Arctic/Offshore Patrol Ship AOPS

[Underway]

Well we are always being told the AOPs is a non-combatant, so this is a good way to increase her effectiveness at minimal cost. The RN runs two sizes of helicopters as well and likley we are not getting anymore Cyclones.

UAV's for ice nav are likely the way to go. HDW used one of the crews personal high speed drones for that at one point just to test it out.

 

[Colin Parkinson]

UAV's for that will be great, but the helicopter will allow you to transfer people back and forth and sling supplies in great quantity than what most cargo UAV's are currently doing.

 

[Stoker]

UAV's for that will be great, but the helicopter will allow you to transfer people back and forth and sling supplies in great quantity than what most cargo UAV's are currently doing.

We really don't need to sling supplies and transfer people like a CCG ship such as crew changes. Yes there is utility such as SAR but not as much as you think.

 

[Colin Parkinson]

We really don't need to sling supplies and transfer people like a CCG ship such as crew changes. Yes there is utility such as SAR but not as much as you think.

I suspect as the support becomes more common, how and what you do in the North will change. You guys just got the AOP's and haven't even really pushed the limits of what you can do up there with them. Having a helicopter aboard is going to change the way you do things.

 

[Stoker]

I suspect as the support becomes more common, how and what you do in the North will change. You guys just got the AOP's and haven't even really pushed the limits of what you can do up there with them. Having a helicopter aboard is going to change the way you do things.

Perhaps, but please don't forget the RCN been operating helos off ships way before the CCG did and in utility roles and not just ASW. In fact we pioneered it in the Arctic. From what I gather having a CCG helo is not going to happen all the time either.

 

[SeaKingTacco]

I suspect as the support becomes more common, how and what you do in the North will change. You guys just got the AOP's and haven't even really pushed the limits of what you can do up there with them. Having a helicopter aboard is going to change the way you do things.

I have spoken with the head of the CCG rotary wing program. They are not planning a bunch of change in the short term with how they operate off ships. In the longer term, they would like a bigger helicopter to operate off the new Polar Icebreakers, but are mindful that bigger/more complex eats more bunk space.

 

[Stoker]

New artwork for HMCS Harry DeWolf. She just got back today from refit at Davie.

 

[DBNSG]

New artwork for HMCS Harry DeWolf. She just got back today from refit at Davie.
View attachment 100311

That Narwhal is cool.
How did the shake down trip go from Quebec City? Everything working?

 

[Stoker]

That Narwhal is cool.
How did the shake down trip go from Quebec City? Everything working?

I was at the yard but didn't sail back with them. Davie is a big eye opener. Very run down operation which was surprising. Considering the ship was delayed months by the yard its a miracle they made it back to Halifax in one piece. They now go into another long work period. Lots of lessons learned reactivating the ship that will apply to the next AOPV that goes there.