A-Class destroyer modified to suit RCN requirements
and ordered by the Canadian
Government from John I
Thornycroft
at Woolston
on 29th February 1929 with
HMCS SAGUENAY. The ship was
laid down as Yard No. 1092 on
14 October 1929 and launched
on 10th October
1930. Build was completed on
10th June 1931 and she was
commissioned for service in
the Royal Canadian
Navy at Portsmouth that day.
Until 1938 this destroyer was
deployed with the Western
Division of the RCN based at
Esquimalt but then was
transferred to Halifax
B
a t t
l e H o n o u r s
As
this ship belonged to the
Royal Canadian Navy there is
no record
H
e r a l d i
c D a t a
Similarly
details are not
available in the Admiralty
Record of Ships Badges.
D
e t a i
l s o
f W a
r
S e r v i
c e
(for
more ship information,
go
to
Naval History Homepage
and
type name in Site Search)
1
9 3 9
September
3rd
- Embarked CinC
West Indies Station at Halifax
for passage to Bermuda.
10th
- Canada declared war on Germany
during return passage to Halifax
11th
- On arrival at Halifax joined
Halifax Escort Force for
deployment
as Local Escort for
Atlantic
convoys to and from
Newfoundland.
October to
December
Local Escort deployment in continuation.
1
9 4 0
January to
April
Halifax deployment for Local Escort in continuation.
May
Transferred
to Western Approaches Command
for Atlantic convoy escort
based in UK.
Took
passage to Plymouth.
31st
- Arrived at Plymouth and joined
Western Approaches Command.
June
Deployed
for escort of evacuation convoys
from ports in Brittany and Bay
of Biscay.
(Operation
AERIAL - Allied troops,
Diplomatic personnel and
civilians
taken to Channel
ports
in UK after fall of France. See
EVACUATION OPERATIONS by J De Winser, Naval Staff History, HOLD THE NARROW SEA by P Smith
and ENGAGE THE
ENEMY
MORE CLOSELY by Corelli
Barnett.)
July
On
release from AERIAL commenced
Atlantic convoy defence
duties.
(See
HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair,
THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC by D MacIntyre
and U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC
(HMSO) for
details.)
August to
September
Atlantic
convoy defence
in NW Approaches
continued.
October
14th
- Took part in rescue work after
HM Armed Merchant Cruiser
CHESHIRE
was torpedoed
in
NW approaches. Embarked 230 survivors and put party on board to
maintain steam until tug arrived
to take
stricken
ship in tow for repair.
November to
December
Atlantic convoy escort duties in continuation.
1
9 4 1
January to February
Atlantic
convoy defence
duties in continued. Nominated
for
return to Canada for refit.
March
3rd
- Took passage to Halifax. Taken
in hand for refit on
arrival.
April to May
Under refit.
Nominated
for service with
Newfoundland Escort Force on
completion.
June
On
completion of post refit trials
carried out work-up prior to
resuming
operational
service
with newly formed Escort Force.
Deployed
for Ocean Escort to and
from Mid-Ocean Meeting Point.
July to August
Deployed
for Atlantic convoy escort with
Group.
(See
HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR, THE
BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC and U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC for further details.)
September
Part of escort for Convoy SC42.
October to
December
Ocean
Escort for Atlantic convoys in
continuation.
1
9 4 2
January to April
Transferred
to 3rd Canadian Escort Group and
joined HM Canadian
Destroyer
SAGUENAY,
HM Canadian Corvettes
WETASKIWIN, SACKVILLE, GALT and CAMROSE
for Ocean Escort of Atlantic
convoys.
May
Part of escort for Convoy HX119 with ships of Group.
June
Atlantic convoy defence with
Group in continuation.
July
Deployed
with HM Canadian Destroyers
SAGUENAY and HAMILTON, HM Canadian
Corvettes AGASSIZ, SACKVILLE and
WETASKIWIN
as
escort for Convoy HX115
31st
- Shared credit for sinking U588
with HMCS WETASKIWIN during defence of HX115 against attacks by TIGER Group of U-BOATS. (See
HITLER'S
U-BOAT WAR.)
