Ville-class tug
{{Short description|Royal Canadian Navy tugboat}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2019}}
| {{Infobox ship begin |sclass=2}}
{{Infobox ship image |Ship image=CFAV Merrickville in Halifax -b.jpg |Ship image size=300px |Ship caption= Ville-class tugboat CFAV Merrickville }} {{Infobox ship class overview |Name=Ville class |Builders=*Georgetown Shipyard, Georgetown, Prince Edward Island
|Operators={{navy|Canada}} |Class before= |Class after= |Subclasses= |Cost= |Built range=1974–1975 |In service range= |In commission range= 1975–present |Total ships building= |Total ships planned= |Total ships completed=5 |Total ships cancelled= |Total ships active=5 |Total ships laid up= |Total ships lost= |Total ships retired= |Total ships preserved= }} {{Infobox ship characteristics |Hide header= |Header caption= |Ship type= Tugboat |Ship tonnage= |Ship displacement= {{convert|45|LT|t|0}} |Ship length= {{convert|19.5|m|ftin|abbr=on}} |Ship beam= {{convert|4.72|m|ftin|abbr=on}} |Ship height= |Ship draught= {{convert|2.74|m|ftin|abbr=on}} |Ship power=
|Ship propulsion= 1 × steerable kort nozzle |Ship speed= {{convert|9|kn|abbr=on}} |Ship range= |Ship endurance= |Ship complement= |Ship crew= |Ship sensors= |Ship EW= |Ship armament= |Ship notes= Bollard pull: 7.5 tons }} |
The Ville-class tug are a class of harbour tugboats employed by the Royal Canadian Navy.{{cite news| url=http://www.navy.dnd.ca/marpac/harbour/marpac_harbour_e.asp?category=95&title=904| title=Esquimalt Harbour| publisher=Canadian Department of National Defence| date=16 July 2007| access-date=13 February 2008| quote=Two VILLE (YTL) Class tugs - LAWRENCEVILLE and PARKSVILLE - 45 gross tons, fitted with steerable Kort Nozzle. Maximum bollard pull 7.5 tons.}}{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite news| url=https://www.sfu.ca/casr/101-navy-aux-ytl-ville.htm| title=Canadian Forces Small Ships — the Ville class YTL Harbour Tug| publisher=Canadian American Strategic Review|access-date=13 February 2008|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080302225324/http://www.sfu.ca/casr/101-navy-aux-ytl-ville.htm |archive-date = 2 March 2008}}
Canada operated a fleet of 17-ton tugs, built during the Second World War which were also called the Ville class. The current vessels are named after those vessels.{{cite news| url=http://stevebriggs.netfirms.com/osmrm/xmerrickville.html| title=Merrickville / Ann Marie| publisher=Russel Brothers Limited| access-date=13 February 2008}} There is confusion that the current Ville-class design was based on the British Pup-class tugs. The original 17-ton version was based on that design, however the new Villes are an independent design.
Design
The Ville class were designed by the Canadian naval architecture company Robert Allan Ltd as harbour tugs. They have a low-slung shape that is ideal for tight maneuvering and nudging exercises on larger ships. Their kort-nozzle allows for a greater bollard pull however it loses its pull at anything over {{convert|10|kn|lk=in}} and loses speed in turns. The Ville class are {{convert|13.71|m|ftin|abbr=on}} long with a beam of {{convert|4.72|m|ftin|abbr=on}} and a draught of {{convert|2.74|m|ftin|abbr=on}}.{{cite book|title=Jane's Fighting Ships 1981–1982 |publisher=Jane's Publishing |editor-first=John |editor-last=Moore |date=1981 |place=London |page=84 |isbn=0-531-03977-3}}
=Propulsion=
Members of the class built on the east coast were given one Caterpillar 3406 diesel engine that provides {{convert|365|hp|0|lk=in}} and Ville-class tugs built on the west coast were supplied with one Caterpillar D343 diesel engine rated at {{convert|365|hp|0|abbr=on}}. This power is directed towards a steerable kort nozzle which gives the class a speed of {{convert|9|kn|lk=in}}.
=Towing=
The Ville class has a max bollard pull of 7.5 tons, denoting them as small tugboats. The bollard pull measures the amount of pulling or pushing power a ship has.
Ships
| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto" | ||||
| colspan=5|Ville-class tugboats | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name
!Pennant number !Commissioned !Builder !Stationed | ||||
| Lawrenceville | YTL 590 | 1974 | Vito Steel & Barge Co. | CFB Esquimalt |
| Parksville | YTL 591 | 1974 | Vito Steel & Bargo Co. | CFB Esquimalt |
| Listerville | YTL 592 | 1974 | Georgetown Shipyard, P.E.I. | CFB Halifax |
| Merrickville | YTL 593 | 1974 | Georgetown Shipyard, P.E.I. | CFB Halifax |
| Granville | YTL 594 | 1974 | Georgetown Shipyard, P.E.I. | CFB Halifax |
Other auxiliary ships
The Royal Canadian Navy operates five other, larger tugboats, the 140-ton {{ship|CFAV|Tillicum}}, and five 250-ton {{sclass2|Glen|tug (1975)|0}} tugs, and one 140-ton {{sclass2|Fire|fireboat}}s.{{cite news| url=https://www.sfu.ca/casr/101-navy-aux-ytb-glen.htm
| title=Canadian Forces Small Ships — the Glen class YTB Tractor Tug| publisher=Canadian American Strategic Review| access-date=13 February 2008|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080302225319/http://www.sfu.ca/casr/101-navy-aux-ytb-glen.htm |archive-date = 2 March 2008}}{{cite news| url=https://www.sfu.ca/casr/101-navy-aux-ytr-fire.htm
| title=Canadian Forces Small Ships — the Fire class YTR Rescue Boats| publisher=Canadian American Strategic Review| access-date=13 February 2008|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080302225329/http://www.sfu.ca/casr/101-navy-aux-ytr-fire.htm |archive-date = 2 March 2008}} The larger tugs are also split between both coasts.
On 29 April 2019 the Government of Canada announced Ocean Industries of Isle-aux-Coudres, Quebec was awarded the contract to build four tow-tug/rescue vessels to replace both the Fire-class fireboats and Glen-class tugs with delivery expected from 2021 to 2023.{{cite web |url=https://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/defence-watch/ocean-industries-to-build-four-tugs-for-the-royal-canadian-navy |title=Ocean Industries to build four tugs for the Royal Canadian Navy |work=Ottawa Citizen |last=Pugliese |first=David |date=29 April 2019 |access-date=10 May 2019}} The new tugs will be staffed by civilian crews and be restricted to the naval base/yard only.{{citation needed|date=May 2019}}