RCN Corvettes (Flower-class): HMCS Sackville (K181), CNAV Sackville (113)

Royal Canadian Navy Corvettes (Flower-class)

HMCS Sackville (K181)

(RCN Photo)

HMCS Sackville (K181) (Flower-class).  Built by Saint John Dry Dock & Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., Saint John, NB, she was launched on 15 May 1941.  Commissioned on 30 Dec 1941, at Saint John, New Brunswick, HMCS Sackville arrived at Halifax on 12 Jan 1942.  She joined NEF after working up, and on 26 May 1942 left St. John's to escort HX.191 as part of the newly formed EG C-3.  In Apr 1943, she transferred to C-1, and in Sep 1943 briefly joined EG 9 in support of the beleaguered combined convoy ONS.18 / ON.202, which lost six merchant vessels and three escorts.  

In Oct 1943 HMCS Sackville transferred to C-2 for the balance of her war career.  She underwent two major refits: at Liverpool, NS, and Halifax, from 14 Jan to 02 May 1943; and at Galveston, Texas, from late Feb to 7 May 1944, when her fo'c's'le was extended.  Upon her return from working up in Bermuda, in Jun 1944, she made a crossing to Londonderry.  Soon after leaving for the westward journey she split a boiler and had to return to 'Derry for repairs.  She left again on 11 Aug 1944, to limp home as escort to ONS.248, refitted at Halifax and, in Sep 1944, briefly became a training ship at HMCS Kings.  

In Oct 1944 she began, at Halifax, refit and reconstruction to a loop-laying vessel, and work was still in progress by VE-Day.  The ship was paid off on 8 Apr 1946, but re-commissioned 4 Aug 1950, as a depot ship, reserve fleet.  She was refitted in 1950 but remained inactive until 1953, when, as a Canadian Naval Auxiliary Vessel (CNAV), she began a survey of the Gulf of St. Lawrence that was to last several years.  She also carried out a number of cruises to the Baffin Island-Greenland area.  Extensive modification in 1968 reflected HMCS Sackville's new status as a research vessel, and she was operated by the Department of National defence on behalf of the Bedford Institute of Oceanography.  In 1983, as the sole surviving corvette, she was transferred to the Canadian Naval Corvette Trust (now Canadian Naval Memorial Trust) and restored to her wartime appearance. (RCN)

(Johnny Forget Photo)

HMCS Sackville (K181) (Flower-class), summer 1942.

(Gary Medford Photo)

HMCS Sackville (K181) (Flower-class).  Photo taken from HMCS Kamloops K176 while convoy escort for ONS.18 & ON.202, Sep 1943.

(Gary Medford Photo)

HMCS Sackville (K181) (Flower-class).

(USN Photo)

HMCS Sackville (K181), 13 May 1944.

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(Gary Medford Photo)

HMCS Sackville (K181) (Flower-class).

(Author Photo)

HMCS Sackville (K181) (Flower-class), alongside in Halifax Harbour, 2005.

(Author Photos)

HMCS Sackville (K181) (Flower-class), alongside in Halifax Harbour, 2005.

(Author Photos)

QF 4-inch/45 Gun Mk IX, mounted on the forward deck in a gun turret, HMCS Sackville.

(Author Photos)

HMCS Sackville (K181) (Flower-class), Hedgehog Anti-Submarine projector/mortars, 40-mm Bofors Light Anti-Aircraft Gun Mk. VIII on AA mount.

Author with HMCS Sackville (K181) (Flower-class), Halifax.

(Author Photo, 16 July 2025)

HMCS Sackville (K181) (Flower-class), Halifax.

(Author Photo, 16 July 2025)

HMCS Sackville (K181) (Flower-class), Halifax.

(Gary Medford Photo)

CNAV Sackville (113).  As a Canadian Naval Auxiliary Vessel (CNAV) (113), she began a survey of the Gulf of St. Lawrence that was to last several years.  She also carried out a number of cruises to the Baffin Island-Greenland area.  Extensive modification in 1968 reflected HMCS Sackville's new status as a research vessel operated by the Department of National defence on behalf of the Bedford Institute of Oceanography.  In 1983, as the sole surviving corvette, she was transferred to the Canadian Naval Corvette Trust (now Canadian Naval Memorial Trust) and restored to her wartime appearance.

(USN Photo)

CNAV Sackville (113), July 1956.

(USN Naval History and Heritage Photo)

CNAV Sackville (113) (Flower-class).

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