The Victoria-class submarine fleet continues to progress towards a steady state, in which three of four submarines will be available for operations, which is anticipated to occur in late 2014.  One of the submarines will be cycling through its extended maintenance period at all times. The following table provides a general overview of the current status of Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) Victoria-class submarines:

(See footnote at the bottom of the document)

The Submarine Operational Cycle

Generally speaking, Canadian submarines will operate in a cycle in which each boat will be operating for six years, referred to as the “operational period”, and followed by two years in deep maintenance referred to as the Extended Docking Work Period (EDWP).

The operational period refers to a period of six years, divided into ten successive 34-week operating cycles. Each operating cycle begins with a one-week Submarine Maintenance Period (SMP) that is devoted to preparing the submarine for sea; this includes training, fuelling and ammunitioning.  An Assisted Maintenance Period (AMP) is scheduled half-way through an operating cycle to allow the crew, supported from ashore, to conduct planned maintenance. The operating cycle concludes with a Short Work Period (SWP) of seven weeks. In other terms, the operational period refers to a cycle of activities that can range from sea trials, repairs, scheduled and corrective maintenance conducted outside of an extended docking work period, training, weapons firing and other activities through to full operations. During this period, a Victoria-class submarine can be at various levels of readiness to conduct operations on behalf of Canada.

The EDWP is a deep maintenance period conducted by industry, analogous to a ship’s refit. A submarine in EDWP is crewed during the last six months of the maintenance period to prepare the submarine for return to fleet service. The EDWP provides the submarines’ 200-plus systems with the maintenance and upgrades necessary to ensure continued safety and relevance of the platform in the conduct of operations, as directed by the Government of Canada.

Status of Individual Submarines

HMCS Victoria

HMCS Victoria was declared fully operational in 2012 and is approaching the halfway point of its current 6-year operational cycle. Since then, HMCS Victoria has participated in various advanced international exercises such as the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) and SINKEX success. These activities have demonstrated the modern unique capabilities of the Victoria-class submarine while providing anti-submarine training for Canadian and international maritime vessels.

The cost of the EDWP refit for HMCS Victoria was approximately $200 million.

HMCS Windsor

In December 2012, HMCS Windsor completed its EDWP at the Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Scott in Halifax, N.S. and began its 6-year operational cycle. During sea trials, it was identified that one of HMCS Windsor’s generators experienced technical difficulties and would have to be replaced. In March 2014, HMCS Windsor was docked to allow crews to begin removing the defective generator, installing the replacement generator, and testing systems upon completion.  This work is being done concurrently with normally scheduled maintenance to minimize the impact of the repair effort and return Windsor to operations as soon as possible.

The current work period will be leveraged to accelerate the planned upgrade of the submarine’s sonar processors with state-of-the-art bow sonar system equipment that was previously planned to be installed later in 2016. To date, HMCS Windsor exercised with multi-national surface fleet assets in addition to Allied submarines proving an exceedingly capable submarine. HMCS Windsor also participated in key bi-national exercises focused on continental defence. She is expected to return to sea in late 2014.

The cost of the EDWP refit for HMCS Windsor was approximately $209 million.

HMCS Chicoutimi

HMCS Chicoutimi was undocked in November 2013, with its maintenance being conducted by Babcock Canada at Victoria Shipyards Co. Ltd. in Esquimalt, B.C. Chicoutimi successfully conducted a camber dive in April 2014, another key milestone as the submarine nears the end of her EDWP.  This is the first EDWP conducted by industry under the Victoria In-service Support Contract.

This contract highlights a key strategic knowledge sharing initiative and partnership between the RCN and industry. HMCS Chicoutimi is now preparing to return to sea and commence sea trials as part of its tiered readiness program. This program will certify the crew and all engineering systems, with the aim of having the submarine available for participation in a multi-national exercise planned for fall 2014.

The cost of the EDWP refit for HMCS Chicoutimi is still being finalized.

HMCS Corner Brook

HMCS Corner Brook will enter its EDWP at Victoria Shipyards Co. Ltd., in Esquimalt, B.C. in July 2014. Under the Victoria In-service Support Contract, Babcock Canada Inc will conduct the comprehensive maintenance, overhaul and upgrading activities typical of these deep-maintenance periods, as well as repair damage HMCS Corner Brook incurred when it ran aground in 2011. These repairs include the straightforward replacement of some external material and a fiberglass bow dome. HMCS Corner Brook is scheduled to remain in an extended docking work period until 2017.

The cost of the EDWP refit for HMCS Corner Brook will be available when the refit is complete.

Canadian Submarine Fleet: A Strategic Asset for Canada

The Victoria-class Submarine fleet is an important strategic asset for Canada. Submarines are stealthy, lethal and persistent, making them ideal for surveillance and intelligence gathering.  They enjoy unparalleled freedom of action and independence to act at a time and place of the Government’s choosing.  In an emerging crisis, their presence can shape regional decision-making profoundly and, should deterrence fail, their lethality can contribute decisively to combat operations, both in defending surface forces and placing opposing forces at peril.

