Orca class patrol vessel

Patrol Craft Training Orca
Class overview
Name:	Orca class Patrol Craft Training
Builders:	Victoria Shipyards, Esquimalt, BC
Operators:	Royal Canadian Navy
Preceded by:	YAG 300
Cost:	C$90.7 million (entire project)
Built:	November 2004—October 2008
In service:	17 November 2006—Present
Completed:	8
Active:	8
General characteristics
Type:	Training tender and patrol boat
Displacement:	210 tons
Length:	33 m (108 ft)
Beam:	8.34 m (27.4 ft)
Draught:	2.6 m (8.5 ft)
Propulsion:	2 x Caterpillar 3516B diesel engines, 2,500 hp each at 1,600 rpm
Speed:	20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph)
Range:	660 nmi (1,220 km; 760 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement:	4 (minimum); 24 (maximum)
Armament:	None. Foredeck is strengthened to accept a 12.7 mm M2 machinegun.

The Orca class is a ship class of eight steel-hulled Royal Canadian Navy Training Tender. Based on the Australian-designed Pacific-class patrol boat, the Orca class was constructed by Victoria Shipyards between November 2004 and November 2008, at a total project cost of C$90.7 million. All are in service at CFB Esquimalt in British Columbia. They replaced the YAG 300 class and operate as training platforms and surveillance craft.

Design and construction

During the early 2000s, The Canadian Forces Maritime Command, (MARCOM) began searching for a replacement for the 1950s-era wooden-hulled YAG 300 class training tenders.^[1] Training aboard these outdated vessels while useful, was less relevant as MARCOM moved the initial training of ship operators to modern land-based simulators that more accurately replicated the conditions aboard the Navy's capital ships. On 8 November 2004, the Department of National Defence announced a C$69.7 million contract for six new ships, with an option for two more,^[1] for a total budget of C$90.7 million.^{[citation needed]}

The Orca class ships are based on the Australian training vessel Seahorse Mercator, itself a derivative of the Australian-designed Pacific class patrol boat.^[2] Each ship has a displacement of 210 tonnes, is 33 metres (108 ft) long,^[1] has a beam of 8.34 metres (27.4 ft), and a draught of 2.6 metres (8.5 ft).^{[citation needed]} To meet the training requirement, the Orcas are fitted with a larger-than-normal bridge and carry warship-grade navigational equipment.^[2]

The Orcas are capable of 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph), and have an endurance of 660 nautical miles (1,220 km; 760 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph).^[1][2] Propulsion is provided by two Caterpillar 3516B marine diesel engines, each rated for 2,500 horsepower at 1,600 revolutions per minute.^[2]

Orca

Each ship can be operated by a crew of four.^{[citation needed]} Accommodation consists of two two-bunk cabins for the crew (Captain, Executive Officer, Bos'n, Engineer) and four or six-bunk cabins for 20 instructors and trainees^[1] for a total of 24 bunks.

The eight tenders were constructed by Victoria Shipyards at Victoria, British Columbia.^[2] The first ship in the class, Orca, was laid down in September 2005, launched in August 2006, and delivered to MARCOM in November 2006.^[2] Delivery of subsequent vessels was set to occur every three months.^[2] The project was completed when the eighth vessel, Moose, was delivered on 27 November 2008.^{[citation needed]} The Orcas are not commissioned into service, so do not carry the HMCS ship prefix; instead, the prefix PCT (Patrol Craft Training) is carried.^{[citation needed]}

Employment

The Orca class are designated as "Patrol Craft Training".^[2] The craft are primarily used to facilitate the two-to-six-week long 'at sea' component of naval officer training.^[2] They are also used to train non-commissioned members and provide an at sea experience for the teenaged members of the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets.^[2] Orcas are vessels of opportunity for surveillance and search and rescue.^[2] They are all located at CFB Esquimalt.^{[citation needed]}

Two of the craft were temporarily fitted with .50-cal machine guns for port security during Op PODIUM the Canadian Forces' support of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics.^{[citation needed]}

Ships in class

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Orca class patrol vessels

Canadian Armed Forces portal

• DND/CF page on the Orca class vessels.
• DND/CF Backgrounder BG-04.038 detailing the purchase process behind the Orca class.
• Canadian American Strategic Review.
• CASR: Background — the Origins of the Orca Class Patrol Craft, Training.