Bay-class minesweeper

The Bay-class minesweepers, also known as the Gaspé-class minesweepers,[1][2] were a class of minesweepers operated by the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) and Canadian Forces (CF) during the Cold War. Their design was similar to the British Ton-class minesweepers.[3]

For the Australian minehunter, see Bay-class minehunter.
HMCS Miramichi (MCB 163) underway
Class overview
NameBay class
Operators
Preceded byAlgerine class
Succeeded byAnticosti class
In commission1 December 1953 – 1998
Completed20
Retired20
General characteristics
TypeMinesweeper
Displacement
  • 390 t (380 long tons) standard
  • 412 t (405 long tons) deep load
Length
  • 152 ft (46 m) oa
  • 140 ft (43 m) pp
Beam28 ft (8.5 m)
Draught8 ft 6 in (2.59 m) max
Propulsion2 shafts, 2 GM 12-cylinder diesels, 2,400 bhp (1,800 kW)
Speed16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Complement38
Sensors and
processing systems		Mechanical minesweeping equipment (later removed)
Armament1 × 40 mm Bofors single mount (later removed)
NotesInitial plan was for 14 vessels. 6 RCN vessels sold to allies while under construction, replaced by 6 new builds carrying the same name but new pennants.

The class derives its name from bays in Canada and was designed by the RCN as a replacement for Second World War-era minesweepers. Fourteen were laid down in 1951–1952, however six were subsequently transferred to the French Navy in 1954. These ships were replaced by six of the same name in 1956–1957 but were assigned new pennant numbers.[3]

They were reclassed in Canadian Forces service as patrol escorts in 1972 and six vessels remained in service until the late 1990s, providing coastal surveillance and shiphandling experience for junior officers with Maritime Forces Pacific.[3]

Design and description

The class was designed with mahogany wood planking overlaying an aluminum frame and decks.[4] Vessels of the Bay class had a standard displacement of 390 tonnes (380 long tons) and 412 tonnes (405 long tons) at deep load.[1][2] They were 152 feet (46 m) long overall and 140 feet (43 m) between perpendiculars, with a beam of 28 feet (8.5 m) and a draught of 8 feet 6 inches (2.59 m) max. They had a complement of 40.[1]

The minesweepers were powered by two GM 12-cylinder diesel engines turning two shafts, creating 2,400 brake horsepower (1,800 kW). This gave the Bay class a maximum speed of 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph). They carried 52 tons of oil. The ships were armed with one 40 mm/60 caliber Mk 7 gun.[1]

