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HMCS Winnipeg (FFH 338)
Encyclopedia
HMCS
Winnipeg
(FFH 338) is a that has served in the Canadian Forces Maritime Command
since 1996. She is a guided-missile frigate that also carries a multipurpose helicopter [but especially for anti-submarine warfare
(ASW)]. Her missile armament includes Harpoon anti-ship missile
s and Evolved Sea-Sparrow
anti-aircraft and anti-missile missiles. She also carries ASW torpedo
es for close-in defense, and a Phalanx CIWS
defense cannon.
HMCS Winnipeg is the ninth ship in her class, whose design was based on the Canadian Patrol Frigate Project
. She is the second Canadian warship to carry the name .
HMCS Winnipeg was laid down on 20 March 1993 at Saint John Shipbuilding
Company in Saint John, New Brunswick
, and she was launched on 25 June 1994. This warship was officially commissioned into the Canadian Forces
on 23 June 1995, and she carries the hull classification symbol
338. HMCS Winnipeg is assigned to the Maritime Forces Pacific
(MARPAC), and she has her home port at the Canadian Forces Maritime Base at Esquimalt
.
MARPAC missions protecting Canada's sovereignty in the Pacific Ocean
and the Arctic Ocean
and in enforcing Canadian laws on its territorial oceans and Exclusive Economic Zone
. HMCS Winnipeg has been deployed on missions throughout the Pacific, and also to the Indian Ocean
; specifically on anti-terrorism operations in the Persian Gulf
and the Arabian Sea
, and counter-piracy
operations off the coast of Somalia
. The Winnipeg is also providing an escort to United Nations
ships carrying famine
, plague, and overpopulation relief supplies to East Africa
.
Her Majesty's Canadian Ship
The designation Her Majesty's Canadian Ship , is applied as a prefix to any Canadian Forces warship. In the reign of a king, the designation changes to His Majesty's Canadian Ship; the French version of the title remains unchanged in this instance...
Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
(FFH 338) is a that has served in the Canadian Forces Maritime Command
Canadian Forces Maritime Command
The Royal Canadian Navy , is the naval force of Canada. The RCN is one of three environmental commands within the unified Canadian Forces. Operating 33 warships and several auxiliary vessels, the Royal Canadian Navy consists of 8,500 Regular Force and 5,100 Primary Reserve sailors, supported by...
since 1996. She is a guided-missile frigate that also carries a multipurpose helicopter [but especially for anti-submarine warfare
Anti-submarine warfare
Anti-submarine warfare is a branch of naval warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, or other submarines to find, track and deter, damage or destroy enemy submarines....
(ASW)]. Her missile armament includes Harpoon anti-ship missile
Anti-ship missile
Anti-ship missiles are guided missiles that are designed for use against ships and large boats. Most anti-ship missiles are of the sea-skimming type, many use a combination of inertial guidance and radar homing...
s and Evolved Sea-Sparrow
ESSM
The RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile is a development of the RIM-7 Sea Sparrow missile used to protect ships from attacking missiles and aircraft. ESSM is designed to counter supersonic maneuvering anti-ship missiles...
anti-aircraft and anti-missile missiles. She also carries ASW torpedo
Torpedo
The modern torpedo is a self-propelled missile weapon with an explosive warhead, launched above or below the water surface, propelled underwater towards a target, and designed to detonate either on contact with it or in proximity to it.The term torpedo was originally employed for...
es for close-in defense, and a Phalanx CIWS
Phalanx CIWS
The Phalanx CIWS is an anti-ship missile defense system. It is a close-in weapon system and was designed and manufactured by the General Dynamics Corporation, Pomona Division...
defense cannon.
HMCS Winnipeg is the ninth ship in her class, whose design was based on 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 Canadian warship to carry the name .
HMCS Winnipeg was laid down on 20 March 1993 at Saint John Shipbuilding
Saint John Shipbuilding
Saint 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...
Company in Saint John, New Brunswick
Saint John, New Brunswick
City 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...
, and she was launched on 25 June 1994. This warship was officially commissioned into the Canadian Forces
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."...
on 23 June 1995, and 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...
338. HMCS Winnipeg is assigned to the Maritime Forces Pacific
Maritime Forces Pacific
In the Canadian Forces, Maritime Forces Pacific is responsible for the fleet and operations of the Royal Canadian Navy in the Pacific Ocean...
(MARPAC), and she has her home port at the Canadian Forces Maritime Base at Esquimalt
CFB Esquimalt
Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt is Canada's Pacific Coast naval base and home port to Maritime Forces Pacific and Joint Task Force Pacific Headquarters....
.
Service
HMCS Winnipeg serves on Canadian ForcesCanadian 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."...
MARPAC missions protecting Canada's sovereignty in the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
and the Arctic Ocean
Arctic Ocean
The Arctic Ocean, located in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Arctic north polar region, is the smallest and shallowest of the world's five major oceanic divisions...
and in enforcing Canadian laws on its territorial oceans 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...
. HMCS Winnipeg has been deployed on missions throughout the Pacific, and also 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 on anti-terrorism operations in 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 the 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...
, and counter-piracy
Piracy
Piracy is an act of robbery or criminal violence at sea. The term can include acts committed on land, in the air, or in other major bodies of water or on a shore. It does not normally include crimes committed against persons traveling on the same vessel as the perpetrator...
operations off the coast of Somalia
Piracy in Somalia
Piracy off the coast of Somalia has been a threat to international shipping since the second phase of the Somali Civil War in the early 21st century...
. The Winnipeg is also providing an escort to United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
ships carrying famine
Famine
A famine is a widespread scarcity of food, caused by several factors including crop failure, overpopulation, or government policies. This phenomenon is usually accompanied or followed by regional malnutrition, starvation, epidemic, and increased mortality. Every continent in the world has...
, plague, and overpopulation relief supplies to East Africa
East Africa
East Africa or Eastern Africa is the easterly region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. In the UN scheme of geographic regions, 19 territories constitute Eastern Africa:...
.
External links
- Canadian Forces HMCS Winnipeg (FFH 338) official website
- Globe & Mail, "HCMS Winnipeg thwarts suspected pirates", April 4 2009
- CNN, "HCMS Winnipeg thwarts suspected pirates", April 19 2009
- BBC, "NATO foils Somali pirates' Attack" April 19 2009