Extension to Victoria Class In-Service Support Contract for Babcock.

According to a press release published by Babcock on March 18, 2021, the firm is pleased to announce that the Government of Canada has opted to exercise two one-year contract extension options to the existing Victoria In-Service Support Contract (VISSC). Originally awarded in 2008, exercising the options will see VISSC extended to June 2023.
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Upholder/Victoria class submarine of Royal Canadian Navy (Picture source: Babcock Canada)

VISSC is one of the largest naval in-service support contracts in Canada and includes project management, technology integration, logistics, configuration and safety records management, engineering support, capability upgrades, refits and deep maintenance periods to support Canada’s fleet of four Victoria-Class submarines (VCS).

For over 12 years, Babcock Canada has collaborated with the Fleet Maintenance Facility (FMF) Cape Scott, the FMF Cape Breton, the Department of National Defence (DND), and Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) to maintain, refit, and upgrade Canada’s VCS.

The Upholder/Victoria class was designed as a replacement for the Oberon class for use as hunter-killer and training subs. The submarines, which have a single-skinned, teardrop-shaped hull, displace 2,220 long tons (2,260 t) surfaced and 2,455 long tons (2,494 t) submerged. They are 230 feet 7 inches (70.3 m) long overall with a beam of 25 feet 0 inches (7.6 m) and a draught of 17 feet 8 inches (5.4 m).

The submarines are powered by a one shaft diesel-electric system. They are equipped with two Paxman Valenta 1600 RPS SZ diesel engines each driving a 1.4-megawatt (1,900 hp) GEC electric alternator with two 120-cell chloride batteries. The batteries have a 90-hour endurance at 3 knots (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph). The ship is propelled by a 4.028-megawatt (5,402 hp) GEC dual armature electric motor turning a seven-blade fixed pitch propeller. They have a 200-long-ton (200 t) diesel capacity. This gives the subs a maximum speed of 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) on the surface and 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) submerged. They have a range of 8,000 nautical miles (15,000 km; 9,200 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) and 10,000 nautical miles (19,000 km; 12,000 mi) at snorting depth. The class has a reported dive depth of over 650 feet (200 m).

The Upholder/Victoria class are armed with six 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes. They could also be adapted for use as a minelayer. The submarines have Type 1007 radar and Type 2040, Type 2019, Type 2007 and Type 2046 sonar installed. The hull is fitted with elastomeric acoustic tiles to reduce acoustic signature. In British service the vessels had a complement of seven officers and 40 ratings.