Ships
Bay class construction data [3]
Ship Original pennant number Builder Laid down Launched Commissioned Paid off Fate
Chaleur MCB 144 Port Arthur Shipbuilding, Port Arthur 8 June 1951 21 June 1952 18 June 1954 30 September 1954 Sold to France as La Dieppoise in 1954, stricken 1985.
Chaleur MCB 164 Marine Industries, Sorel 20 February 1956 11 May 1957 12 September 1957 18 December 1998
Chignecto MCB 156 Marine Industries, Sorel 4 June 1951 13 June 1952 1 December 1953 31 May 1954 Sold to France as La Bayonnaise in 1954, stricken 1976.
Chignecto MCB 160 Davie Shipbuilding, Lauzon 25 October 1955 17 November 1956 1 August 1957 19 December 1998
Comox MCB 146 Victoria Machinery Depot, Victoria 8 June 1951 24 April 1952 2 April 1954 11 September 1957 Sold to Turkey as Tirebolu in 1957.
Cowichan MCB 147 Victoria Machinery Depot, Victoria 20 June 1951 12 November 1951 10 December 1953 31 March 1954 Sold to France as La Malouine in 1954, stricken 1977.
Cowichan MCB 162 Yarrows Shipbuilding, Esquimalt 10 July 1956 26 February 1957 12 December 1957 22 August 1997
Fortune MCB 151 Victoria Machinery Depot, Victoria 24 April 1952 14 April 1953 3 November 1954 28 February 1964 Sold in 1964, becoming mercantile Greenpeace Two in 1966 and later Edgewater Fortune.
Fundy MCB 145 Saint John Drydock and Shipbuilding, Saint John 19 June 1951 9 December 1953 19 March 1954 31 March 1964 Sold to France as La Dunkerquoise in 1954, stricken 1984.
Fundy MCB 159 Davie Shipbuilding, Lauzon 7 March 1955 14 June 1956 27 November 1956 19 December 1996
Gaspé MCB 143 Davie Shipbuilding, Lauzon 21 March 1951 12 November 1951 5 December 1953 22 August 1957 Sold to Turkey as Trabzon in 1957.
James Bay MCB 152 Yarrows Shipbuilding, Esquimalt 16 August 1951 12 March 1953 3 May 1954 28 February 1964 Sold into mercantile service.
Miramichi MCB 150 Saint John Drydock and Shipbuilding, Saint John 13 June 1952 4 May 1954 30 July 1954 1 October 1964 Sold to France as La Lorientaise in 1954, stricken 1984.
Miramichi MCB 163 Victoria Machinery Depot, Victoria 2 February 1956 22 February 1957 29 October 1957 16 December 1998
Quinte MCB 149 Port Arthur Shipbuilding, Port Arthur 14 June 1952 8 August 1953 15 October 1954 26 February 1964
Resolute MCB 154 Kingston Shipbuilding, Kingston 29 February 1951 20 June 1953 16 September 1954 14 February 1964
Thunder MCB 153 Canadian Vickers, Montreal 17 May 1951 17 July 1952 15 December 1953 31 March 1964 Sold to France as La Paimpolaise in 1954, stricken 1986.
Thunder MCB 161 Port Arthur Shipbuilding, Port Arthur 1 September 1955 27 October 1956 3 October 1957 22 August 1997
Trinity MCB 157 Davie Shipbuilding, Lauzon 31 January 1952 31 July 1953 16 June 1954 21 August 1957 Sold to Turkey as Terme in 1957.
Ungava MCB 148 Davie Shipbuilding, Lauzon 17 December 1951 20 May 1953 4 June 1954 23 August 1957 Sold to Turkey as Tekirdag in 1957.

Service history

Canadian service

Four vessels of the class were ordered in September 1949,[4] followed by a further 10 in 1951 to replace the Second World War-era minesweepers.[1][3] The second group of new construction was a result of Canada's entry into the Korean War.[5] Initially ascribed the classification MCA they changed to MCB in 1954. In 1954, six ships, Chaleur, Chignecto, Cowichan, Fundy, Miramachi, and Thunder were transferred to the French Navy[1] under the Mutual Aid Agreement of NATO due to a shortage of the type in allied navies.[6][7] Chignecto, Cowichan, Fundy and Thunder were transferred on 7 April at Halifax, Nova Scotia with Chaleur and Miramichi on 9 October.[8][9] Their names were reused for later vessels of the class. In 1958, four more, Comox, Gaspé, Trinity and Ungava, were transferred to the Turkish Navy.[1]

Chaleur, Fundy, Quinte and Thunder formed the First Minesweeping Squadron in 1960.[10] In October 1960, Fundy, Thunder, Chaleur, Chignecto, Resolute and Quinte took part in the NATO naval exercise Sweep Clear V off Shelburne, Nova Scotia.[11] The Second Minesweeping Squadron, comprising Fortune, Miramichi, Cowichan and James Bay made a port visit at Stockton, California in June 1960 before transiting into the Pacific.[12] In May–June 1961, the First Canadian Minesweeping Squadron, composed of Chaleur, Chignecto, Fundy, Quinte, Resolute and Thunder, performed a tour of the Great Lakes, making several port visits.[13]

In an effort to free up funding in the early 1960s for other capital projects, the remaining ten were placed in reserve.[14] Four more of the class, Resolute, Quinte, James Bay and Fortune were paid off in 1964 and sold to commercial interests. Fortune was renamed Greenpeace Two and was used in an attempt to stop nuclear testing in the Aleutian Islands in 1971.[15] In 1972, the six that remained were re-designated small patrol escorts with the classification PFL. In 1979 they were designated training ships with the classification PB.[1] By 1980, they were part of the West Coast Training Squadron and they served with Training Group Pacific in the 1990s.[3][16] They were discarded in the late 1990s with the second Chignecto the last to be paid off on 19 December 1998.[17] In Canadian service they were replaced first by Anticosti class until the new Kingston-class coastal defence vessels were ready.[18]

