Author Topic: Transport to Tactical, the story of Canada's combative support ships  (Read 6025 times)

Offline Silver Fox

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In 2015 the Royal Canadian Navy, with predictable Government fanfare, made the announcement that 2 Roll-On/Roll-Off (RO-RO) transport ships were to be built. The new ships were to be based on the new class of fleet tankers even now just entering construction. In truth, the decision was as much political as strategic. The Canadian Government had made a great deal of noise concerning its national shipbuilding strategy, and that strategy was now in danger of becoming a purely notional strategy.

The problem was two-fold. First, a lack of money made building the ships questionable. Second, with so many ships needed, there was the issue of not enough building slips. The new AOR class was competing with the new Canadian Coast Guard ice breakers for yard space. The obvious solution would be to award either the AORs or the CCG ships to Canada’s third large shipyard and to throw more money on the pile. Politically, this was simply not feasible. Money could be found, after all it always could when a government wanted to buy something, but the whole point of the national shipbuilding strategy was that one yard would build combatants, another would build non-combatants. Some change in that plan was in order.

It was the CCG ships that offered the “out” the government needed. A revision of the original plan was devised whereby one yard would build combatants, one non-combatants… and one would build CCG ships. Political opponents were quick to point out that this meant an almost total abandonment of the shipbuilding strategy. All three shipyards were now involved and there was a real danger of slipping back into the pattern of boom-and-bust ship construction.

To counter this, the government of the day announced an expansion of the strategy. Four “extra” ships were to be built, two more heavy icebreakers of the same class as the one planned and two RO-RO naval transports to be based on the AORs. The new ships would place an unbearable strain on the two original designated shipyards; it only made sense to expand to make best use of all three large shipyards. Politically, the plan was transparent. Problems were to be solved with cash, and the political gains to be made in the Province of Quebec (where the new CCG shipyard was located) were not inconsequential.

The new naval RO-RO transports shared much of their design with the AOR which preceded them. There were some significant changes to suit them to their new role though. The upper hull was built up to provide a “through-deck” configuration allowing for simultaneous helicopter operations to be carried out. A new superstructure was offset to starboard, clearing a 550’ long flight deck slightly offset to port. The new ships would carry three Phalanx MK Ib CIWS as opposed to the AOR’s two, but like the AORs the electronics suite was to be commercial standard instead of military. The RCN objected to this, but the government was unrelenting and in the end the RCN didn’t desire to look a gift horse in the mouth. The RO-ROs were to be fitted with 3 ramps, one on each of the port and starboard sides of the forward hull and a swinging ramp aft, mounted to the transom.

The names given to the new ships caused barely a stir in political circles or with the general public; HMCS Kapyong and HMCS Vimy Ridge seemed perfectly acceptable names. The more militarily astute though were watching with raised eyebrows. Kapyong was a battle honour belonging to the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI). The PPCLI was second in seniority amongst the Army’s infantry regiments. Vimy Ridge was a battle honour that could reasonably belong to any of the infantry regiments, but was not the great “namesake” battle of the Royal Canadian Regiment, the senior infantry regiment. That question wouldn’t be answered until 2018 when it was announced that a third transport was to be constructed, to be named HMCS Ortona. The three infantry regiments each now had a transport they could call their own.

Construction was uneventful and HMCS Vimy Ridge was accepted in late 2019. Service trials were conducted with only minor teething problems, although the civilian-grade electronics were still a concern. Especially worrisome to RCN planners was the idea that the two ships were susceptible to the electromagnetic pulse, EMP, of a nuclear detonation. The concern was largely theoretical though, the ships were not expected to face any threat which would see nuclear weapons employed.

Unexpectedly, the service trials also saw RCAF Guardian STOL transports make free-deck landings and take offs. The Twin Otter-based Guardians proved quite adept at operating from Vimy Ridge and the RCN quickly developed an interest in using the diminutive birds in the Carrier-Onboard-Delivery (COD) role. The navalized Guardians wouldn’t be ready immediately, but they would follow soon enough to prove their worth.

The first operational mission of Vimy Ridge was a routine support mission for NATO forces in the North Atlantic. That mission was interrupted by yet another hurricane striking the unfortunate nation of Haiti. Standing off of Haiti and using her powerful helicopter compliment, as well as the massive amount of stores she carried, Vimy Ridge proved her worth in humanitarian missions. It would fall to her as yet unfinished sister Kapyong to demonstrate the class’s worth in a more traditional military venue.

