Royal British Columbia Navy

The Royal British Columbia Navy (Chinook Wawa: Hyas Tyee yaka Saltchuck Keedaw) is the naval force of BC, and forms part of the BC Naval Service.

History
In 1859, the North West Mounted Police established a maritime branch to patrol the many islands off the coast of British Columbia, which in 1861 was supplemented by the creation of the British Columbia Auxiliary Navy. In 1871, the BCAN absorbed the Maritime Police, and in 1911 it was renamed British Columbia Navy. In 1913, King Edward VII granted it the 'Royal' title, and it has henceforth been known as the Royal British Columbia Navy.

The Fishermans' Reserve was formed in 1914 after the outbreak of the First World War, with boat-owning fishermen registering as reservists, making themselves eligible for call-up as needed, and adding to the RBCN's capability to patrol BC's coastal waters. The Navy supplied the fishing boats with a machine gun mount and upgraded wireless equipment if necessary. It remained a separate entity until being absorbed by the RBCN in 1947.

Over the course of its history, the RBCN has served in the First and Second World Wars, the Korean War, the Malayan Emergency, and various United Nations peacekeeping missions and APTO operations.

The Royal BC Navy Railway Flotilla was established in 1927 to work the extensive trackage installed on the lands of HMBCS Rainbow, and in 1929 opened its first line on Vancouver Island from Port Hardy to Woss. Today it operates a network of 260 miles, providing rail transportation for both military needs as well as for the general public. Although fully part of the Navy, since 1983 it markets itself to the public as the RBCN Railway.

Port Facilities

 * HMBCS Naden - Esquimalt. RBCN General HQ.
 * HMBCS Orca - Nanoose Bay. Blue Fleet. Home of the Maritime Experimental & Test Ranges, as well as facilities for Lake-class coastal submarines.
 * HMBCS Porpoise - Bella Coola. Blue Fleet. Primary base for submarines, also with helicopter and seaplane facilities.
 * HMBCS Rainbow - Prince Rupert. HQ White (northern) Fleet.
 * HMBCS Sea Lion - Skidegate. White Fleet. Main Defence Force facility on Haida Gwaii and home port for White Fleet patrol boats.
 * HMBCS Tyee - Quatsino. HQ Blue (southern) Fleet.

Aviation Facilities

 * NAB Eagle - Patricia Bay, Victoria. Formerly a full airbase shared with RBCAF, the majority of the facility now serves as Victoria's international airport, but a small helicopter base is maintained for Navy use; half of the Marines' helicopters are also based here.
 * NAB Kingfisher - Comox. Airbase shared with RBCAF; HMBCS Kingfisher name applies to Navy facilities on the base - Air Force facilities named RBCAF Comox. The facility as a whole is called DFJB Comox (Defence Force Joint Base).
 * NAB Thunderbird - Seal Cove, Prince Rupert. Helicopter and floatplane base.

Other Facilities

 * HMBCS Aldergrove  - Aldergrove. Radio station.
 * HMBCS Masset  - Masset. Radio station.
 * HMBC Dockyard - Esquimalt.

Ships - Current
Main article: Ships of the Royal BC Navy

Submarines

 * 8 Lake-class diesel-electric coastal submarines (Swedish Götland-class)
 * 4 Inlet-class diesel-electric attack submarines (Japanese Oyashio-class)

Frigates

 * 1 British Type 23 frigate, leased from the Royal Navy
 * 2+1 Indefatigable-class anti-submarine frigates (based on French La Fayette-class)

Patrol Hydrofoils

 * 6 Prime Minister-class guided-missile patrol hydrofoils

Minesweepers

 * 10 Canyon-class minehunters (French/Dutch/Belgian Tripartite-class)

Landing Craft

 * 9 Beach-class LCU (German Type 520)
 * 6 Bar-class LCH (Australian Balikpapan-class). Assigned to the Royal BC Marines

Aircraft - Current
Main article: Aircraft of the Royal BC Navy Fleet Air Arm

See also: RBCN Fleet Air Arm Serial Numbers

Helicopters

 * Sikorsky Seahawk HASR.1 (HH-60H) - SAR
 * Sikorsky Seahawk HS.3 (MH-60R) - ASW/ASuW
 * Sikorsky Seahawk HU.1A (S-70B Upgrade) - utility
 * Yarrows Yarksis HASR.2 - ASW

Seaplanes

 * Beriev Taganrog SU.1 (Be-103) - utility

Public air services
Since March 1947, the RBCN provides scheduled air services open to the public serving routes in remote areas that are socially essential, but that offer little chance of profitability; these generally operate once a week. Beriev Taganrog amphibious aircraft or Yarrows Yarksis helicopters are used for these services.

The RBCN's callsign for these services is "SALTCHUCK", and use the IATA code BN and ICAO code RBN.