RCN Minesweepers (Bangor class): HMCS Mahone (J159), HMCS Malpeque (J148), HMCS Medicine Hat (J256), HMCS Melville (J263)
HMCS Mahone (J159)
(DND Photo)
HMCS Mahone (J159) (Bangor-class). Commissioned at Vancouver on 29 Sep 1941, she left Esquimalt on 11 Nov 1941 for Halifax, when upon her arrival on 17 Dec 1941, she was assigned to WLEF. Between May 1942 and Jan 1943, she served with Halifax Force, then underwent a major refit at Liverpool, NS, from 19 Jan to 3 Apr 1943. She was then transferred to Gaspé Force because of U-boat activity in the St. Lawrence, but returned to Halifax Force in Nov 1943, and soon afterward went to Sydney Force. On 28 Jan 1944, she was rammed by SS Fort Townshend off Louisbourg, NS, and after temporary repairs was sent to Halifax for further repair work which lasted 4 months. Early in Jul 1945 she proceeded to Bermuda to work up, returning to Halifax a month later. HMCS Mahone was paid off at Halifax on 6 Nov 1945, and laid up at Shelburne. In 1946 she was placed in strategic reserve at Sorel until 1951, when she was re-acquired by the RCN, which kept her in reserve (192) at Sydney until 29 Mar 1958. That day marked her transfer to the Turkish Navy as Beylerbeyi, and she remained in service until discarded in 1972.
(Robert Chasse Photo)
HMCS Malpeque (J148)
(DND Photo)
HMCS Malpeque (J148) (Bangor-class). Built at North Vancouver Ship Repairs Ltd., she was commissioned at Vancouver on 4 Aug 1941. HMCS Malpeque left for Halifax on 13 Sep 1941, arriving on 19 Oct 1941. She was briefly assigned to Sydney Force, then to Newfoundland Force, with which she served until 19 Feb 1944, when, with HMCS Caraquet, HMCS Cowichan and HMCS Vegreville, sailed for the UK via the Azores for invasion duties. Arriving at Plymouth on 13 Mar 1944, she was assigned to the 31st Minesweeping Flotilla, and was present on D-Day. She proceeded to Canada in Apr 1945, for refit at Liverpool, NS, but returned to the UK in June and remained there until Sep 1945. She then returned home and was paid off on 9 Oct 1945, to reserve at Shelburne. Taken to Sorel in 1946 and placed in strategic reserve, she was re-acquired by the RCN in 1952 (186) and laid up at Sydney. Never re-commissioned, she was sold for scrap in Feb 1959.
(Don Smith Photo)
HMCS Malpeque (J148) (Bangor-class).
(DND Photo)
HMCS Malpeque (J148) (Bangor-class).
HMCS Medicine Hat (J256)
(RCN Photo)
HMCS Medicine Hat (J256) (Bangor-class).
(Sean Cox Photo)
HMCS Medicine Hat (J256) (Bangor-class).
(Roger Heward Photo)
HMCS Medicine Hat (J256) (Bangor-class).
(John P. Orr Photo)
HMCS Medicine Hat (J256) (Bangor-class).
HMCS Melville (J263)
(DND Photo)
HMCS Melville (J263) (Bangor-class). Built at Levis, Quebec, the first of the diesel-engined Bangors, HMCS Melville was commissioned at Quebec City on 4 Dec 1941. She arrived at Halifax on 13 Dec 1941, worked up, and was assigned to WLEF. In May 1942, she was transferred to Shelburne Force, returning to WLEF that September. On 3 Feb 1943, she arrived at Lunenburg for refit and proceeded to Halifax to continue it. She did not resume service until 8 Jul 1943, when she joined WLEF’s recently created EG W-5. In Mar 1944, she underwent further repairs at Lunenburg, following which, on 6 Jun 1944, she sailed for Bermuda to work up. Returning to Halifax 02 Jul 1944, she was assigned to Sydney Force until Jun 1945. Melville was paid off at Sydney on 18 Aug 1945, and handed over to the Dept. of Fisheries. She was renamed Lamna in 1959. Lamna was sold to Marine Industries 25 Apr 1960 to be broken up. Her registry was cancelled 29 Dec 1961 – Vessel dismantled.