Part 2 to follow.
« Last Edit: December 08, 2013, 11:51:34 AM by Silver Fox »

Offline Silver Fox

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Re: Transport to Tactical, the story of Canada's combative support ships
« Reply #1 on: December 07, 2013, 12:21:11 PM »
The observant reader will have noted that my stories concerning the RCN's Malignant Mustelids  (Guardian 500), Bombardier Airacobras and now the story of the RCN's Vimy Ridge class transports all overlap. It didn't start as a conscious attempt to write an alt-history, but the venue seems to draw me back.

What can I say... I seem to be going gonzo over Persian Excursion II.

Offline Silver Fox

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Re: Transport to Tactical, the story of Canada's combative support ships
« Reply #2 on: December 08, 2013, 06:35:10 AM »
Playing with Shipbucket pieces. That is a Berlin-class hull modified for the Ro-Ro role with a through deck.

Offline The Big Gimper

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Re: Transport to Tactical, the story of Canada's combative support ships
« Reply #3 on: December 08, 2013, 07:26:19 AM »
Nice. I like the Twin Otter.
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Offline Silver Fox

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Re: Transport to Tactical, the story of Canada's combative support ships
« Reply #4 on: December 08, 2013, 10:45:14 AM »
Part II: Trial by Fire:

January of 2023 saw the Islamic Republic of Iran test detonate a nuclear weapon. The weapon fizzled instead of fired, but tensions rocket to stratospheric heights. The RCN deploys 4 warships supported by a fleet tanker and HMCS Kapyong. The RCN expressed grave concerns that both the AOR and Kapyong carried civilian-grade electronics and were now being deployed into a war zone where nuclear weapons might be employed. The RCN was right to be concerned, and the government was well aware of the fact. The three AORs had already been designated for upgrades to their systems, as had both members of the Vimy Ridge-class.  HMCS Ortona was late in the building cycle, and among other changes had already received upgraded systems.

Time was of great importance to show solidarity with the Allies, so vulnerable or not, Kapyong set sail with the fleet. Normal deployments for the Vimy Ridge-class had seen a mix of 6 CH-148 Cyclone helicopters, finally available in strength, and 4 CC-138 Guardians. The Persian Gulf deployment saw that strength increased. By drawing on the air group earmarked for Ortona, it was possible to add one more Cyclone and 2 more Guardians to the air groups of both Kapyong and Vimy Ridge. That decision would prove to have profound effects on the conduct of operations against Iran.

HMCS Kapyong had been scheduled to join the Allied Support Fleet, but when the RCN was assigned command of that fleet Kapyong became the fleet flagship. The role was only made possible due to the Joint Force Command Suite that Kapyong had embarked prior to departure from Canada. Essentially, the JFCS provided Kapyong with a military communications facility, including encrypted radios. It did much to correct the handicap of the civilian electronics rig. Vimy Ridge was not going to share such benefits; she was currently embarking a Modular At-Sea Hospital.

The initial operations of the Allied Support Force, and its Canadian contingent, were uneventful. March 1st saw that change, as the Iranians launched a small boat attack on the Support Force. Guardian flights from HMCS Kapyong were instrumental in stopping the attack and showed both the utility of the new RCN ships and their diminutive Guardians. As impressive as that incident had been it was the events of a week later that would resonate as a watershed moment fro the RCN.

March 8th started relatively peacefully, with the Allied fleets repositioning in support of landing operations to be conducted just before dawn on the 9th. The night was shattered by the declaration of Case ZULU, a presumptive nuclear attack on the Allied fleets. A Canadian Guardian, Kestrel 21, would manage to kill one of the Iranian Sukhoi fighters using a capability that had been included almost as an afterthought. Certainly, at the time of development, nobody had ever thought that a live AIM-120 warshot launch was destined to be in the Guardians future!

The Canadian contribution to Persian Gulf operations was now solidified as presenting a vital contribution. The respect given by the Canadians peers in the Allied fleets was the best indication of the value of the Canadian’s presence. When Commodore R. P. Hardesty, commander of the RCN contingent, departed USS Gerald R Ford aboard Kestrel 21 on March 9th the USN view was made quite clear. When Commodore Hardesty had been “piped aboard” the announcement had been “Allied Support Force, Arriving”. On departure he heard “Kapyong Battlegroup, Departing”. To the mind of the USN, HMCS Kapyong was no longer part of the Support Force; she was its flagship… but also a warship in her own right.

