Flower-class corvettes like Vancouver serving with the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War were different from earlier and more traditional sail-driven corvettes.[2][3][4] The "corvette" designation was created by the French as a class of small warships; the Royal Navy borrowed the term for a period but discontinued its use in 1877.[5] 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.[6] The generic name "flower" was used to designate the class of these ships, which – in the Royal Navy – were named after flowering plants.[7]
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.[8]
Construction
Vancouver was commissioned as part of the 1940–1941 Flower-class building program. She was identical to those from the 1939–1940 program with a few modifications. Notably, the 1940–41 program featured water-tube boilers, which, while less responsive, offered greater reliability in maintaining a consistent supply of steam. The second significant change was that no minesweeping gear was ever installed, as the role of the corvette had changed from coastal auxiliary to convoy escort.[8]
Vancouver was originally ordered as HMCS Kitchener but was renamed before launching. She was laid down 16 June 1941 by Yarrows Ltd. at Esquimalt, British Columbia and launched 26 August 1941. She was commissioned 20 March 1942 at Esquimalt.[9] During her career, Vancouver had two major refits. The first significant overhaul took place at Vancouver from June to mid-September 1943. During this refit she had her fo'c'sle extended. Her second major refit took place at Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island from September to November 1944.[10]
Service history
After workups, Vancouver was initially assigned to Esquimalt Force. On 20 June 1942, she escorted SS Fort Camosun to Victoria after she had been torpedoed by the Japanese submarineI-25. In August 1942, she was assigned to the American-led Aleutian Islands Campaign, staying with them until October. After returning to Canada she remained with Esquimalt Force until 24 February 1943 when she was placed again under American control as part of D-Force until the end of May.[10]
After departing for refit in June 1943, Vancouver returned to service with Esquimalt Force and served with them until she was assigned to the East coast in February 1944 to replace corvettes departing for duties associated with Operation Neptune.[10] She arrived at Halifax, Nova Scotia 25 March, having made the journey with HMCSDawson.[9] She was immediately assigned to the Western Local Escort Force (WLEF).
During her time with WLEF Vancouver served briefly with escort group W-3 before joining W-1. In June 1944 she transferred to Quebec Force, escorting convoys between Quebec and Labrador. She departed for her final refit in September 1944. After workups in Bermuda she returned to service with WLEF as part of group W-1 and remained with them until the end of the war.[10]
After the cessation of hostilities, Vancouver was paid off at Sorel, Quebec 26 June 1945. She was transferred to the War Assets Corporation for disposal. She was sold for scrap 5 October 1945 and broken up at Hamilton, Ontario in 1946.[9][10]
1 2 3 4 5 Macpherson, Ken; Burgess, John (1981). The ships of Canada's naval forces 1910–1981: a complete pictorial history of Canadian warships. Toronto: Collins. p.90. ISBN0-00216-856-1.
HMCS Sudbury was a Flower-class corvette that served 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 Sudbury, Ontario.
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 Quesnel was a Flower-class corvette of the Royal Canadian Navy that took part in convoy escort duties during the Second World War. She primarily saw service in the Battle of the Atlantic. She was named after Quesnel, British Columbia.
HMCS Wetaskiwin was a Flower-class corvette of the Royal Canadian Navy that served during the Second World War. She served primarily as a convoy escort in the Battle of the Atlantic. She was named after the city of Wetaskiwin, Alberta. Wetaskiwin was the first Pacific coast built corvette to enter service with the Royal Canadian Navy.
HMCS Shediac 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 after the town of Shediac, New Brunswick.
HMCS Dawson was a Flower-class corvette that served in the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) during the Second World War. She was one of the few Canadian corvettes to serve in action in both oceans. She was named for Dawson City, Yukon.
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HMCS Fennel was a Flower-class corvette that served primarily with the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War. Originally commissioned into the Royal Navy, she served as an ocean escort in the Battle of the Atlantic.
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 Edmundston 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 a convoy escort. She was named for Edmundston, New Brunswick.
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 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 Sorel 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 Sorel, Quebec.
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.
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HMCS Trail 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 a convoy escort. She was named for Trail, British Columbia.
HMCS Dundas was a Flower-class corvette that served with the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War. She saw action in both Atlantic and Pacific theatres of the war. She was named for Dundas, Ontario.
HMCS New Westminster was a Flower-class corvette that served with the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War. She saw action primarily in the Battle of the Atlantic. She was named for New Westminster, British Columbia.
HMCS La Malbaie 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 La Malbaie, Quebec. She was originally named Fort William but her name was changed before commissioning.
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.
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