List of current ships of the Royal Canadian Navy

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Template:Short description Template:Use Canadian English Template:Use dmy dates

Canadian Naval Ensign since 2013

The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) is tasked to provide maritime security along the Pacific, Atlantic and Arctic coasts of Canada, exercise Canada's sovereignty over the Arctic archipelago, and support Canada's multi-national and bilateral interests overseas. It comprises the Pacific Fleet at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Esquimalt, and the Atlantic Fleet at CFB Halifax. Officially, CFB Esquimalt is on Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, and is home to 15 vessels and 6,000 staff, the headquarters for Maritime Forces Pacific, His Majesty's Canadian (HMC) Dockyard Esquimalt, Fleet Maintenance Facility – Cape Breton (FMF-CB), Fire Fighting and Damage Control School, the Naval Officer Training Centre (NOTC Venture), and extensive housing. CFB Halifax is home port for the 18 vessels of the Canadian Atlantic Fleet and situated in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Officially, CFB Halifax employs 7,000 civilians and military staff, and hosts the Canadian Atlantic Fleet headquarters, HMC Dockyard Halifax, FMF Cape Scott, extensive maritime research facilities, an ammunition depot, and the four maritime squadrons of the Royal Canadian Air Force that deploy helicopters aboard ships.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite encyclopedia</ref> The Canadian Armed Forces are currently constructing a new naval facility at Nanisivik, Baffin Island, to provide a summer port for RCN patrols in the Canadian Arctic.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

The "effective strength" of the RCN is somewhat lower than official numbers would suggest due to serious personnel shortages. In late 2023, the commander of the RCN, Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee, reported that only 6,226 naval personnel could be considered part of the "effective strength" of the RCN, making numerous ships in the RCN inactive due to both crew shortages and broader operational readiness issues.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In late 2025, Vice-Admiral Topshee stated that the Navy's personnel problem had not been solved and remained dire,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> while the Auditor General of Canada reported deeper systemic problems with Canadian military recruitment.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In early 2024 it was reported that 54 percent of the navy's frigates, submarines, arctic and offshore patrol ships, and maritime coastal defence vessels were considered "unserviceable".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

With the loss of area air defence capabilities in 2015 (and, temporarily, at-sea replenishment capabilities), the RCN was, at that time, classified as a Rank 5 navy (offshore regional coastal defence) on the Todd-Lindberg navy classification system, dropping from Rank 3 (multiregional power projection).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Commissioned vessels are designated as 'His Majesty's Canadian Ship' (HMCS), minor ships as 'Patrol Craft Training' (PCT) and auxiliaries as 'Canadian Forces Auxiliary Vessel' (CFAV).<ref name=":6">Template:Cite web</ref>

Submarines

HMCS Corner Brook entering St. John's harbour, Newfoundland

The Victoria class are British-built diesel-electric fleet submarines designed in the late 1970s to supplement the Royal Navy's nuclear submarine force. They were decommissioned at the end of the Cold War. In 1998, Canada purchased the submarines to replace the aging Template:Sclasss. Refit for Canadian service included the removal of sub-Harpoon missile firing and mine-laying capabilities, installation of torpedo launch systems and upgrades to weapons and fire control systems. Each vessel holds 53 crew.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Class Boat Pennant Armament Displacement Propulsion Service
Builder Laid down Commissioned Fleet
Template:Sclass Template:HMCS SSK 876
  • 2,220 t surfaced
  • 2,439 t submerged
 Cammell Laird 12 August 1987 December 2000 Pacific
Template:HMCS SSK 877 13 March 1990 October 2003 Atlantic
Template:HMCS SSK 878 10 January 1989 March 2003 Pacific
Template:HMCS SSK 879
  • 2,296 t surfaced
  • 2,540 t submerged
 Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering February 1983 September 2015 Pacific

