HMCS Saskatoon (K158)

Last updated

HMCS Saskatoon - corvette.jpg
HMCS Saskatoon
History
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svgCanada
NameSaskatoon
Namesake Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Ordered20 January 1940
Builder Canadian Vickers Ltd. Montreal
Laid down9 August 1940
Launched7 November 1940
Commissioned9 June 1941
Decommissioned25 June 1945
Identification Pennant number: K158
Honours and
awards		Atlantic 1942–45 [1]
FateSold for mercantile use 1948. Sunk 1953
General characteristics
Class and type Flower-class corvette (original) [2]
Displacement925 long tons (940 t; 1,036 short tons)
Length205 ft (62.48 m)o/a
Beam33 ft (10.06 m)
Draught11.5 ft (3.51 m)
Propulsion
  • Single shaft
  • 2 × fire tube Scotch boilers
  • 1 × 4-cycle triple-expansion reciprocating steam engine
  • 2,750 ihp (2,050 kW)
Speed16 knots (29.6 km/h)
Range3,500 nautical miles (6,482 km) at 12 knots (22.2 km/h)
Complement85
Sensors and
processing systems
  • 1 × SW1C or 2C radar
  • 1 × Type 123A or Type 127DV sonar
Armament

HMCS Saskatoon was a Flower-class corvette that served with the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War. She saw service primarily in the Battle of the Atlantic. She is named for Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

Contents

Background

Flower-class corvettes like Saskatoon serving with the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War were different from earlier and more traditional sail-driven corvettes. [3] [4] [5] The "corvette" designation was created by the French for classes of small warships; the Royal Navy borrowed the term for a period but discontinued its use in 1877. [6] During the hurried preparations for war in the late 1930s, Winston Churchill reactivated the corvette class, needing a name for smaller ships used in an escort capacity, in this case based on a whaling ship design. [7] The generic name "flower" was used to designate the class of these ships, which – in the Royal Navy – were named after flowering plants. [8]

Corvettes commissioned by the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War were named after communities for the most part, to better represent the people who took part in building them. This idea was put forth by Admiral Percy W. Nelles. Sponsors were commonly associated with the community for which the ship was named. Royal Navy corvettes were designed as open sea escorts, while Canadian corvettes were developed for coastal auxiliary roles which was exemplified by their minesweeping gear. Eventually the Canadian corvettes would be modified to allow them to perform better on the open seas. [9]

Construction

Saskatoon was ordered on 20 January 1940 as part of the 1939–1940 Flower-class building program. She was laid down on 9 August 1940 by Canadian Vickers Ltd. at Montreal and launched on 7 November later that year. [10] She was commissioned on 9 June 1941 at Montreal. [11]

During her career, Saskatoon had two major refits. Her first took place at Halifax from 11 August until 17 November 1942. The second overhaul took place at Pictou, Nova Scotia from mid-December 1943 until 1 April 1944. During this second refit, Saskatoon had her fo'c'sle extended. [11]

War service

After arriving at Halifax for deployment, she joined Halifax Force initially. During August–September 1941, she was sent on a mission to the Bahamas, returning to local escort duty upon her return.

She joined the Western Local Escort Force (WLEF) in March 1942. She stayed with WLEF for the rest of the war. During her time with WLEF she was mainly placed on "Triangle Run" convoys; convoys that traveled between Boston, New York and Halifax. Beginning in June 1943, she was assigned to WLEF escort group W-8. In April 1944 she transferred to group W-6. [11]

Post war service

Saskatoon was paid off at Sorel, Quebec on 25 June 1945. She was sold for conversion as a whale-catcher. She reappeared in 1948 as Tra los Mortes. In 1950 she was renamed Olympic Fighter and in 1956, Otori Maru No.6. [11] In 1961 she was renamed Kyo Maru No. 20 and last appeared on Lloyd's Register in 1978–79. [10] Miramar Ship Index (MSI) has an entirely different post-naval career. The ship was sold for mercantile conversion and entered service as Rio Norte in 1946. The ship was renamed Mabruk in 1947 and Misr in 1948. On 16 May 1953 the vessel collided with Jaguar3 nautical miles (5.6 km; 3.5 mi) south of Newport Rock in Suez Bay. [12]

