HMCS Quinte (MCB 149)

HMCS Quinte (hull number MCB 149) was a Bay-class minesweeper that served in the Royal Canadian Navy during the Cold War. Entering service in 1954, the minesweeper was the second ship to bear the name. The ship was taken out of service in 1964 and declared surplus in 1965.

For other ships with the same name, see HMCS Quinte.

History
Canada
NameQuinte
NamesakeBay of Quinte
BuilderPort Arthur Shipbuilding Co., Port Arthur
Laid down14 June 1952
Launched8 August 1953
Commissioned15 October 1954
Decommissioned26 February 1964
IdentificationMCB 149
Honours and
awards		Atlantic 1941–42[1]
BadgeVert, a Tudor rose, barbed and seeded or, upon a pentagonal cross pattee the arms being formed by five letters "E" each letter facing and converging towards the fess point argent[1]
General characteristics
Class and typeBay-class minesweeper
Displacement
  • 390 long tons (400 t)
  • 412 long tons (419 t) (deep load)
Length152 ft (46 m)
Beam28 ft (8.5 m)
Draught8 ft (2.4 m)
Propulsion2 shafts, 2 GM 12-cylinder diesels, 2,400 bhp (1,800 kW)
Speed16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Range3,290 nmi (6,090 km; 3,790 mi) at 12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Complement38
Armament1 × 40 mm Bofors gun

Design and description

The Bay class were designed and ordered as replacements for the Second World War-era minesweepers that the Royal Canadian Navy operated at the time. Similar to the Ton-class minesweeper, they were constructed of wood planking and aluminum framing.[2][3]

Displacing 390 long tons (400 t) standard at 412 long tons (419 t) at deep load, the minesweepers were 152 ft (46 m) long with a beam of 28 ft (8.5 m) and a draught of 8 ft (2.4 m).[2][3] They had a complement of 38 officers and ratings.[2][note 1]

The Bay-class minesweepers were powered by two GM 12-cylinder diesel engines driving two shafts creating 2,400 brake horsepower (1,800 kW). This gave the ships a maximum speed of 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph) and a range of 3,290 nautical miles (6,090 km; 3,790 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph).[3][4] The ships were armed with one 40 mm Bofors gun and were equipped with minesweeping gear.[2][3]

Operational history

The ship's keel was laid down on 14 June 1952 by Port Arthur Shipbuilding at their yard in Port Arthur, Ontario. Named for a bay in Ontario, Quinte was launched on 8 August 1953. The ship was commissioned on 15 October 1954.[5]

The First Canadian Minesweeping Squadron, of which Quinte was assigned, sailed to the Caribbean Sea in April 1955 for a training cruise, making several port visits.[6] Quinte and three other ships of the Bay class comprised the First Minesweeping Squadron in 1960.[7] In October 1960, Quinte was among the minesweepers that took part in the NATO naval exercise Sweep Clear V off Shelburne, Nova Scotia.[8] The vessel remained in service until paid off on 26 February 1964. The minesweeper was declared surplus in 1965.[5][9]

References

Notes
  1. Gardiner and Chumbley claim the complement was 40.

Citations
  1. Arbuckle, p. 98
  2. Macpherson and Barrie, p. 271
  3. Gardiner and Chumbley, p. 49
  4. Moore, p. 82
  5. Macpherson and Barrie, p. 276
  6. "Sweepers on W. Indies Cruise". The Crowsnest. Vol. 7, no. 6. Ottawa: Queen's Printer. April 1955. p. 2.
  7. "First Minesweeping Squadron". The Crowsnest. Vol. 12, no. 10. Ottawa: Queen's Printer. August 1960. p. 18.
  8. "Joint Sweeping Exercise Held". The Crowsnest. Vol. 13, no. 2. Ottawa: Queen's Printer. December 1960. p. 3.
  9. Colledge, p. 513

References
  • Arbuckle, J. Graeme (1987). Badges of the Canadian Navy. Halifax, Nova Scotia: Nimbus Publishing. ISBN 0-920852-49-1.
  • Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8.
  • 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.
  • Macpherson, Ken; Barrie, Ron (2002). The Ships of Canada's Naval Forces 1910–2002 (Third ed.). St. Catharines, Ontario: Vanwell Publishing. ISBN 1-55125-072-1.
  • Moore, John, ed. (1981). Jane's Fighting Ships, 1981–1982. New York: Jane's Information Group. ISBN 0-531-03977-3.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.