The Royal Canadian Navy's (RCN) surface fleet is currently operating at historically low capability levels. The last of its four Iroquois-class guided-missile destroyers, HMCS Athabaskan, was paid off in early March 2017 after 44 years in service. In 2014, the final Protecteur-class auxiliary oiler replenishment (AOR) vessel was retired unexpectedly after a fire, leaving the RCN without its own replenishment at sea (RAS) capability as it awaits the construction of the long-delayed Queenston-class support ships. As a stopgap measure the RCN is leasing auxiliary vessels from the Spanish and Chilean navies until the converted Resolve-class AOR is completed later this year.
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