 HMCS Miramichi (MCB 163) underway
| |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Bay class |
| Operators | |
| Preceded by | Algerine class |
| Succeeded by | Anticosti class |
| In commission | 1 December 1953 – 1998 |
| Completed | 20 |
| Retired | 20 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Minesweeper |
| Displacement | |
| Length | |
| Beam | 28 ft (8.5 m) |
| Draught | 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m) max |
| Propulsion | 2 shafts, 2 GM 12-cylinder diesels, 2,400 bhp (1,800 kW) |
| Speed | 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph) |
| Complement | 38 |
| Sensors and processing systems | Mechanical minesweeping equipment (later removed) |
| Armament | 1 × 40 mm Bofors single mount (later removed) |
| Notes | Initial 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 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]
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]
- ^ Gardiner, Chumbley & Budzbon 1995, p. 49.
- ^ Blackman 1953, p. 100.
- ^ a b c Macpherson & Barrie 2002, p. 271.