March 14th saw the arrival of HMCS Vimy Ridge in the Persian Gulf. Allied air commanders had been bemused to see Vimy Ridge turn into the wind just outside the Gulf and proceed to launch a dozen CF-163 Airacobras. There was no doubt that the 550’ flight deck of Vimy Ridge was too small for something like an Airacobra to recover on board. A few observers looked thoughtful though… Canadians had long showed that a little bit of crazy was involved in how they mixed aircraft with ships. Naval Aviation historians also noted that the Royal Navy had operated F4U Corsairs from escort carriers. Many escort carriers were of a similar size with Vimy Ridge. It was hard not to wonder what Canada might have in mind for the future.

Vimy Ridge had arrived in the Persian Gulf just in time for her Guardians to make a vital contribution to the rescue of Task Force Cordon. That rescue also marked the end of the excitement for the RCN Persian Gulf force. Kapyong would continue to lead the Allied Support Force, and Vimy Ridge would offer her hospital to the benefit of the sick and wounded in allied service… but visions of glory rapidly faded. Aboard Vimy Ridge her Guardians were converted to ambulances and used for ferrying the wounded to her embarked hospital.

The Vimy Ridge-class had acquitted itself well in its first wartime deployment, but soon enough it would be time to head home. Several smaller navies looked at the Vimy Ridge-class with unabashed jealousy. The political gambit was about to pay off for the Canadian Government. Building ships in Canada may be expensive, but selling the designs was competitive on the world market. Coming full circle, Germany was the first country to inquire after the design. The AORs had been based on the German Berlin-class so construction costs were well understood. Holland would follow and soon enough Greece was also interested. The three countries would eventually make an agreement to build a 6-ship class jointly. The agreement would collapse though when Germany withdrew to build two ships of the improved Ortona-class.

Offline GTX_Admin

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Re: Transport to Tactical, the story of Canada's combative support ships
« Reply #5 on: December 08, 2013, 10:46:39 AM »
In 2105??  Do you mean 2015?
All hail the God of Frustration!!!

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Offline Volkodav

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Re: Transport to Tactical, the story of Canada's combative support ships
« Reply #6 on: December 08, 2013, 11:13:04 AM »
I'm enjoying it :)

Offline Silver Fox

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Re: Transport to Tactical, the story of Canada's combative support ships
« Reply #7 on: December 08, 2013, 11:52:05 AM »
Dang typos! :)

Offline Silver Fox

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Re: Transport to Tactical, the story of Canada's combative support ships
« Reply #8 on: December 09, 2013, 03:31:43 AM »
Shipbucket creations to compare HMCS Battle of Chateauguay (AOR 512) with the fictional HMCS Vimy Ridge and HMCS Ortona.

Vimy Ridge has been updated from the earlier image and is an a more-or-less complete form. Ortona shares the updates and shows the modifications made to her design.

HMCS Battle of Chateauguay (AOR 512) is a soon-to-be "real" ship for the RCN. Canadian modification, other than fitting for the CH-148 Cyclone helicopter are unknown at this time. Each of the Ships shown is accompanied by the cap badge of a representative Canadian Army unit which still exists.

HMCS Battle of Chateauguay (AOR 512) - Les Voltiguers de Quebec
HMCS Vimy Ridge - 22er Regiment du Canada
HMCS Ortona - Royal Canadian Regiment

Offline Silver Fox

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Re: Transport to Tactical, the story of Canada's combative support ships
« Reply #9 on: December 19, 2013, 11:07:05 AM »
SPOILER ALERT!

The story of HMCS Ortona's first major operation follows. In an effort to get away from yet another story of Canada's efforts in the Iranian nuclear conflict... I changed venues.

The story that follows is about San Francisco and a major natural disaster.

Those with sensitivities in such areas may choose not to read the following post.

