After more than a decade sidelined for repairs and upgrades, the submarine HMCS Corner Brook will return to operational status this summer, according to the Department of National Defence (DND).
As reported by Ottawa Citizen, The Royal Canadian Navy is now calling the 34-year-old vessel Canada’s “most advanced submarine” following extensive renovations costing $715 million.
The submarine has completed necessary sea trials and crew training, with DND spokesperson Alex Tétreault confirming it “will be deployable by summer 2025″and will “operate in the Pacific, focusing on defence and Indo-Pacific operations.”
HMCS Corner Brook has faced a troubled history since being commissioned into Canadian service in 2003.
The submarine was damaged in a 2011 training accident when it struck the ocean floor off Canada’s west coast. In 2014, it entered an extended docking work period for maintenance and upgrades that was originally scheduled to conclude in 2016.
However, additional setbacks further delayed its return to service. The submarine caught fire while in dry dock in 2019, and in 2020, maintenance crews accidentally caused additional damage to onboard systems during testing.
The extensive renovation work, completed in Victoria in 2023, cost $695 million, with an additional $20 million spent repairing damage from the 2011 collision.
DND spokesperson Cheryl Forrest explained that improvements to the Victoria-class submarines “will equip the RCN with the increased capabilities needed to address evolving threats in the current and future operating environment.”
HMCS Corner Brook is one of four second-hand submarines purchased from the United Kingdom between 2000 and 2004 under then-Prime Minister Jean Chrétien’s government.
The Victoria-class fleet has been plagued with problems from the beginning, including issues with high-pressure welds, cracked valves, and steel piping damaged during storage.
Critics have questioned the submarines’ value, noting they have cost billions while spending limited time at sea.
Looking toward the future, Defence Minister Bill Blair’s office announced in September 2024 that DND is exploring options for building a new submarine fleet.
The government has indicated interest in acquiring up to 12 “conventionally powered, under-ice capable submarines,” though the first vessels wouldn’t enter service until 2037.
While no official cost has been released for this potential acquisition, the Ottawa Citizen reported in April 2023 that the navy had proposed purchasing up to 12 new submarines at an initial cost of $60 billion.
Requirements for the new submarines include the ability to operate undetected for 7,000 nautical miles, maintain continuous submerged operations for at least 21 days, sustain self-sufficient operations for no less than 60 days, and compatibility with U.S. military communication systems.
