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HMCS Halifax (FFH 330)
Encyclopedia
HMCS Halifax (FFH 330) is a that has served in the Canadian Forces
since 1992.
Halifax is the lead ship
in her class which is the name for the Canadian Patrol Frigate Project
. She is the second vessel to carry the designation . She carries the hull classification symbol
330.
She is assigned to Maritime Forces Atlantic
(MARLANT) and is homeported at CFB Halifax
in her namesake city, Halifax
, a name that was also born by , a Flower Class Corvette in World War II as well as the very first warship built in Halifax, .
and enforcing Canadian laws in its territorial sea and Exclusive Economic Zone
.
Halifax has also been deployed on missions throughout the Atlantic and to the Indian Ocean
; specifically the Persian Gulf
and Arabian Sea
on anti-terrorism operations.
Halifax has also participated in several NATO missions, patrolling the Atlantic Ocean as part of Standing Naval Force Atlantic (STANAVFORLANT) and its successor Standing NATO Response Force Maritime Group 1
(SNMG1).
On January 13th 2010, as part of Operation Hestia
, it was announced that the Halifax would be deployed to the waters around Haiti to assist in relief efforts after the January 2010 earthquake
, along with . Specifically the Halifax was to be deployed outside the area of Jacmel
, which was slow to receive aid due to the fact the roads were cut off and the airport was too small to handle large aircraft. Halifax provided air traffic control for Jacmel Airport
on the ship. On 4 Sep 2010, Halifax was turned over to Irving Shipbuilding's Halifax Ship Yards, to start a 18 month mid-life upgrading and modernization.
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
since 1992.
Halifax is the lead ship
Lead ship
The lead ship or class leader is the first of a series or class of ships all constructed according to the same general design. The term is applicable military ships and larger civilian craft.-Overview:...
in her class which is the name for the Canadian Patrol Frigate Project
Canadian Patrol Frigate Project
The Canadian Patrol Frigate Project was a procurement project undertaken by the Department of National Defence beginning in 1975 to find a replacement for the , , , and destroyers.-Contract award:...
. She is the second vessel to carry the designation . She carries the hull classification symbol
Hull classification symbol (Canada)
The Royal Canadian Navy uses hull classification symbols to identify the types of its ships, which are similar to the United States Navy's Hull classification symbol system...
330.
She is assigned to Maritime Forces Atlantic
Maritime Forces Atlantic
In the Canadian Forces, Maritime Forces Atlantic is responsible for the fleet and operations of the Royal Canadian Navy in the Atlantic Ocean and Arctic Ocean. The Commander of MARLANT is a two-star Rear Admiral....
(MARLANT) and is homeported at CFB Halifax
CFB Halifax
Canadian Forces Base Halifax is Canada's east coast navy base and home port to the Atlantic fleet, known as Maritime Forces Atlantic....
in her namesake city, Halifax
City of Halifax
Halifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...
, a name that was also born by , a Flower Class Corvette in World War II as well as the very first warship built in Halifax, .
Service
Halifax serves on MARLANT missions protecting Canada's sovereignty in the Atlantic OceanAtlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
and enforcing Canadian laws in its territorial sea and Exclusive Economic Zone
Exclusive Economic Zone
Under the law of the sea, an exclusive economic zone is a seazone over which a state has special rights over the exploration and use of marine resources, including production of energy from water and wind. It stretches from the seaward edge of the state's territorial sea out to 200 nautical...
.
Halifax has also been deployed on missions throughout the Atlantic and to the Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
; specifically the Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
and Arabian Sea
Arabian Sea
The Arabian Sea is a region of the Indian Ocean bounded on the east by India, on the north by Pakistan and Iran, on the west by the Arabian Peninsula, on the south, approximately, by a line between Cape Guardafui in northeastern Somalia and Kanyakumari in India...
on anti-terrorism operations.
