HMCS Athabaskan (DDH 282)

HMCS "Athabaskan" (DDG 282) is an sclass|Iroquois|destroyer|1 that has served the Canadian Forces since 1972.

"Athabaskan" is the third ship of her class which is sometimes referred to as the "Tribal"-class or simply as the "280"-class. She is the third vessel to use the designation warship|HMCS|Athabaskan.

"Athabaskan" was laid down on 1 June 1969 at Davie Shipbuilding, Lauzon and was launched on 27 November 1970. She was officially commissioned into the CF on 30 September 1972 and carries the pennant number 282.

"Athabaskan" completed a refit known as the Tribal Class Update and Modernization Project (TRUMP) on 4 June 1994. At this time her classification changed from Destroyer Helicopter (DDH) to Destroyer Guided Missile (DDG).

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

ervice

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

"Athabaskan" has also been deployed on missions throughout the Atlantic and to the Indian Ocean; specifically the Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea on anti-terrorism operations.

"Athabaskan" has also participated in several NATO missions, patrolling the Atlantic Ocean as part of Standing Naval Force Atlantic (STANAVFORLANT) and its successor Standing NATO Response Force Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1).

In August 1990 "Athabaskan" was hurriedly refit with several advanced weapons including a Close In Weapons System (CIWS) for deployment on Operation FRICTION, the CF assistance to coalition Operation DESERT SHIELD. "Athabaskan" was appointed flag ship of the Canadian Naval Task Group which included the destroyer HMCS|Terra Nova|DDE 259 and supply ship HMCS|Protecteur|AOR 509. The Task Group was deployed to the central Persian Gulf with other coalition naval forces through the fall of 1990. After Operation DESERT STORM began in January, the Task Group undertook escort duties for hospital ships and other vulnerable coalition naval vessels. The sclass|Ticonderoga|cruiser|1 USS|Princeton|CG-59 detonated two Iraqi bottom-moored influence mines (MANTAs) at the north end of the Persian Gulf and was seriously damaged. Although "Athabaskan" was not assigned to the area, the commanding officer of "Princeton" specifically requested her assistance to escort the damaged warship out of the minefield; this was because, unusual for a ship of her relatively small size, "Athabaskan" could operate two large CH-124 Sea King helicopters simultaneously, which were used to scout for and sweep for mines for an extended period of time. "Athabaskan" and her helicopters safely escorted "Princeton" out of the minefield and, as a gesture of solidarity, winched over several cases of beer for the crew of "Princeton" since United States Navy vessels were dry. "Athabaskan" returned to her Task Group and remained on station in the Persian Gulf until after the war was concluded. After the hostilities were complete she was relieved by sister "Iroquois"-class HMCS|Huron|DDH 281.

On 2 September 2005 "Athabaskan" was one of several MARLANT vessels and a Canadian Coast Guard ship that were deployed to Mississippi and Louisiana to assist disaster relief efforts after Hurricane Katrina. This was part of the larger Canadian response to Hurricane Katrina.

References

* [http://www.navy.forces.gc.ca/athabaskan/home/index_e.asp HMCS "Athabaskan" (DDG 282) - official website]