August to December
Mid
Ocean escort duties with Group
in continuation. (For
development of new weapons and
changes in U-Boat deployments
see U-BOAT WAR
IN
THE ATLANTIC (HMSO) and SEEK
& STRIKE by
W
Hackmann.
For information relating to
development and use of radar in the Royal
Navy
see RADAR AT SEA by D Howse.)
1
9 4 3
January to
March
Under refit.
April
On
completion of post refit trials
prepared for return to
operational
duties with
3rd
Canadian Escort Group.
16th
- Part of escort for Convoy
HX223 with US Coastguard Cutters
SPENCER and
DUANE,
HM Canadian Corvettes WETASKIWIN
and ARVIDA, HM Corvettes DIANTHUS,
BERGAMOT and BRYONY.
17th - Carried out anti-submarine operations in defence
of convoy during intensive
attacks by U-Boat
Groups.
Escort reinforced by 3rd British
Support Group
which
reduced
scale
of attack after series of depth
charge operations.
May
Deployed
as escort for Convoy HX238.
17th
- Threat of attacks by U-Boat
Groups did not materialise
after extensive air operations using depth charges from LIBERATOR aircraft of Coastal
Command.
(See
above references and BATTLE OF
THE ATLANTIC by Costello and
Hughes.)
June to
December
Atlantic convoy escort duties in continuation.
1
9 4 4
January
Atlantic convoy defence in
continuation.
February
Nominated
for support of planned allied
invasion (Operation NEPTUNE). Taken in
hand
for refit to prepare for service
prior to passage to UK.
March
Under refit.
April
Carried
out post refit trials and
prepared for passage.
May
Joined
escort for Convoy SC157 for
passage to UK to join 12th
Escort
Group.
Detached
from SC157 on arrival in Home
waters and took passage to join
HM
Canadian
Destroyers QU'APPELLE,
RESTIGOUCHE and SASKATCHEWAN of Group at
Plymouth.
June
Deployed
with Group for ant-submarine
operations in Bay of Biscay. (Note:
These
were intended to deny access to
English Channel for attacks on invasion
convoys and assemblies. For details of naval activities prior to and during
NEPTUNE, see
OPERATION
NEPTUNE by K Edwards, LANDINGS
IN NORMANDY June 1944
and
INVASION FLEETS by J de Winser.)
July
On
completion of NEPTUNE deployed
with Group for interception
patrol in
French
coastal
waters to prevent use of ports
for support of enemy military
operations
including
use as submarine bases.
5th - Carried out attack on U-Boat escorts sinking
three patrol vessels.
11th - In collision with HMCS QU'APPELLE during
engagement with enemy ships in Audierne Bay.
14 of the ship's company were
injured.
Sustained
some structural damage.
Taken
in hand for repair.
August
On
completion rejoined Group for
deployment in Channel and SW
Approaches.
12th
- During interception patrol
with HMCS QU'APPELLE, HMCS
RESTIGOUCHE
and
HM
Escort Destroyer ALBRIGHTON
engaged and sank three trawlers
south of
Brest.
September
Released
from deployment at Plymouth and
transferred to 11th Escort
Group in
Western
Approaches Command. Deployed
for ant-submarine
operations to intercept U-Boats
in transit through NW
Approaches
to and from bases in
Norway.
October
NW Approaches deployment in continuation.
24th
- Dragged anchor at Hvalfjord
whilst
taking shelter adverse weather.
25th
- Stranded on Videy
Island and salvage
impossible due to weather,
November
Ship
remained stranded and further
salvage attempts not feasible.
December
Ship
declared Constructive Total
Loss.
