13 July 2018. David Dunlop. Don’t know if the Type 26 Frigate will win the bidding process after the 'curing' process on July 21, but if the LM/BAE Type 26 does, here are the class and ship names I believe would be appropriate for each coast. I believe the first ship should be named for our country, and the second ship for when our country first became of age (as Vimy Ridge is considered sacred Canadian ground):
“Canada Class” Type 26 Frigates:
Halifax Based:
HMCS CANADA-FFH 380-East; HMCS VIMY RIDGE-FFH 381-East; HMCS ONTARIO-FFH 382-East; HMCS QUEBEC-FFH 383-East
HMCS NOVA SCOTIA-FFH 384-East; HMCS NEW BRUNSWICK-FFH 385-East; HMCS PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND-FFH 386-East
HMCS NEWFOUNDLAND-FFH 387-East
Esquimalt Based:
HMCS NUNAVUT-FFH 388-West; HMCS SASKATCHEWAN-FFH 389-West; HMCS MANITOBA-FFH 390-West
HMCS ALBERTA-FFH 391-West; HMCS BRITISH COLUMBIA-FFH 392-West; HMCS YUKON-FFH 393-West
HMCS NORTHWEST TERRITORIES-FFH 394-West
14 thoughts on “Naming the New Frigates”
I honestly believe that if there will be AAW variants of the CSC that they should continue the Tribal naming convention, with the proper consultation with the nations we wish to honour.
Also, let us no longer follow the naming convention of the Canadian Coast Guard and stay with last names only. DeWolf on its own is an honourable name for a warship.
Hi Don. Understand your viewpoint on an AAW variant of the Type 26 naming process. We have already gone that route at least once for each ship of the Iroquois class. I believe that naming the new frigates after each province and territory under the “Canada Class” makes sense. I have also associated names to our “future” submarines which represent the majority of First Nation’s People in Canada. If we are to replace the 4 Windsor Class SSKs with 12 modern subs, then here is what I propose:
“Aboriginal Class”
HMCS IROQUOIS-SSK/SSN 880
HMCS ALGONQUIN-SSK/SSN 881
HMCS ATHABASKAN-SSK/SSN 882
HMCS HURON-SSK/SSN 883
HMCS ASSINIBOINE-SSK/SSN 884
HMCS METIS-SSK/SSN 885
HMCS CREE-SSK/SSN 886
HMCS DENE-SSK/SSN 887
HMCS INUIT-SSK/SSN 888
HMCS MALAHAT-SSK/SSN 889
HMCS OJIBWA-SSK/SSN 890
HMCS MI’KMAQ-SSK/SSN 891
Does this make any sense for you?
Hi Don. The only ship that I might want to change coasts would be HMCS VIMY RIDGE as below:
Halifax Based:
HMCS CANADA-FFH 380-East; HMCS ONTARIO-FFH 381-East; HMCS QUEBEC-FFH 382-East; HMCS NOVA SCOTIA-FFH 383-East; HMCS NEW BRUNSWICK-FFH 384-East; HMCS PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND-FFH 385-East; HMCS NEWFOUNDLAND-FFH 386-East; HMCS NUNAVUT-FFH 387-East
Esquimalt Based:
HMCS VIMY RIDGE-FFH 388-West; HMCS SASKATCHEWAN-FFH 389-West; HMCS MANITOBA-FFH 390-West; HMCS ALBERTA-FFH 391-West; HMCS BRITISH COLUMBIA-FFH 392-West; HMCS YUKON-FFH 393-West; HMCS NORTHWEST TERRITORIES-FFH 394-West
I would be much more supportive of continuing the naming of the AAW CSCs as the Tribal Class — after the proper consultation with the interested First Nations of course.
Hello sailordad61:
As you can see from my reply to Don Mitchel, I have included the names for the 12 replacement modern subs as the “Aboriginal Class”. Hopefully all of this will someday be resolved. Cheers!
Hi I would like the new frigates to be given a more provocative name like the Australian Hunter class. I’d propose as an example the Storm class. Some example names HMCS Storm, Thunder, Lightning, Typhoon, Cyclone, Hurricane, Fire, Sirocco, Derecho, Monsoon, Blizzard,Snow, Ice, Hail, Tornado, Simoom and Haboob. Pick 15 or add other names.
Interesting thoughts Gary. I believe nothing could be more provocative or “Canadian” than naming the class after our country. For each province and territory to have its own CSC named for it, would make every Canadian proud. The naming of HMCS VIMY RIDGE is especially special as it was a time in our history that brought out the best in Canadians and really made us the country we are today. Yes, “Canada Class” has a real ring to it! Thanks for your input.
I’d buy those names. They have a reasonable reconnect with history – ONTARIO & QUEBEC – maintain the tradition of largely naming ships after Canadian places rather than the Americanism of after people (that can lead to embarrassment – the Premier who later murdered his wife!). NORTHWEST TERRITORIES needs an acceptable abbreviation, like the problems they had with the wartime frigate CAP DE LA MADELEINE! The problem, as with the ships themselves, will be to keep politics out of it!
Hi Fraser! Don’t know if you are the same Fraser McKee that I worked with ‘several’ years ago at CFMWC (EX Lower Decker; Command Chief?) but, if so, nice to hear from you!! I don’t believe you could re-name HMCS NORTH WST TERRITORIES to HMCS NWT as it would just not sound correct. The same for HMCS PEI? I might give you re-naming the Canada Class to Provincial Class but then what would you do about the Yukon, North West Territories and Nunavut? Cheers and have a great navy day!!!!
What naming convention are you using. Tribal class naming convention would be more appropriate in my opinion. Also the river class would be good as well. These naming conventions have a long history and battle honours.
Hi Trevor. Are you saying that ships like HMCS Ontario/Quebec/Yukon/Vimy Ridge do not have a long history of battle honours? Having a Canada class with all provinces & territories accounted for makes more sense to me.
This is something I’ve been mulling over for a while now. The use of naval naming for ships can be very useful for informing the public on military history in general. It would be beneficial to the need to promote our history and educate a public which is largely ignorant on military matters. What I propose is having some of the ships named for significant military engagements, such as HMCS Ridgeway or HMCS Vimy.
HMCS Canada
Canada class,
after our 14 capitals
HMCS Ottawa
HMCS Iqaluit
HMCS St. John’s
HMCS Halifax
HMCS Fredericton
HMCS Charlottetown
HMCS Québec
HMCS Toronto
HMCS Winnipeg
HMCS Regina
HMCS Edmonton
HMCS Victoria
HMCS Yellowknife
HMCS Whitehorse
Hello Richard. As I said before we have already had the Halifax-class named after our capital cities so it doesn’t make sense to do it again. Naming the class “Canada” class named after each province and territory seems to be a better choice. My opinion anyway. Cheers!