Halifax Class Frigates, Canada
Saint John Shipbuilding Ltd is the prime contractor for the Halifax class frigate or Canadian Patrol Frigate programme. Nine of the twelve ships were constructed at the Saint John shipyards in Saint John, New Brunswick and three ships at Marine Industries Shipyards in Sorel. The multi-purpose frigates were commissioned between 1992 and 1997.

The Halifax-class Multi-Role Patrol Frigate (hull designation FFH) is a class of Canadian Navy frigates launched between 1992 and 1996 to replace the aging Restigouche-class fleet of Destroyer Escorts (DDEs).
HMCS Halifax

HMCS Halifax was the first of an eventual twelve Canadian-designed and Canadian-built guided missile helicopter-carrying frigates. They combine traditional anti-submarine capabilities with systems to deal with surface and air threats as well. The Halifax class are the work-horses of the Canadian Navy task group concept. All ships of the class are named after major Canadian cities, with at least one from each province (Ontario and Quebec, the most populous provinces, have two each). They are sometimes referred to as "City-class" vessels.

MISSILES

The ship's surface-to-surface missile is the Boeing Harpoon Block 1C. The two quadruple launch tubes are installed at the main deck level between the ship's funnel and the helicopter hangar. The Harpoon missile uses active radar homing to deliver a 227kg warhead to a range in excess of 130km.

The Sea Sparrow vertical launch surface-to-air missile uses semi-active radar homing to deliver a 39kg warhead at speed Mach 1.6 to a range of 15km. The eight-cell launchers are installed port and starboard of the funnel.

GUNS

The main gun on the bow deck is a 57mm 70 Mark 2 gun from Bofors. The gun is capable of firing 2.4kg shells at a rate of 220 rounds/min at a range of more than 17km.

One Raytheon/General Dynamics Phalanx Mark 15 Mod 1 close-in weapon system is mounted on the roof of the helicopter hangar. The six barrels of the Phalanx provide a firing rate of 3000 rounds/min. The Canadian Navy has ordered upgrade kits to convert to the Phalanx Block 1B. The Block 1B upgrade includes a Thales Optronics HDTI5-2F thermal imager, improved Ku-band radar and longer gun barrel with a dual firing rate of 3000 or 4500 rounds/min. Deliveries of the kits began in September 2002.

TORPEDOES

The ship's two twin 324mm Mark 32 Mod 9 torpedo tubes are installed at the bow end of the helicopter hangar. The torpedoes are the ATK (Alliant TechSystems) Mark 46 lightweight anti-submarine torpedo. The torpedo has a speed of 45 knots and is equipped with active and passive homing and a 44.5kg warhead. /p>