RCN Minesweepers (Bangor Class): HMCS Thunder (J156), HMCS Transcona (J271). HMCS Trois-Rivières (J269), HMCS Truro (J268)
HMCS Thunder (J156)
(Fred Ambrose Photo)
HMCS Thunder (J156) (Bangor-class). Built at Toronto, she was commissioned there on 14 Oct 1941. HMCS Thunder arrived at Halifax 30 Oct 1941. After working up, she joined Sydney Force, but in Jan 1942, was transferred to WLEF and subsequently to Halifax Local Defence Force, Shelburne Force, Halifax Force, and back to Sydney Force. She sailed with HMCS Bayfield, HMCS Georgian and HMCS Mulgrave from Halifax on 18 Feb 1944, for Plymouth via the Azores. Arriving on 13 Mar 1944, she was allocated to the 32nd Minesweeping Flotilla as Senior Officer’s ship but was later transferred to the 4th Flotilla, and was present on D-Day. HMCS Thunder returned to Canada in Aug 1944, to refit at Sydney but was back at Plymouth in late November, assigned to the 31st Flotilla. In May 1945, in the Bay of Biscay, she accepted the surrender of the German auxiliary minesweeper FGi07. She sailed for Canada in Sep 1945, to be paid off on 4 Oct 1945 at Halifax, and was broken up at Sorel in 1947.
HMCS Transcona (J271)
(Ryan Lee Photo)
HMCS Transcona (J271) (Bangor-class). Built at Sorel and commissioned there on 25 Nov 1942, HMCS Transcona was the last Bangor class minesweeper to join the RCN. She arrived at Halifax on 19 Dec 1942, having escorted HMCS Provider en route, and remained in shipyard hands there from 22 Dec 1942 to 6 Mar 1943, owing to engine defects. Following workups at Halifax, she was assigned in Apr 1943, to WLEF and, in June, to newly created EG W-2. In May 1944, she joined Halifax Force, remaining until Jun 1945, after which she performed various local tasks until she was paid off at Sydney on 12 Jun 1945. On 1 Sep 1945, HMCS Transcona was transferred to the marine section of the RCMP and renamed French. She was sold for scrap at La Have, NS, in 1961.
(US Naval History and Heritage Photo, 80-G-236624)
HMCS Transcona (J271).
HMCS Trois-Rivières (J269)
(DND Photo)
HMCS Trois-Rivières (J269) (Bangor-class). Built at Sorel and commissioned there on 12 Aug 1942, she arrived at Halifax on 29 Aug 1942 and, after working up at Pictou, was assigned to WLEF. In Nov 1942, she was transferred to the Newfoundland Force, serving until the Command was disbanded in Jun 1945. She was under repair at Dalhousie, NB, Halifax and Saint John between Oct 1943 and Jan 1944, and had a major refit at Lunenburg from Feb to May 1945, followed by workups in Bermuda. HMCS Trois-Rivieres was paid off on 31 Jul 1945, and handed over later that year to serve the RCMP as MacBrien MP 92. She was sold for scrap in 1960.
(DND Photo)
HMCS Trois-Rivières (J269) (Bangor-class)
HMCS Truro (J268)
(DND Photo)
HMCS Truro (J268) (Bangor-class). Built at Levis, Quebec, she was commissioned at Quebec City on 27 Aug 1942 and arrived at Halifax on 15 Sep 1942. Initially allocated to WLEF, she became a member of newly created EG W-4 in Jun 1943. In May 1944, she was transferred to Sydney Force, and from Dec 1944 to Feb 1945, underwent a major refit at Lunenburg. HMCS Truro was then assigned briefly to Halifax Force before returning to Sydney Force until Jun 1945. Paid off on 31 Jul 1945 at Sydney, she was handed over to the RCMP on 3 Aug 1945 and renamed Herchmer. She was never commissioned and was paid off on 6 Aug 1946. She was converted to the commercial vessel Gulf Mariner in 1947. Abandoned ashore in the Fraser River after plans to convert her to a suction dredge had fallen though, she was broken up in 1964.
(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3554375)
HMCS Truro, Bangor class minesweeper. The caption indicates it belongs to Canada Steamship Lines so most likely post war, as it is flying their flag.