RCN Frigates (River Class): ‍HMCS Annan K404/HMCS Antigonish K661/HMCS Beacon Hill K407/HMCS Buckingham K685/HMCS Cap de la Madeleine K663/HMCS Cape Breton K350/HMCS Capilano K409/HMCS Carlplace K664/HMCS Charlottetown K244/HMCS Chebogue K317

Royal Canadian Navy Frigates (River and Loch Class)

Frigates

Frigates were initially called "twin-screw corvettes" and were larger and more habitable than the standard corvettes.  They had twice the endurance rate, at 7,200 sea miles at 12 knots.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4950924)

RCN Frigates in line Firth of Clyde, c1945.

River and Loch Class Frigates

The RCN frigates were named for rivers, hence the name "River class".  60 frigates were built in Canada for the RCN in 1942/1943, and another ten were built for the United Kingdom on a lend-lease agreement with the USA.  In 1944 seven RN frigates were transferred to the RCN, along with three of the Loch class (a slightly larger model designed to be built from prefabricated parts).  Most of the RCN frigates were armed with twin 4-inch guns.

‍River Class Frigates

HMCS Annan (K404) (River-class); HMCS Antigonish (K661) (River Class); HMCS Beacon Hill (K407) (River-class); HMCS Buckingham (K685) (River-class); HMCS Cap de la Madeleine (K663) (River-class); HMCS Cape Breton (K350) (River-class); HMCS Capilano (K409) (River-class); HMCS Carlplace (K664) (River-class); HMCS Charlottetown (K244) (River-class); HMCS Chebogue (K317) (River-class); HMCS Coaticook (K410) (River-class); HMCS Dunver (K03) (River-class); HMCS Eastview (K665) (River-class); HMCS Ettrick (K254) (River-class); HMCS Fort Erie (K670) (River-class); HMCS Glace Bay (K414) (River-class); HMCS Grou (K518) (River-class); HMCS Hallowell (K666) (River-class); HMCS Inch Arran (K667) (River-class); HMCS Joliette (K418) (River-class); HMCS Jonquiere (K318) (River-class); HMCS Kirkland Lake (K337) (River-class); HMCS Kokanee (K419) (River-class); HMCS La Hulloise (K668) (River-class); HMCS Lanark (K669) (River-class); HMCS Lasalle (K519) (River-class); HMCS Lauzon (K371) (River-class); HMCS Levis (K400) (River-class); HMCS Longueuil (K672) (River-class); HMCS Magog (K673) (River-class); HMCS Matane (K444) (River-class); HMCS Meon (K269) (River-class); HMCS Monnow (K441) (River-class); HMCS Montreal (K319) (River-class); HMCS Nene (K270)(River-class); HMCS New Glasgow (K320) (River-class); HMCS New Waterford (K321) (River-class); HMCS Orkney (K448) (River-class); HMCS Outremont (K322) (River-class); HMCS Penetang (K676) (River-class); HMCS Port Colborne (K326) (River-class); HMCS Poundmaker (K675) (River-class); HMCS Prestonian (K662) (River-class); HMCS Prince Rupert (K324) (River-class); HMCS Ribble (K525) (River-class); HMCS Royal Mount (K677) (River-class); HMCS Runnymede (K678) (River-class); HMCS Sea Cliff (K344) (River-class); HMCS Springhill (K323) (River-class); HMCS St. Catharines (K325) (River-class); HMCS Saint John (K456) (River-class); HMCS St. Pierre (K680) (River-class); HMCS St. Stephen (K454) (River-class); HMCS Ste. Thérèse (K366) (River-class); HMCS Stettler (K681) (River-class); HMCS Stone Town (K531) (River-class); HMCS Stormont (K327) (River-class); HMCS Strathadam (K682) (River-class); HMCS Sussexvale (K683) (River-class); HMCS Swansea (K328) (River-class); HMCS Teme (K458) (River-class); HMCS Thetford Mines (K459) (River-class); HMCS Toronto (K538) (River-class); HMCS Valleyfield (K329) (River-class); HMCS Victoriaville (K684) (River-class); HMCS Waskesiu (K330) (River-class); HMCS Wentworth (K331) (River-class).

