Meet Canada's New Largest Warships ever built since WWII: The River-class Destroyers

Canda's new River-class destroyers, the Largest Warships ever built since WWII. The names of the first three ships in the fleet are HMCS Fraser, HMCS Saint-Laurent, and HMCS Mackenzie. The first Destroyer, HMCS Fraser, is expected to be delivered in the early 2030s, with the final ship completed by 2050.

[@themercer4972]

Hello world, this is Canada, can you please not start WW 3 until after 2030, we simply are not ready.

[@benoitnadeau5845]

Wait 20 more years as the first destroyer is commissioned in 2030 but we will still have 14 to build. And when the last one is built, the first is obsolete and needs a mid life refit.

[@bonedaddy95]

We will only start ww3 if We Don't get the stanely cup back in Canada by then

[@terryvallis1436]

LMFAO!!!

[@Jigger2361]

there's always a Covid era smartass left

[@juniorleslie4804]

Cynical Canadians, who else would be unhappy that the RCN is recapitaliing the Canadian surface warfare fleet.

[@MrVenom-iu9rs]

Canada's investment in military is so laughable. We should have at least 2 aircraft carriers in our fleet preferably 3. We need to stop having so much reliance on the US and be a nation that can carry it's own weight and work with our partners on critical missions and not be a burden on others.

[@delsymdrinker8064]

what? you realize how many nations have even 1 aircraft carrier? Not many.

[@hlafrond965]

Are you kidding 2-3 carriers? We can hardly crew the ships we have. These upcoming frigates should be ideal for our purposes although I regret Irving getting to build them all. Irving was already looking for more money for hire off-shore as they "couldn't find skilled workers" here. The contract was based on hiring Canadians.

[@David-nu6kw]

We need a proper Navy with the size of our coastline and current world problems. Unfortunately politicians are more interested in diversity and other nonsense. Nobody cares how nice you are if they want your country. Canada has neglected defense because daddy is across the border. Only question is what will daddy want to defend Canada?

[@David-nu6kw]

Canada needs a proper Navy with our massive coastline. Our defense has been neglected due to horrible policies and other nonsense.

[@wesleyleeman3242]

these ships will be 20 y/o before they even hit the water lmao

[@watcher63034]

How do you figure? The steel has only been cut on the first one, and due to be done by 2030 ish. Also the equipment and design may change as needed. Do you think that when you order a ship, that it comes off a giant sales lot and they just put it in the water? Virtually every submarine and ship go through the same process.

[@wesleyleeman3242]

@watcher63034 no obviously not it doesn't take a day to build a ship however it will take upward of 10 to 15 years before 2 of these are built and we're in a tech boom rn and if a war breaks out these ships will be outdated before they even touch the water. They need to complete these in 2 years per ship or 5 in 10 years. I'd the plan is to have upwards of 13 of these ships it'll take 50 years or more to even get half of that number and it'll be pointless.

[@wesleyleeman3242]

@@watcher63034 I don't think you quite understand what my comment was

[@watcher63034]

@@wesleyleeman3242 The problem with building all ships at once is this. First they all need upgrades at the same time and that would require multiple building facilities. secondly those experienced workers would retire and leave the workforce stagnant. You need a steady building cycle with refits and new designs so that ships are always being built and/or maintained. Its easier financially too.

[@duncanjesus]

This what you get when you let the shipbuilding industry atrophy. From the keel of HMCS Halifax being laid down to HMCS Ottawa being commissioned was 9 years. That was 12 ships. Now it is going to take 20 years to lay down and commission 15 ships. This was created by successive governments and a population that talks about national defence but won’t ante up when needed or when they are shamed into it. The result is what we see now. By the way I did serve in what was called Maritime Command from 1988 to 1994. Leading Seaman Duncan Dewar. Served in the Reserve with Cararaqui and was part of the recommissioning crew with HMCS Prevost. Went to sea on HMCS Porte St Jean and HMCS MacKenzie.

[@davehope9144]

Considering we’re short 16,000 military personnel who’s going to operate these ships ?

[@Lanky41]

Ghosts

[@deathwatch_alpha9894]

Crews from the halifax fleet.