Template:Clear

Frigates

HMCS Fredericton, a Halifax-class frigate

The Template:Sclasss are multi-role vessels with anti-submarine, anti-aircraft and anti-ship capability. In response to recent global security interests, the role of the class has shifted from open ocean to littoral engagement. Innovations in operational tactics have allowed the vessels of this class to adapt to new asymmetric surface threats. To ensure effective long-term capacity in this new threat environment the ships underwent a refit, including passive and active weapons, radars, and new combat architecture to meet the modern requirements. As of 2018, all twelve ships had been refitted. Each holds a complement of 225 officers and crew. All ships of the class are named after major Canadian cities.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Class Ship Pennant Armament Displacement Propulsion Service
Builder Laid down Commissioned Fleet
Template:Sclass Template:HMCS FFH 330
  • 3,995 t (light)
  • 4,795 t (operational)
  • 5,032 t (deep load)
 Saint John Shipbuilding 19 March 1987 29 June 1992 Atlantic
Template:HMCS FFH 331 Saint John Shipbuilding 19 May 1988 23 August 1993 Pacific
Template:HMCS FFH 332 Davie Shipbuilding 16 December 1988 14 July 1994 Atlantic
Template:HMCS FFH 333 Saint John Shipbuilding 22 April 1989 29 July 1993 Atlantic
Template:HMCS FFH 334 Davie Shipbuilding 6 October 1989 29 December 1993 Pacific
Template:HMCS FFH 335 Davie Shipbuilding 15 June 1991 12 May 1995 Pacific
Template:HMCS FFH 336 Saint John Shipbuilding 8 February 1991 21 July 1994 Atlantic
Template:HMCS FFH 337 Saint John Shipbuilding 25 April 1992 10 September 1994 Atlantic
Template:HMCS FFH 338 Saint John Shipbuilding 20 March 1993 23 June 1995 Pacific
Template:HMCS FFH 339 Saint John Shipbuilding 18 December 1993 9 September 1995 Atlantic
Template:HMCS FFH 340 Saint John Shipbuilding 24 August 1994 16 June 1996 Atlantic
Template:HMCS FFH 341 Saint John Shipbuilding 29 April 1995 28 September 1996 Pacific

Offshore patrol ships

HMCS Harry DeWolf under construction, May 2018

The Template:Sclasss are warships from the Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship (AOPS) procurement project, part of the National Shipbuilding Strategy. In July 2007 the federal government announced plans for acquiring six to eight icebreaking warships for the RCN. The class is based on the Norwegian Coast Guard ship Template:Ship, and is named after Vice Admiral Harry DeWolf. The class is equipped with a hangar and flight deck and can operate the Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone. The ships can deploy with multiple payloads, including shipping containers, underwater survey equipment or landing craft and have a Template:Convert crane for loading and unloading. They are for use in the Arctic regions of Canada for patrol and support within Canada's exclusive economic zone.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="aops2">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="dw1">Template:Cite web</ref>

Class Ship Pennant Armament Displacement Propulsion Service
Builder Laid down Commissioned Fleet
Template:Sclass Template:HMCS AOPV 430 6615 t
  • Diesel-electric
  • 2 shafts
  • 2 × 4.5 MW (6,000 hp)
 Irving Shipbuilding 11 March 2016 26 June 2021<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Atlantic
Template:HMCS AOPV 431 29 May 2017 28 October 2022<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> Atlantic
Template:HMCS AOPV 432 5 December 2018 3 May 2024 Pacific
Template:HMCS AOPV 433 17 February 2021 16 May 2024 Atlantic
Template:HMCS AOPV 433 29 June 2022 13 June 2025 Atlantic

Maritime coastal defence vessels

HMCS Nanaimo and HMCS Saskatoon, two Kingston-class maritime coastal defence vessels

The Template:Sclasss are multi-role vessels built and launched from the mid- to late-1990s and are crewed by a combination of Naval Reserve and Regular-Force personnel. Each vessel displaces 970 t and runs with a complement of between 31 and 47 officers and crew. Their main missions are counter narcotics, coastal surveillance, sovereignty patrol, route survey, and training. The ships' capabilities include a mechanical minesweeping system, a route survey system, and a bottom object inspection vehicle.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Class Ship Pennant Armament Displacement Propulsion Service
Builder Laid down Commissioned Fleet
Template:Sclass Template:HMCS MM 702 970 t
  • 2 × Jeumont DC electric motors
  • 4 × 600 V AC Wärtsilä SACM V12 diesel alternators
 Halifax Shipyards 11 August 1995 10 May 1997 Atlantic
Template:HMCS MM 703 8 December 1995 21 June 1997 Atlantic
Template:HMCS MM 706 7 November 1996 18 April 1998 Atlantic
Template:HMCS MM 708 31 May 1997 12 July 1998 Atlantic

