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HMCSAgassiz

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HMCSAgassiz,taken sometime in 1944 or 1945.
History
Canada
NameAgassiz
NamesakeAgassiz, British Columbia
OrderedJanuary 1940
BuilderBurrard Dry Dock Co. Ltd.,North Vancouver
Laid down29 April 1940
Launched15 August 1940
Commissioned23 January 1941
Decommissioned14 June 1945
IdentificationPennant number:K129
Honours and
awards		Atlantic 1941–45; Gulf of St. Lawrence 1944
FateSold in 1945 for scrapping
General characteristics
Class and typeFlower-classcorvette(original)
Displacement950long tons(970t)
Length205 ft 1 in (62.51 m)o/a
Beam33 ft 1 in (10.08 m)
Draught13 ft 5 in (4.09 m)
Propulsion
  • single shaft
  • 2 ×Scotch boilers
  • 1 × 4-cylinder triple-expansion reciprocating steam engine
  • 2,750 ihp (2,050 kW)
Speed16knots(30 km/h; 18 mph)
Range3,450nmi(6,390 km; 3,970 mi) at 12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Complement47
Sensors and
processing systems
  • 1 × SW1C or 2C radar
  • 1 × Type 123A or Type 127DV sonar
Armament

HMCSAgassizwas aFlower-classcorvetteof theRoyal Canadian Navy.Named after the community ofAgassiz,British Columbia,the ship was constructed byBurrard Dry Dock Co. Ltd.inNorth Vancouver,British Columbia and waslaunchedon 15 August 1940. The corvette wascommissionedon 23 January 1941 inVancouver,British Columbia. The Flower class were initially designed for coastal service during theSecond World War,but due to the demands of theBattle of the Atlantic,Agassizwas used primarily as an ocean escort forconvoyscrossing the Atlantic Ocean in engagements with German submarines. Following the war, the corvette was sold forscrap.

Design and description[edit]

Main article:Flower-class corvette

Flower-classcorvetteslikeAgassizserving with theRoyal Canadian Navyduring theSecond World Warwere different from earlier and more traditional sail-driven corvettes.[1][2]The Flower-class corvettes originated from a need that arose in 1938 to expand theRoyal Navyfollowing theMunich Crisis.[3]A design request went out for a small escort for coastalconvoys.[4]Based on a traditionalwhaler-type design, the initial Canadian ships of the Flower class had astandard displacementof 950long tons(970t). They were 205 feet 1 inch (62.51 m)long overallwith abeamof 33 feet 1 inch (10.08 m) and a maximumdraughtof 13 feet 5 inches (4.09 m). The initial 1939–1940 corvettes were powered by a four-cylindervertical triple expansionengine powered by steam from twoScotch boilersturning one three-bladedpropellerrated at 2,800indicated horsepower(2,100kW). The Scotch boilers were replaced withwater-tube boilersin later 1939–1940 and 1940–1941 Programme ships. The corvettes had a maximum speed of 16knots(30 km/h; 18 mph). This gave them a range of 3,450nautical miles(6,390 km; 3,970 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph).[5]The vessels were extremely wet.[6]

The Canadian Flower-class vessels were initially armed with aMk IX BL 4-inch (102 mm) gunforward on a CP 1 mounting and carried 100 rounds per gun. The corvettes were also armed with aQF Vickers 2-pounder (40 mm, 1.6 in) gunon a bandstand aft, two single-mounted.303 Vickers machine gunsorBrowning 0.5-calibre machine gunsforanti-aircraftdefence and two twin-mounted.303 Lewis machine guns,usually sited on bridge wings.[3][5][7]Foranti-submarine warfare,they mounted twodepth chargethrowers and initially carried 25 depth charges. The corvettes were designed with aType 123ASDICsonar set installed. The Flower-class ships had a complement of 47 officers andratings.[3]The Royal Canadian Navy initially ordered 54 corvettes in 1940 and these were fitted with Mark II Oropesaminesweepinggear used for destroyingcontact mines.[8]Part of the depth charge rails were made portable so the minesweeping gear could be utilised.[9]

Modifications[edit]

