HMCS Toronto (FFH 333)

HMCS "Toronto" (FFH 333) is a sclass|Halifax|frigate|1 that has served in the Canadian Forces since 1993.

"Toronto" is the fourth ship in her class which is the name for the Canadian Patrol Frigate Project. She is the second vessel to carry the designation warship|HMCS|Toronto.

"Toronto" was laid down on 22 April 1989 at Saint John Shipbuilding Ltd., Saint John and launched on 18 December 1990. She was commissioned into the Canadian Forces on 29 July 1993 and carries the pennant number 333.

She is assigned to Maritime Forces Atlantic (MARLANT) and is homeported at CFB Halifax.

ervice

"Toronto" serves on MARLANT missions protecting Canada's sovereignty in the Atlantic Ocean and enforcing Canadian laws in its territorial sea and Exclusive Economic Zone.

;Service highlights
* Operation Sharp Guard, 1994 - NATO patrols off the coast of the former Yugoslavia to restrict the importation of arms and fuel in an effort to end the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
* Operation Victory in Europe, 1995 - Joined international flotilla of warships to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Victory in Europe.
* Standing Naval Force Atlantic, 1997 - "Toronto" deployed for North Atlantic operations with STANAVFORLANT and was involved in a major search and rescue operation off the coast of Spain.
*Operation Determination, 1998 - UN patrols in the northern Persian Gulf to effect an embargo against Iraq. "Toronto"'s rapid redeployment to the Persian Gulf necessitated intense training to prepare the ship for tropical operations under the chemical and biological warfare threats of Iraq.
*Flagship for the Canadian Task Group Atlantic, November 1998 - January 2000 - "Toronto" is involved in an intensive year of operations, sailing in every CTGA exercise.
*Exercise El Morro Castle, 1999 - Successful missile engagements against target drones and missiles confirms the effectiveness of the ship's advanced missile defence system and the crew's training.
*Search and rescue of the M/V "Leader L", 2000 - "Toronto" in company with a squadron of Canadian warships to scene of sinking and is involved in rescue of 13 crew members. 18 men perished in the accident.
*Search and rescue of fishing boat, 2001 - "Toronto" responds to distress call of sinking fishing boat while conducting work-ups off Nova Scotia coast and is involved in rescue of 3 crewmembers. 1 man perished in the sinking.
*Operation Active Endeavour, 2001 - 2002 - "Toronto" deployed for eastern Mediterranean Sea patrols with NATO's Standing Naval Force Atlantic on anti-terrorism operations. "Toronto"'s rapid deployment necessitated intense training to prepare for possible nuclear, biological, and chemical threats.
*Operation Apollo, 2002 - "Toronto" re-deploys to the northern Arabian Sea to conduct operations in the support of anti-terrorism operations.
*Operation Unison, September 2005 - Part of MARCOM contingent dispatched to assist in Hurricane Katrina (see: Canadian response to Hurricane Katrina).
*October 1, 2007 - "Toronto", while serving in NATO's Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1), was involved in a search and rescue operation of 9 missing Yemeni soldiers after a volcanic eruption on Jabal al-Tair island, about 140 kilometres off the coast of Yemen in the Red Sea. "Toronto" rescued one man and located the bodies of two more.

References

* [http://www.navy.forces.gc.ca/toronto/home/index_e.asp HMCS "Toronto" (FFH 333) - official website]