Related Research Articles

HMCS <i>Pictou</i> Flower-class corvette

HMCS Pictou was a Royal Canadian Navy Flower-class corvette which took part in convoy escort duties during the Second World War. She fought mainly in the Battle of the Atlantic. She was named for Pictou, Nova Scotia.

HMCS <i>Kitchener</i> (K225) Flower-class corvette

HMCS Kitchener was a Royal Canadian Navy revised Flower-class corvette which took part in convoy escort duties during the Second World War. She fought primarily in the Battle of the Atlantic. She was named for Kitchener, Ontario. The vessel was originally named HMCS Vancouver but was renamed in November 1941 before the ship was launched.

HMCS <i>Halifax</i> (K237) Flower-class corvette

HMCS Halifax was a Royal Canadian Navy revised Flower-class corvette which took part in convoy escort duties during the Second World War. She served primarily in the Battle of the Atlantic. She was named for Halifax, Nova Scotia.

HMCS <i>Cobalt</i> Royal Canadian Navy ship that served during the Second World War

HMCS Cobalt was a Flower-class corvette of the Royal Canadian Navy which took part in convoy escort duties during the Second World War. She served primarily in the Battle of the Atlantic. She was named for Cobalt, Ontario.

HMCS <i>Brantford</i> Flower-class corvette

HMCS Brantford was a Flower-class corvette that served in the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War. She served primarily as a convoy escort in the Battle of the Atlantic. She was named for Brantford, Ontario.

HMCS <i>Kamloops</i> Flower-class corvette

HMCS Kamloops was a Flower-class corvette that served in the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War. She served primarily in the Battle of the Atlantic as an ocean escort. She was named for Kamloops, British Columbia.

HMCS <i>Prescott</i> Canadian Navy corvette

HMCS Prescott was a Flower-class corvette of the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War. She served primarily in the Battle of the Atlantic as a convoy escort. She was named for Prescott, Ontario.

HMCS <i>Arrowhead</i> Flower-class corvette

HMCS Arrowhead was a Flower-class corvette that was originally commissioned by the Royal Navy but served primarily with the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) during the Second World War. She fought primarily in the Battle of the Atlantic as a convoy escort. She was named for Sagittaria, which is an aquatic water plant that is sometimes known as Arrowhead.

HMCS <i>Dunvegan</i> WWII Canadian Navy vessel

HMCS Dunvegan was a Flower-class corvette that served with the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War. She served primarily in the Battle of the Atlantic. After the war she was sold to the Venezuelan Navy. She was named for Dunvegan, Inverness County, Nova Scotia.

HMCS <i>Kamsack</i> Flower-class corvette

HMCS Kamsack was a Flower-class corvette that served with the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War. She served primarily in the Battle of the Atlantic as an ocean escort. She was named for Kamsack, Saskatchewan.

HMCS <i>Chicoutimi</i> (K156) Flower-class corvette

HMCS Chicoutimi was a Flower-class corvette that served with the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War. She served primarily in the Battle of the Atlantic as an ocean escort. She was named for Chicoutimi, Quebec.

HMCS <i>Matapedia</i> Flower-class corvette

HMCS Matapedia was a Flower-class corvette that served with the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War. She fought primarily in the Battle of the Atlantic as an ocean escort. She was named for Matapédia, Quebec.

HMCS <i>Nanaimo</i> (K101) Flower-class corvette

HMCS Nanaimo was a Flower-class corvette that served with the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War. She served on both coasts during the war. She was named for Nanaimo, British Columbia.