[@robandcheryls]

@@deathwatch_alpha9894 bless our troops 🇨🇦 Army Vet (rtd)

[@Dan-k6f]

Hardly obsolete. They’ll be among the most sophisticated surface warships in the World.

[@nitroxide17]

The first one is projected to be completed in 2033 (almost a decade from now). With the rapid evolution of naval warfare as seen in Ukraine, the River class will likely need design changes to stay relevant.

[@abrahamdozer6273]

@@nitroxide17 So, what arre your suggestions? There is still lots of time.

[@nitroxide17]

@@abrahamdozer6273 I don’t have any good suggestions… it’s a hard problem to solve.

[@TheBooban]

@@nitroxide17no, this problem is solved. What gets obsolete is the systems, not the platform. These systems will be updated so the last ship will have up to date electronics. Everyone does this. The advanced hull has no predictable obsolescence factor.

[@viper29ca]

@@nitroxide17 That's why they are doing them in batches of 3. Each batch of 3 will likely have upgrades based on technology over the previous 3. UK version was first started in 2017, won't be ready for trials until 2026, so the RCN ones are right on schedule.

[@inzilbethx4501]

River, rhymes with "Give 'er"

[@Dan-k6f]

By the way, they’re pronounced “River” class - not Rye -ver. Rhymes with liver as in the “River” Thames - as these will be named after Canadian rivers

He just pirated this off the Royal Canadian Navy web site anyway, hopefully you tube isn't dumb enough to monetize it 😊

[@watcher63034]

I think it is an AI program. Too many people using it nowadays.

[@dgthe3]

@@watcher63034 And 'river' is such an obscure word, no AI program could ever be expected to get it right

[@watcher63034]

@@dgthe3 The voice sounds pretty good compared to 10 years ago.

[@FranzBieberkopf]

@@watcher63034 It is a robot generated voice. No native English speaker would ever say "Reye-ver" for "Ri-ver".

[@timhall8275]

You don't understand..we weren't ready in ww2 either..we ramped up..really quick

[@MikeH-sg2ue]

For some reason, I want to make a pastrami on rye sandwich. It’s hot today, maybe we should go for a swim in the rye ver, Ham on rye is good too!

[@danlegris387]

They carry even less firepower than the 2500 ton lighter Iroquois class destroyers we built back in the 70's

[@delsymdrinker8064]

Just not true, you could have 3 Iroquois vs one of these at a long distance and this will win every single time

[@danlegris387]

@@delsymdrinker8064 That's funny, the comment was about a 50 year old ship being able to carry more firepower than it's new, heavier, and 20x more expensive (in today's money) replacement, not a long distance fight. The Iroquois were air defense destroyers, they weren't equipped with asm's, so there wouldn't be an anti ship fight between them, they were faster all they would have to do is stay 250 km away from it. In that scenario they would have 6 sea kings to send out after it, if the sea kings didn't sink it they would still just sail away.

[@jimblanchard343]

26 years to build 3 ships, and they are destroyers you've got to be kidding. It's a bloody good thing we don't need an aircraft carrier.

[@westerncanadasayshello]

Aint that the truth. Like what the hell are we doing.

[@brianb-p6586]

The class is planned at 15 ships over those 26 years. Only the first three names have been assigned so far.

[@user-xm7ie8go3p]

In Chine they would build 26 ships in 3 years

[@razorburn645]

Are you clueless? 15 ships over 26 years not 3.

[@andynagy5300]

about time. Hopefully they will build it.

[@RoyChartier]

Why do these cost 5.13B $CAD to build in Canada, but only £1.3B (2.3B $CAD) to build in the U.K?...why aren't we saving the taxpayers of Canada $42B and/or spending that $42B on other military equipment like a few hundred tanks, jets, a dozen new subs, etc? Another boondoggle it seems.

[@CamD477]

Supply chains is the reason given, we don’t have the supply chains in places like the UK who has always maintained a military shipbuilding capability, where Canada has not we lost that capability along time ago and now we have to rebuild it so along with updating shipyards, we have to build a whole supply chain. That’s the reason.. I know it’s crazy to think for amount of money to build 16 new ships we could have, four super carriers

[@hlafrond965]

Because its Canada. We have to buy the ships, make sure the jobs go to a federal riding up for election, there might even be a bit of graft there somewhere and make sure the other folks making the widgets to supply to Irving are in good liberal ridings.

