Halifax class frigates of the R.C.N. have been in service since 1992. All twelve ships of this class are armed with a single Bofors57mm Mk 3 gun as their main gun armament.
This comparatively small calibre weapon is designed to engage airborne targets, such as aircraft and missiles. They have a limited capacity in an anti-surface warfare role and have negligible value in the naval gunfire support role.
It has been announced that Canada has selected Leonardo Naval Gun Systems to supply OTO127/64 LW Vulcano 127mm(5 inch)naval gun mounts for the R.C.N.’s new multi-role combat ships (CSC).
These weapons are primarily designed for use in the naval gunfire support role along with a useful capacity in the anti-surface warfare role. Their utility for anti-aircraft fire is best described as secondary.
In other words they have almost the exact opposite characteristics of weapon they are effectively replacing. This raises several questions.
Has the R.C.N. been lacking a necessary capacity since the OTO Melara 5-inch (127 mm)/54 calibre guns were removed from the DDH-280 class destroyers in the early 1990’s?
How many times in the past thirty years has the R.C.N/Government of Canada felt the lack of ability to pound ground targets with large amounts of naval gunfire?
Just who is it that believes that that using multi-billion dollar, 8000 ton warships in littoral waters to deliver fire support is going to be a common occurrence in the next thirty years?
Canadian Defence Matters will raise these questions with the Department of National Defence. In the event any answers are received they will be passed along.
https://www.navylookout.com/in-focus-the-bofors-57mm-mk-3-gun-that-will-equip-the-type-31-frigates/
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2021/04/canada-selects-leonardo-naval-gun-systems-for-the-csc-combat-ships/
https://electronics.leonardo.com/en/products/127-64-lw
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iroquois-class_destroyer
