The final Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessel (AOPV) destined for the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) the future HMCS Robert Hampton Gray has successfully completed her sea trials.
As per a recent social media post from shipbuilder Irving, the AOPV has finished her final two days of at-sea testing and returned to port in Halifax ahead of her anticipated delivery to the RCN later this summer.
Launched in December 2024, the future HMCS Robert Hampton Gray is the sixth and final ship for the RCN delivered under the almost-C$5bn (£2.7 billion) programme; Irving delivered the first-in-class, HMCS Harry DeWolf, back in 2020. Irving is also currently building two slightly modified AOPVs for the Canadian Coast Guard.
The RCN’s AOPVs are 103 metres long, have a top speed of 17 knots, and a range of almost 7,000 nautical miles. They are capable of operating in first-year Arctic ice of up to 120-centimetre thickness, giving the RCN unescorted access to areas previously inaccessible to it.
Built in response to increasing competition and economic activity in Canada’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) along the Northwest Passage, they are capable of a wide range of missions including surveillance, anti-smuggling and anti-piracy, humanitarian assistance, emergency response and disaster relief, and search and rescue (SAR).
Depending on mission requirements, the class can accommodate a variety of aircraft including the Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone maritime helicopter. It can also embark 8.5-metre multi-role rescue boats with a top speed of over 35 knots to support rescues, personnel transfers, and boarding operations.
The ships are armed with a BAE Systems 25mm Mk 38 machine gun system featuring a M242 Bushmaster chain gun, and two M2 Browning machine guns.
- You can read more details about the AOPVs on the Canadian Government website.