RCN Minesweepers (Bangor Class): HMCS Noranda (J265), HMCS Outarde (J161), HMCS Port Hope J280, HMCS Quatsino (J152)
HMCS Noranda (J265)
(DND Photo)
HMCS Noranda (J265) (Bangor-class). Built at Levis, Quebec, she was commissioned at Quebec City on 15 May 1942. Noranda arrived at Halifax on 30 May 1942, and after working up at Pictou was assigned to Halifax Force. In Feb 1943, she was transferred to WLEF and, when it was divided into escort groups in Jun 1943, became a member of EG W-9. HMCS Noranda went to Sydney Force in May 1944. After a major refit at Lunenburg from Sep to Dec 1944, she proceeded to Bermuda to work up. After returning to Halifax on 2 Feb 1945, she served briefly with Halifax Force before re-joining Sydney Force. She was paid off at Halifax on 28 Aug 1945, and transferred to the marine section of the RCMP as Irvine. Sold in 1962 for use as a yacht and re-named Miriana, she sank at Montego Bay, Jamaica, in May 1971.
(DND Photo)
HMCS Noranda (J265) (Bangor-class).
HMCS Outarde (J161)
(DND Photo)
HMCS Outarde (J161) (Bangor-class). Named for Outarde Bay, Quebec, she was commissioned at Vancouver on 4 Dec 1941. HMCS Outarde spent her whole career on the west coast, alternately serving with the Prince Rupert and Esquimalt Forces. She was paid off 24 Nov 1945, at Esquimalt, sold in 1946 for conversion to a merchant ship, and re-named Ping Hsin by her Shanghai owners. She vanished from Lloyd’s Register after 1950.
HMCS Port Hope (J280)
(DND Photo)
HMCS Port Hope (J280) (Bangor-class). Commissioned at Toronto on 30 Jul 1942, HMCS Port Hope arrived at Halifax on 29 Aug 1942 and on completion of workshops, joined Halifax Force. In May 1943, owing to U-boat activity in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, she was transferred to Gaspé Force, but returned to Halifax Force in Nov 1943. In Jan 1944, she was transferred to Newfoundland Force. In Oct 1944 she underwent an extensive refit at Saint John and Halifax, on completion of which she went to Bermuda to work up. Returning, HMCS Port Hope served a short further stint with Halifax Force from Apr to Jun 1945, then performed miscellaneous duties on the east coast until paid off at Sydney on 13 Oct 1945. She lay in strategic reserve at Sorel until 1952, when the RCN re-acquired her (183). She was was not re-commissioned, and was sold in February, 1959, for breaking up at Sorel.
(DND Photo)
HMCS Port Hope (J280) (Bangor-class).
HMCS Quatsino (J152)
(Linda Carleton Photo)
HMCS Quatsino (J152) (Bangor-class). Named for Quatsino Sound, Vancouver Island, she was built by Prince Rupert Dry Dock & Shipyards Co., Prince Rupert, BC and commissioned on 3 Nov 1941. HMCS Quatsino spent her entire service life on the west coast, alternately a member of the Prince Rupert and Esquimalt Force. She was paid off at Esquimalt on 26 Nov 1945, and converted for commercial purposes in 1947, to be re-named Chen Hsin and domiciled at Shanghai. Sold again in 1949, she was renamed Concord. She was last listed in Lloyd’s Register in 1950.