F i n a l P h
a s e
HMCS SKEENA was placed on Disposal List and sold for
demolition in June 1945.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of
HMCS
SKEENA
by
Don Kindell
These
convoy lists have not been
cross-checked with the text
above
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date convoy
sailed
|
Joined convoy as escort
|
Convoy
No.
|
Left convoy
|
Date convoy
arrived
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
23/09/39
|
23/09/39
|
HX 002
|
25/09/39
|
10/10/39
|
|
26/11/39
|
26/11/39
|
HX 010
|
28/11/39
|
10/12/39
|
|
02/12/39
|
02/12/39
|
HXF 011
|
03/12/39
|
15/12/39
|
|
04/12/39
|
04/12/39
|
HX 011
|
05/12/39
|
18/12/39
|
|
10/12/39
|
10/12/39
|
HXF 012
|
12/12/39
|
24/12/39
|
|
12/12/39
|
12/12/39
|
HX 012
|
13/12/39
|
27/12/39
|
|
19/12/39
|
19/12/39
|
HXF 013
|
20/12/39
|
30/12/39
|
|
20/12/39
|
20/12/39
|
HX 013
|
22/12/39
|
04/01/40
|
|
27/12/39
|
27/12/39
|
HXF 014
|
29/12/39
|
08/01/40
|
|
29/12/39
|
29/12/39
|
HX 014
|
30/12/39
|
12/01/40
|
|
28/01/40
|
28/01/40
|
HXF 018
|
29/01/40
|
08/02/40
|
|
31/01/40
|
31/01/40
|
HX 018
|
10/02/40
|
16/02/40
|
|
04/02/40
|
04/02/40
|
HXF 019
|
05/02/40
|
17/02/40
|
|
07/02/40
|
07/02/40
|
HX 019
|
08/02/40
|
22/02/40
|
|
22/02/40
|
22/02/40
|
HX 022
|
23/02/40
|
09/03/40
|
|
02/03/40
|
02/03/40
|
HX 024
|
03/03/40
|
17/03/40
|
|
10/03/40
|
10/03/40
|
HX 026
|
11/03/40
|
26/03/40
|
|
18/03/40
|
18/03/40
|
HX 028
|
19/03/40
|
02/04/40
|
|
25/03/40
|
25/03/40
|
HX 030
|
26/03/40
|
09/04/40
|
|
06/04/40
|
06/04/40
|
HX 033
|
07/04/40
|
20/04/40
|
|
18/04/40
|
18/04/40
|
HX 036
|
19/04/40
|
03/05/40
|
|
26/04/40
|
26/04/40
|
HX 038
|
27/04/40
|
12/05/40
|
|
04/05/40
|
04/05/40
|
HX 040
|
05/05/40
|
19/05/40
|
|
16/05/40
|
16/05/40
|
HX 043
|
17/05/40
|
31/05/40
|
|
20/05/40
|
20/05/40
|
HX 044
|
21/05/40
|
03/06/40
|
|
24/05/40
|
24/05/40
|
HX 045
|
25/05/40
|
08/06/40
|
|
10/07/40
|
10/07/40
|
OA 182
|
14/07/40
|
14/07/40
|
|
03/07/40
|
15/07/40
|
HX 055
|
unknown
|
18/07/40
|
|
15/07/40
|
27/07/40
|
HX 058
|
31/07/40
|
31/07/40
|
|
28/07/40
|
10/08/40
|
SL 041F
|
14/08/40
|
14/08/40
|
|
12/08/40
|
24/08/40
|
HX 065
|
27/08/40
|
27/08/40
|
|
18/08/40
|
unknown
|
OA 201
|
unknown
|
unknown
|
|
02/09/40
|
02/09/40
|
OA 208
|
unknown
|
unknown
|
|
25/08/40
|
07/09/40
|
SC 002
|
08/09/40
|
10/09/40
|
|
12/09/40
|
12/09/40
|
LG 001
|
15/09/40
|
15/09/40
|
|
02/09/40
|
15/09/40
|
SC 003
|
18/09/40
|
18/09/40
|
|
11/10/40
|
11/10/40
|
OG 044
|
14/10/40
|
24/10/40
|
|
19/10/40
|
19/10/40
|
OL 008
|
21/10/40
|
22/10/40