In Canadian service the vessels were altered due to experience with the design's deficiencies. Thegalleywas moved further back in the ship and the mess and sleeping quarters combined. A direction-finding set was installed and enlargedbilgekeels were installed to reduce rolling.[10]After the first 35–40 corvettes had been constructed, the foremast was shifted aft of thebridgeand the mainmast was eliminated. Corvettes were first fitted with basicSW-1 and SW-2 CQsurface warningradar,notable for their fishbone-like antenna and reputation for failure in poor weather or in the dark. The compass house was moved further aft and the open-type bridge was situated in front of it. The ASDIC hut was moved in front and to a lower position on the bridge. The improvedType 271 radarwas placed aft, with some units receivingType 291 radarfor air search. The minesweeping gear, a feature of the first 54 corvettes, was removed.[11]Most Canadian Flower-class corvettes had theirforecastlesextended which improved crew accommodation and seakeeping. Furthermore, the sheer and flare of thebowwas increased, which led to an enlarged bridge. This allowed for the installation ofOerlikon 20 mm (0.8 in) cannon,replacing the Browning and Vickers machine guns.[12]Some of the corvettes were rearmed withHedgehoganti-submarinemortars.[13]The complements of the ships grew throughout the war rising from the initial 47 to as many as 104.[12]

Construction and career[edit]

The vessel was ordered as part of the 1939–1940 Progamme in January 1940,[14]andlaid downon 29 April 1940 byBurrard Dry Dock Co. Ltd.inNorth Vancouver,British Columbia.Corvettes commissioned by the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War were not named after flowers, as the class name might suggest, but after communities for the most part, to better represent the people who took part in building them. This idea was put forth by AdmiralPercy W. Nelles.Sponsors were commonly associated with the community for which the ship was named.Agassiz,named for thetownin British Columbia, waslaunchedon 15 August 1940 andcommissionedon 23 January 1941 inVancouver,British Columbia with thepennant numberK129.[13]

After completionAgassizwas sent toHalifax,Nova Scotia,withsister shipsHMCSWetaskiwinandHMCSAlbernivia thePanama Canalarriving on 13 April 1941.[15]In May 1941 she was assigned to theNewfoundland Escort Force.She served continuously as an ocean escort until the end of 1943.[13]In August 1941,Agassizwas part of the escort 57-shipHX 143convoy, which was guided around a GermanU-boatconcentration in the North Atlantic.[16]On 1 September 1941, the escort groups were reformed andAgassizjoined Escort Group 19.[17]

On 18 September 1941, the German submarineU-74sighted the convoySC 44in theNorth Atlantic.The convoy was guarded by thedestroyerHMSChesterfieldand the corvettesAgassiz,HMCSMayflower,HMCSLévisandHMSHoneysuckle.Only four U-boats moved to engage and during the first night of battle,Léviswas sunk.[18]Agassizrecovered her survivors.[13]Four merchant vessels were sunk as well on 18/19 September. In response to the sinkings, the convoy protection was enhanced with the arrival of three more corvettes.[18]

Agassizparticipated in the battle for convoyON 102withMid-Ocean Escort Force(MOEF) group A3 in July 1942. She also fought the battles for convoy SC 97 with MOEF group C2 and the battles for convoy ON 115 and convoy SC 109 with MOEF group C3.[13]During the battle for ON 115,Agassizopened fire on a surfaced U-boat, then aided in the recovery of the crew of the sunkenRMSLochkatrine.The corvette then took thetankerG. S. Waldronunder tow after the ship had beentorpedoedand crippled and brought it to safety. The crew receivedsalvage moneyfor the effort.[19]In August 1942,Agassizwas re-assigned to theCaribbean Sea,escorting convoys of oil tankers between Caribbean ports. The corvette was part of the escort of the convoy TAW 12, travelling betweenTrinidad,ArubaandKey Westthat lost several ships.[6]

