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International Navies – Canada
Royal Canadian Navy / Marine Canadienne - Ships
Destroyer
Iroquois / Tribal Class – DDH
HMCS Iroquois (D 280)
Ships
Pennant	Name		Commissioning Date		TRUMP
DDH 280	HMCS Iroquois		July 29, 1972		1992
DDH 281	HMCS Huron		December 16, 1972		1994
DDH 282	HMCS Athabaskan		September 30, 1972		1994
DDH 283	HMCS Algonquin		November 3, 1973		1991
General Information: (for specific information & history click on the ship’s name, above)
Iroquois-class destroyers are a class of four helicopter-carrying destroyers of the Canadian Navy. Launched in the 1970s, the Iroquois's were the first all gas turbine powered military ships, using two turbines for cruise power, and another two fast starting "boost" turbines for speeds of up to 29 knots (such an arrangement is known as COGOG). They were originally fitted out for anti-submarine warfare, but a major upgrade program in the 1990s overhauled them for area-wide anti-aircraft. Original design: When they entered service the ships were primarily intended for long-range anti-submarine warfare. Their primary weapon for this role was their complement of two CH-124 Sea King helicopters, which could be launched in even high sea states due to their "bear trap" winch system. The ship included a hangar that provided an enclosed working space for both helicopters at the same time. The helicopters were backed up by two triple-mount torpedo launchers firing Mk.44 and Mk.46 Mod 5 torpedoes and a Limbo Mark 10 depth charge mortar. For other duties the ships also mounted a 5" OTO Melara multi-purpose gun and two four-round Sea Sparrow launchers for point anti-aircraft defense. The missile batteries were located on the interior of the ship on either side of the superstructure, requiring some time for them to unlimber for firing. The ships were powered primarily by two Pratt & Whitney FT4-A2's gas turbines of 50,000 shp each, backed up by two more FT12-AH3 of 7,400 shp each for boost. The power from these turbines was used to run the twin shafts through a series of helical gears. One unique feature was the distinctive Y-shaped "Playboy Bunny" funnels, which were designed to exit the exhaust gasses to either side of the helicopter deck. The ships were 425 x 50 x 14 feet (128.92 x 15.24 x 4.42 meters) and 4,700 tons displacement. The normal crew complement was 285. TRUMP modifications: The entire class underwent major retrofits as a part of the Tribal Class Update and Modernization Program, or TRUMP, in the 1990s. These refits had the effect of re-purposing the ships for area air defence, and the ships now referred to as air defence destroyers. Their former anti-submarine role has since been taken over, to a large degree at least, by the newer Halifax-class frigates. The main weapon of the new design is the Mk.41 VLS, firing 29 SM-2 Block III long-range anti-aircraft missiles. In order to provide room for the VLS, the original 5" gun was replaced with the smaller but much faster firing Otobreda 76 mm gun, relocated from the deck to the bridgework above it. A Phalanx CIWS was also added for self-defense. The torpedo tubes were retained, but the Sea Sparrow system was removed. The modernization also replaced the original cruise turbines with newer 12,788 shp 570-KF engines from Allison. The speed remained the same, however, as the weight had increased to 5,100 tons full load. The original split funnel was replaced by a simpler single one, as the exhaust proved not to be a problem. The TRUMP ships were intended to be a stop-gap measure only, their radar systems in particular being rather outdated. Currently the Iroquois are intended to serve until 2010, after some forty years of service. There was some work on a replacement design, known to Navy-watchers as the Province-class destroyers, but this was confined largely to studies of a much-improved phased array radar system being developed for the Dutch and Germans, known as APAR. Current speculation is that the ships themselves would be similar to a "stretched" Halifax-class. Such a design would have similar capability to the Iroquois but with only one helicopter, and still be no match for the US's Arleigh Burke-class destroyer or the British Type 45 destroyer. There appear to be no current plans to actually build such a class, however.
Technical characteristics (as built):
Length: 128,92 meters Beam: 15,24 meters Draft: 4,42 meters Displacement: 4700 tons (full load) Propulsion: COGOG (Combined Gas or Gas) 2 Pratt & Whitney FT12-AH3 cruise gas turbines / 7400 shp; 2 Pratt & Whitney FT4-A2 boost gas turbines / 50000 shp; 2 shafts; 2 propellers; Speed: 29 knots, max. Crew: 245 + 40 aircrew Aviation/Hangar: midships Helicopter deck with beartrap; 2 CH-124 ‘Sea King’ Helicopters; 2 Hangars for 2 x 1 Helo;
after TRUMP modification:
Displacement: 5100 tons (full load); Propulsion: 2 Allison 570-KF cruise gas turbines / 12788 shaft horsepower; 2 Pratt & Whitney FT4-A2 boost gas turbines / 50000 shp;
Armament:
as built (DD):
1 5”/54 OTO Melera DP (dual purpose) gun; 2 Sea Sparrow quad launchers (32 missiles); 1 Limbo Mk.NC 10 ASW mortars; 2 Mk.32 triple torpedo launcher (Mk.46 Mod.5 torpedoes);
after TRUMP (Tribal Class Update and Modernization Program) modification (DDG):
1 76/62mm OTO Melera (Super Rapid; 120 rounds/min) DP gun; 1 29-cell Mk.41 VLS (Vertical Launch System) for Standard SM-2MR Block IIIA SAM-Missiles; 1 20mm Phalanx CIWS; 2 Mk.32 triple torpedo launcher (Mk.46 Mod.5 torpedoes);
before TRUMP – DDH				after TRUMP modification – DDH / DDG
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