HMCS Thunder (MCB 153)

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History
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svgCanada
NameThunder
Namesake Thunder Bay
Laid down17 May 1951
Launched17 July 1952
Commissioned15 December 1953
Decommissioned31 March 1954
IdentificationMCB 153
Honours and
awards		Atlantic 1941–44, Normandy 1944, English Channel 1944–45 [1]
FateSold to France as La Paimpolaise
BadgeGules, a pile vert edged or, charged with a representation of the head of Thor, God of thunderstorms, affrontée, wearing a Nordic open crown composed of a circlet with eight arches all plain and meeting together in a point at the pinnacle, his beard formed into nine radiating coils each tapering to a point with a small spearhead at the end [1]
Civil and Naval Ensign of France.svgFrance
NameLa Paimpolaise
Acquired31 March 1954
Commissioned21 May 1954
Decommissioned31 January 1987
Stricken1987
IdentificationP 657
General characteristics
Class and type Bay-class minesweeper
Displacement390 tons (412 tons deep load)
Length152 ft (46 m)
Beam28 ft (8.5 m)
Draught8 ft (2.4 m)
Propulsion2 shafts, 2 GM 12-cylinder diesels, 2,400 bhp (1,800 kW)
Speed16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Range3,290 nmi (6,090 km; 3,790 mi) at 12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Complement38
Armament1 × 40 mm Bofors gun

HMCS Thunder (hull number MCB 153) was a Bay-class minesweeper that served in the Royal Canadian Navy for three and a half months in 1954 before being sold to the French Navy to become La Paimpolaise. The ship was named for Thunder Bay and was the second vessel to carry the name. Her name was given to her replacement, HMCS Thunder (MCB 161).

Contents

Design

The Bay class were designed and ordered as replacements for the Second World War-era minesweepers that the Royal Canadian Navy operated at the time. Similar to the Ton-classminesweeper, they were constructed of wood planking and aluminum framing. [2] [3]

Displacing 390 long tons (400 t) standard at 412 long tons (419 t) at deep load, the minesweepers were 152 ft (46 m) long with a beam of 28 ft (8.5 m) and a draught of 8 ft (2.4 m). [2] [3] They had a complement of 38 officers and ratings. [2] [note 1]

The Bay-class minesweepers were powered by two GM 12-cylinder diesel engines driving two shafts creating 2,400 brake horsepower (1,800 kW). This gave the ships a maximum speed of 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph) and a range of 3,290 nautical miles (6,090 km; 3,790 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph). [3] [4] The ships were armed with one 40 mm Bofors gun and were equipped with minesweeping gear. [2] [3]

Service history

Thunder's keel was laid down on 17 May 1951 by Canadian Vickers at their yard in Montreal, Quebec. The minesweeper was launched on 17 July 1952. The vessel was commissioned into the Royal Canadian Navy on 15 December 1953 with the hull identification number 144. [5]

After commissioning spent three months in service with the Royal Canadian Navy. The minesweeper was paid off on 31 March 1954. She was transferred to France the same day, but the French flag was only raised aboard the ship on 1 April. The minesweeper was commissioned on 21 May 1954 and renamed La Paimpolaise. [5] [6] She served as a minesweeper until 1973 when the minesweeping gear was removed and she transferred to the Pacific for duty as an overseas territories patrol vessel. [6] She was paid off 31 January 1987 and stricken later that year. [7]

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HMCS James Bay was a Bay-class minesweeper that was constructed for the Royal Canadian Navy during the Cold War. Entering service in 1954, the ship served on the West Coast of Canada until 1964 when James Bay was decommissioned. The minesweeper was sold in 1966 for use as an offshore oil exploration vessel.

HMCS <i>Miramichi</i> (MCB 163)

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HMCS Resolute was a Bay-class minesweeper that was constructed for the Royal Canadian Navy during the Cold War. Entering service in 1954, the ship served on the East Coast of Canada until 1964 when Resolute was decommissioned. The vessel was discarded in 1965.

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References

Notes

  1. ↑ Gardiner and Chumbley claim the complement was 40.

Citations

  1. 1 2 Arbuckle, p. 121
  2. 1 2 3 4 Macpherson and Barrie, p. 271
  3. 1 2 3 4 Gardiner and Chumbley, p. 49
  4. ↑ Moore, p. 82
  5. 1 2 Macpherson and Barrie, p. 276
  6. 1 2 Moore, p. 171
  7. ↑ Colledge, p. 627

References

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