A joint support ship is a multi-role naval ship capable of launching and supporting "joint" amphibious operations. It also provides sea-lift, underway support, sea-basing and logistics capabilities for combined army and naval missions.
Features
Joint Support Ships have several common features to support the many multi-roles it can fulfill for both navies and armies. Below are some examples of these common features:
And for sea basing command rooms for mission coordination, a helicopter deck and/or LCU's for transport to shore and other support facilities like hospital rooms.
In 1999 the Canadian Government sought to replace the aging of auxiliary oiler replenishment ships through the Afloat Logistic Support Capability program. The replacement program envisioned tanker ships with a roll-on/roll-off sealift capability. These multi-role ships were envisioned to deploy mobilized forces directly to the beach. In 2004, Public Works and Government Services Canada issued a Request for Proposal for the Joint Support Ship to replace the three AOR ships, although one AOR ship was already retired by the time the RFP was released. The RFP capped the bid price at $1.5B. . The RFP called for three multi-role ships capable of refueling ships at sea, providing ship-borne helicopter support, heavy sealift capability, a mobile hospital, a joint force headquarters center, and a strengthened hull for operations in sea ice. PWGSC cancelled the program in 2008 after stating all the received bids were above the mandatory budget. The Canadian Government restarted the JSS procurement process in the same year. In 2013 Canada selected the replenishment ship design to replace the Protecteur-class fleet. The German design provides fuel, provisions, ammunition, and some materiel and medical capabilities, and can land up to two helicopters. The ships are to be built in Vancouver by Seaspan Shipyards under the National Ship Procurement Strategy. Originally to be designated as the Queenston class with ship names of HMCS Queenston and HMCS Châteauguay, in 2017 the Royal Canadian Navy renamed the Joint Support Ships to the former Protecteur-class designation, re-using the same ship names HMCS Protecteur and HMCS Preserver. The cost of building the two replenishment ships was set at $2.3B with first delivery occurring in 2018. In 2018, the Government's own review indicated the total cost was then calculated to be $3.4B, with first delivery not likely before 2022 or 2023. As of 2019, delivery of the first vessel was expected to occur in 2023 followed by the second vessel in 2025.