[@JollyOldCanuck]

Because we have to build the shipyard infrastructure to build these war ships while the UK already has functional shipyards for the purpose of building warships. The UK and Canada also use different accounting methods for costing military projects, Canada includes the cost of initial training, ammo acquisition, spare parts acquisition, and etcetera in the project cost.

[@user-dr1vm3pj6q]

Canada needs these ships ASAP not over the next 28 years. Bu the time the last ship is delivered the first one will be ready for scrap!

[@wyldhowl2821]

The way the naval technology is rapidly changing, the last of the class will probably have very different (better) systems than the first, and by the time those are operating, the first ones will already be going in for major refits. That system of constant upgrades seems to just be the way of things.

[@delsymdrinker8064]

Please do not comment on things were you have no idea what you're talking about please

[@user-dr1vm3pj6q]

But you see, I know what I am talking about. I worked 50 years in the shipbuilding industry, and on 5 classes of Canadian warships during that time. Restigouche Class, McKenzie Class, Huron Class, Canadian Patrol Frigates, and Provider. I worked at Irving Shipyard, Halifax shipyard, MIL in Ottawa, Burrard and Yarrows in B.C. and for the Navy at Naval Engineering Unit Pacific!@@delsymdrinker8064

[@byrd-is-the-word]

Stupid AI robot voice continually mispronounces "river" as "ryvur" .. too annoying to listen to .. so I muted the sound .. was better but not good ..

[@rodlever3620]

I like the subject but cannot handle the narrator’s pronunciation of River class. In English, the i after the consonant is soft not hard!

[@Wesley_H]

Canada is about to stop saying _sorry_ .

[@AgeCobra]

At 27 Knot itis a Frigate

[@williamsmith7340]

Why could WWII destroyers do 35 knots, but this bloated tub can only do 27?

[@AgeCobra]

@@williamsmith7340 .It is a Frigate as DDs do over 30 Knots .

[@abrahamdozer6273]

"Largest Warships ever built since WWII" .... Hmmm. Thinking about that statement. Canada never built warships this large during WWII. The largest ships built in Canada were four Triibal Class displacing 1854 tons. The new ships weigh in at 8000 tones and are 4-1/3 times bigger than those. The 280 Class destroyers built between 1969 ad 1973 weighed in at 5,00 tons. (we'll ignore the 22,000 ton AORS also bullt around that time) so they are the biggest built since 1970.

And the new Protecteur is the largest not these and yes it's classed as a warship unlike the asterix

[@abrahamdozer6273]

Yup.I rode on her namesake as a stoker. She was built to warship standards back in 1969.

[@viper29ca]

I think they mean in number of ships, not necessarily the size of the ship

[@abrahamdozer6273]

@@viper29ca That's not true either. The post WWII Canadian River Class Destroyer program stretching between 1950 and 1964 produced 20 ships. The sailors of that generation referred to them as "Cadillacs" as they were lntra modern and far more comfortable for their crew than the older wartime destroyers that overlepped them until 1965. HMCS St. Laurent thru HMCS Nipigon

[@watcher63034]

Yeah pretty sure they are the largest ever, even if you called them "destroyers", which they arent.

[@michaelanderson3096]

Lazer defense for drones & cruise missiles defense 😮

[@benoitnadeau5845]

Its not the largest built in Canada yet cause we need to wait 6 years before the first one is actually built, just saying. Oh and only if we are on time 🤫🤫🤫🤫🤫🤫

[@regtimmins1944]

Exactly they are still type 26 multiple mission type 26 friget so how did they become classified as a destroyers

[@airwalk247]

RIVER......Not RYEver......other than that, liked the video.

[@steveverhoef5667]

Looks like a big drone target.

