RCN Minesweepers (Lake Class): HMCS Pine Lake (J492), HMCS Poplar Lake (J493), HMCS Spruce Lake (J494), HMCS Willow Lake (J495)

RCN Minesweepers (Lake Class): HMCS Pine Lake (J492), HMCS Poplar Lake (J493), HMCS Spruce Lake (J494), HMCS Willow Lake (J495)

HMCS Pine Lake (J491) (Lake-class).  Transferred to USSR, 20 Sep 1945 as T-195.

HMCS Pine Lake (J492)

(DND Photo)

HMCS Poplar Lake (J492) (Lake-class).  Launched 10 May 1945.  Transferred to USSR, 9 Jan 1946 as T-199, re-named Termoskop in 1957, re-named LOTs-83 in 1957.

These were copies of the Admiralty type, 126-foot wooden-hulled minesweepers, of which 24 were completed in east-coast yards for the RN.  Of the 16 for which orders were placed by the RCN, only 10 were completed as warships, VJ-Day having intervened, and these were transferred to the USSR.  The 3 on which work was stopped were completed for civilian use.  The remaining 3 were apparently never begun. – “Ships of Canada’s Naval Forces 1910-1981” by Ken Macpherson and John Burgess

HMCS Spruce Lake (J493) (Lake-class).  Built by Star Shipyards Lt., New Westminster, BC.  Launched 10 Jul 1945. Displacement: 360 tons; Length: 140 feet; Beam 28 ft; Draught: 12.5 feet; Armament: 2-20mm.  Transferred to USSR 19 March 1946 as T-201, re-named Kashalot in 1955.

HMCS Willow Lake (J495) (Lake-class).  Built by Newcastle Shipbuilding Co. Ltd, Nanaimo, BC.  Launched 27 Jul 1945. Transferred to USSR, 11 March 1946 as T-202, re-named SBR-125 in 1956.

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