HMCS Protector
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HMCS Protector is the second of three operational support ships built in Canada for the Canadian Navy. The first, HMCS Provider (AOR 508), was commissioned in 1963, and until the construction of Protector in 1969, extensive studies had been carried out on her transfer of stores and fuel at sea, optimum stowage and handling capabilities. The Provider studies resulted in significant changes in the design of HMCS Protecteur (AOR 509), and her sister ship HMCS Preserver (AOR 510).
On 16 December 1966, the contract was awarded to Saint John Shipbuilding and Drydock Co. Ltd. On 17 October 1967, Protector's keel was laid, and she was launched on 18 July 1968. The erection of both Protector, and her sister ship, Preserver, was performed on the unit principle; that is cutting of the steel and assembling of both ships was carried out at the same time. She was commissioned on 30 August 1969 and began her service with the Royal Canadian Navy in the Atlantic Fleet.
When Protector was first constructed, she had a twin 3-inch (76mm) gun mounted on her bow. In 1983, they were removed as the guns were deemed as no longer being effective. When Iraq invaded Kuwait on 2 August 1990, the Canadian Government decided to sent three ships; one of which was Protector. Before being deployed twenty days later on 24 August 1990, Protector was rearmed with the twin 3-inch gun, two CIWS (close-in weapon systems, a gun designed to destroy incoming missiles) and two Bofors 20mm guns. The Bofors guns were originally from the Bonaventure. After Bonaventure's decommissioning, the guns were loaned to a Halifax museum, and then borrowed back in 1990 for the Gulf War. After the war, Protector transferred over to the Pacific Fleet in November 1992. She then underwent a base-line refit in 1993-1994. The Bofors guns and the twin 3-inch gun were removed, but she retained her two CIWS guns.
Extra notes (dec 8,2005): HMCS provider was scrapped in 1998.The other two will be scrapped by 2011.Protector carries fuel, avgas, naval stores, and ammunition. It can re-supply from ethier side. It can also carry relief supplies, army units, helicopters. It has workshops and can repair most naval problems. Think of these ships as the eqivilent of a sea going deptartment store.