Loch Class Frigates

HMCS Loch Achanalt (K424) (Loch-class); HMCS Loch Alvie (K428) (Loch-class); HMCS Loch Morlich (K517) (Loch-class).

Prestonian Class Frigates (Converted River Class Frigates), are listed on a separate page on this web site.

HMCS Antigonish (301) (Prestonian-class); HMCS Beacon Hill (303) (Prestonian-class); HMCS Buckingham (314) (Prestonian-class); HMCS Cap de la Madeleine (317) (Prestonian-class); HMCS Fort Erie (312) (Prestonian-class); HMCS Inch Arran (308) (Prestonian-class); HMCS Jonquiere (318) (Prestonian-class); HMCS La Hulloise (305) (Prestonian-class); HMCS Lanark (321) (Prestonian-class); HMCS Lauzon (322) (Prestonian-class); HMCS New Glasgow (315) (Prestonian-class); HMCS New Waterford (304) (Prestonian-class); HMCS Outremont (310) (Prestonian-class); HMCS Penetang (316) (Prestonian-class); HMCS Prestonian (307) (Prestonian-class); HMCS Ste. Thérèse (309) (Prestonian-class); HMCS Stettler (311) (Prestonian-class); HMCS Sussexvale (313) (Prestonian-class); HMCS Swansea (306) (Prestonian-class); HMCS Toronto (319) (Prestonian-class); HMCS Victoriaville (320) (Prestonian-class).

A few Frigates were retained by the RCN after the end of the Second World War, and between 1953 and 1958, 21 of the River class frigates were converted to flush-deck models and the quarterdeck was enclosed to house two Squid anti-submarine mortars.  The bridge was greatly enlarged and the funnel was heightened.  These modified warships were known as Prestonian class ocean escorts.  Most had been paid off by 1968.  HMCS Victoriaville was renamed HMCS Grandby in 1968 and became a diving tender

‍HMCS Annan (K404)

(IWM Photo, FL624)

HMCS Annan (K404), River Class.  Built by Hall Russell & Co. Ltd., Aberdeen, Scotland, she was launched on 29 Dec 1943 as HMS Annan.  Named after a river in Scotland, she was transferred newly built from the RN to the RCN at Aberdeen on 13 Jun 1944 and commissioned as HMCS Annan K404.  On completion of workups at Tobermory, she joined EG 6, Londonderry, for patrol and escort duties in UK waters.  On 16 Oct 1944, while on A/S patrol south of the Faeroes, she engaged and sank U-1006, rescuing 46 survivors.  During the action, the sub surfaced and opened fire with her deck guns.

(Randy Hone Photo)

HMCS Annan (K404).  John Stronski on watch.

(Randy Hone Photo)

HMCS Annan (K404).  Quarter deck and starboard depth charge throwers and rails.

(Randy Hone Photo)

HMCS Annan (K404).  Quarter deck and port depth charge throwers and rails.

HMCS Antigonish (K661)

(City of Vancouver Archives Photo)

HMCS Antigonish (K661).  Commissioned at Victoria on 4 Jul 1944, she arrived at Halifax on 22 Aug 1944, and, after undergoing minor repairs, sailed for Bermuda in mid-Oct 1944 to work up.  On her return to Halifax on 2 Nov 1944, she joined EG 16, transferring with the group to Londonderry in Mar, 1945.  During the next three months HMCS Antigonish was employed on patrol and support duty, including two round trips to Gibraltar.  She left Londonderry in mid-Jun 1945 and on 3 Jul 1945 began tropicalization refit at Pictou, completing 17 Nov 1945.  On 22 Dec 1945 she left for Esquimalt and there, on 5 Feb 1946, was paid off into reserve.  She re-commissioned for training on 26 Apr 1947, and was paid off on 15 Jan 1954.  The ship was converted, 1956-57, to a Prestonian class ocean escort (301), and again took up her training role until finally paid off on 30 Nov 1966.  She was broken up in Japan in 1968.

