HMCS VANCOUVER 331

Halifax Class Frigate

Built at Saint John Dry Dock & Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., VANCOUVER was floated up on 08 Jul 1989; departed Halifax on 18 Jun 1993 for Esquimalt; and commissioned at Vancouver on 23 Aug 1993. In May-Jul 1994 she took part in Exercise RIMPAC 94 off Hawaii before making courtesy visits to ports in Japan and South Korea. Early in 1995 she exercised with a US Carrier battle group, successfully launching a Sea Sparrow missile on the Pacific Firing Range off California. WESTPLOY 95 saw her leave Esquimalt with Regina on 10 May 1995 for visits to several ports in Southeast Asia, VANCOUVER then making calls in Australia and New Zealand before returning home on 04 Aug 1995. In the course of WESTPLOY 97 she again visited several Southeast Asian ports, and while involved in RIMPAC 98 made calls in Japan, China, Russia and South Korea. On 29 Oct 2001, VANCOUVER sailed from Esquimalt to become part of the USS JOHN C. STENNIS Carrier Battle Group, as part of the US-led coalition against terrorist forces in Afghanistan. The Battle Group arrived in Hong Kong on 29 Nov 2001, and in the Arabian Gulf on 19 Dec 2001. VANCOUVER returned home to Esquimalt on 28 May 2002.

On 04 Jun 2024, HMCS VANCOUVER departed Esquimalt for Hawaii to participate in EX RIMPAC 2024. After RIMPAC she sailed to the Indo-Pacific and participated in OP HORIZON before returning to Esquimalt on 05 Dec 2024.

On 02 Jul 2025, HMCS VANCOUVER was awarded Battle Honour Libya 2011 for her participation in OPERATION MOBILE in Libya in 2011.

Photos and Documents         Ship's company photos          Gunshield and Shipboard Art

Commanding Officers

     In memory of those who have crossed the bar    

They shall not be forgotten

Former Crew Members

Poirier, Marc, PO2, IMCS Tech - 1990-1996

Photos and Documents

Commissioning Book

23 Aug 1993

(VAN001) The future HMCS TORONTO, HMCS VANCOUVER and HMCS MONTREAL under construction at Saint John Shipbuilding, Mar 1992  //  Courtesy of Dean Lang

(VAN002) HMCS VANCOUVER patrolling the inner channels of the BC Coastline  //  Courtesy of John Parsons

(VAN003) HMCS VANCOUVER 331, Kitimat, BC - 2005  //  Courtesy of Gary Cook. LS Mar Eng, C.A.F. (Navy)

(VAN004) The RCN marks it's first-ever missile test against shore-based targets. A Harpoon Block II surface-to-surface missile is launched from HMCS VANCOUVER during JoLTEX 16 at the United States Navy missile firing range off the coast of California.  //  Photographer: Leading Seaman Sergej Krivenko, HMCS VANCOUVER  //  Source: Royal Canadian Navy official website

(VAN005 - VAN006) HMCS VANCOUVER meets up with the former HMCS PROTECTEUR

Report from Commander Clive Butler, Commanding Officer, HMCS VANCOUVER: On the morning of 16 March 2016, after having completed a brief fuel stop in Balboa, Panama, about 100 nautical miles (185 km) south-west of Panama, HMCS VANCOUVER came across the former PROTECTEUR during the proud old vessel’s final trip to Nova Scotia. A number of personnel currently serving aboard VANCOUVER served in PROTECTEUR during the fateful fire that ended its career posed for a photo. The encounter was a surprisingly emotional moment for many of them. VANCOUVER saluted its old comrade-in-arms out of respect.

Former PROTECTEUR crew members pose aboard HMCS VANCOUVER off the coast of Panama on 16 March 2016 with PROTECTEUR and its towing vessel visible in the top right background. Personnel from top left to bottom right: LS Duane Earle, LS Jeffrey Allam, LS James Campbell, MCpl Alfred Castrojas, Cpl Nancy Rheaume, MS David Spiker, Lt(N) Maxime Delcourt, PO2 Benjamin Salamon, PO1 Steven Stacyszyn, LS Shawn Snow, LS Leo Bossé, LS Margeaux Hadwin, Lt(N) Jeff Scheerer, PO1 Stephan Melancon and LS Sergej Krivenko

Source: Royal Canadian Navy official website

(VAN007) 06 Feb 2017, HMCS VANCOUVER 331 dressed in honour of the 65th anniversary of the accession to the throne of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II  //  DND- RCN photo

(VAN008) HMCS VANCOUVER 331 - Oct 2017  //  Credit: LS Sisi Xu, MARPAC Imaging Services 2017-0360-07

(VAN009) HMCS VANCOUVER takes part in Freedom of Navigation Transit in Taiwan Strait  //  The destroyer USS Higgins and Royal Canadian Navy Halifax-class frigate HMCS Vancouver carried out the "routine" transit Tuesday "through waters where high seas freedoms of navigation and overflight apply in accordance with international law," U.S. 7th Fleet emphasized  //  Source: The Maritime Executive - 20 Sep 2022

(VAN010) HMCS VANCOUVER 331 - Nov 2022  //  DND- RCN photo

(VAN011) On 02 Jul 2025, HMCS VANCOUVER was awarded Battle Honour Libya 2011 for her participation in OPERATION MOBILE in Libya in 2011  //  Source: RCN official facebook page