French naval service

In 1954 six ships were transferred to the French Navy and renamed Le Dieppoise (M 730), La Bayonnaise (M 728), La Malouine (M 727), La Dunkerquoise (M 726), La Lorientaise (M 731) and La Paimpolaise (M 729) respectively.[1] The six vessels were transferred under the Mutual Defense Program.[19][20] In the 1960s the six were modified for use as colonial patrol boats. Their minesweeping gear was removed and air conditioning installed. Their hull identification was changed to P 655, P 654, P 651, P 653, P 652, and P 657 respectively.[19]

La Bayonnaise was stricken in 1976, followed by La Malouine in 1977. The remaining four were stationed in the Pacific until the 1980s when they were replaced by Super Patra-class patrol craft. In 1986 La Lorientaise and La Dunkerquoise were discarded and La Dieppoise and La Paimpolaise followed a year later.[19]

Turkish naval service

In 1958, four Bay class were transferred to the Turkish Navy and renamed Tirebolu, Trabzon, Terme and Tekirdag respectively.[1] They were transferred under NATO mutual aid.[20]

References

Citations
  1. Gardiner, Chumbley & Budzbon 1995, p. 49.
  2. Blackman 1953, p. 100.
  3. Macpherson & Barrie 2002, p. 271.
  4. "Four Minesweepers, Gate Vessel Ordered". The Crowsnest. Vol. 1, no. 12. Ottawa: King's Printer. October 1949. p. 2.
  5. Gimblett, p. 133
  6. "Ships Scattered Across the Globe". The Crowsnest. Vol. 6, no. 4. Ottawa: Queen's Printer. February 1954. p. 2.
  7. "Four Ships for NATO". The Crowsnest. Vol. 6, no. 6. Ottawa: Queen's Printer. April 1954. pp. 4–6.
  8. "Ladies of the Month". The Crowsnest. Vol. 6, no. 6. Ottawa: Queen's Printer. April 1954. p. 1.
  9. "'Sweepers Turned Over to France". The Crowsnest. Vol. 6, no. 12. Ottawa: Queen's Printer. p. 2.
  10. "First Minesweeping Squadron". The Crowsnest. Vol. 12, no. 10. Ottawa: Queen's Printer. August 1960. p. 18.
  11. "Joint Sweeping Exercise Held". The Crowsnest. Vol. 13, no. 2. Ottawa: Queen's Printer. December 1960. p. 3.
  12. "Second Minesweeping Squadron". The Crowsnest. Vol. 13, no. 1. Ottawa: Queen's Printer. November 1960. p. 24.
  13. "Eight Ships Will Tour Great Lakes". The Crowsnest. Vol. 13, no. 7. Ottawa: Queen's Printer. May 1961. pp. 2–3.
  14. Gimblett 2009, p. 154.
  15. Macpherson & Barrie 2002, p. 273.
  16. Milner 2010, p. 285.
  17. Macpherson & Barrie 2002, p. 272.
  18. Gimblett 2009, p. 192.
  19. Gardiner, Chumbley & Budzbon 1995, p. 129.
  20. Milner 2010, p. 220.

Sources
  • Blackman, Raymond V.B., ed. (1953). Jane's Fighting Ships 1953–54. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co. Ltd. OCLC 913556389.
  • Gardiner, Robert; Chumbley, Stephen & Budzbon, Przemysław, eds. (1995). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-132-7.
  • Gimblett, Richard H., ed. (2009). The Naval Service of Canada 1910–2010: The Centennial Story. Toronto: Dundurn Press. ISBN 978-1-55488-470-4.
  • Macpherson, Ken & Barrie, Ron (2002). Warships of Canada's Naval Forces 1910–2002 (3 ed.). St. Catharines, Ontario: Vanwell Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-55125-072-1.
  • Milner, Marc (2010). Canada's Navy: The First Century (Second ed.). Toronto: University of Toronto Press. ISBN 978-0-8020-9604-3.
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