Vanguard Magazine

bestdefenceconference.com November 5 & 6, 2019 SAVE THE DATE! Nominate companies for the Tech Showcase! Brought you by Early Bird Registration Ends August 30, 2019 interview ing time in the realm of AOPVs, and that excitement is echoed through the interest in our program by arctic member states. Q How does the ships' leadership intend to keep the crew occupied and entertained during long northern de- ployments given that port visits will be few and far between? On deployment, it is incredibly impor- tant to maintain a work-life balance. This balance pays dividends in terms of main- taining the crew's morale and operational effectiveness. While work hours will be filled with both training and patrols, off time on the Harry DeWolf-Class will allow the crew to relax. This is especially true given that the ship also acts as a sailor's home away from home. These AOPVs are fitted with a cafeteria for all ranks to en- joy their meals as well as three separate lounge areas called "messes." There is a specific mess for the Junior Ranks, one for the Petty Officers and Chief Petty Officers, and one for the Officers. These messes will be where the ship's company will be able to enjoy their time off by watching movies and socializing. The ship is also outfitted with a gymnasium that will be full of fitness equipment. This gear will make it easy for the crew to re- main occupied and also remain fit. The living quarters are set up so that there are no more than six personnel living in one space, and each of these accommodations houses a laptop or a computer that will allow the crew to keep in touch with fam- ily and friends back home. Lastly, this will be the first class in the RCN that will be initially fitted with WiFi in the living and social quarters. This will make it easier for the crew to keep in touch with family when the ship's computers are being used by other sailors. Q Finally, what's next in the timeline for the future HMCS Harry DeWolf, and when can we expect the vessel to be delivered to the RCN? The ship will be brought into service in summer 2019. In between then and now, the ship is still under construction. As it rests in the water alongside Irving Shipbuilding, the ship appears to be complete and ready for service, but once you get inside, you can see there is a lot of work left to do. The big parts are in place now, but cable runs need to con- tinue, the technicians need to terminate all the lines and connect them to the machinery and electronic equipment, and following that a lot of test and trials must be run. In fact, that will be the first job – test and trials – but you can bet that the ship will be put to work immediately, pro- viding sovereignty through presence in Canada's domestic waterways, and wher- ever there is a search and rescue require- ment or interdiction operations by OGD that requires the unique capabilities of this ship, it will be ready to respond con- current to the test and trials.

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