HMCS Resolute

HMCS Resolute (hull number MCB 154) was a Bay-class minesweeper that was constructed for the Royal Canadian Navy during the Cold War. Entering service in 1954, the ship served on the East Coast of Canada until 1964 when Resolute was decommissioned. The vessel was discarded in 1965.

History
Canada
Name: Resolute
Namesake: Resolute Bay
Builder: Kingston Shipbuilding, Kingston, Ontario
Laid down: 29 August 1951
Launched: 20 June 1953
Commissioned: 16 September 1954
Decommissioned: 14 February 1964
Identification: MCB 154
Fate: Discarded 1965
Badge: Gules, a pile barry wavy of ten argent and azure, charged with a warrior in tilting armour mounted on a sea-horse sable, trappings gules, and holding with the dexter hand a lance at the rest from which flies a pennant argent bearing a maple leaf gules[1]
General characteristics
Class and type: Bay-class minesweeper
Displacement:
  • 390 long tons (400 t)
  • 412 long tons (419 t) (deep load)
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

The ship's keel was laid down on 29 August 1951 by Kingston Shipbuilding at their yard in Kingston, Ontario. Named for a bay located in Nunavut, Resolute was launched on 20 June 1953. The ship was commissioned on 16 September 1954.[5]

Upon commissioning, Resolute joined the First Canadian Minesweeping Squadron.[6] In May 1956, the First Canadian Minesweeping Squadron deployed as part of the NATO minesweeping exercise Minex Sweep Clear One in the western Atlantic.[7] The ship paid off on 14 February 1964.[5] In 1965, Resolute was declared surplus.[5][8]

References

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

Citations
  1. Arbuckle, p. 101
  2. Macpherson and Barrie, p. 271
  3. Gardiner and Chumbley, p. 49
  4. Moore, p. 82
  5. Macpherson and Barrie, p. 276
  6. "New 'Sweeper Commissioned". The Crowsnest. Vol. 6 no. 12. Ottawa: Queen's Printer. October 1954. p. 3.
  7. "First Canadian Minesweeper Squadron". The Crowsnest. Vol. 8 no. 10. Ottawa: Queen's Printer. August 1956. p. 18.
  8. Colledge, p. 528

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.
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