HMCS Lachute

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HMCS Lachute
History
Canada
NameHMCS Lachute
NamesakeLachute, Quebec
OrderedJune 1942
Builder
Quebec City
Laid down24 November 1943
Launched9 June 1944
Commissioned26 October 1944
Decommissioned10 July 1945
IdentificationPennant number: K440
Honours and
awards		Atlantic 1945[1]
FateSold to Dominican Republic in 1947
Dominican Republic
NameCristobal Colon
Acquiredpurchased from Canada
Commissioned1947
Decommissioned1978
IdentificationC101
FateRemoved from active list 1978; wrecked 1979
General characteristics
Class and typeModified Flower-class corvette
Displacement1,015 long tons (1,031 t; 1,137 short tons)
Length208 ft (63.4 m)o/a
Beam33 ft (10.1 m)
Draught11 ft (3.35 m)
Propulsion
  • single shaft
  • 2 × water tube boilers
  • 1 × 4-cylinder triple-expansion reciprocating steam engine
  • 2,750 ihp (2,050 kW)
Speed16 knots (29.6 km/h)
Range3,500 nautical miles (6,482 km) at 12 knots (22.2 km/h)
Complement90
Sensors and
processing systems
  • 1 × Type 271 SW2C radar
  • 1 × Type 144 sonar
Armament

HMCS Lachute was a modified Flower-class corvette that served with the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War. She saw action primarily in the Battle of the Atlantic as a convoy escort. She was named for Lachute, Quebec. After the war she was sold to the Dominican Navy.

Background

Main article: Flower-class corvette

Flower-class corvettes like Lachute serving with the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War were different from earlier and more traditional sail-driven corvettes.

whaling ship design.[6] The generic name "flower" was used to designate the class of these ships, which – in the Royal Navy – were named after flowering plants.[7]

Corvettes commissioned by the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War were named after communities for the most part, to better represent the people who took part in building them. This idea was put forth by Admiral Percy W. Nelles. Sponsors were commonly associated with the community for which the ship was named. Royal Navy corvettes were designed as open sea escorts, while Canadian corvettes were developed for coastal auxiliary roles which was exemplified by their minesweeping gear. Eventually the Canadian corvettes would be modified to allow them to perform better on the open seas.[8]

Construction

Lachute was ordered in June 1942 as part of the 1943–44 Increased Endurance Flower-class building program, which followed the main layout of the 1942–43 program. The only significant difference is that the majority of the 43–44 program replaced the 2-pounder Mk.VIII single "pom-pom"

Quebec City. She was launched on 9 June 1944 and commissioned at Quebec City later that year on 26 October.[9][10]

Service history

After being worked up in

ON 305 on 26 May 1945.[10]

Lachute was paid off on 10 July 1945 and placed in reserve at

Sorel. She was transferred to the War Assets Corporation and was sold to Dominican Republic in 1947. Renamed Cristobal Colon she served as a coastal escort until 1978 when she was removed from the active list. On 31 August 1979, Hurricane David struck the island. Cristobal Colon, along with her sister ship, Juan Alejandro Acosta, were driven ashore and wrecked.[10][11]

Notes

  1. ^ "Battle Honours". Britain's Navy. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
  2. ^ Ossian, Robert. "Complete List of Sailing Vessels". The Pirate King. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
  3. ^ Fitzsimons, Bernard, ed. (1978). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of 20th Century Weapons & Warfare. Vol. 11. London: Phoebus. pp. 1137–1142.
  4. ISBN 0-517-67963-9
    .
  5. ISBN 0-8117-3275-4
    .
  6. ISBN 0-87021-913-8
    .
  7. ISBN 0-87021-450-0
    .
  8. ^
    ISBN 1-55125-052-7
    .
  9. ^ "HMCS Lachute (K 440)". Uboat.net. Retrieved 28 July 2013.
  10. ^
    ISBN 0-00216-856-1
    .
  11. ^ Lynch, Thomas G. (1981). Canada's Flowers – History of the Corvettes of Canada. Halifax: Nimbus Publishing. p. 93.

External links

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