RCN Minesweepers (Algerine class): HMCS Middlesex (J328), HMCS New Liskeard (J397), HMCS Oshawa (J330)

RCN Algerine class Minesweepers: HMCS Middlesex (J328), HMCS New Liskeard (J397), HMCS Oshawa (J330)

HMCS Middlesex (J328)

(DND Photo)

HMCS Middlesex (J328) (Algerine-class). She was commissioned at Port Arthur on 8 Jun 1944, arrived at Halifax in mid-July and sailed for Bermuda in Aug 1944 to work up. Assigned to EG W-3 of Western Force, she joined the group in New York on 30 Aug 1944, direct from Bermuda. HMCS Middlesex was principally engaged as southern local escort to UK-bound convoys out of New York. She was the Senior Officer’s ship from mid-Nov 1944, until the force was disbanded in Jun 1945, whereupon she refitted at Halifax and was placed in maintenance reserve there. In Mar 1946, she returned to service as emergency ship at Halifax. On 2 Dec 1946, en route to assist the fishing vessel Ohio, she ran ashore on Half Island Point, near Halifax. Her crew escaped unharmed. She was declared a total loss.

HMCS New Liskeard (J397), 168

(Kerry Dunphy Photo)

HMCS New Liskeard (J397) (Algerine-class). Built at Port Arthur, Ontario, she was commissioned there on 21 Nov 1944. HMCS New Liskeard arrived at Halifax on 15 Dec 1944 and proceeded to Bermuda for workups in Mar 1945. Upon her return in Apr 1945 she was assigned to EG W-8 of Western Escort Force. When EG W-8 was disbanded in Jun 1945, she was allocated to HMCS Cornwallis as a training ship from Jul to Sep 1945. She was then placed in maintenance reserve, first at Sydney and then at Halifax, until the end of the year. Refitted at Halifax, she was re-commissioned (168) on 9 Apr 1946, as a training ship for cadets. On 22 Apr 1958, she was paid off for conversion to an oceanographic research vessel, serving as such until 1 May 1969. Later that year she was taken to Dartmouth Cove, NS, and broken up.

(DND Photo)

HMCS New Liskeard (J397) (Algerine-class).

HMCS Oshawa (J330)

(Roger Heward Photo)

HMCS Oshawa (J330) (Algerine-class). Built by the Port Arthur Shipbuilding Co., Port Arthur, Ontario, she was commissioned at Port Arthur on 6 Jul 1944. She arrived at Halifax on 18 Aug 1944 and after working-up in Bermuda in September, she was allocated to EG W-6 of Western Escort Force as Senior Officer’s Ship. On 10 May 1945. as the senior warship of the convoy escort group, HMCS Oshawa was dispatched to accept the surrender of U-889. Her escort group was disbanded in Jun 1945, and HMCS Oshawa was paid off into maintenance reserve at Sydney on 28 Jul. She was re-commissioned (174) on 24 Oct 1945, and in Nov 1945 sailed for Esquimalt. She arrived there 21 Dec 1945 and on 24 Feb 1946, was paid off into reserve. During one more commission from 11 Apr 1956 to 07 Nov 1958 she was part of the Twelfth Canadian Escort Squadron before beginning her conversion to an oceanographic research vessel on 2 Nov 1956. She was extensively converted for oceanographic research and was manned by the RCN until 6 Nov 1958 when she was again paid off and re-designated as CNAV Oshawa, manned by a civilian crew, a role in which she continued, until sold to Capital Iron and Metal, Victoria on 28 Aug 1966 and broken up in 1966-1967.