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  • Naval War: Arctic Circle
Introducing the loyal workhorse of the Royal Canadian Navy, the Halifax class frigate.

halifax_class_maya_RED.jpg

While the ship is a late cold war design, recent refits has kept the proud ship class up to date with modern weapons and sensors. Carrying a helicopter hangar and a strong sonar suite, the Halifax is primarily designed for ASW duties, a natural consequence of the vast coast line the 12 ships of this class is tasked with defending. With Harpoon anti-ship missiles and ESSM anti-air missiles, this is nevertheless a well-rounded ship that adds substantial firepower and versatility to your fleet.

As always, this is a quick render of the 3D model from Maya, not how the ship will look inside the game engine.
 
Naval War: Arctic Circle has received quite a bit of attention from the Canadian press over the last week.

I was first interviewed on CBC Radio, and a short segment was broadcast nationwide. CBC News also wrote a very nice article based on the interview.

This story was picked up by at least two news sources syndicating content for newspapers across the country, resulting in articles like this in Canada.com and this in the Toronto Sun (with the above model render). Also across the border journalists picked up the story.

Apparently, I have received even more interview requests from Canada. Great country! :)
 
Personally, I believed that both the Halifax and the Kingston classes ought to make it into the game: what is good about this though is the fact that they have different roles.

The Joint Support Ship Project will start building either before the end of 2012 but for sure in 2013: two ships with a possible third are on the roll. I would surely include the Joint Support Ships in the game but I can understand why they would be left out.

New Maritime Helicopters will be delivered starting in 2014 [CH-148 Cyclone] (~30 ordered) and even the German Navy is considering ordering some since it has impressed with its multirole aspect and its ruggedness at sea. Although I wonder if they would fit correctly in the Halifax-class hangar? I do not see why not though...

However, I need to point out that the four Victoria-class submarines, which all had difficulties in the 2000s, are being refitted. Only one is operational right now and will be going in drydocks for repairs when the HMCS Corner Brooks will herself be repaired and after her refitting is completed. They should therefore be included in the game since they would have pivotal roles.

About this, read here and here.
 
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I honestly can't see the Victorias lasting that long. Even with refits and proper maintenance by 2030 they'll be 44 years old and unless they're completely rebuilt (With all the risks that entails) they're going to be completely clapped out by then.
 
I'll be quite happy just using the CFP, and co-opting other models for the DDG's and SSK's I'll need to make a little Canadian task group. :) If everything is XML, I don't think that should be too hard. Like I said in the other posts, MCDV (Kinston Class) wouldn't really serve any purpose in this game and the A/OPs might end up looking a lot like some of the vessel classes already in the game. As for submarines, who knows what 2030 will hold, maybe we'll finally find the money and the public support for nuclear subs, who knows!
 
The thing is though these ships will probably be retired by the time the setting of this game occurs. Also wouldnt you think that Canada having a huge part of the country in the arctic would play a larger role in this game? Just saying
 
As much as you would, you have to understand it's a game by European developers, and you can tell even from the focus of the map, that there is a European focus. Who knows, maybe if they get enough attention from Canadians they might do a RCN downloadable content!
 
The problem is mostly that Canada doesn't have that many ships that can play a significant role in the major combat operations we depict in this game. It is the Halifax class, essentially, and F35s from its air bases, and both will be crucial in the campaign.

If we get decent information on future Canadian ships or subs that would be fun to include in later expansions, surely we'll do that. Canada has been very good to us, and we're going to keep an eye on these developments (and I am sure you'll keep us updated!).
 
Jan, you are most likely already aware of this resource, but the site Submarine Simulations always has very recent news of the procurement decisions of navies the world over. There has been a lot of talk about the Canadian submarine program as well as the Australian's. I check this site at least once daily to keep up on current events.

Also, I am sure the folks down here at Bath Iron Works would appreciate the work you're doing in accurately depicting the DDG-51 Arleigh Burke class currently being built and the Ticonderoga class that was built here in the past. The USS Winston S. Churchill was built right here in Bath. I was at the commissioning, one of the last to take place here at BIW and not at the individual ships home ports, and there was a lot of 'important' people who came out to see the show. This ship is unique in that it always has one Royal Navy office on board at all times as part of the standard crew. She is also one of the very few ships to be named after a foreign dignitary. As I was saying, the local papers here would probably love to do a piece on the ships this town builds making it into a commercial wargame. And since we're pretty much southern Canada in the eyes of most of the US, if you go there for an interview, it's just one border crossing and a 12 hour drive down here. Free publicity if you're in the area, just sayin....... :D
 
Thanks, Sakai.