[@lukeamato423]

Looks like you have no clue what you're talking about

[@steveverhoef5667]

“Long-range rapid maritime kamikaze drones occupy a separate strategic niche in Ukraine’s military operations.”These robotic boats allow Ukraine to protect its grain corridor, amplify domination in the Black Sea, and engage distant enemy naval targets. Drones are effective at sinking ships.

[@lukeamato423]

@@steveverhoef5667 effective at sinking Russian ships*

[@steveverhoef5667]

Agreed 100% the Russia ships haven’t been updated since launched. Drone tech is advancing fast. I’m sure this new ship will take out the first two wolf packs 10m naval drones.

[@user-hh8er3wi5b]

Nearling the sizes of the cruisers although😊

[@user-xm7ie8go3p]

It only takes one 10 .000 dollars drone to destroy whole ship

[@user-bj6zd1ok5n]

These are the Fraser Class - Canadian warships are traditionally named after the first of class.

[@ryanlivingstone4961]

Fraser st Lawrence etc are river names in Canada. So instead of naming them like hmcs Fraser River they named the class river and all the destroyers after Canadian rivers!

[@simonlarkin2539]

I like the video but the voice bothers me. He has a difficult accent and is hard to understand. It bothers me that he keeps mispronouncing “river” with a hard “i”. This must be AI voice. No one in the world pronounces “river” like that.

[@WeaponsofTheWorlds]

I'm sorry for mispronouncing “river”.

[@Ben-bf4cx]

okay

[@tomlarocque4720]

When did the Type-26 FRIGATE become a destroyer? The moment you gave it the "River Class" moniker?

[@marcbilodeau6927]

will there be a bear trap?

[@jameslatimer3600]

Where are these ships being built?

[@JollyOldCanuck]

Halifax, Nova Scotia with parts sourced from all across Canada, the US, the UK, and Australia.

[@michaelanderson3096]

Good infrastructure projects using unionized workers - make union dues optional.

[@edkrach8891]

Phalanx should be installed as a back-up to ESSM missiles.

[@Spectro108]

No ESSM, 2x RAM

[@viper29ca]

@@Spectro108 ESSM in the Mk 41s.

[@viper29ca]

Doesn't need phalanx, it has 2, 30mm guns on the rear quarters, as well as 2 X 21 cell RAM missiles in the stern deck. Couple that with ESSMs and SM2s in the Mk41s, it will be well protected. And before you say the Phalanx is better, it actually isn't. Phalanx puts out a crap ton of lead, but that is because it is only a 20mm bullet, and has to actually strike the target to be effective. These 30mm rounds are not only bigger, hit harder, but have a longer range, but can also be fitted with air burst shells. Therefore only has to get near the target and explode as opposed to actually striking the target with the round itself.

[@robertdickson9319]

They should be outfitted with many more AA/anti ship/anti drone guns. Russia is having problems now with defending their ships against naval drones because they do not have enough small caliber guns. The NATO ships in the Red Sea are also blowing through expensive missiles at a significant rate shooting down missiles - we need something more plentiful & cheaper to fire over an extended period.

[@viper29ca]

@@robertdickson9319 Not sure what an anti ship missile is going to do to a drone. But for AA, there are 2 30mm guns, both can fire air burst rounds. 2, 21 cell RAM missile launchers, and 24 Mk41 missile cells that can be armed however you want. Arm them all with quad packed ESSM and that is 96 more missiles. 138 missiles total, plus the 2 30mm guns, and the main 127 mm gun can be used to defend from an air attach as well. Not to mention the other defensive systems on board. Ship will be fine

[@Maxislithium]

The lack of a CiWS bothers only because light drone warfare has proven it's self effective on the modern battlefield. Other then that, looks good.

[@egemensentin]

Mentioned as “close-in air defence system” at 4:47

[@razorburn645]

Uh they come with phalanx. I guess you Weren't paying attention.

[@strgil]

River ,,,, not riever

[@jeanperreault1638]

Ont rie pus 2038 14 ans après les conflits

[@Lanky41]

Why do you keep saying ryever? the I is slient. That is a good way to piss off a lot of RCN personal.