(RCN Photo)

HMCS Antigonish (K661), 15 Nov 1944.

HMCS Beacon Hill (K407)

(CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum Photo)

HMCS Beacon Hill (K407) (River-class) in wartime disruptive pattern camouflage, ca 1944.  HMCS Beacon Hill (K407) (River-class).  Built by Yarrows Ltd., Esquimalt, BC, she was commissioned there on 16 May 1944.  HMCS Beacon Hill arrived at Halifax on 11 Jul 1944, having escorted HMS Puncher from New Orleans to New York en route, and proceeded to Bermuda to work up.  On her return to Halifax she left in Sep 1944 to join EG 26, an RCN support group based at Londonderry, but for varying periods was detached to Plymouth and Portsmouth.  She remained in UK waters for the balance of the European war, leaving Greenock for home on 28 May 1945.  Intended for Pacific service, she underwent tropicalization refit at Liverpool, NS, from Jun to Nov 1945, and sailed from Shelburne for Esquimalt on 22 Dec 1945.  She was paid off at Esquimalt on 06 Feb 1946, but re-commissioned in the summer of 1949 for cadet training.  She was again paid off in 1954 for conversion to a Prestonian class ocean escort (303), was commissioned as such on 21 Dec 1957, and served on the west coast until finally paid off on 15 Sep 1967.  She was broken up in 1968 at Sakai, Japan.

HMCS Buckingham (K685)

(DND Photo)

HMCS Buckingham (K685) (River Class).  Laid down as HMCS Royalmount, she was renamed HMCS Buckingham on 5 Apr 1944.  Commissioned on 2 Nov 1944, at Quebec City, she proceeded to the east coast and sailed from Halifax on 18 Dec 1944 for Bermuda to work up.  She returned in mid-Jan 1945, and in Feb 1945 was assigned to EG 28, as a member of which she carried out escort and patrol duty out of Halifax until VE-Day.  In May she arrived at Shelburne, escorting the surrendered U-889.  In Jun 1945 she began a tropicalization refit at Liverpool, NS, continuing it at Shelburne until 20 Aug 1945, when it was suspended.  HMCS Buckingham was paid off on 16 Nov 1945 at Sydney and placed in reserve at Shelburne until 1946, when she was sold to Marine Industries Ltd.  Re-acquired by the RCN, she was converted to a Prestonian class ocean escort (304), 1953-54, and re-commissioned for training purposes.  Further modified by the addition of a helicopter landing deck aft, she carried out, Oct-Dec 1956, trials preliminary to the design of the destroyer helicopter carriers.  On 13 Feb 1959, HMCS Fort Erie, HMCS Buckingham, HMCS Swansea and HMCS La Hulloise returned to Halifax after a 5 week exercise in southern waters that included a port visit to Kingston, Jamaica.  In Apr 1963, 12 RCN ships, HMCS Algonquin, Micmac, Cayuga, St. Croix, Terra Nova, Kootenay, Swansea, La Hulloise, Buckingham, Cape Scott, CNAV Bluethroat and CNAV St. Charles, took part in NATO Exercise New Broom Eleven, an exercise designed to test convoy protection tactics.  She was paid off for the last time on 23 Mar 1965.  On 22 Mar 1966, Buckingham left Halifax under tow and arrived at Le Spezia on 11 Apr 1966 for scrapping.  One of her 4-inch/45 QF Mk. XVI* Twin Gun turrets is preserved in the village of Buckingham, Quebec.

(Author Photo)

4-inch/45 QF Mk. XVI* Twin Guns  (Serial No. S/14556), L, left, and (Serial No. S/covered with paint), R, right, on a Mk. XIX High Angle mounting, from HMCS Buckingham.  Buckingham, Quebec.

