HMCS Miramichi (MCB 163)
HMCS Miramichi (hull number MCB 163) was a Bay-class minesweeper that was constructed for the Royal Canadian Navy during the Cold War. Entering service in 1957, the vessel was used as a training ship on the West Coast of Canada for the majority of her career. Miramichi was decommissioned in 1998 and the vessel's fate is unknown.
 Miramichi underway | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Canada | |
| Name | Miramichi |
| Namesake | Miramichi Bay |
| Builder | Victoria Machinery Depot, Victoria, British Columbia |
| Laid down | 2 February 1956 |
| Launched | 22 February 1957 |
| Commissioned | 29 October 1957 |
| Decommissioned | 16 December 1998 |
| Identification | MCB 163 |
| Motto | Loyal à la mort[1] |
| Fate | Paid off 1998, fate unknown |
| Badge | On a field of birch bark proper, a pile barry wavy of ten argent and azure and overall an equilateral triangle, apex to the chief gules, charged with a porcupine or.[1] |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Bay-class minesweeper |
| Displacement |
|
| Length | 152 ft (46 m) |
| Beam | 28 ft (8.5 m) |
| Draught | 8 ft (2.4 m) |
| Propulsion | 2 shafts, 2 GM 12-cylinder diesels, 2,400 bhp (1,800 kW) |
| Speed | 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph) |
| Range | 3,290 nmi (6,090 km; 3,790 mi) at 12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph) |
| Complement | 38 |
| Armament | 1 × 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
Ordered as a replacement for sister ship, Miramichi (MCB 150) which had been transferred to the French Navy in 1954, the ship's keel was laid down on 2 February 1956 by Victoria Machinery Depot at their yard in Victoria, British Columbia. Named for a bay located in New Brunswick, Miramichi was launched on 22 February 1957. The ship was commissioned on 29 October 1957.[5]
After commissioning, the minesweeper joined Training Group Pacific on the West Coast of Canada.[5] In 1972, the class was redesignated patrol escorts.[2] The vessel remained a part of the unit until being paid off on 16 December 1998.[5] Colledge claims the vessel was paid off in October 1998.[6]
References
Notes
- Gardiner and Chumbley claim the complement was 40.
Citations
- Arbuckle, p. 68
- Macpherson and Barrie, p. 271
- Gardiner and Chumbley, p. 49
- Moore, p. 82
- Macpherson and Barrie, p. 275
- Colledge, p. 414
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.
 Royal Canadian Navy ⁄ Canadian Forces | |
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 French Navy |
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 Turkish Navy | |