HMCS Protecteur (AOR 509)

HMCS Protecteur is a Canadian Protecteur-class auxiliary oiler replenishment ship. Built by Saint John Shipbuilding and Dry Docks in Saint John, New Brunswick, she was commissioned in 1969, the first ship of her class. She is the first Canadian naval unit to carry the name Protecteur; however, there have been several units, including a base, named HMCS Protector. The ship is assigned to the Royal Canadian Navy's Maritime Forces Pacific (MARPAC) in Esquimalt, British Columbia.

Service
In 1991, HMCS Protecteur was part of the Canadian contingent sent to the Persian Gulf as part of Operation Desert Shield and later Operation Friction (the Canadian name for its operations during the Persian Gulf War). The ship, part of a three-vessel force (the other two being the destroyers HMCS Athabaskan (DDH 282) and HMCS Terra Nova (DDE 259)), saw extensive service in the Central Gulf.

Protecteur was deployed to East Timor as part of the Australian-led INTERFET peacekeeping taskforce from 23 October 1999 to 23 January 2000.

On 19 September 2011, Protecteur departed from CFB Esquimalt for a two-month deployment off southern California as part of the U.S. Navy's Carrier Strike Group Nine. Protecteur joined the destroyer HMCS Algonquin (DDG 283) and the frigate HMCS Ottawa (FFH 341) in Fleet Week activities in San Diego, California, between 26 and 30 September 2011.

On August 30, 2013, the ship was involved in a collision with the Iroquois-class destroyer HMCS Algonquin (DDG 283) during towing exercises. There were no injuries to personnel, although the ship sustained damage to her bow.

Future
The ship will continue to operate until the Joint Support Ship Project has been completed.