HMCS Robert Hampton Gray

History
Canada
Name	Robert Hampton Gray
Namesake	Robert Hampton Gray
Builder	Irving Shipbuilding, Halifax, Nova Scotia
Laid down	21 August 2023
Launched	9 December 2024
Completed	21 August 2025 [1]
Identification	Hull number: AOPV 435 IMO number:  4702553
Status	Delivered
General characteristics
Type	Harry DeWolf-class offshore patrol vessel
Displacement	6,615  t (6,511 long tons)
Length	103.6 m (339 ft 11 in)
Beam	19.0 m (62 ft 4 in)
Draught	5.7 m (18 ft 8 in) [2]
Ice class	Polar Class 5
Installed power	4 ×  MAN 6L32/44CR (4 × 3.6 MW) [2]
Propulsion	Diesel-electric Two shafts (2 × 4.5 MW) [3] Bow thruster [4]
Speed	17  kn (31 km/h; 20 mph) (open water) 3 kn (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph) in 1 m (3 ft 3 in) ice [5]
Range	6,800  nmi (12,600  km; 7,800  mi) at 14 kn (26 km/h; 16 mph) [6]
Boats & landing craft carried	2 × 8.5 m (28 ft) multi-role rescue boats 12 m (39 ft) landing craft [7] [8]
Complement	65
Armament	1 × BAE Mk 38 25 mm (0.98 in) gun 2 × M2 Browning machine gun
Aircraft carried	Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone or other helicopters/CU-176 Gargoyle UAV
Aviation facilities	Hangar and flight deck

HMCS Robert Hampton Gray (AOPV 435) is the sixth and final Harry DeWolf-class offshore patrol vessel for the Royal Canadian Navy. The class was derived from the Arctic Offshore Patrol Ship project as part of the National Shipbuilding Strategy and is primarily designed for the patrol and support of Canada's Arctic regions.

Design and construction

The option to build the sixth ship in the series was taken up in November 2018 when the vessel was ordered. ^[9] The first steel for the vessel was cut in August 2022, starting ship construction. ^[10] The keel was laid down on 21 August 2023 ^[11] and the ship was launched in December 2024. ^[12] Contractor sea trials were completed on 6 August 2025, and she was formally named in a traditional bottle breaking ceremony by the niece of the ship's namesake, Lieutenant Robert Hampton Gray, on 9 August 2025, coinciding with the 80th anniversary of his death. ^[13]

The Harry DeWolf-class offshore patrol vessels are designed for use in the Arctic regions of Canada for patrol and support within Canada's exclusive economic zone. The vessel is 103.6 metres (339 ft 11 in) long overall with a beam of 19.0 m (62 ft 4 in). The ship has a displacement of 6,615 metric tons (6,511 long tons ). The ship has an enclosed foredeck that protects machinery and work spaces from Arctic climates. The vessel is powered by a diesel-electric system composed of four 3.6-megawatt (4,800 hp) MAN 6L32/44CR four-stroke medium-speed diesel generators and two electric propulsion motors rated at 4.5 MW (6,000 hp) driving two shafts. Robert Hampton Gray is capable of 17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph) in open water and 3 knots (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph) in one-metre (3 ft 3 in) first-year sea ice. The ship is also equipped with a bow thruster to aid during manoeuvres and docking procedures without requiring tugboat assistance. The ship has an operational range of at least 6,800 nautical miles (12,600 km; 7,800 mi) at 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph) in open water and an endurance of 120 days. Robert Hampton Gray is equipped with fin stabilizers to decrease roll in open water but can be retracted during icebreaking.

Robert Hampton Gray is able to deploy with multiple payloads, including shipping containers, underwater survey equipment or landing craft. Payload operations are aided by a 20-metric-ton (20-long-ton; 22-short-ton) crane for loading and unloading. The ship is equipped with a vehicle bay which can hold pickup trucks, all-terrain vehicles and snowmobiles. The ship also has two 8.5 m (27 ft 11 in) multi-role rescue boats capable of over 35 knots (65 km/h; 40 mph). The ship is armed with one BAE Mk 38 25-millimetre (0.98 in) gun and two M2 Browning machine guns. The patrol ship has an onboard hangar and flight deck for helicopters up to the size of a Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone. Robert Hampton Gray has a complement of 65 and accommodation for 87.

References

1. "The future HMCS Robert Hampton Gray, Canada's Sixth Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship is Delivered to the Royal Canadian Navy". Irving Shipbuilding. 21 August 2025. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
2. "Harry DeWolf (4702503)" . Sea-web. S&P Global . Retrieved 22 October 2022.
3. "Arctic/Offshore Patrol Ships". Royal Canadian Navy. January 2015. Archived from the original on 31 October 2015. Retrieved 9 September 2015.
4. "Harry DeWolf class fact sheet". Government of Canada. 18 April 2024. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
5. "Royal Canadian Navy's OPV HMCS Max Bernays starts sea trials". Navy Recognition. 26 July 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
6. Malek, Aaron; Francis, Morgan (Fall 2022). "AOPS Concept of Operations" (PDF). Maritime Engineering Journal (102): 13. ISSN   0713-0058.
7. "Irving Shipbuilding Selects Rosborough Boats to supply Multi-Role Rescue Boats for AOPS vessels". Irving Shipbuilding. 13 March 2017. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
8. "ABCO Industries to Build 12m Landing Craft for Royal Canadian Navy". Baird Maritime. 17 October 2018. Archived from the original on 11 October 2019. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
9. Prentiss, Mairin (2 November 2018). "Ottawa buys another Arctic and offshore patrol ship to be built in Halifax". CBC News. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
10. "Irving Shipbuilding cuts first steel for the future Canadian OPV Robert Hampton Gray". Navy Recognition. 16 August 2022. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
11. "Keel Laid for 6th Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship (AOPS) the future HMCS Robert Hampton Gray". Irving Shipbuilding. 21 August 2023. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
12. Manuel, Rojeff (10 December 2024). "Irving Launches Final Canadian Navy Harry DeWolf Arctic Patrol Ship". The Defense Post. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
13. Arif, Hafsa (9 August 2025). "Royal Canadian Navy names new Arctic patrol ship in honour of Robert Hampton Gray". CTV News. Retrieved 11 August 2025.