HMCS Cap de la Madeleine (K663)

(John Vukson Photo)

HMCS Cap de la Madeleine (K663),was built at Quebec city.  She was commissioned there on 30 Sep 1944.  She arrived at Halifax 20 Oct 1944, and soon afterward sailed for Bermuda to work up.  Returning in Dec 1944, she was allocated to EG C-7, MOEF, based at St. John's.  She left that port 28 Dec 1944, to accompany convoy HX.328 eastward, but was detached on 03 Jan 1945 to the westbound convoy ONS.39, as she had to return for repairs.  These were carried out successively at St. John's, Halifax and Quebec, and completed on 07 May 1945.  She then began tropicalization refit at Lauzon, but this was cancelled in Aug 1945 owing to termination of hostilities, and the ship was paid off 25 Nov 1945 at Shelburne, NS.  She was sold to Marine Industries Ltd., but later re-acquired by the RCN and converted to a Prestonian class unit (317).  Re-commissioned on 7 Dec 1954, she served on the east coast until paid off on 15 May 1965.  She was broken up the following year at La Spezia, Italy.

HMCS Cape Breton (K350)

(RCN Photo via the CFB Esquimalt Naval Museum)

HMCS Cape Breton (K350) (River-class).  Built at Quebec City, she was commissioned there on 25 Oct 1943.  She arrived at Halifax on 28 Nov 1943 and worked up in St. Margaret's Bay in Jan 1944.  Assigned to EG 6, a support group based at Londonderry, she left Halifax for the UK on 24 Feb 1944.  She operated at various times from "Derry, Portsmouth and Plymouth and in Apr 1944 sailed to Kola Inlet as escort for convoy RA.59.  On 28 Apr 1944, HMCS Cape Breton, in company with HMCS Waskesiu K330, HMCS Grou K518 and HMCS Outremont K322 departed Kola Inlet with Convoy RA.59; arriving at Loch Ewe on 06 May 1944.  She was also on hand on D-Day.  She returned to Canada  arriving on 6 Nov 1944 at Shelburne, NS, for a major refit.  This was completed in Apr 1945 and she was then sent to Bermuda to work up.  Assigned to EG 9, she left St. John's on 9 May 1945 with convoy HX.354, and later that month sailed from "Derry direct to Vancouver.  A tropicalization refit begun on 26 Jun 1945 was cancelled before completion and the ship was paid of 26 Jan 1946, after several months in reserve at Esquimalt.  She was sold in 1947 and expended as a breakwater in 1948, reportedly at Kelsey Bay, BC.

HMCS Capilano (K409)

(DND Photo)

HMCS Capilano (K409) (River-class).  Commissioned at Victoria, BC, on 25 Aug 1944, HMCS Capilano arrived at Halifax on 20 Oct 1944.  Following workups begun in St. Margaret's Bay and completed in Bermuda in Nov 1944, she joined EG C-2 in St. John's, Newfoundland, and was continuously on North Atlantic convoy duty until VE-Day.  On 9 Apr 1945, HMCS Capilano K409 was attacked by U-1023, Oblt Wolfgang Strenger, in the North Channel, but the attack was unsuccessful.  She left Londonderry for the last time on 30 May 1945, and on 10 Jun 1045 began tropicalization refit at Shelburne.  The work was completed on 13 Oct 1945, and on 24 Nov 1945, the ship was paid off at Halifax and placed in reserve in Bedford Basin.  She was sold for mercantile use in 1947, and in 1948 she appeared under Jamaican registry as Irving Francis M.  She foundered in 1953 off the Cuban coast while en route from Jamaica to Miami in tow of Bess Barry M., the former HMCS St. Boniface.

(Naval Museum of Manitoba Photo)

HMCS Capilano (K409) (River-class).  

