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Backgrounder on Canadian Submarines

Canada’s Submarine Policy

The Canadian Navy, over the years, has consistently argued for a substantial submarine element in the Canadian fleet. According to the Navy, submarines are necessary, both for the purposes of preserving domestic security, and for international operations.

On the home front, in the view of the Navy, Canada’s submarine fleet has a key role to play in protecting the country’s interests. This role includes:

• Enhancing Canada’s surveillance capability, so the Navy might better keep tabs on the presence of others in Canadian waters;
• Providing a strong deterrent to terrorists, smugglers (of people, drugs, and other contraband), illegal fishing, and polluters;
• Assisting other federal government departments in their work, including both the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP); and,
• Reinforcing Canada’s maritime sovereignty by having a modern submarine presence on both coasts.

On the international stage, in the view of the Navy, a submarine fleet is crucial for the role it plays in:

• Enhancing Canada’s capacity to participate in international military exercises and multinational military operations;
• Furthering Canada’s surveillance capability in international military operations; and,
• Offering protection to Canadian and coalition warships in international military operations.

The 1998 Submarine Purchase

Prior to 1998 the submarine fleet of the Canadian Navy consisted of three ‘Oberon-class’ submarines – the HMCS Ojibwa, the HMCS Onondaga, and the HMCS Okanagan These submarines were purchased from the British Navy in 1965; at that time, they were ‘state of the art’ vessels. The Canadian Navy purchased two more Oberon-class subs from the British (one for training and another for spare parts), in addition to leasing a submarine from the American Navy in 1968 – the HMCS Rainbow – which was subsequently decommissioned in 1974.

In the late 1980s, Prime Minister Brian Mulroney proposed the addition of a fleet of 10-12 nuclear-powered submarines, given that the HMCS Ojibwa, the HMCS Okanagan, and the HMCS Onondaga were nearing the end of their useful lives. A key objective in making the pitch for 10-12 subs: to provide Canada with a ‘three-ocean’ navy and the capacity to its assert sovereignty in the Arctic. The Mulroney government, however, was forced to cancel the initiative in 1989 given the poor economic climate of the day; the costs involved in purchasing such an advanced fleet of submarines were simply too great.

After the Liberals, led by Jean Chrétien, assumed government, they implemented a strict deficit reduction strategy that resulted in severe cuts to the defence budget. As a consequence, the Navy was left without any resources to replace its aging Oberon-class submarines.

In 1998, however, another opportunity came about that would seemingly allow Canada to replace its aging submarine fleet in a relatively cost-effective manner. At that time the Canadian Navy negotiated a deal with the British Navy to lease four diesel-powered ‘Victoria-class long-range patrol’ submarines. These submarines had been built by the British Navy in the late 1980s and early 1990s, but had remained unused since 1994 as Britain decided it would only maintain its fleet of nuclear submarines. As buying four new non-nuclear submarines would have cost the Canadian Navy approximately $3 to $5 billion CDN total, being able to lease the four used submarines from the British Navy for approximately $800 million CDN was a relative ‘steal.’ With its agreement to lease, the Canadian Navy also received training simulators and training support, as well as spare parts for the submarines. Furthermore, as the submarines were in storage for four years, they needed to undergo servicing and testing to ensure their readiness for service. Under the package negotiated by the Canadian Navy, the British were responsible for such servicing and testing.The four boats were named the HMCS Victoria, the HMCS Windsor, the HMCS Corner Brook, and the HMCS Chicoutimi.

The first submarine, HMCS Victoria, was delivered in 2000. Canada took delivery of the final submarine, HMCS Chicoutimi, in 2004.

Incidentally, the HMCS Ojibwa and HMCS Okanagan were decommissioned in 1998; the HMCS Onondaga was decommissioned in 2000.

‘Victoria-class’ Submarine Quick Facts

• Engine - Diesel-electric, consisting of two Paxman Valenta 16-cylinder diesels driving two G.E.C. Alsthom 1,400 –kilowatt generators, which power the main drive motor and sub's electrical systems, and charge the vessel’s batteries. The boat is propelled through the water by a single 5,400 shaft horse power (shp) electric motor turning a single propeller.
• Length – 70.26 metres
• Speed – 12 knots (surface), 20 knots (submerged)
• Patrol Endurance – approximately 8 weeks
• Crew capacity – 48
• Diving Depth – 200 metres

Other useful facts:

• Victoria-class subs can maintain covert surveillance of 125,000 square kilometres of ocean. Each is also equipped with weapons systems, both to defend the vessel from attack, and to engage other vessels proactively in battle if necessary.
• A Victoria-class submarine costs approximately one-third less to operate than a frigate or destroyer.

For More Information on the Victoria-class Submarines, visit the web site of the Canadian Navy

Past Submarine Incidents

The fire onboard the HMCS Chicoutimi is only the latest in a series of problems the Canadian Navy has encountered with each of the submarines it leased as part of its 1998 deal with the British Navy.

Among these other problems:

• Delivery of the submarines ran three years behind schedule, the result of a series of technical problems that were discovered with each of the vessels. For example, when the submarines were brought out of storage, the British Navy found cracks in some key valves, requiring additional repairs and testing, and causing further delays in delivery;
• Equipment overheating problems on the HMCS Victoria’s maiden voyage, the result of a faulty ventilation system;
• The discovery of a ‘dent’ in the hull of the HMCS Victoria, which has subsequently restricted the vessel’s diving depth to about 75 percent of its 200-metre capacity. The dent was the result of a collision that occurred prior to the acquisition of the vessel by the Canadian Navy; and,
• During its sea trials the HMCS Windsor experienced malfunctions of a hydraulic system that raises and lowers masts. Further to this, the engine room was flooded due to an error by a crewman.

In addition to the various technical difficulties the Canadian Navy has encountered with these vessels, it has also had to bear an unexpected cost burden.

Indeed, the estimated yearly costs of operating the four submarines has risen to $121 million from about $97 million. Further, due to their collective structural problems, the overall cost of acquiring the submarines has risen to $897 million – from the original $800 million price tag.

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HMCS Chicoutimi: A Chronology of Events

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