HMCS <i>Sherbrooke</i> Flower-class corvette

HMCS Sherbrooke was a Flower-class corvette that served with the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War. She served primarily in the Battle of the Atlantic as an ocean escort. She is named for Sherbrooke, Quebec.

HMCS <i>The Pas</i> Flower-class corvette

HMCS The Pas was a Flower-class corvette that served with the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War. She served primarily as an ocean escort in the Battle of the Atlantic and as a training ship. She was named for The Pas, Manitoba.

HMCS <i>Ville de Quebec</i> (K242) Flower-class corvette

HMCS Ville de Québec was a Royal Canadian Navy revised Flower-class corvette which took part in convoy escort duties during the Second World War. She fought primarily in the Battle of the Atlantic. She was named for Quebec City, Quebec. Following the war, the ship was sold to commercial interests, in service until 1952.

HMCS <i>Vancouver</i> (K240) Flower-class corvette

HMCS Vancouver was a Flower-class corvette that served with the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War. She saw action primarily in both Atlantic and Pacific theatres. She was named for Vancouver, British Columbia. She was the second commissioned ship and the third overall to bear the name Vancouver.

HMCS <i>Port Arthur</i> Flower-class corvette

HMCS Port Arthur was a Royal Canadian Navy revised Flower-class corvette which took part in convoy escort duties during the Second World War. She fought primarily in the Battle of the Atlantic. She was named for Port Arthur, Ontario.

HMCS <i>Woodstock</i> Flower-class corvette

HMCS Woodstock was a Royal Canadian Navy revised Flower-class corvette that took part in convoy escort duties during the Second World War. She fought primarily in the Battle of the Atlantic. She was named for Woodstock, Ontario.

HMCS <i>Smiths Falls</i> Modified Flower-class corvette

HMCS Smiths Falls was a modified Flower-class corvette that served in the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War. She fought primarily in the Battle of the Atlantic as a convoy escort. She was named for Smiths Falls, Ontario. She was the last Flower-class corvette to enter service with the RCN.

References

  1. ↑ "Battle Honours". Britain's Navy. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
  2. ↑ Lenton, H.T.; Colledge, J.J (1968). British and Dominion Warships of World War II. Doubleday & Company. pp. 201, 212.
  3. ↑ Ossian, Robert. "Complete List of Sailing Vessels". The Pirate King. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
  4. ↑ Fitzsimons, Bernard, ed. (1978). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of 20th Century Weapons & Warfare. Vol. 11. London: Phoebus. pp. 1137–1142.
  5. ↑ Jane's Fighting Ships of World War II . New Jersey: Random House. 1996. p.  68. ISBN   0-517-67963-9.
  6. ↑ Blake, Nicholas; Lawrence, Richard (2005). The Illustrated Companion to Nelson's Navy. Stackpole Books. pp. 39–63. ISBN   0-8117-3275-4.
  7. ↑ Chesneau, Roger; Gardiner, Robert (June 1980). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922-1946. Naval Institute Press. p. 62. ISBN   0-87021-913-8.
  8. ↑ Milner, Marc (1985). North Atlantic Run. Naval Institute Press. pp. 117–119, 142–145, 158, 175–176, 226, 235, 285–291. ISBN   0-87021-450-0.
  9. ↑ Macpherson, Ken; Milner, Marc (1993). Corvettes of the Royal Canadian Navy 1939–1945. St. Catharines: Vanwell Publishing. ISBN   1-55125-052-7.
  10. 1 2 "HMCS Saskatoon (K 158)". Uboat.net. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
  11. 1 2 3 4 Macpherson, Ken; Burgess, John (1981). The ships of Canada's naval forces 1910–1981 : a complete pictorial history of Canadian warships. Toronto: Collins. pp. 84, 157, 231–232. ISBN   0-00216-856-1.
  12. ↑ "Saskatoon (6112368)" . Miramar Ship Index . Retrieved 14 July 2016.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.