HMCS Chicoutimi (SSK-879)

History

HMCS Chicoutimi (SSK-879) serves the modern Royal Canadian Navy as a diesel-electric attack submarine. The service consists of four ships, all centred on the Victoria class, which was refurbished from the former Supporter class of the Royal Navy. Hence, HMCS Chicoutimi was a supporter of HMS in her past life (1990-1994).

In the post-Cold War era, the Royal Navy abandoned her for budgetary reasons.

Chicoutimi was acquired by the British government in 1998 and commissioned to the Royal Canadian Navy on 3 September 2015, hull identification number SSK-879. She fights under the motto "Maitre du Domaine" and remains on active duty as if writing this article (December 2017).

The ship displaces 2,300 tons when surfaced and 2,540 tons when underwater. The overall length is 230.6 feet, the beam is 23.6 feet, and the draft is 24.10 feet.

The diesel-electric propulsion scheme consists of 2 Paxman Valenta 1600 RPZ SZ marine diesel engines producing 2,035 hp, with 1 GEC electric motor driven on a single shaft aft. The surface speed can reach 12 knots, the underwater speed can reach 20 knots, and the range can reach 8000 nautical miles.

There are 48 crew members on board. The bow sonar is equipped with a Type 2040 active-passive system. The flanking sonar unit is a 2007 model. The tow assembly is type 2046/CANTASS MOD. Fire control is handled by the Lockheed Martin Librascope SFCS mk 1 Mod C Suite.

Kelvin Hughes Model 1007 is suitable for radar.

The armament consists of 6 x 21" (533 mm) torpedo tubes and 18-round loading (Mark 48 torpedo series).

The boat has a sleek bow with the sails directly in front of the center of the boat. The dive plane was mounted on the fuselage close to the bow, with horizontal stabilizers arranged in a cross.

Several modifications were made when HMS Upholder was handed over to the Canadians. One of them involves the complete elimination of the Harpoon anti-ship missile capability as well as the mine-laying capability. Lockheed Martin's Librascope system has been installed for fire control (FC), with added support for the Mark 48 torpedo.

Both the Electronic Warfare (EW) suite and the communications suite have been upgraded to Canadian Navy standard. In addition, structural repairs are required before it can be handed over to the Canadians.

During a transport in 2004, a fire on the ship left her powerless on the ground off the coast of Ireland. She was eventually dragged into the port for repairs and found her way to Halifax. Further work took place in 2005 and the vessel was finally handed over in 2009.

Work was completed in early 2014 and sea trials will begin by the end of the year. It was subsequently put into operation in September 2015.

Chicoutimi's career has been fraught with problems. Accidents occurred in 2015 and 2017, and she had to go to the dock for maintenance work. In June 2017, while trying to leave the shipyard, she came across the patrol boat Cougar.

Due to ongoing problems with the unit, Victoria's battery pack was installed at Chicoutimi.

Specification

Basic

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Dimensions

Weight

Performance

Performance

Armor

Wing