HMCS Regina (FFH 334)

The Halifax-class frigate design of which Regina belongs, was ordered by the Canadian Forces in 1977 as a replacement for the aging St. Laurent, Restigouche, Mackenzie, and Annapolis classes of destroyer escorts , which were all tasked with anti-submarine warfare.[4] In July 1983, the federal government approved the budget for the design and construction of the first batch of six new frigates of which Regina was a part, out of twelve that were eventually built.[5] To reflect the changing long term strategy of the Navy during the 1980s and 1990s, the Halifax-class frigates was designed as a general purpose warship with particular focus on anti-submarine capabilities.[4]

As built, the Halifax-class vessels displaced 4,750 long tons (4,830 t) and were 134.65 metres (441 ft 9 in) long overall and 124.49 metres (408 ft 5 in) between perpendiculars with a beam of 16.36 metres (53 ft 8 in) and a draught of 4.98 metres (16 ft 4 in).[5][6] That made them slightly larger than the Iroquois-class destroyers.[5] The vessels are propelled by two shafts with Escher Wyss controllable pitch propellers driven by a CODOG system of two General Electric LM2500 gas turbines, generating 47,500 shaft horsepower (35,400 kW) and one SEMT Pielstick 20 PA6 V 280 diesel engine, generating 8,800 shaft horsepower (6,600 kW).[6]

This gives the frigates a maximum speed of 29 knots (54 km/h; 33 mph) and a range of 7,000 nautical miles (13,000 km; 8,100 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) while using their diesel engines.[5][6] Using their gas turbines, the ships have a range of 3,930 nautical miles (7,280 km; 4,520 mi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph). The Halifax class have a complement of 198 naval personnel of which 17 are officers and 17 aircrew of which 8 are officers.[6]

Firing Harpoon missiles

Firing a Harpoon anti-ship missile during a Rim of the Pacific naval exercise

Regina wearing a commemorative "dazzle" camouflage, in August 2020.

Regina was laid down on 6 October 1989 by Marine Industries at Sorel, Quebec and launched on 25 October 1991. The ship was provisionally accepted on 2 March 1994, and following sea trials, sailed to CFB Esquimalt. The frigate was commissioned into the Canadian Forces there on 30 September 1994 and carries the hull classification symbol FFH 334.[9]

In May 1995, with sister ship Vancouver, Regina sailed to Southeast Asia for naval exercises. The following year in March, this time with the auxiliary ship Protecteur, the destroyer Algonquin and frigate Winnipeg, Regina returned to the Eastern Pacific for naval exercises. During this trip the ship visited Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, the first North American warship to do so since the Vietnam War.[9] On the return trip, the task group participated in the RIMPAC naval exercise off the coast of Hawaii.[10] In February 1997, the ship sailed to join a United States Navy carrier battle group in the Persian Gulf to enforce trade sanctions on Iraq. The ship returned to the Persian Gulf from June to December 1999 with the USS Constellation carrier battle group to enforce sanctions again.[9][11] In February 2003, Regina deployed to the Indian Ocean as part of Operation Apollo in support of the War in Afghanistan.[12] The ship remained in theatre until May.[13]

Regina sailed from Esquimalt on 3 July 2012 to the Arabian Sea and joined Combined Task Force 150 on 21 August.[14] She returned home on 14 March 2013.[15]

In 2013, Regina visited Manila, Philippines for a goodwill visit to the Philippines.[16] In 2014 Regina operated off the coast of Somalia as part of Operation Artemis.[17] On 30 April 2014 the Canadian government announced that Regina would be dispatched to assist in NATO operations, concerning the crisis in the Ukraine.[18] The frigate began her FELEX refit in May 2015 and returned to service on 29 April 2016 at CFB Esquimalt.[19]

On 6 February 2019, Regina and Asterix departed Esquimalt for Pacific operations with other nations' navies.[20] On 18 February, a Cyclone helicopter from Regina was attempting to land on Asterix and was damaged in the operation. Regina, Asterix and the damaged Cyclone were redirected to Guam to undergo inspection.[21] No damage was reported to Asterix, and following air tests of the repaired Cyclone, all three ships resumed their deployment.[22] In March 2019, Regina and Asterix parted ways, with Regina deployed to the Middle East as part of Operation Artemis beginning on 26 March.[20][17] In the Indian Ocean, Regina intercepted a dhow and boarded it, seizing 2,569 kg (5,664 lb) of hashish in 119 bags. As the vessel was international waters, the dhow and its crew were released. The hashish was destroyed.[23] The frigate intercepted a second vessel, this time an unregistered fishing vessel, and seized 3,019 kg (6,656 lb) of hashish in 150 bags.[24] A third seizure took place on 24 April, with 1.5 tonnes (3,300 lb) of hashish and 10.5 kg (23 lb) of heroin netted from a stateless fishing vessel in international waters off Oman and Yemen.[25] The frigate then took part in exercises with a French task force including the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle,[26] followed up by a fourth seizure of 2,054 kg (4,528 lb) of hashish on 3 May.[27] On 18 June Regina transited the Taiwan Strait as part of a freedom of navigation mission.[28] During the transit alongside Asterix, the ship was "buzzed" by two Chinese Sukhoi Su-30 fighter aircraft when they flew at a height of 30 metres (100 ft) within 300 metres (980 ft) of the frigate.[29][30] The vessel returned to Canada on 19 August 2019 having participated in enforcing United Nations sanctions on North Korea and participating in Operation Talisman Sabre 19, a biennial naval exercise with the United States and Australian navies.[31]

In November 2019, Regina received a new "dazzle camouflage" in 1944 colours to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic.[32]

On 29 August 2020, Regina fired two Harpoon missiles for SINKEX of RIMPAC 2020.[33]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to HMCS Regina (FFH 334).

• HMCS Regina (FFH 334) – official website