IROQUOIS Characteristics

HMCS Iroquois History & Characteristics (1972- Present)

Credit: DND/RCNA Peregrine HMCS IROQUOIS circa 1972-1992 (Pre-TRUMP)

     Built at Marine Industries Limited, Sorel Quebec, HMCS Iroquois, the first Warship of the new Tribal Class was launched on 28 Nov 1970 and commissioned 29 Jul 1972 by the late Mrs. Nora Michener, wife of the late Honorable Roland Michener. Her primary weapons were anti-submarine which included mortars, homing Torpedoes and two CH-124 Sea King helicopters, also armed with torpedoes. The Sea King is an all-weather aircraft which can operate continuously on sustained operation at speeds of up to 150 kts. For defence against air and surface threat, HMCS IROQUOIS was fitted with Canadian Sea Sparrow Point Defence Missile System and 5”54 calibre
gun. Both these systems were radar controlled.

     During her 16 ½ years of operation, prior to the Tribal Update and Modernization Program (TRUMP) conversion, HMCS IROQUOIS participated in more than 40 major exercises and 6 Standing Naval Force Atlantic Deployments. Many of the deployment were as Task Group flagship. She played an important role in our coastal defence where she took part in fishery patrols, drug interdictions and search and rescue missions highlighted by a rescue of 20 Korean crew members of the freighter HO MING 5, on Dec 4 1983. As a result of this daring rescue, 12 crew members of the IROQUOIS received the medal of bravery.  In all, HMCS IROQUOIS visited in excess of 90 ports, spent 1348 days at sea and steamed more than 385,000 miles (640,000 KM), the equivalent of 16 times around the world.

     Today, it is the task of the Navy for a warship at sea to be prepared to meet any threat, be it underwater, on the surface or in the air. In order to meet this requirement IROQUOIS has gone through a 3 year upgrading program. Modernized at MIL Davie at Lauzon, Quebec, IROQUOIS is now a more capable warship, capable of anti-submarine warfare in addition to providing group air defence and capable of Task Group Command and Control. As a result of the TRUMP conversion, HMCS IROQUOIS received its supportive area air defence capability through the installation of the vertically launched medium range surface-to-air standard missile system. Complementing this are the Oto Melara 76mm super rapid gun mount for surface and air self defence and the Phalanx 20mm Close-in Weapons System (CWIS) for anti-missile defence.

Credit:  MCpl Barber, Staff Photographer, Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 HMCS IROQUOIS circa 1992 - Present (Post-TRUMP).  Seen here in her role as Flagship of the Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 Fleet in the Fall of 2006.

     HMCS IROQUOIS maintained her anti-submarine capability utilizing sonar’s, torpedoes and two CH 124 Sea King helicopters. IROQUOIS’ twin helicopters are an extension of its fighting capabilities, carrying their own dipping sonar and torpedoes. They present a formidable threat to high-speed submarines of today. In order to combat any threat she may meet, this warship has been designed to operate under the most adverse conditions. She is insulated and air conditioned for the fighting efficiency and comfort of the crew. The ship can also be sealed against nuclear, biological or chemical attack, with the provision for re-circulation of air within the ship through air conditioning plants.

     Most functions of the ship, including the fully modernized navigation, culinary, air conditioning, operations and communications equipment and new integrated command and control computers depend upon electrical power. The electrical system needed to drive these and other complex electronics and more extensive than ever before. HMCS IROQUOIS’ generators can produce up to 3250 kilowatts, enough power to maintain a community of 32,000 people.

     The electronic and electrical systems in HMCS IROQUOIS are among the most modern in the world today. A computer-driven command and control system gathers data from our ships sensors as well as from accompanying ships, aircraft and satellites and automatically displays this information in the operations room. Internally, this “electronic brain” carries out the orderly processing and dissemination of data and co-ordinates the correct reaction of the ships sensors and weapons.

VITAL STATISTICS:

Displacement (tons) - 5150

Dimensions, meters  - 129.9 x 15.7 x 5 keel / 6.9 at propellors

Propulsion - 2 Pratt & Whitney FT4A2 gas turbines, 50 000 shaft horsepower (Main Engines) and 2 GM Allison 570KF gas turbines, 12 800 shaft horsepower (Cruise Engines) which propel 2 shafts with 5 bladed variable reversible pitch propellers.

Speed  -    29+ knots, Range - 4500 miles at 20 kts

ARMAMENT:

1. Missiles - 1 Martin Marietta MK 41 Vertical Launch System containing 29 General Dynamics surface-to-air Standard SM2 Block IIIA missiles, command/inertial guidance.

2. Guns: 1 x OTO Melara 76mm (3 inch) / super rapid gun mount, 1 x General Electric/General Dynamics 20mm / 6 barreled Vulcan Phalanx gatling gun, up to 3500 rounds per-minute.

4. Torpedoes - 6 x 324mm MK 32 (2 triple) tubes, firing Honeywell MK46 anti-submarine active/passive homing torpedoes.

5. Aircraft - 2 CH124 Sea Kings
 

Date modified:

10/16/2006

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