HMCS Provider (AOR 508)

HMCS Provider (AOR 508) was a replenishment oiler of the Royal Canadian Navy. She was the lead ship of the Provider-class, her sister ship being HMCS Protecteur. Provider provided underway replenishment to naval task groups, supplying fuel, ammunition, and stores, allowing other warships to remain at sea for extended periods.

Built by Davie Shipbuilding in Lauzon, Quebec, Provider was commissioned into the Royal Canadian Navy on September 28, 1963. She served for over three decades, participating in numerous exercises and deployments both domestically and internationally. Her primary role was to support Canadian and allied naval operations.

Key features of HMCS Provider included her ability to replenish two ships simultaneously on either side, extensive storage capacity for fuel, ammunition, and victuals, and a helicopter deck for vertical replenishment using helicopters. She underwent a major refit in the late 1980s to modernize her systems and extend her operational life.

HMCS Provider was decommissioned on November 20, 1998, and later sold for scrap. While no longer in service, she played a crucial role in the Canadian Navy's ability to project maritime power and support its allies during the Cold War and subsequent periods.