RCN Minesweepers: (Bay Class): HMCS Chaleur MCB 144/ HMCS Chaleur MCB 164/ HMCS Chignecto MCB 156/ HMCS Chignecto MCB 160/ HMCS Comox MCB 146/ HMCS Cowichan MCB 147/ HMCS Cowichan MCB 162/ HMCS Fortune MCB 151/ HMCS Fundy MCB 145/ HMCS Fundy MCB 159

RCN Minesweepers (Bay Class)

HMCS Chaleur (MCB 144) (I); HMCS Chaleur (MCB 164) (II); HMCS Chignecto (MCB 156) (II); HMCS Chignecto (MCB 160) (III); HMCS Comox (MCB 146) (II); HMCS Cowichan (MCB 147) (II); HMCS Cowichan (MCB 162) (III); HMCS Fortune (MCB 151); HMCS Fundy (MCB 145) (II); HMCS Fundy (MCB 159) (III); HMCS Gaspé (MCB 143) (II); HMCS James Bay (MCB 152); HMCS Miramichi (MCB 150) (II); HMCS Miramichi (MCB 163) (III); HMCS Quinte (MCB 149) (II); HMCS Resolute (MCB 154); HMCS Thunder (MCB 153) (II); HMCS Thunder (MCB 161) (III); HMCS Trinity (MCB 157); HMCS Ungava (MCB 148) (II)

HMCS Chaleur (MCB 144) (I)

HMCS Chaleur (MCB 164) (II)

HMCS Chignecto (MCB 156) (II)

(DND Photo)

In 1951 and 1952, fourteen replacements were laid down for the aging minesweepers of wartime construction. Six were transferred to the French Navy in 1954, but were replaced by six of the same name in 1956-57. These ships were very similar to the Royal Navy’s Ton Class of the same vintage. The second Chignecto was built by Marine Industries Ltd., Sorel, and commissioned on 1 December 1953, and paid off on March 31 1954, the day of her transfer to the French Navy. Renamed La Bayonnaise, she served until 1976.

HMCS Chignecto (MCB 160) (III)

(DND Photo)

Built as a replacement for the second Chignecto by G.T. Davie & Sons, Lauzon, she was commissioned on 1 August 1957. Built as a Bay-class minesweeper, she and five of her sister ships were re-classed as patrol escorts in 1972.  She served as a member of Training Group Pacific providing ship-handling for junior officers, until paid off on 19 December 1998.

HMCS Comox (MCB 146) (II)

HMCS Cowichan (MCB 147) (II)

HMCS Cowichan (MCB 162) (III)

(DND Photo)

HMCS Cowichan (MCB 162) (III).  Built by Yarrows Ltd., Esquimalt, she was commissioned on 12 Dec 1957, and was a member of Training Group Pacific until paid off on 22 Aug 1997.  Her specifications on completion were: Displacement: 396 tons; Length: 152 ft, Beam: 28 ft; Draught: 8 ft; Speed: 16 kts; Armament: 1-40mm; Complement: 3 officers, 35 men. Cowichan was sold to private interests and tied up at the wharf at the old Lambert Sawmill, Sooke, BC.

(Brian Dobing Photo)

HMCS Cowichan (MCB 162) (III)

‍HMCS Fortune (MCB 151)

(DND Photo via the CFB Esquimalt Naval Museum)

HMCS Fortune (MCB 151).

HMCS Fundy (MCB 145) (II)

(DND Photo)

HMCS Fundy (MCB 145) (II).  Second of name, had a very brief career under the White Ensign of the Royal Canadian Navy.  She too was a minesweeper but of very different construction to that of her predecessor.  Of the “Bay” Class, the 152-foot ship was built of wood and aluminIum to comply with modern concepts of mine warfare.  Built at Saint John, N.B., she was commissioned there on 19 March, 1954.  HMCS Fundy sailed to Halifax and there joined the First Canadian Minesweeping Squadron.  However, her pennants, MCB-145, were not to be seen for long in Canadian waters.

In compliance with Canadian foreign policy of mutual aid to our partners in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, HMCS Fundy (MCB 145), together with other ships of her class, was transferred to France.  At Halifax on 7 April after only eighteen days service, the French Tricolour was hoisted in HMCS Fundy and she was given her new name La Dunkerquoise.

(gandolfi Photo)

HMCS Fundy (MCB 159) III.

(DND Photo)

HMCS Fundy (MCB 159) III, third of name, is another minesweeper of the “Bay” Class and was a member of the First Canadian Minesweeping Squadron, based on Halifax.  Built at Lauzon, Quebec, she was launched on the St. Lawrence on 14 June, 1956, and was commissioned in the Royal Canadian Navy on 27 November the same year.

HMCS Gaspé (MCB 143) (II)

(Bill Fleming Photo)

HMCS Gaspé (MCB 143) (II).  Built by the Davie Shipbuilding Co., Lauzon, Quebec, she was commissioned on 5 Dec 1953, and paid off on 22 Aug 1957.  She was transferred to the Turkish Navy, and was renamed Trabzon, on 31 Mar 1958.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3199943)

HMCS Gaspé (MCB 143) (II), 17 Dec 1953.

HMCS James Bay (MCB 152)‍

HMCS Miramichi (MCB 150) (II)

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4951235)

HMCS Miramichi (MCB 163) (III).  Built by Victoria Machinery Depot, she was commissioned on 29 Oct 1957, and served on the west coast as part of Training Group Pacific until paid off on 16 Dec 1998.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4951236)

HMCS Miramichi (MCB 163) (III).

(Brian Dobing Photo)

HMCS Miramichi (MCB 163) (III).

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4951339)

RCN Minesweepers, HMCS Chaleur (MCB 164) II, HMCS Thunder (MCB 161), HMCS Quinte (MCB 149(, Halifax, Nova Scotia, sometime before 1964.

HMCS Quinte (MCB 149) (II)

HMCS Resolute (MCB 154)  

(DND Photo)

HMCS Resolute (MCB 154)

HMCS Thunder (MCB 153) (II)

(Brian Dobing Photo)

HMCS Thunder (MCB 153) (II).  Built by the Port Arthur Shipbuilding Co., she was commissioned on 3 Oct 1957, and served as a member of the Training Group Pacific until paid off on 22 Aug 1997.

(DND Photo)

HMCS Thunder (MCB 153) (II).

HMCS Trinity (MCB 157)

HMCS Ungava (MCB 148) (II)