The ship's first major refit took place atLiverpool, Nova Scotiafrom early January 1943 until mid-March. Following her workups after her first major refit in early 1943,Agassizwas assigned to MOEF group C1 and escorted 12 trans-Atlantic convoys without loss before another major yard overhaul. The second took place atNew York,beginning in December 1943 and taking until March 1944 to complete. During her second refit, her forecastle was extended. After that overhaul,Agassizescorted North American coastal convoys with theWestern Local Escort Forcefrom March 1944 until February 1945. In April 1944, she was assigned to escort group W-2 and in August of that year to W-7. She remained with that group until the end of the war.[13][20]

Following the end of hostilitiesAgassizwaspaid off14 June 1945 atSydney, Nova Scotia.[13]For service in during the Second World War,Agassizwas awarded thebattle honours"Atlantic 1941–45"[21]and "Gulf of St. Lawrence 1944."[22]She was sold for scrap November 1945 and broken up atMoncton, New Brunswickin 1946.[13]

Trans-Atlantic convoys escorted[edit]

Convoy Escort Group Dates Notes
OB 347 22–31 July 1941[23] 64 ships escorted without loss fromIcelandto dispersal
HX143 8–17 August 1941[24] 73 ships escorted without loss fromNewfoundlandto Iceland
ON8 21–25 August 1941[25] 46 ships escorted without loss from Iceland to Newfoundland
SC44 12–22 September 1941[26] Newfoundland to Iceland; 4 ships torpedoed & sunk
ON 19A 22 September-4 October 1941[25] Iceland shuttle
SC 50 19–31 October 1941[26] 41 ships escorted without loss from Newfoundland to Iceland
ON 32 6–14 November 1941[25] 49 ships escorted without loss from Iceland to Newfoundland
SC 56 24 November-5 December 1941[26] 45 ships escorted without loss from Newfoundland to Iceland
HX 184 12–19 April 1942[24] 30 ships escorted without loss from Newfoundland toNorthern Ireland
ON 91 2–11 May 1942[25] 31 ships escorted without loss from Northern Ireland to Newfoundland
HX 190 MOEF group A3 20–27 May 1942[24] 18 ships escorted without loss from Newfoundland to Northern Ireland
ON 102 MOEF group A3 10–21 June 1942[25] Northern Ireland to Newfoundland; 1 ship torpedoed & sunk
HX 196 MOEF group A3 2–10 July 1942[24] 42 ships escorted without loss from Newfoundland to Northern Ireland
ON 114 MOEF group A3 20–30 July 1942[25] 32 ships escorted without loss from Northern Ireland to Newfoundland
ON 115 MOEF group C3 31 July-3 August 1942[25] battle reinforcement
SC 97 MOEF group C2 22–26 August 1942[26] Newfoundland to Northern Ireland: 2 ships torpedoed & sunk
SC 98 MOEF group C3 2–8 September 1942[26] 69 ships escorted without loss from Newfoundland to Northern Ireland
ON 131 MOEF group C3 19–28 September 1942[25] 54 ships escorted without loss from Northern Ireland to Newfoundland
HX 210 MOEF group C3 7–14 October 1942[24] 36 ships escorted without loss from Newfoundland to Northern Ireland
ON 141 MOEF group C3 26 October-3 November 1942[25] 59 ships escorted without loss from Northern Ireland to Newfoundland
SC 109 MOEF group C3 16–27 November 1942[26] Newfoundland to Northern Ireland; 2 ships torpedoed (1 sank)
ON 152 MOEF group C3 10–28 December 1942[25] 15 ships escorted without loss from Northern Ireland to Newfoundland
SC 127 MOEF group C1 20 April-2 May 1943[26] 55 ships escorted without loss from Newfoundland to Northern Ireland
ON 184 MOEF group C1 16–25 May 1943[25] 39 ships escorted without loss from Northern Ireland to Newfoundland
HX 242 6–14 June 1943[24] 61 ships escorted without loss from Newfoundland to Northern Ireland
ON 190 25 June-3 July 1943[25] 87 ships escorted without loss from Northern Ireland to Newfoundland
HX 247 14–21 July 1943[24] 71 ships escorted without loss from Newfoundland to Northern Ireland
ON 195 1–8 August 1943[25] 51 ships escorted without loss from Northern Ireland to Newfoundland
HX 252 20–27 August 1943[24] 52 ships escorted without loss from Newfoundland to Northern Ireland
ON 201 10–18 September 1943[25] 70 ships escorted without loss from Northern Ireland to Newfoundland
HX 258 28 September-5 October 1943[24] 59 ships escorted without loss from Newfoundland to Northern Ireland
ON 207 19–28 October 1943[25] 52 ships escorted without loss from Northern Ireland to Newfoundland
HX 264 5–16 November 1943[24] 65 ships escorted without loss from Newfoundland to Northern Ireland
ON 213 27 November–7 December 1943[25] 60 ships escorted without loss from Northern Ireland to Newfoundland