Offline Silver Fox

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Re: Transport to Tactical, the story of Canada's combative support ships
« Reply #10 on: December 19, 2013, 11:11:56 AM »
Part III: Ortona meets Dieppe

When HMCS Ortona launched it was obvious that the RCN had been thinking of bigger and better things for the new fleet flagship. Flagship she was, permanently fitted with a Flag Command Suite and associated electronics. Ortona was also some 22m longer than her earlier sisters and carried as her normal compliment the same mix of aircraft her sisters carried to war. Additionally, Ortona carried a pair of specially modified CH-148 Cyclone helicopters. The two “special” Cyclones carried a large extendable radar antenna in place of the starboard fuel sponson. The antenna served a powerful air and sea search radar enabling the Cyclone to work in an airborne early warning mode. The radar data was downlinked to both the Flag Command Suite and to the shipboard Combat Information Centre.

Other significant changes included the deletion of the transom “swing-stage” ramp, replaced with a pair of more conventional ramps on the aft hull sides. Forward, the large sea-door covering the forward ramps was also gone, those being replaced with a pair of ramps mounted further aft. The superstructure showed the chamfered forward corners first seen on HMCS Kapyong (HMCS Vimy Ridge would be modified during her first refit).

The most significant changes would be seen right at the top of the ship though. The conventional mast was gone, replaced with an integrated mast. The new mast supported the full suite of military-grade electronics she carried as well as supporting the other significant change. Immediately behind the new mast were no less than 32 cells for her vertically-launched Enhanced Sea Sparrow Missiles. The ESSM’s gave her the ability to defend herself far outside of the range provided by the Phalanx systems.

HMCS Ortona was a warship, unlike her as-built sisters. Refit would correct that, but Ortona would always be just a bit bigger and would always represent Canada’s senior infantry regiment. In the minds of many, she was and would remain Canada’s flagship. She was also destined to become synonymous with a battle honour yet to be added to the colours of the Royal Canadian Regiment. For now though, she basked in the adoration of adoring throngs. Fitting-out and workups were to come, but she had the best wishes of thousands of loyal Canadians.

Getting Ortona ready to join the fleet was tedious and time-consuming, but posed no unforeseen challenges. From final construction through workups Ortona was accompanied by several German naval officers who were destined to become cadre for the German Navy’s own Ortona-class ships that were even now building. The German Navy had even offered to supply an escort vessel on exchange, but the USN claimed pride of place. Canadian warships had long since escorted USN carrier battle groups. If the RCN now had something that even resembled a carrier, the USN was going to return the favour.

The fix was in, and it was obvious as more details emerged. The Ortona battlegroup commander was announced as Commodore Gregory Dewey. Dewey was a distant relative of USN Admiral of the Navies Dewey, the commander who had won the Battle of Manila during the Spanish-American War. The Admiral was famous for opening the battle with the now-famous quote “You may fire when ready Gridley”. The assignment of the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer DDG-101 USS Gridley made the connection complete.

Ortona was assigned to Canada’s Pacific Fleet, both Vimy Ridge-class vessels being assigned to the Atlantic Fleet. Her first commission was uneventful and she was ready for Fleet Repair Readiness status and a lengthy refit by August of 2025. She had one last stop to make at the USN anchorage in San Francisco before returning home. Gridley would depart the battlegroup at San Francisco, leaving friends and colleagues to sail away.

10:42:21 AM, 11th August 2025 saw the Ortona battlegroup 65 nautical miles out of San Francisco. That date and time are, of course, memorable to all Americans. The 8.4 magnitude quake that hit San Francisco at that precise moment toppled the Ferry Building clock tower. The images of the frozen clock, forever showing 10:42, have been seared into the US memory alongside images of the flag-raising at Iwo Jima or the US flag at Ground Zero in New York.

Reciprocal agreements between the US and Canada had, for over a decade, allowed the armed forces of either nation to enter the other without invitation in order to render civil aid. Even as the home-ported Gridley reeled at the shock of what happened, Commodore Dewey’s command leapt into action. Two Guardians rose from her flight deck, powerful radars probing ahead to look for landing areas. A suitable area was located only 4 miles from the downtown core. 40 minutes later and the lead elements of 5 Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment was approaching touchdown.

In the days and weeks to follow, military assistance would pour into San Francisco. To the residents though, it was 5 RCR that had saved the day. The injured were treated by medics and volunteers (including ship’s company), Canadian armoured vehicles landed by Ortona moved rubble to extract survivors, the ship’s padre rendered services for the deceased… but most telling, it was 5 RCR that met the looters.