The versatility of these submarines is unmatched, allowing them to operate in any weather condition for periods of up to 60 days, and perform in a variety of roles to fulfill Canada’s vision of having a balanced, multi-purpose and combat effective naval fleet. They fill a wide array of naval roles, including fisheries patrols; surveillance of all three oceans; support to maritime law enforcement and other governmental departments; maintenance of fleet skills; bilateral engagement with our continental defence partner; participation in NATO exercises; and deterrence of terrorists, smugglers and polluters.

Success in maritime operations requires an ability to have control above, on and below the surface of the sea.  This success requires balanced maritime forces; and without submarines, the effectiveness of Canada’s other maritime assets would be diminished.  No other asset in the Canadian Forces (CF) can rival the sheer deterrent impact of submarines. As a result of their unrivalled stealth, persistence, and lethality, the mere possibility that a submarine is operating undetected can alter the entire nature of a theatre of operations.

Canadian submarines are an important element of Canada’s strategic relationship with the United States.  Canada participates in a global “water space management” regime which key allied submarine operators use for the prevention of mutual interference.  As a member of the “sub club,” Canada gains privileged access to intelligence that would otherwise be beyond its means to attain.

Canada’s Victoria-class submarine fleet has actively sailed since 2003. The submarines participated in exercises at home and overseas during this time, patrolling our coastal areas – including the Arctic – and participating in international operations such as Op CARIBBE, Canada’s participation in the multinational campaign against transnational organized crime by combating illicit trafficking in the Caribbean basin and the eastern Pacific Ocean.

Highlights of the Victoria-class achievements are as follows:

• HMCS Victoria fired the first RCN Mk48 heavyweight warshot torpedo sinking the decommissioned United States Navy ex-USNS CONCORD during the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise in July 2012. This event was a clear visible indication of the lethality of the Victoria Class weapon capability. Since 2012 Victoria has participated in various international exercises which included working with Special Forces during JOINT Exercise 2013 and various bi-national continental defence exercises. In addition,Victoria conducted the third Victoria Class submarine deployment as part of Operation Caribbe, a US-led, multi-national effort to interdict drug trafficking in the waters of the Caribbean Basin and the Eastern Pacific.
• HMCS Windsor sailed from June 2005 to December 2006 and spent 146 days at sea in 2006 alone. The boat participated in a number of large Canada/U.S. exercises; advanced and improved special operations forces capabilities and trained with Canadian ships in essential warfare skills. Windsor participated in the first-ever parachute rendezvous at sea practiced with Canada's Patrol Pathfinders (Canadian Army paratroopers). The boat also conducted several sovereignty patrols off Canada's east coast for intelligence-gathering, surveillance and reconnaissance. Since the end of her last deep maintenance period in 2012, Windsor has spent a total of 174 days at sea.
• HMCS Corner Brook participated in various NATO and Canada/U.S. exercises, where it received high praise for its contribution as a simulated enemy in order to assist in the training of NATO and U.S. surface and air forces. Corner Brook deployed to the Arctic in support of Operation NANOOK in August 2007 and again in August 2009, where it participated in a counter-narcotics exercise and conducted covert surveillance patrols in the vicinity of Baffin Island. In March 2008 and again in 2011, the boat also deployed as part of Operation Caribbe.

Victoria Class Personnel Requirements

As of April 2014, there are 245 positions filled by qualified submariners and there are currently 60 sailors at various stages of their training within the Canadian Submarine Force establishment. This is comprised of positions ashore as well as the crews of the submarines.

Canadian Armed Forces members are considered to be trained submariners when they have passed the Basic Submarine Course, completed the at-sea consolidation phase and passed an individual qualification board. Upon completion, submariners receive the qualification badge known as “Dolphins” to signify that they now hold the Submarine Qualification.

Victoria In-Service Support Contract (VISSC)

Submarines are amongst the world’s most highly complex machines that operate in an unforgiving environment. This necessitates a highly rigorous material certification process to assure the safety of the crew and the submarine. This material certification is achieved through a time-based maintenance cycle which forms an essential element of the operational cycle of any class of submarine.

In 2008, Canada’s Treasury Board approved the expenditure of up to a maximum of $1.5 billion over a period of up to 15 years for the in-service support for the Victoria-class submarines. The Victoria In-Service Support Contract (VISSC) was awarded competitively to the Canadian Submarine Management Group, now renamed Babcock Canada Inc.

All Victoria-class extended docking work periods performed during the term of this contract, commencing with HMCS Chicoutimi, are funded and managed through the VISSC. In June 2013, the Government of Canada exercised the first five-year extension option of this maintenance support contract, worth $531 million.