HMCS Montréal (FFH 336)

HMCS Montréal (FFH 336) is a Halifax-class frigate that has served in the Canadian Forces since 1993.

Montréal is the seventh ship in her class which is based on the Canadian Patrol Frigate Project. She is the second vessel to carry the designation HMCS Montreal.

Montréal was laid down on 8 February 1991 at Saint John Shipbuilding Ltd., Saint John and launched on 28 February 1992. She was officially commissioned into the CF on 29 September 1993 and carries the hull classification symbol 336. On 5 July 2012, Montréal was turned over to Irving Shipbuilding's Halifax Ship Yards, to start a 18 month mid-life upgrading and modernization.

She is assigned to Maritime Forces Atlantic (MARLANT) and is homeported at CFB Halifax.

Service
Montréal serves on MARLANT missions protecting Canada's sovereignty in the Atlantic Ocean and enforcing Canadian laws in its territorial sea and Exclusive Economic Zone.

Montréal has also been deployed on missions throughout the Atlantic and to the Indian Ocean; specifically the Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea on anti-terrorism operations.

Montréal has also participated in several NATO missions, patrolling the Atlantic Ocean as part of Standing Naval Force Atlantic (STANAVFORLANT) and its successor Standing NATO Response Force Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1).

In recent years Montréal has conducted sovereignty patrols in the Canadian Arctic as well as assisting in drug interdiction operations in the Caribbean Sea.

On 8 February 2005 Leading Seaman Robert Leblanc was lost overboard and subsequently pronounced dead.

Montréal recently engaged in acceptance trials for the new CH-148 Cyclone maritime helicopter. Several modifications had to be made for the trials to the ship, including adding green filters to the flight deck landing lights and reinforcing the flight deck due to the Cyclone being heavier than the CH-124 Sea King. HMCS Montréal has successfully completed the tests which include routine flying operations as well as responding to some critical situations.

On 3 July 2011 the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge embarked on the vessel which conveyed them from Montreal to Quebec city.

Lineage - Montréal
First of Name Shore establishment Naval Reserve Division, Montreal, Quebec Commissioned as a tender to HMCS Hochelaga II 1 November 1941 Recommissioned as an independent shore establishment 1 September 1942 Paid off 26 October 1943 and redesignated HMCS Donnacona

Second of Name HMCS Montreal (K319) Frigate, River Class Commissioned 12 November 1943 Paid off 15 October 1945

Third of Name This is the current ship with the name Montréal