Halifax has also participated in several NATO missions, patrolling the Atlantic Ocean as part of Standing Naval Force Atlantic (STANAVFORLANT) and its successor Standing NATO Response Force Maritime Group 1
Standing NRF Maritime Group 1
Standing NATO Maritime Group One is one of NATO's standing maritime Immediate Reaction Forces. Prior to 1 January 2005 it was known as Standing Naval Force Atlantic...
(SNMG1).
On January 13th 2010, as part of Operation Hestia
Operation Hestia
Operation Hestia is the name of the Canadian Forces humanitarian response to the 2010 Haiti earthquake which struck Haiti on 12 January, 2010. Operation Hestia is the military component of an interagency response that also involves Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada and the Canadian...
, it was announced that the Halifax would be deployed to the waters around Haiti to assist in relief efforts after the January 2010 earthquake
2010 Haiti earthquake
The 2010 Haiti earthquake was a catastrophic magnitude 7.0 Mw earthquake, with an epicentre near the town of Léogâne, approximately west of Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital. The earthquake occurred at 16:53 local time on Tuesday, 12 January 2010.By 24 January, at least 52 aftershocks...
, along with . Specifically the Halifax was to be deployed outside the area of Jacmel
Jacmel
Jacmel, also known by its indigenous Taíno name of Yaquimel, is a town in southern Haiti founded in 1698. It is the capital of the department of Sud-Est and has an estimated population of 40,000, while the municipality of Jacmel had a population of 137,966 at the 2003 Census.The buildings are...
, which was slow to receive aid due to the fact the roads were cut off and the airport was too small to handle large aircraft. Halifax provided air traffic control for Jacmel Airport
Jacmel Airport
Jacmel Airport was the sixth busiest airport in Haiti by passenger volume prior to the 2010 Haiti earthquake, located near the city with the same name, Jacmel, on Haiti's south coast. The airport's timezone is GMT –5, and is located in World Area Code region #238 Jacmel Airport was the sixth...
on the ship. On 4 Sep 2010, Halifax was turned over to Irving Shipbuilding's Halifax Ship Yards, to start a 18 month mid-life upgrading and modernization.
Timeline
- 1987, Mar 19: laid down at Saint John Shipbuilding Ltd.Saint John ShipbuildingSaint John Shipbuilding was a Canadian shipbuilding company located in Saint John, New Brunswick. It operated from 1923-2003.-History:Numerous shipyards were located on the shores of Courtney Bay in the east end of Saint John Harbour where extensive mud flats dried at low tide.In 1918 it was...
, Saint JohnSaint John, New BrunswickCity of Saint John , or commonly Saint John, is the largest city in the province of New Brunswick, and the first incorporated city in Canada. The city is situated along the north shore of the Bay of Fundy at the mouth of the Saint John River. In 2006 the city proper had a population of 74,043... - 1988, Apr 3: launched
- 1992, Jun 29: commissioned
- 1998: Halifax assisted in the recovery operation following the crash of Swissair Flight 111.
- 2001, Oct 8: diverted for combat operations
- 2010, Sep: first Mid-Life Refit scheduled, approximately 12 months in duration
- 2010, Jan 13: Ship prepares to deploy to Haiti for earthquake disaster relief
- 2010, Jan 14: Ship Sails from CFB Halifax enroute to Haiti along with for humanitarian Operation HestiaOperation HestiaOperation Hestia is the name of the Canadian Forces humanitarian response to the 2010 Haiti earthquake which struck Haiti on 12 January, 2010. Operation Hestia is the military component of an interagency response that also involves Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada and the Canadian...
- 2010, Jan 18: Ship arrives off JacmelJacmelJacmel, also known by its indigenous Taíno name of Yaquimel, is a town in southern Haiti founded in 1698. It is the capital of the department of Sud-Est and has an estimated population of 40,000, while the municipality of Jacmel had a population of 137,966 at the 2003 Census.The buildings are...
- 2010, Feb 19: Ship leaves Jacmel, headed for home.