HMCS Chedabucto

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Coordinates: 48°14′N 69°16′W / 48.233°N 69.267°W / 48.233; -69.267
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History
Canada
NameChedabucto
NamesakeChedabucto Bay, Nova Scotia
Ordered23 February 1940
BuilderBurrard Dry Dock Co. Ltd., North Vancouver
Laid down24 January 1941
Launched14 April 1941
Commissioned27 September 1941
Out of service21 October 1943
IdentificationPennant number: J168
Honours and
awards		Atlantic 1942–43,[1] Gulf of St. Lawrence 1942[2]
FateSunk in collision 1943
General characteristics
Class and typeBangor-class minesweeper
Displacement672 long tons (683 t)
Length180 ft (54.9 m) oa
Beam28 ft 6 in (8.7 m)
Draught9 ft 9 in (3.0 m)
Propulsion2 Admiralty 3-drum water tube boilers, 2 shafts, vertical triple-expansion reciprocating engines, 2,400 ihp (1,790 kW)
Speed16.5 knots (31 km/h)
Complement83
Armament

HMCS Chedabucto was a

minesweeper that served with the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War. She served primarily in the Battle of the Atlantic. During the Battle of the St. Lawrence
in 1943, Chedabucto was sunk in a collision with a cable ship.

Design and description

A British design, the Bangor-class minesweepers were smaller than the preceding Halcyon-class minesweepers in British service, but larger than the Fundy class in Canadian service.[3][4] They came in two versions powered by different engines; those with a diesel engines and those with vertical triple-expansion steam engines.[3] Chedabucto was of the latter design and was larger than her diesel-engined cousins. Chedabucto was 180 feet (54.9 m) long overall, had a beam of 28 feet 6 inches (8.7 m) and a draught of 9 feet 9 inches (3.0 m).[3][4] The minesweeper had a displacement of 672 long tons (683 t). She had a complement of 6 officers and 77 enlisted.[4]

Chedabucto had two vertical triple-expansion steam engines, each driving one shaft, using steam provided by two

Admiralty three-drum boilers. The engines produced a total of 2,400 indicated horsepower (1,800 kW) and gave a maximum speed of 16.5 knots (30.6 km/h; 19.0 mph). The minesweeper could carry a maximum of 150 long tons (152 t) of fuel oil.[3]

Chedabucto was armed with a single

QF 2-pounder Mark VIII and two single-mounted QF 20 mm Oerlikon guns.[3][4] As a convoy escort, Chedabucto was deployed with 40 depth charges launched from two depth charge throwers and four chutes.[3][5]

Construction and career

Chedabucto was ordered on 23 February 1940

launched on 14 April 1941 and commissioned later that year on 27 September at Vancouver.[7] The vessel was named for Chedabucto Bay, Nova Scotia.[8]

After

working up Chedabucto left Esquimalt, British Columbia on 11 November 1941 and arrived at Halifax, Nova Scotia on 17 December. On 12 January 1942, Chedabucto rescued the crew of the merchant Independence Hall which had run aground on Sable Island. On 8 April, Chedabucto attacked a surfaced U-boat off Halifax. However, the ship's steering gear jammed and the U-boat was able to evade the minesweeper.[8] On 10 April SS Trongate caught fire in Halifax harbour. Among the contents of her cargo were explosives. Chedabucto sank Trongate with non-explosive practice shells fired into the hull to scuttle the ship.[7][9]

Assigned to the

Father Point and then detached to patrol duties.[8]

Sinking

Lord Kelvin, the vessel that rammed Chedabucto

On 21 October 1943, Chedabucto was sailing down the

Rimouski, Quebec. Lord Kelvin rammed the minesweeper on the port side, just aft of the wardroom. Lord Kelvin reversed, leaving a 25-by-12-foot (7.6 by 3.7 m) hole in the side of the ship and a 10° list to port. The United States Coast Guard vessel Buttonwood was hailed and attempted to tow the stricken minesweeper closer to shore. However, the minesweeper grounded 2.4 km (1+1⁄2 mi) from shore and the list increased to 40°.[8] The tow attempts were ceased and the crew of Chedabucto was transferred to Lord Kelvin[12] and Chedabucto's sister ship Swift Current which had also arrived on the scene. The minesweeper later rolled onto her side and sank.[8] There was one casualty aboard Chedabucto, suffered during the collision.[7] The ship sank 48 kilometres (30 mi) from Rimouski.[13][14]

References

Notes

  1. ^ The 40 calibre denotes the length of the gun. This means that the length of the gun barrel is 40 times the bore diameter.

Citations

  1. ^ "Battle Honours". Britain's Navy. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
  2. ^ "Royal Canadian Warships – The Battle of the Gulf of St. Lawrence – Second World War". Veterans Affairs Canada. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Chesneau, p. 64
  4. ^ a b c d Macpherson and Barrie, p. 167
  5. ^ Macpherson, p. 19
  6. ^ "HMCS Chedabucto (J 174)". Uboat.net. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
  7. ^ a b c d e Macpherson and Barrie, p. 169
  8. ^ a b c d e f Darlington and McKee, pp. 106–109
  9. ^ Naftel, p. 237
  10. ^ Rohwer, p. 178
  11. ^ Sarty, pp. 190–192
  12. ^ Milner, Marc (22 October 2010). "The Accidental Enemy: Navy, Part 41". Legion Magazine. Archived from the original on 9 May 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  13. ^ Colledge, p. 77
  14. ^ Rohwer, p. 282

Sources

48°14′N 69°16′W / 48.233°N 69.267°W / 48.233; -69.267

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