References[edit]

  1. ^Fitzsimons 1978,pp. 1137–1142.
  2. ^Jane's Fighting Ships of World War II,p.68.
  3. ^abcPreston & Raven 1973,p. 1.
  4. ^McKay & Harland 1993,p. 8.
  5. ^abLynch 1981,p. 66.
  6. ^abMcKay & Harland 1993,p. 11.
  7. ^McKay & Harland 1993,p. 14.
  8. ^McKay & Harland 1993,p. 12.
  9. ^Preston & Raven 1973,pp. 3–4.
  10. ^Preston & Raven 1973,p. 4.
  11. ^Lynch 1981,p. 12.
  12. ^abLynch 1981,pp. 10, 12.
  13. ^abcdefghMacpherson & Barrie 2002,p. 103.
  14. ^Brown 2007,p. 52.
  15. ^McKay & Harland 1993,p. 10.
  16. ^Rohwer 2005,p. 90.
  17. ^Rohwer 2005,p. 97.
  18. ^abRohwer 2005,p. 100.
  19. ^McKay & Harland 1993,pp. 10–11.
  20. ^"Convoy Web".Andrew Hague Convoy Database.Retrieved27 June2011.
  21. ^Thomas 1998,p. 33.
  22. ^"Royal Canadian Warships – The Battle of the Gulf of St. Lawrence – Second World War".Veterans Affairs Canada. Archived fromthe originalon 27 September 2013.Retrieved15 August2013.
  23. ^"OB convoys".Andrew Hague Convoy Database.Retrieved6 July2011.
  24. ^abcdefghij"HX convoys".Andrew Hague Convoy Database.Retrieved19 June2011.
  25. ^abcdefghijklmnop"ON convoys".Andrew Hague Convoy Database.Retrieved19 June2011.
  26. ^abcdefg"SC convoys".Andrew Hague Convoy Database.Retrieved19 June2011.

Sources[edit]

  • Brown, David K. (2007).Atlantic Escorts Ships: Ships, Weapons & Tactics in World War II.Barnsley, UK: Seaforth Publishing.ISBN978-1-84415-702-0.
  • Fitzsimons, Bernard, ed. (1978).The Illustrated Encyclopedia of 20th Century Weapons & Warfare.Vol. 11. London: Phoebus.OCLC8842839.
  • Jane's Fighting Ships of World War II.New Jersey: Random House. 1996.ISBN0-517-67963-9.
  • Lynch, Thomas G. (1981).Canada's Flowers, History of the Corvettes of Canada.Halifax, Nova Scotia: Nimbus Publishing.ISBN0-920852-15-7.
  • Macpherson, Ken & Barrie, Ron (2002).The Ships of Canada's Naval Forces 1910–2002(Third ed.). St. Catharines, Ontario: Vanwell Publishing.ISBN1-55125-072-1.
  • McKay, John & Harland, John (1993).Anatomy of the Ship: The Flower Class Corvette Agassiz.St. Catharines, Ontario: Vanwell Publishing.ISBN1-55068-084-6.
  • Preston, Antony & Raven, Alan (1973).Flower Class Corvettes.Signal. London: Bivouac Books.ISBN0-85680-004-X.
  • Rohwer, Jürgen (2005).Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two(Revised & Expanded ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press.ISBN1-59114-119-2.
  • Thomas, David A. (1998).Battles and Honours of the Royal Navy.Barnsley, UK: Leo Cooper.ISBN085052-623-X.
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