HMCS William Hall

HMCS William Hall (AOPV 433).^[11] is the fourth Harry DeWolf-class offshore patrol vessel for the Royal Canadian Navy. The class was derived from the Arctic Offshore Patrol Ship project as part of the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy and is primarily designed for the patrol and support of Canada's Arctic regions. Named after Quartermaster William Nelson Edward Hall,^[12] who was the first African Canadian to receive the Victoria Cross. He received the medal for his actions in the 1857 Siege of Lucknow during the Indian Rebellion.

HMCS William Hall under construction in Halifax, Canada
History
Canada
Name	William Hall
Namesake	William Hall
Builder	Irving Shipbuilding, Halifax, Nova Scotia
Laid down	17 February 2021
Launched	27 November 2022
Completed	31 August 2023[1]
Commissioned	16 May 2024[2]
Identification	Hull number: AOPV 433 IMO number: 4702539 Call sign: CGWH
Motto	Nec timemus nec vacillamus (Latin for 'We do not fear or falter')[3]
Status	In service
General characteristics
Type	Harry DeWolf-class offshore patrol vessel
Displacement	6,615 t (6,511 long tons)
Length	103.6 m (339 ft 11 in)
Beam	19.0 m (62 ft 4 in)
Draught	5.7 m (18 ft 8 in)[4]
Ice class	Polar Class 5
Installed power	4 × MAN 6L32/44CR (4 × 3.6 MW)[4]
Propulsion	Diesel-electric Two shafts (2 × 4.5 MW)[5] Bow thruster[6]
Speed	17 kn (31 km/h; 20 mph) (open water) 3 kn (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph) in 1 m (3 ft 3 in) ice[7]
Range	6,800 nmi (12,600 km; 7,800 mi) at 14 kn (26 km/h; 16 mph)[8]
Boats & landing craft carried	2 × 8.5 m (28 ft) multi-role rescue boats 12 m (39 ft) landing craft[9][10]
Complement	65
Armament	1 × BAE Mk 38 25 mm (0.98 in) gun 2 × M2 Browning machine gun
Aircraft carried	Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone or other helicopters/CU-176 Gargoyle UAV
Aviation facilities	Hangar and flight deck

Design and description

The Harry DeWolf-class offshore patrol vessels are designed for use in the Arctic regions of Canada for patrol and support within Canada's exclusive economic zone. The vessel is 103.6 m (339 ft 11 in) long overall with a beam of 19.0 m (62 ft 4 in). The ship will have a displacement of 6,615 metric tons (6,511 long tons). The ship has an enclosed foredeck that protects machinery and work spaces from Arctic climates. The vessel will be powered by a diesel-electric system composed of four 3.6-megawatt (4,800 hp) MAN 6L32/44CR^[4] four-stroke medium-speed diesel generators and two electric propulsion motors rated at 4.5 megawatts (6,000 hp) driving two shafts. William Hall will be capable of 17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph) in open water and 3 knots (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph) in 1-metre (3 ft 3 in) first-year sea ice. The ship will also be equipped with a bow thruster to aid during manoeuvres and docking procedures without requiring tugboat assistance. The ship will have a range of 6,800 nautical miles (12,600 km; 7,800 mi) and an endurance of 120 days with 65 personnel. William Hall will be equipped with fin stabilizers to decrease roll in open water but can be retracted during icebreaking.^[13][5][14]

William Hall will be able to deploy with multiple payloads, including shipping containers, underwater survey equipment or landing craft. Payload operations are aided by a 20-metric-ton (20-long-ton; 22-short-ton) crane for loading and unloading. The ship is equipped with a vehicle bay which can hold pickup trucks, all-terrain vehicles and snowmobiles. The ship will also have two 8.5-metre (27 ft 11 in) multi-role rescue boats capable of over 35 knots (65 km/h; 40 mph). The ship will be armed with one BAE Mk 38 25 mm (0.98 in) gun and two M2 Browning machine guns. The patrol ship has an onboard hangar and flight deck for helicopters up to the size of a Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone. William Hall will have a complement of 65 and accommodation for 85^[13][5][14] or 87.^[15]

Construction and career

The keel for William Hall was laid on 17 February 2021^[11] and the hull floated-out on 27 November 2022.^[16] The ship was formally named on 28 April 2023^[17] and began sea trials in July. On 31 August 2023, the Royal Canadian Navy took possession of William Hall to begin post-acceptance trials.^[1]

William Hall was in St. John’s Harbour during the first week of March 2024 while on cold weather training exercises.^[18] Post-delivery work on William Hall concluded early in 2024 and was followed by readiness training and operational test and evaluation activities assessing class-wide capabilities.^[19] The ship was commissioned on 16 May 2024 at Halifax.^[20]

References

1. "HMCS William Hall, Canada's Fourth Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship (AOPS) in the new DeWolf Class is Delivered to the Royal Canadian Navy" (Press release). Irving Shipbuilding. 31 August 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
2. "HMCS William Hall Commissioned into Service in Halifax, N.S." (Press release). Government of Canada. 16 May 2024. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
3. "HMCS William Hall". Governor General of Canada. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
4. "Harry DeWolf (4702503)". Sea-web. S&P Global. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
5. "Arctic/Offshore Patrol Ships". Royal Canadian Navy. January 2015. Archived from the original on 31 October 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
6. "Harry DeWolf class fact sheet". Government of Canada. 18 April 2024. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
7. "Royal Canadian Navy's OPV HMCS Max Bernays starts sea trials". Navy Recognition. 26 July 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
8. Malek, Aaron; Francis, Morgan (Fall 2022). "AOPS Concept of Operations" (PDF). Maritime Engineering Journal (102): 13. ISSN 0713-0058.
9. "Irving Shipbuilding Selects Rosborough Boats to supply Multi-Role Rescue Boats for AOPS vessels". Irving Shipbuilding. 13 March 2017. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
10. "ABCO Industries to Build 12m Landing Craft for Royal Canadian Navy". Baird Maritime. 17 October 2018. Archived from the original on 11 October 2019. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
11. "Official Keel Laying Ceremony At Halifax Shipyard For The Future HMCS William Hall, Canada'S Fourth Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship". J.D. Irving, Limited. Archived from the original on 24 October 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
12. "Name of HMCS William Hall announced | Arctic/Offshore Patrol Ship | Fleet & Units | Royal Canadian Navy". Royal Canadian Navy. 19 April 2013. Archived from the original on 22 October 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
13. Pugliese, David (16 January 2015). "Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships to be constructed in three "mega blocks"". Ottawa Citizen. Archived from the original on 31 October 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
14. "Harry DeWolf-class Arctic/Offshore Patrol Ship Factsheet" (PDF). Department of National Defence of Canada. January 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 October 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
15. "Largest Active Combat Ship Built in Canada - HMCS Harry Dewolf- Commissioned Today" (Press release). Irving Shipbuilding. 26 June 2021.
16. Sword, Pam (28 November 2022). "Photos: It's a bouncing baby patrol ship! Future HMCS William Hall launched in Halifax". Saltwire. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
17. "The Future HMCS William Hall Officially Named Today". Irving Shipbuilding. 28 April 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
18. Daley, Becky (5 March 2024). "Brand new navy ship visits St. John's Harbour". NTV. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
19. "2024 on the horizon –platforms". Our Navy Today. Vol. 7, no. 1. Government of Canada. 15 February 2024. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
20. Price, Melanie (16 May 2024). "HMCS William Hall commissioned in Halifax". CTV News. Retrieved 23 July 2024.