[@jean-marccote9829]

in five years, amazing, other country seem to take 2 to 3 years from 2025 to 2050, life of a boat, its aboit 30 years, longer than that, shortage of spare parts the are too big for what we realy can afford but, this our reality for the las 40 years and more, seem to choose the wrong again..... sorry , althought a very acuratte researche and serously done one good thing, almost same design than British navy ans Aussi navy

[@viper29ca]

Brits started their first one in 2017, and it won't be ready for sea trials until 2026, not in service until 2027. Same design as the Brit and Aussie ships, just each are outfitted with sensors and weapons to fit each country.

[@lukeamato423]

Cry some more why don't ya, do you have any clue what you're talking about or just need something to whine about?

[@watcher63034]

No country builds them in 2 to three years. They take at least 4 or 5 years IF you have the infrastructure and have built the same hulls for a while. The first takes longest and requires sea trials. The second may have changes made, but by the third or fourth, time speeds up and sea trials are quicker. This hull design was deemed to be a good one. Thats why UK/Australia also went for it, plus it lets Canada build its own ships. Some countries dont allow that.

[@viper29ca]

@@watcher63034 good example is Bath Iron Works in Maine. Build most, if not all of the Arleigh Burke ships. Even after how many they have pumped out, it still take 4yrs for them. And if anyone has the process down, it would be them, considering they have delivered 38, and currently have 12 in progress

[@watcher63034]

@@viper29ca Yeah they would be the fastest I would think. Even so that is an insanely fast time to build one.

[@talonsrant6131]

ok let me get this straight, by the time the 3rd ship will come out in around 2050 the first ship will be almost 20 years old???? So the third ship will likely need changes before it even comes out do to 20 year difference in tech, who thinks this is a good idea!!! If these cant be built within 10 years then they need to go back to how they are sourcing these ships.

[@rokulus7910]

15 ships by 2050, not 3. Only the first 3 have been named.

[@GerryCorbin-xd6vn]

About time!

[@douglasgwynne2345]

What is with the commentator language? Hard to understand and pronunciation.

[@PeterLorimer-ji5ut]

The largest ships built since WWII besides the St, Laurenti class of DDH and her 19 other cousins and the 4 DDH, later DDG 280 Class.

[@myliege6223]

Canada the best country in the world 🇨🇦

[@ZS-cj3fw]

Lol

[@steveverhoef5667]

At this point I wouldn’t want that anywhere near Ukraine equipped Navy. It needs a drone escort.

[@realscience948]

Except it’s military equipment!

[@edkrach8891]

The new class couldn't keep up with US Navy carrier battle groups. How would they be able to serve as escorts?

[@Fred-vy1hm]

What are you talking about, aircraft carrier battle groups don't cruise at 30+ knots, if they did their escorts would run out of fuel in no time, 28+ knots is pretty much the standard for most NATO destroyers and frigates.

[@watcher63034]

If a carrier went 40 knots, every other ship would need to keep up with that. Most destroyers/frigates use a combined diesel with gas turbine for high speed but cruise only with diesel so maybe 15 to 18 knots.

[@brianb-p6586]

Why would a US Navy carrier battle group ever need a Canadian escort?

[@Sid-gu5qk]

​@@brianb-p6586for the annual US Navy carrier battle group ball of course. 🎊👗👔

[@smithwesson7765]

They haven't even started a single ship yet and probably none of them will be constructed. The last batch of Harry DeWolf class,"patrol vessels" turned out to be lemons.

[@wyldhowl2821]

Your opinion is based on what? Are your con bot senses tingling or something? The global standard for naval lemons is the USN's LCS, a huge fleet that can basically never be used. Dare to compare.

[@razorburn645]

Based on what other than your feelings?

[@TranshumanistBCI]

Ahhh Canada 🍁, a country where it's previous defence minister harjit sajjan priotised airlifting Afgan Sikhs than Canadians itself during the fall of Kabul in Afghanistan. He left behind 1,250 Canadian citizens and permanent residents, and their family members. The great truedue and their greater nation serving ministers.

[@JT.Pilgrim]

I thought the 26 is a frigate.

