HMCS Iroquois (DDH-280)
The HMCS Iroquois (DDH-280) is an Iroquois-class destroyer that has served the Canadian Forces since 1972. Iroquois is the lead ship of her class which is sometimes referred to as the Tribal-class or simply as the 280-class. She is the second vessel to use the designation HMCS Iroquois. She carries the hull number DDH-280. She is assigned to Maritime Forces Atlantic (MARLANT) and is homeported at CFB Halifax.
History[edit | edit source]
Iroquois was laid down on January 15th 1969 at Marine Industries, Sorel and was launched on November 28th 1970. She was officially commissioned into the CF on July 29th 1972 and carried the pennant number 280.
In 1976, Iroquois and its sister ship Athabaskan were part of a taskforce centered around the aircraft carrier Eagle' deployed to Cyprus were it was involved in combat when Turkey tried to seize the island.
In 1978, the destroyer took part in naval exercises off Portugal and Denmark. Iroquois was a flagship of STANAVFORLANT in 1978–79.
On December 4th 1983, the ship responded to the merchant vessel Ho Ming 5's SOS. Iroquois rescued the crew of the vessel, which was in danger of capsizing in gale-force winds.
In February 1991, Iroquois along with vessels Terry Fox, Alberta, Newfoundland, and Vancouver set out to relieve the vessels on station in the Red Sea, but the ships are just past Italy when they receive news of the end of the War, and return home escorting the ships of other nations on the way.
On November 30th 2006, the Iroquois responded to a call for help from the American frigate USS Boone (FFG-28) whose rudder had fallen off during its deployment in the Mediterranean.
In 2008, the Iroquois was one of numerous Canadian warships to take part in the 2008 Indian Ocean War. During the conflict, it was hit by an Indian Kh-35 Kayah anti-ship missile resulting in seven deaths.
In November 2015, Iroquois and Athabaskan were recommissioned and deployed as part of the force involved in fighting Indonesia.
In 2017, Iroquois was decommissioned a second time and turned into a museum ship.
