HMCS Harry DeWolf - Part 1

The second big event of the week was the arrival of Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Harry DeWolf.  The Harry DeWolf is the first of six Arctic Offshore Patrol Ships (AOPSs) for the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN).  As the class name suggests, the ships are for patrolling and asserting Canada’s sovereignty in the Arctic. 

The second ship, Margaret Brooke, is currently undergoing sea trials, and the third ship, Max Bernays, has been launched, but is being fitted out with equipment.  The fourth & fifth ships, William Hall & Frederick Rolette, are under construction, while construction on the sixth ship, Robert Hampton Gray, has yet to begin.  The ships are modeled on the Norwegian NoCGV Svalbard, a coast guard icebreaker.  Speaking of the coast guard, I think the Canadian Coast Guard will also receive two ships based on the same design. 

There are six regions of Inuit Nunangat: Qikiqtani, Kitikmeot, Kivalliq, Inuvialuit, Nunavik, and Nunatsiavut.  Each region will have a designated AOPS.  The Harry DeWolf is assigned to the Qikiqtani region where Arctic Bay is located.  The Qikiqtani region is quite large, with 13 communities, but I’m still betting the vessel will be able to visit all of them during the brief summer months when the waterways are open to shipping.   

The vessel is named after Vice Admiral Harry DeWolf, a Canadian naval officer, who commanded HMCS Haida during the Second World War.  Under his command, Haida sank 14 enemy ships in over a year, earning the ship the nickname, “the Fightingest Ship in the Canadian Navy.” 

The ship began its inaugural deployment on August 3.  It will participate in Operation Nanook and then sail the entire Northwest Passage.  Its journey will continue through the Bering Strait, all the way down to the Panama Canal.  The ship will use the canal to enter the Atlantic Ocean and then sail north, returning to Halifax before the end of the year.  The last time a Canadian naval vessel circumnavigated North America was HMCS Labrador in 1954.  The Canadian government is showing off its new “toy” to the world. 

HMCS Harry DeWolf arrived on August 24 at around 5:30pm.  I happened to be walking home from school when I saw the vessel peeking around the corner of Uluksan Point.  I walked down to the breakwater pier to get some long-distance photographs.  Two military soldiers were already there, waiting for the arrival of a Multi-Role Rescue Boat (MRRB).  The soldiers arrived ahead of time to coordinate the ship’s arrival.  I introduced myself as the commanding officer of the local army cadet corps and asked if they knew about the tour that had been organized between myself & the ship’s captain?  They said they did and instructed me to have my cadets assembled at the breakwater pier on the morning of August 26.  (More on that coming up). 

The MRRB appeared from behind the Harry DeWolf and began driving towards the shoreline.  Two Inuit boys helped signal the boat with their hands to come ashore on the other side of the breakwater pier.  The driver saw the signals and complied.  There were four sailors on the MRRB.  A small crowd of people and a stray dog assembled on the shoreline to greet the sailors.  One of them jumped into the water and waded ashore to see the depth of the water.  I think he was determining the best place for the boat to pick up people and bring them to the ship on the 26^th.  The cadets won’t be the only people touring the new ship.  The Harry DeWolf continued sailing into the bay and anchored itself in the centre.

Seven crewmembers visited Inuujaq School on August 25.  They came bearing gifts of backpacks filled with school supplies for the Grade 4 class.  I wasn’t present in the classroom, but my camera was borrowed for a group photograph.  The students appreciated the gifts.

I took more pictures of the AOPS in the bay after school.  The ship looks impressive from a distance.

August 25 also happened to be the first day of cadets.  I used the opportunity to brief the chosen cadets on what to expect the following morning regarding the tour of the AOPS.  The cadets would be allowed to wear civilian clothing while I would wear my CADPAT combat uniform.  We all had to comply with the rules of the ship and not get separated from the group.  I also stressed that no one be late because we would be the first group on the visitors’ list.

I woke up on the morning of August 26^th, excited to be visiting the RCN’s latest & newest vessel.  I put on my CADPAT combats and made sure my camera was packed.  I went to school first to drop off my backpack, and remind the main office where I would be all morning.  I would be back in the afternoon but would have to teach in my military uniform because I doubted there would be time to go home & change.

There was already a small crowd at the breakwater pier.  I met the officer-in-charge and formed up the cadets.  The most senior cadet took roll call.  A loading craft, different from the MRRB, arrived from the Harry DeWolf and lowered its ramp on the rocks of the breakwater pier.  Unfortunately, it couldn’t get close enough to shore.  We were given life jackets and then boarded the craft.  The ramp was raised and the boat slowly backed out.  We were on our way.

The ship slowly grew in size the closer we got.  This new class of ships is larger than a minesweeper, but smaller than a frigate.  We circled around and stopped next to a raised staircase.  The staircase was lowered once the loading craft was secured to the ship with ropes.  We ascended the stairs and removed our life jackets.  A senior officer introduced himself to me and led the cadets & I up to the flight deck.  The tour began.

                                                                    To Be Continued . . .