Nobody seems to mind Canada when their ass is in a sling which has pretty much been ever since 1900

[@viper29ca]

@@JT.Pilgrim In UK and OZ outfitting, they are, but only because calling it a destroyer is apparently bad, and doesn't look good on budget sheets. Also, what they will be tasked to do, which is more akin to ASW operations than anything. RCN ships, and how they will be outifitted and used will be more destroyer like. Plus we have River class destroyers in WWII, which kinda lets them get away with it, not to mention that they are designed to replace the Iroquois class, which was a destroyer, even though they have been retired since 2017

[@jackmorrison8269]

Be afraid beavers.... 🇨🇦🤟🫡

[@timsecord8207]

What a joke!

[@ronfawthrop8175]

All this was supposed to start back in 2011 when the winning contractor was announced....here we are 13 yrs. later and nary a keel has been laid. It's a moot point anyways for a military that seems to be more concerned about having tampon dispensers in the Men's/Trans Men's washrooms. What a bloody joke !! Our enemies will laugh themselves to death, no need to engage in actual combat.

[@jeffbailey2007]

BS..😂..

[@harolddaniels7883]

Yeah, too bad Irving, is going to be building them.

[@hlafrond965]

You got that right. I'd like to have seen Davie get a shot at some. They delivered Astirix Conversion on time and under budget (and didn't Justin hate that and tried to hang Adm Norman) - AND she hasn't been unavailable except for planned 'dockings'; meanwhile the Irving built AOPS are having their troubles and a 1 year warranty? Ladas had more.

[@JollyOldCanuck]

@@hlafrond965Davie was unfortunately going through a bankruptcy restructuring in the early 2010s, so the couldn’t bid on the contract.

[@Nicklan1961]

The saddest part of all the design is not Canadian the plate that it's built out of is not Canadian all of the systems that will be installed on it are not Canadian the weapons that will be installed on it are not Canadian the missiles the ammunition are not Canadian either it's all imported and if we ever actually get into a real war our military will not last more than a month. We would have to beg the enemy to put the war on hold while we wait for shipments from the United States which today it's 7 years to get another missile It's 10 years to get another airplane I'm not sure how long the waiting list is for the ammunition We don't make or produce anything there's absolutely no way we would last in a real war because we cannot supply our military at all with anything.

[@hlafrond965]

We've always done that. We don't have the industry to back it up. 280s (as built) Dutch firecontrol, Italian Gun, American Sea Sparrow, with Canadian launcher. While the steamers were doing their thing in the 50s-90s the vacuum tubes that a lot of the electronics used came from the Warsaw Pact - how screwed up was that?

[@Nicklan1961]

@@hlafrond965 No we have not always done that in fact it's been during my life time that has changed us importing everything We used to produce everything our military required and supply everything it required from here in Canada in fact during the second World War not only did we supply all of our military's needs we also exported it to Russia and Britain. And the war that's breaking out today we're in big trouble our military is totally useless as we are totally unable to supply it with anything.

[@itwoznotme]

how the fuck can you not pronounce RIVER? this sort of shit is sucking out my brain/

[@deesmith6363]

More like stream class. What a fkn joke.

[@mnufeld8448]

So the River class are 8,000 tonnes,almost twice the size of the Halifax class they'll be replacing, and that 8000 tonnes about 80% the size of US Arleigh Burke class and almost the size of the Flight 1 & 2 Arleigh Burkes , the River class also with Aegis system, so are DDGs , guided missile destroyers . And Canada to build 15 of the River class ships , which is as many as the UK and Australia are to build combined of the Type 26 frigates

[@mnufeld8448]

So I mean, cynicism ,the great character flaw of the West, certainly of a lot of ppl

[@GlasbanGorm]

What an obsolete piece of trash. The Metal its made out of is more valuable.

[@chm985]

Its basically a brand new design.

[@viper29ca]

You would rather rainbow unicorns?

[@lukeamato423]

I suppose you think Russia has the best ships.....the ones at the bottom of the black sea

[@lukeamato423]

🤡

[@watcher63034]

What a stupid comment. How are they obsolete when they havent been built yet? The radar used is so new that nobody else has them installed on warships yet. Any gun/missile/sonar/decoy can be changed to a different model as technology changes. You dont build a new frigate because there is a new torpedo you want. You simply buy the new torpedo.