Patrol and training vessels

Wolf

Template:Sclasss are primarily used for one-to-six-week long 'at sea' naval officer training. Regular force boatswains, engineers and naval communicators serve in these ships to train junior officers and non-commissioned sailors. They also patrol coastal waters for pollution infractions and fishing violations, and are frequently tasked for search and rescue operations. They operate year-round in the coastal waters of British Columbia.<ref name="DieselProgress">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Class Ship Pennant Armament Displacement Propulsion Service
Builder Accepted Fleet
Template:Sclass Orca PCT 55 Unarmed (fitted for but not with M2 machine gun) 210 t 2 × Caterpillar 3516B diesel engines, Template:Cvt each Victoria Shipyards 9 November 2006 Pacific
Raven PCT 56 15 March 2007
Caribou PCT 57 31 July 2007
Renard PCT 58 13 September 2007
Wolf PCT 59 29 November 2007
Grizzly PCT 60 19 March 2008
Cougar PCT 61 2 October 2008
Moose PCT 62 27 November 2008


Support and auxiliary vessels

MV Asterix arrives at Pearl Harbor, June 2018

Interim auxiliary replenishment vessel

Sail training ships

HMCS Oriole is the oldest commissioned ship in the navy.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
  • Template:HMCS (KC 480)
  • HMSTV Goldcrest (KC 2355)
  • HMSTV Tuna (KC 2372)
  • HMSTV Osprey (CAN 4510)
  • HMSTV Eagle (CAN 4511)

Torpedo and sound ranging vessels

  • CFAV Sikanni (YTP 611)
  • CFAV Stikine (YTP 613)

Yard diving tenders

  • Unnamed (YDT 11)
  • CFAV Granby (YDT 12)
  • CFAV Tonnerre (YDT 21)
  • CFAV Sechelt (YDT 610)
  • CFAV Sooke (YDT 612)

Fireboat

Tugboats

Template:Columns-list

Yard auxiliary general

  • CFAV Pelican (YAG 4)
  • CFAV Gemini (YAG 650)
  • CFAV Pegasus (YAG 651)
  • CFAV Albatross (YAG 661)
  • CFAV Black Duck (YAG 660)

Template:Clear

Development and procurement

The National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy will invest more than $60 billion into the development of Arctic capable patrol vessels, frigate-class surface warships, and long-range auxiliary supply vessels. Delivery has been initiated on a class of six Harry DeWolf-class vessels under the Arctic Patrol Ship Project (AOPS).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Submarines

Canada has been encouraged to invest in new submarines.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In July 2024, Canada launched the process to acquire up to 12 conventional attack submarines.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref>

Potential suppliers:

  • Germany and Norway offered to Canada a collaboration on the Arctic defence and the Type 212CD submarine.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Canada signed a letter of intent to establish a maritime partnership, but it does not commit Canada to the purchase of the Type 212CD.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref>
  • South Korea approached Canada to supply its KSS-III submarine to Canada.<ref name=":0" />
  • Sweden with Saab expressed interest in participating to a potential competition.<ref name=":0" />

In August 2025 the Canadian government shortlisted the German/Norwegian Type 212CD and the South Korean KSS-III.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref>

Destroyers

Canada will acquire up to 15 new warships via the Template:Sclass2 program. The program entered the test module construction phase in 2024, when the first three ships were ordered. In June 2025, the River-class entered full-rate production.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The RCN has upgraded all current frigates with advanced systems and life extension maintenance to maximize operational capability into the 2030s.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Corvettes

The Kingston-class vessels will be retired beginning in late 2025. The RCN's early planning for a replacement was a similar patrol vessel which would alleviate some of the Kingston class limitations in areas such as speed, seakeeping and armament. As of 2025, the RCN plans to build corvettes under a project called the Continental Defence Corvette. These proposed ships will be larger than the Kingston class, have upgraded armament and an ice-strengthened hull to allow operations near ice edge in the Arctic.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Auxiliary fleet

Supply ship

EGV Berlin
The new Protecteur class of ships will be based on the German Template:Sclass

Two new Template:Sclasss are under construction, intended to complement Asterix.<ref name="IHSJanes">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Glossary

Displacement Ship displacement at full load
Propulsion Number of shafts, type of propulsion system, and top speed generated
Service The dates work began and finished on the ship and its ultimate fate
Laid down The date the keel began to be assembled
Launched The date the ship was launched

See also

References

Template:Reflist

Bibliography and further reading

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Template:Refend

Template:Royal Canadian Navy Template:Canadian Armed Forces Template:Evolution of the Military of Canada

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