The HMCS Frédérick Rolette sails into the Hudson River in New York City in May 2025. It is the fifth of six Artic Offshore Patrol Vessels in the Royal Canadian Navy. WIKIPEDIA
Canada commissioned its fifth Arctic Offshore Patrol Vessel (AOPV) in June 2025, completing another milestone toward overhauling its naval fleet. His Majesty’s Canadian Ship Frèdèrick Rolette joins four other AOPVs in strengthening Canada’s Arctic armed presence as well as bolstering its capacity to conduct surveillance, reconnaissance, search and rescue, and disaster-relief operations.
The HMCS Frèdèrick Rolette was officially commissioned in a ceremony in which her commanding officer, Commander Jolene Lisi, was given the ship’s commissioning pendant, according to a news release from the Canadian Department of National Defence. “Today’s ceremony is a celebratory event for our crew. As His Majesty’s Canadian Ship Frédérick Rolette is welcomed into the fleet, we look forward to each and every opportunity we will have to sail on this great ship, both at home and abroad. I am incredibly proud of the work of our sailors and thank all of those who have brought us to today,” Lisi said in the June 13 release.
The AOPVs, known as the Harry DeWolf class, are named in honor of Vice-Adm. Harry DeWolf, a Canadian wartime naval hero. The first in its class, HMCS Harry DeWolf, entered service in 2021. The final AOPY, HMCS Robert Hampton Gray, will be delivered in August, the release stated. “Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessels are a critical capability for our Navy’s ability to defend Canada’s waters. To assert our sovereignty, we will need a strong and sustained presence along our three coasts. The HMCS Frédérick Rolette and its crew are integral to that objective — asserting our sovereignty in Arctic and coastal waters,” said Minister of National Defence David J. McGuinty.
AOPVs are designed to patrol Canada’s far-flung regions. Aside from increasing domain awareness and force presence in the Arctic, the ships also have participated in joint Caribbean drug interdictions with the U.S, The Bahamas and other regional partners. In 2017, Canada launched a $1.7 billion project to build the six ships for the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN). They can carry a CH-148 Cyclone maritime patrol helicopter and are equipped with a 25 mm cannon and a M2 Browning .50-caliber machine gun.
The ships can accommodate up to 87 Sailors and embedded troops and have a range of 12,600 kilometers. “Welcoming a ship into service with the Royal Canadian Navy is always a significant milestone for our sailors. Today, we celebrate the many months of trials and readiness training which the crew of His Majesty’s Canadian Ship Frédérick Rolette has steadfastly completed. We recognize the agility of this great platform which will monitor and defend Canadian sovereignty in all three of our oceans,” said Vice Admiral Angus Topshee, RCN commander.