|
|
09/10/40
|
22/10/40
|
HG 045
|
27/10/40
|
27/10/40
|
|
24/10/40
|
04/11/40
|
HX 083
|
05/11/40
|
07/11/40
|
|
24/10/40
|
05/11/40
|
SC 009
|
09/11/40
|
09/11/40
|
|
09/11/40
|
21/11/40
|
SC 011
|
26/11/40
|
26/11/40
|
|
08/01/41
|
21/01/41
|
HG 050
|
26/01/41
|
26/01/41
|
|
21/06/41
|
21/06/41
|
TC 011
|
24/06/41
|
30/06/41
|
|
27/07/41
|
30/07/41
|
HX 141
|
06/08/41
|
11/08/41
|
|
06/08/41
|
11/08/41
|
ON 005
|
14/08/41
|
14/08/41
|
|
30/08/41
|
02/09/41
|
SC 042
|
17/09/41
|
20/09/41
|
|
13/09/41
|
20/09/41
|
ON 016
|
26/09/41
|
27/09/41
|
|
09/10/41
|
11/10/41
|
TC 014
|
15/10/41
|
17/10/41
|
|
16/10/41
|
23/10/41
|
ON 027
|
02/11/41
|
02/11/41
|
|
10/11/41
|
12/11/41
|
SC 054
|
22/11/41
|
26/11/41
|
|
25/11/41
|
30/11/41
|
ON 040
|
04/12/41
|
04/12/41
|
|
03/01/42
|
05/01/42
|
SC 063
|
10/01/42
|
13/01/42
|
|
11/04/42
|
19/04/42
|
SC 079
|
27/04/42
|
27/04/42
|
|
08/05/42
|
09/05/42
|
ON 093
|
16/05/42
|
17/05/42
|
|
24/05/42
|
28/05/42
|
HX 191
|
05/06/42
|
06/06/42
|
|
16/06/42
|
18/06/42
|
ON 104
|
27/06/42
|
02/07/42
|
|
03/07/42
|
06/07/42
|
SC 090
|
16/07/42
|
16/07/42
|
|
24/07/42
|
25/07/42
|
ON 115
|
31/07/42
|
08/08/42
|
|
09/08/42
|
12/08/42
|
HX 202
|
17/08/42
|
21/08/42
|
|
12/08/42
|
17/08/42
|
ON 121
|
20/08/42
|
27/08/42
|
|
29/08/42
|
02/09/42
|
SC 098
|
12/09/42
|
13/09/42
|
|
18/09/42
|
19/09/42
|
ON 131
|
25/09/42
|
04/10/42
|
|
01/10/42
|
07/10/42
|
HX 210
|
15/10/42
|
16/10/42
|
|
25/10/42
|
26/10/42
|
ON 141
|
31/10/42
|
10/11/42
|
|
09/11/42
|
16/11/42
|
SC 109
|
25/11/42
|
30/11/42
|
|
09/12/42
|
10/12/42
|
ON 152
|
19/12/42
|
31/12/42
|
|
06/04/43
|
12/04/43
|
HX 233
|
20/04/43
|
21/04/43
|
|
24/04/43
|
25/04/43
|
ON 180
|
07/05/43
|
14/05/43
|
|
07/05/43
|
13/05/43
|
HX 238
|
20/05/43
|
22/05/43
|
|
01/06/43
|
03/06/43
|
ON 187
|
10/06/43
|
15/06/43
|
|
15/06/43
|
20/06/43
|
HX 244
|
29/06/43
|
30/06/43
|
|
09/07/43
|
10/07/43
|
ON 192
|
18/07/43
|
22/07/43
|
|
23/07/43
|
29/07/43
|
HX 249
|
05/08/43
|
06/08/43
|
|
20/08/43
|
23/08/43
|
ONS 016
|
29/08/43
|
01/09/43
|
|
02/09/43
|
08/09/43
|
HX 255
|
15/09/43
|
16/09/43
|
|
26/09/43
|
27/09/43
|
ONS 019
|
09/10/43
|
14/10/43
|
|
11/10/43
|
17/10/43
|
HX 261
|
25/10/43
|
26/10/43
|
|
06/11/43
|
07/11/43
|
ON 210
|
17/11/43
|
23/11/43
|
|
19/11/43
|
23/11/43
|
SC 147
|
03/12/43
|
04/12/43
|
|
16/12/43
|
17/12/43
|
ON 216
|
29/12/43
|
03/01/44
|
|
28/01/44
|
29/01/44
|
ONS 028
|
11/02/44
|
15/02/44
|
|
17/04/44
|
27/04/44
|
SC 157
|
28/04/44
|
01/05/44
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)
