The Victoria-class submarine fleet continues to progress towards steady state when three of four submarines will be available for operations.
This will include a high readiness submarine available on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, HMCS Windsor and HMCS Victoria respectively, with a third submarine, HMCS Chicoutimi, available at standard readiness. HMCS Corner Brook will rotate into an Extended Docking Work Period (EDWP) upon completion of Chicoutimi’s EDWP. An EDWP provides the submarines’ 200-plus systems with the maintenance and upgrades needed to conduct operations on behalf of Canadians.
The following table provides a general overview of the current status of Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) Victoria-class submarines:
Information about the above table
Victoria-class Achievements
The Canadian Victoria-class submarine fleet has been actively sailing since 2003 and has accumulated approximately 1131 days at sea, participating in exercises at home and overseas, patrolling Canadian coastal areas including the Arctic and participating in international operations. Highlights of the Victoria-class achievements are as follows:
In 2008, Treasury Board approved the expenditure of up to $1.5 billion over a period of up to 15 years for the in-service support for the Victoria-class submarines. The contract was awarded competitively to the Canadian Submarine Management Group, now renamed Babcock Canada Inc. In June 2013, the Government of Canada exercised the first five-year extension option of this support, worth $531 million. All Victoria-class EDWP’s during this in-service support contract, commencing with the Chicoutimi EDWP, will be funded and managed through VISSC.
Given that submarines are amongst the most highly complex machines that exist, maintaining them can be a costly process. Highly rigorous and regularly scheduled maintenance periods are an essential element of the operational cycle of any class of submarine.
More info
[mappress] Press Release, July 11, 2013