Looting was never rampant in San Francisco after the quake, but some tried. Those who tried were met by polite young men with 5 RCR badges. Those young men were polite and even respectful… but they had hard eyes for those seeking to profit from disaster. One gang of street thugs actually tried to fight it out; they received on the job training in urban warfare. It was training in which mere survival constituted a passing grade. 5 RCR graded hard, few passing grades were handed out.

The next day a 5 RCR LAV-H-35 crossed into the neighbouring gang’s territory. 14 chalk silhouettes on the gun mantlet were clearly visible. The message was clear and unsubtle, the hard young men would tolerate no interference in aid efforts. When US military forces entered the city in force just 36 hours after the quake, they were prepared for the worst.

They found a city already starting to recover. To be sure, there was a daunting task ahead of aid workers. Equally sure, control of the city had never been lost. The elements that might have tried were cowed. USMC Lt. General R. Cowles commented in his biography:

“I remember meeting Canadian Lt. Colonel Graves soon after we arrived in San Francisco. His 5 RCR had quite literally taken the city to save it. Meeting him, shaking his hand… I felt that I and my men were being judged. Were we, the US Marine Corps, up to the standards he had set? I should have been insulted, being judged by an officer of such inferior rank and not even a Marine to boot… but I wasn’t. The man had a presence that simply screamed that he had found his moment in history. That same presence infused his command. 5 RCR is now entitled to wear a crown, anchor and globe device on their uniforms, having had to meet their standards left us no choice but to adopt them as Marines.”

The Ortona battlegroup stayed on-station at San Francisco for another 3 months. She was to be replaced by HMCS Kapyong, but US recovery efforts had progressed far enough that Kapyong was not needed. Canadian Forces elements were still on the ground, and would remain for almost another year. It would be Ortona and her people who were remembered most though.

August 11th 2027 would see Ortona pass under the Golden Gate Bridge yet again, this time for Fleet Week. USS Gridley had re-joined the battlegroup shortly before it had entered harbour. Ortona was met by the expected dignitaries, but with two notable additions. The President of the United States was present, as was the Governor General of Canada.

The President bestowed a Presidential Unit Citation on the whole Ortona battlegroup. He also announced that with the agreement of the Canadian Government, USS Gridley was to be permanently attached to HMCS Ortona and home-ported alongside her at CFB Esquimalt. The people of the Ortona battlegroup were stunned and more than a little proud at this announcement.

The Governor General’s announcement was even more stunning.

“It is with great pleasure that I make the following statement: At the solemn request of the People of San Francisco and the President of these United States, His Majesty King Charles today decrees and declares that 5th Battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment is instructed to add the battle honour ‘San Francisco’ to the battalion colours. Guard these colours well.”

5 RCR exercised “Freedom of the City” later that day, marching under arms through the heart of San Francisco. A San Francisco PD Officer, being interviewed by an East-coast new outlet was asked if he thought it strange for “foreign” troops to be under arms in San Francisco streets. His response, on live national TV would sum up Franciscan attitudes:

“Piss off lady! That’s 5 RCR, those AREN’T foreign troops.”



Offline Silver Fox

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Re: Transport to Tactical, the story of Canada's combative support ships
« Reply #11 on: December 19, 2013, 11:34:52 AM »
HMCS Ortona as built and described in the text.

The preceding post shouldn't be read as to be a slight on the USMC or anyone else. It is the nature of "hard young men" to bristle when they are superseded. :)

Any of you who have "Been there and done that" know what I mean. The only folks with a "proven" ability to handle the situation are those there first... who did handle it. Latecomers might be capable, and may even have the right to lead... but it isn't until they have proven themselves that the hard young men will trust them.
« Last Edit: December 19, 2013, 11:44:27 AM by Silver Fox »

Offline apophenia

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Re: Transport to Tactical, the story of Canada's combative support ships
« Reply #12 on: December 21, 2013, 11:03:21 AM »
Great stuff! Love the RO-RO concept and HMCS Ortona has great lines  :)
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Offline Silver Fox

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Re: Transport to Tactical, the story of Canada's combative support ships
« Reply #13 on: December 21, 2013, 12:46:39 PM »
Funny the difference 22m can make. Vimy Ridge looks like an LHD or similar 'phib.

Ortona looks like a carrier of some variety.

Be nice to see either of them in steel. :)