6 V280 diesel engine. CAE provided the Integrated Machinery Control System (IMCS). The Halifax class is the first to employ this degree of computer control for the machinery plant, and variants of the CAE system are also installed in other ship classes such as the US Navy's Arleigh Burke.
Refit
On July 5, 2007, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced a $3.1 billion refit program for the Halifax class frigates, which will begin in 2010 and continue through 2017. The refits will include the addition of enhanced command and control centres. Which shipyard(s) will perform the refits has not yet been decided; shipyards in Halifax and Victoria have been invited to submit bids.
Specifications
CASR - Source of side-view
Type: Guided Missile Frigate with Helicopter (FFH)
Displacement: 4,770 tonnes (full load)
Dimensions: 134.1 meters length x 16.4 meters width x 4.9 meters draft
Armament:
Missiles: 8 x MK 141 Harpoon SSM; 16 x Sea Sparrow SAM/SSM
Torpedoes: 4 x MK 32 torpedo launchers
Guns:
1 x Bofors SAK 57 mm (220 rounds/minute to 10nm)
1 x Phalanx CIWS (Block 1)
8 x .50cal Heavy Machine Guns
Decoys: 24 shield Chaff/infrared decoys (flares)
Sensors:
Air/Surface Search: Ericsson Sea Giraffe HC 150 (G band)
Long Range Air Search: Raytheon AN/SPS-49 (C/D band)
Fire Control: Signaal SPG-503 STIR 1.8 (K/I band)
Active Sonar: AN/SQS-510 Hull-mounted variable depth (range to 27 nm)
Passive Sonar: AN/SQR-501 CANTASS Passive towed array
Propulsion: Twin CODOG
2 x General Electric LM2500 gas turbines producing 47,500 shp
1 Pielstick v20 cruise diesel producing 8,800 shp
Speed: 29+ knots (54 km/h)
Endurance:
7,100 nautical miles (13,000 km) at 15 knots (28 km/h) (diesel)
4,500 nautical miles (8,300 km) at 15 knots (28 km/h) (turbine)
Complement: 225 (including air detachment and firefighting unit).
Range: 9,500 nautical miles (18,000 km)
Plans are underway to replace the Sea Sparrow missiles with the Evolved Sea Sparrow, upgrade the towed sonar arrays and fit newer propellers and anechoic tiles to reduce noise emission. HMCS Montréal has already been upgraded in the latter regard. Of note in the structural design of these ships is the distinctive funnel housing, designed to diffuse the vessels' heat signature.
