Halifax-class frigates

The Halifax-class frigate is a class of warship deployed by Canada's navy. Twelve of the ships are in service; all were deployed between 1992 and 1997. The twelve vessels are all named after major Canadian cities, and thus are sometimes referred to as "City-class" vessels.

The Halifax-class ships are, in order of date of commission;

• HMCS Halifax (FFH-330)
• HMCS Vancouver (FFH-331)
• HMCS Ville de Québec (FFH-332)
• HMCS Toronto (FFH-333)
• HMCS Regina (FFH-334)
• HMCS Calgary (FFH-335)
• HMCS Montréal (FFH-336)
• HMCS Fredericton (FFH-337)
• HMCS Winnipeg (FFH-338)
• HMCS Charlottetown (FFH-339)
• HMCS St. John's (FFH-340)
• HMCS Ottawa (FFH-341)

The ships are heavily armed missile frigates, each armed with Sea Sparrow anti-aircraft missles, Harpoon block Ic anti-ship missiles in fore and aft quad launchers, Phalanx antimissle guns, depth charge launchers, Mark 42 torpedoes fired from bow lauchers, and a Bofors 57-milimetre naval cannon. Each frigate also carries a multi-use helicopter. Halifax-class ships carry state-of-the-art surveillance and targeting equipment.

Halifax-class frigates displace 5,200 tons and use two General Electric turbines as their primary powerplants, with a total power of 95,000 standard horsepower (71 megawatts).

Halifax-class vessels are usually on station in the Persian Gulf on a rotating basis, providing security and hunting terrorists.

Plans are currently in place to upgrade the Sea Sparrow weapons systems, add towed sonar arrays, and add newer screws and anechoic tiles to reduce noise emission. It is believed HMCS Montréal has already been upgraded in the latter regard.