HMCS Robert Hampton Gray
HMCS Robert Hampton Gray is the sixth and final for the Royal Canadian Navy. The class was derived from the Arctic [Offshore Patrol Ship] project as part of the National Shipbuilding Strategy and is primarily designed for the patrol and support of Canada's Arctic regions.
Design and construction
The option to build the sixth ship in the series was taken up in November 2018 when the vessel was ordered. The first steel for the vessel was cut in August 2022, starting ship construction. The keel was laid down on 21 August 2023 and the ship was launched in December 2024. Contractor sea trials were completed on 6 August 2025, and she was formally named in a traditional bottle breaking ceremony by the niece of the ship's namesake, Lieutenant Robert Hampton Gray, on 9 August 2025, coinciding with the 80th anniversary of his death.The s are designed for use in the Arctic regions of Canada for patrol and support within Canada's exclusive economic zone. The vessel is long overall with a beam of. The ship has a displacement of. The ship has an enclosed foredeck that protects machinery and work spaces from Arctic climates. The vessel is powered by a diesel-electric system composed of four MAN 6L32/44CR four-stroke medium-speed diesel generators and two electric propulsion motors rated at driving two shafts. Robert Hampton Gray is capable of in open water and in first-year sea ice. The ship is also equipped with a bow thruster to aid during manoeuvres and docking procedures without requiring tugboat assistance. The ship has an operational range of at least at in open water and an endurance of 120 days. Robert Hampton Gray is equipped with fin stabilizers to decrease roll in open water but can be retracted during icebreaking.
Robert Hampton Gray is able to deploy with multiple payloads, including shipping containers, underwater survey equipment or landing craft. Payload operations are aided by a crane for loading and unloading. The ship is equipped with a vehicle bay which can hold pickup trucks, all-terrain vehicles and snowmobiles. The ship also has two multi-role rescue boats capable of over. The ship is armed with one BAE Mk 38 gun and two M2 Browning machine guns. The patrol ship has an onboard hangar and flight deck for helicopters up to the size of a Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone. Robert Hampton Gray has a complement of 65 and accommodation for 87.