HMCS Protecteur (AOR 509)

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HMCS Protecteur (AOR 509) was the Royal Canadian Navy’s lead replenishment oiler, serving with Maritime Forces Pacific from her home port at CFB Esquimalt, British Columbia. Built in Saint John, New Brunswick, she was ordered in 1966, laid down in 1967, launched in 1968 and commissioned in 1969. She was in service for nearly 46 years before being decommissioned in 2015 and later sold for scrap.

Protecteur’s main job was to keep deployed ships supplied at sea. She carried large amounts of fuel, aviation fuel, dry cargo and ammunition and could transfer these supplies to other vessels while underway. The ship could also support air operations with a rear deck hangar for helicopters. She had a crew of about 365 people, including an air detachment of 45.

Her defensive systems included chaff launchers and a towed decoy, and she later received two Phalanx close‑in weapon systems. Protecteur traveled with three CH-124 Sea King helicopters and could provide medical and other support while underway.

Throughout her career, Protecteur participated in many missions and exercises. She served during the Gulf War era as part of Operation Friction, supported coalition operations in the Persian Gulf, and later joined international efforts in East Timor (INTERFET). She took part in repeated multinational exercises like RIMPAC and assisted in Hurricane Andrew relief efforts in 1992, which helped shift her home port to Esquimalt.

In 2013 Protecteur collided with her sister ship Algonquin during towing exercises, causing bow damage. In February 2014 she suffered an engine‑room fire north‑east of Pearl Harbor, which left her unable to return to sea for repairs. She was towed to Esquimalt, arriving in May 2014, and was officially decommissioned on 14 May 2015.

Plans to replace Protecteur and her sister ship Preserver with new Joint Support Ships were announced in 2014. Protecteur and Preserver were sold for scrap in November 2015 and towed to Liverpool, Nova Scotia, for dismantling. As a temporary bridge until the new ships arrived, a container vessel named MV Asterix was acquired and converted for Royal Canadian Navy use, entering service in 2017. In 2017 it was announced that the new Joint Support Ships would reuse the Protecteur and Preserver names, continuing the legacy of the former ships.