HMCS Carlplace (K664)

(DND Photo)

HMCS Carlplace (K664) (River-class).  She was commissioned on 13 Dec 1944, at Quebec City, the last RCN frigate to enter service.  En route to Halifax, she suffered serious ice damage to her hull, necessitating several weeks' repairs at Halifax and Philadelphia.  She then proceeded to Bermuda to work up, returning to Halifax on 24 Mar 1945.  In Apr 1945 she was allocated to EG 16, Londonderry, and sailed for the Clyde via the Azores, escorting a RN submarine homeward bound from refit in the US.  She arrived at Londonderry on 23 Apr 1945 and left on 5 May 1945 to escort convoys to and from Gibraltar.  Late that month she returned to Canada from a tropicalization refit at Saint John, NB, begun on 2 Jun 1945 and continued at Shelburne, NS, on 10 Jul 1945.  The work was called off on 20 Aug 1945, and on 13 Nov 1945, the ship was paid off at Halifax and she was laid up at Shelburne.  She was sold to the Dominican Republic in 1946 for conversion to a presidential yacht, and renamed Presidente Trujillo after the President of the Dominican Republic.  In 1962 after the family Trujillo lost their grip of power on the country, she was renamed Mella and used as a yacht-training vessel by the navy of the Dominican Republic. Armed with 1x76.2-mm, 2x40-mm and 4x20-mm guns, she was also fitted out with American radar equipment.  She was based at Santo Domingo.  In 2003 she was offered free of charge by the Dominican Republic to Carleton Place, but they had to bring the vessel on their own account to Canada.  Unfortunately, she was in a bad shape and not much was left of the original vessel.  The offer was not accepted. Her  final disposition is unknown.

HMCS Charlottetown (K244)

(RCN Photo)

HMCS Charlottetown (K244) (River-class).  Commissioned at Quebec City on 28 Apr 1944, HMCS Charlottetown visited her namesake city en route to Halifax on 22 May 1944.  She arrived in Bermuda on 18 Jun 1944 for a month's working-up, and on her return to Halifax was assigned to EG 16.  She left Halifax on 07 Mar 1945, for Londonderry, the group having been transferred there, and was also briefly based at Portsmouth. In May she escorted two convoys to Gibraltar and two back, and in mid-Jun 1945 left 'Derry' for Sydney, NS.  There she commenced a tropicalization refit that was completed at Halifax on 28 Feb 1946, and on 3 Mar 1946 left for Esquimalt.  She spent the rest of the year training cadets and new entries, and on 25 Mar 1947, was paid off at Esquimalt.  She was sold the same year, and her hull expended as a breakwater at Oyster Bay, BC.

(Robert Fryer Photo)

HMCS Charlottetown (K244) (River-class).

HMCS Chebogue (K317)

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3199159)

HMCS Chebogue (K317) (River-class).  She was commissioned at Esquimalt on 22 Feb 1944, and sailed for Halifax on 15 Mar 1944, arriving on 12 Apr 1944 . After working up in Bermuda in May 1944 she returned to Canada and was assigned to EG C-1.  After visiting Yarmouth, NS, from 12-14 Jun 1944 she transited to St. John's, Newfoundland.  She left St. John's on 23 Jun 1944 for Britain as part of the escort of convoy HXF.296.  On her second return trip, this time as Senior Officer's ship of EG C-1 escorting convoy ONS.33, she was torpedoed by U-1227 on 8 Oct 1944, 800 miles west of the British Isles.  She had made some 900 miles under tow, successively, of HMCS Chambly, HMS Mournsey, HMCS Ribble, and the ocean tug HMS Earner when a storm caused the tow to part.  She grounded on the rocky sand of Port Talbot.  All 42 crew who were aboard were rescued.  The Chebogue was re-floated the following day, taken to Port Talbot and placed in reserve.  In Dec 1944 she was moved to Newport, Wales, to be made ready for a transatlantic crossing under tow, but instead was taken to Milford Haven and paid off on 25 Sep 1945.  She was broken up locally in 1948.

(Cathy Masters Photo)

HMCS Chebogue (K317), 4 Aug 1944, St. John's, Newfoundland.

(Peter Davis Photo)

HMCS Chebogue (K317) (River-class).

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