HMCS Fredericton (FFH 337)

For the World War II flower class corvette, see HMCS Fredericton (K245)

HMCS Fredericton (FFH 337)
Career (Canada)
Namesake:	Fredericton, New Brunswick
Builder:	Saint John Shipbuilding Ltd., Saint John
Laid down:	25 April 1992
Launched:	26 June 1993
Commissioned:	10 September 1994
Homeport:	CFB Halifax
Motto:	"Stalker of the Seas"
Nickname:	"The Freddie"
Honours and awards:	Atlantic, 1942–45
Fate:	Active in service
Badge:	Vert, a bend wavy argent charged with a like bendlet azure and overall a Bengal tiger prepared to leap.
General characteristics
Class and type:	Halifax-class frigate
Displacement:	3,995 tonnes (light) 4,795 tonnes (operational) 5,032 tonnes (deep load)
Length:	134.2 m (440 ft)
Beam:	16.5 m (54 ft)
Draught:	7.1 m (23 ft)
Propulsion:	2 × LM2500 Gas turbines 1 × SEMT Pielstick Diesel engine
Speed:	30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph)
Range:	9,500 nautical miles (17,600 km; 10,900 mi)
Complement:	225 (including air detachment)
Armament:	24 × Honeywell Mk 46 torpedoes 16 × Evolved Sea-Sparrow SAM 8 × RGM-84 Harpoon SSM 1 × 57 mm Bofors Mk2 gun 1 × 20 mm Vulcan Phalanx CIWS 6 × .50 Caliber machine guns
Aircraft carried:	1 × CH-124 Sea King

HMCS Fredericton (FFH 337) is a Halifax-class frigate that has served in the Canadian Forces since 1994. Fredericton is the eighth ship in her class which is based on the Canadian Patrol Frigate Project. She is the second vessel to carry the designation HMCS Fredericton.

Fredericton was laid down on 25 April 1992 at Saint John Shipbuilding Ltd., Saint John and launched on 26 June 1993. She was officially commissioned into the CF on 10 September 1994 and carries the hull classification symbol 337.

She is assigned to Maritime Forces Atlantic (MARLANT) and is homeported at CFB Halifax.

As of June 10, 2010, HMCS Fredericton has been commanded by Commander John Zorz and was previously commanded by Commander Steve Waddell.

Service

Fredericton serves on MARLANT missions protecting Canada's sovereignty in the Atlantic Ocean and enforcing Canadian laws in its territorial sea and Exclusive Economic Zone.

Fredericton 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.

Fredericton 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).

Fire

A fire broke out in the forward engine room of the frigate on May 6, 2009. The fire was suppressed within a few minutes and the ship made a brief stop at the home base of Halifax before being given the all-clear to return to sea.

Operation Saiph

HMCS Fredericton departed Halifax, N.S. on October 25, 2009 to commence her transit to the Gulf of Aden, northern Arabian Sea and Gulf of Oman. She integrated into Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1) in November 2009 and remained with SNMG1 until February 2010 conducting counter-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden and Somali Basin. Following a Rest and Maintenance Period (RAMP), Fredericton integrated into Combined Task Force 150 (CTF 150) to conduct counter-terror patrols in the Gulf of Aden and Gulf of Oman. The ship sailed from Halifax with a complement of approximately 250 officers and crew, including a CH-124 Sea King helicopter and air detachment. HMCS Fredericton returned home on May 4, 2010, the 100th Anniversary of the Canadian Navy.

Collision

On November 18, 2010, HMCS Fredericton “briefly came into contact” with USNS Kanawha during a replenishment-at-sea manoeuvre off the coast of Florida. There were no injuries, but both ships suffered “superficial” damage consisting of scrapes and dents on both hulls.

External links

• HMCS Fredericton (FFH 337) - official website