Yes, I have read subsim.com from time to time, but a reminder is always useful.

Would be awesome to visit the shipyards where they build all these great ships. Paradox is handling the marketing and sales, obviously, but I can always hope I get a chance to do some tour :)
 
Sakai007 said:
Jan, you are most likely already aware of this resource, but the site Submarine Simulations always has very recent news of the procurement decisions of navies the world over. There has been a lot of talk about the Canadian submarine program as well as the Australian's. I check this site at least once daily to keep up on current events.

Also, I am sure the folks down here at Bath Iron Works would appreciate the work you're doing in accurately depicting the DDG-51 Arleigh Burke class currently being built and the Ticonderoga class that was built here in the past. The USS Winston S. Churchill was built right here in Bath. I was at the commissioning, one of the last to take place here at BIW and not at the individual ships home ports, and there was a lot of 'important' people who came out to see the show. This ship is unique in that it always has one Royal Navy office on board at all times as part of the standard crew. She is also one of the very few ships to be named after a foreign dignitary. As I was saying, the local papers here would probably love to do a piece on the ships this town builds making it into a commercial wargame. And since we're pretty much southern Canada in the eyes of most of the US, if you go there for an interview, it's just one border crossing and a 12 hour drive down here. Free publicity if you're in the area, just sayin....... :D
Click to expand...
i saw the uss winston S. churchill in norfork Virginia this past summmer. its a great ship.
 
I currently serve on board HMCS Fredericton which is one of the Halifax class frigates. She is currently undergoing mid-life refit and when she comes out she will look very much like that model. With some exceptions though.

It appears that you have the Goalkeeper close in weapons system on the hangar top, the actual ship is fitted with CIWS Block 1B.

The 3D air search radar is still mounted on the bridge top, not on the hangar top obstructing the fire control radar as it is now.

I could be wrong on where the radars are mounted though since I haven't been over to Lockheed to see the final design yet, I've only looked at some internal renditions of the final product.

Looking forward to enjoying this game!
 
I think three Udaloy's would be enough to blockade Canada. If Russians will place it near Victoria ( BC ), Halifax ( NS ) and in the straight between Nova Scotia and Newfoundland not a single Canadian ship or sub will be able to reach ocean. Please, don't take it personal. I live in Canada and I love this country. I'm just saying it from the game point of view. Canada doesn't have strong NAVY to participate in any naval conflict vs Russia.
 
Thanks for your insights and kind words, Pseudoruse.

Riga, except that Canada has Orions which carry Harpoons. A single Udaloy would be unable to defend that attack, and if the ships stuck in formation they could not block against subs (and still would not easily stop the Harpoons).
 
There is also the recently shut down Brunswick Naval Air Station the next town over. The base hosted three Orion squadrons until a couple years ago. While in Sea Cadets I got the opportunity to go on a short patrol. They showed me all the standard stuff, including the practice of shutting down two engines to increase loiter time. I was able to try my hand at piloting the bird in the bases full size/full motion P-3 flight/weapons/operations simulator. It was, for all intents and purposes, the cockpit of a P-3 and the weapon stations on a big hydraulic platform. You could seat 8 and it had all the stations a real P-3 does minus the 4 bunks and galley at the aft end of the actual aircraft.

Anyways, as I tend to ramble, the point is that BNAS is all of about 24 hours away from being a 90% operational base at all time. They repaired a P-3 the other day that made an unscheduled landing there. That would but the eastern coast of Canada within range of P-3's based in Maine and would make for a very bad day on board those Udaloy class boats. :D

Speaking of P-3's Jan, are we ever going to see any in NWAC??? I doubt that every one of the many nations that operate them would have upgraded to the P-8 in the time frame we are working with here. Being an integral part of Canada's maritime defense, not to mention some of the Scandinavian nations IIRC.
 
MaxRiga, I'm pretty sure you vastly under appreciate how modern naval warfare is conducted. That and the sizes of the areas you're mentioning.

My job involves practicing and planning for real world ship to ship confrontations, and it is quite silly to think one destroyer would be able to just 'blockade' a portion of a country, I don't care how many SAMs it carries.

Canada has a very capable navy and we pride ourselves on our capabilities and I see it every day. Maybe you should learn something about the navy you so readily criticize before you make assertions.

I'm not trying to start a flame war, just speaking from experience.
 
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