HMCS Waskesiu

HMCS Waskesiu
History
Canada
NameWaskesiu
NamesakePrince Albert, Saskatchewan[1][2]
OrderedOctober 1941
BuilderYarrows Ltd., Esquimalt
Laid down2 May 1942
Launched3 April 1943
Commissioned16 June 1943
Decommissioned29 January 1946
IdentificationPennant number: K 330
Honours and
awards		Atlantic 1943-45, Arctic 1944, Normandy 1944[3]
FateSold to India, 1947
General characteristics
Class and typeRiver-class frigate
Displacement
  • 1,445 long tons (1,468 t; 1,618 short tons)
  • 2,110 long tons (2,140 t; 2,360 short tons) (deep load)
Length
  • 283 ft (86.26 m) p/p
  • 301.25 ft (91.82 m)o/a
Beam36.5 ft (11.13 m)
Draught9 ft (2.74 m); 13 ft (3.96 m) (deep load)
Propulsion2 × Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, reciprocating vertical triple expansion, 5,500 ihp (4,100 kW)
Speed
  • 20 knots (37.0 km/h)
  • 20.5 knots (38.0 km/h) (turbine ships)
Range646 long tons (656 t; 724 short tons) oil fuel; 7,500 nautical miles (13,890 km) at 15 knots (27.8 km/h)
Complement157
Armament

HMCS Waskesiu was a River-class frigate of the Royal Canadian Navy. The frigate served as a convoy escort in the Battle of the Atlantic during the Second World War. It was the first frigate constructed and commissioned into the Royal Canadian Navy. Following the war, the vessel was sold to India where it was renamed Hooghly. Named after the town of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, there was already a warship named "Prince Albert". The Royal Canadian Navy then named the ship after the town closest to Prince Albert National Park.[2]

Waskesiu was ordered in October 1941 as part of the initial 1942-1943 River-class building programme.[2][4] The ship was laid down on 2 May 1942 by Yarrows Ltd. at Esquimalt, British Columbia and launched 3 April 1943. The frigate was commissioned into the Royal Canadian Navy on 16 June 1943 at Victoria, British Columbia with the pennant number K 330.[4]

  1. ^ "The Canadian Navy Namesake Communities". Canadian Geographic. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
  2. ^ a b c Helgason, Guðmundur. "HMCS Waskesiu (K 330)". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
  3. ^ "Battle Honours". Britain's Navy. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
  4. ^ a b Macpherson and Barrie, p.83