HMCS Nootka (J35)

HMCS Nootka was a Fundy-class minesweeper that served in the Royal Canadian Navy from 1938–1945. She saw service during the Second World War as a local minesweeper working out of Halifax, Nova Scotia. She was named for Nootka Sound. In 1943 she was renamed HMCS Nanoose to allow the unit name Nootka to be used by the destroyer HMCS Nootka. Following the war the ship was sold for mercantile use, becoming the tugboat Sung Ling. The ship's registry was deleted in 1993.

For other ships with the same name, see HMCS Nootka.
Nootka underway
History
Canada
Name: Nootka
Namesake: Nootka Sound
Ordered: 23 August 1937
Builder: Yarrows Ltd., Esquimalt
Laid down: 1 February 1938
Launched: 26 September 1938
Commissioned: 6 December 1938
Decommissioned: 29 July 1945
Renamed: Nanoose 1943
Identification: pennant number: J35
Fate: Sold for commercial service 1946.
General characteristics
Class and type: Fundy-class minesweeper
Displacement: 460 long tons (470 t; 520 short tons)
Length: 163 ft (49.7 m)
Beam: 27.5 ft (8.4 m)
Draught: 14.5 ft (4.4 m)
Speed: 12 knots (22.2 km/h)
Complement: 38
Armament: 1 × QF 4 in (102 mm) Mk IV gun[1]

Design and description

In 1936, new minesweepers were ordered for the Royal Canadian Navy.[2] Based on the British Basset class,[3][4] those built on the West Coast of Canada would cost $403,000 per vessel.[5] At the outbreak of the Second World War, the Royal Canadian Navy considered constructing more, but chose to build Bangor-class minesweepers instead upon learning of that design due to their oil-burning engines.[3][6][7]

The Fundy class, named after the lead ship, displaced 460 long tons (470 t; 520 short tons). They were 163 ft (49.7 m) long, with a beam of 27.5 ft (8.4 m) and a draught of 14.5 ft (4.4 m). They had a complement of 3 officers and 35 ratings.[8]

The Fundy class was propelled by one shaft driven by vertical triple expansion engine powered by steam from a one-cylinder boiler.[4] This created between 850–950 indicated horsepower (630–710 kW) and gave the minesweepers a top speed of 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph).[4][8] The ships were capable of carrying between 180–196 long tons (183–199 t) of coal.[4]

The ships were armed with one QF 4-inch (102 mm) Mk IV gun mounted forward on a raised platform.[1][4][note 1][note 2] The minesweepers were armed with two 20 mm Oerlikon anti-aircraft cannon.[1] They were later equipped with 25 depth charges.[4]

Construction and career

Nootka was ordered on 23 August 1937. The ship's keel was laid down on 1 February 1938 by Yarrows Ltd. at Esquimalt, British Columbia and the vessel was launched on 26 September later that year. The minesweeper was commissioned into the Royal Canadian Navy on 6 December 1938 at Esquimalt.[9]

After commissioning, Nootka was assigned to Esquimalt. When the Second World War commenced, she remained a part of the Esquimalt force, performing local patrol duties. In March 1940, she and her sister, Comox, transferred to the East Coast, joining the Halifax Local Defence Force upon arrival. Nootka performed local patrol and minesweeping duties in and around Halifax harbour. The minesweeper spent the rest of the war in this service.[9]

On 1 April 1943, Nootka gave up her name so it could be used by a newly constructed Tribal-class destroyer. The ship was renamed Nanoose but kept her pennant number. Nanoose was paid off on 29 July 1945 at Halifax and laid up.[9] In 1946 the minesweeper was sold to Chinese interests and converted for commercial use. She reappeared as the tugboat Sung Ling.[9] The ship's registry was deleted in 1993.[10]

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References

Notes
  1. Macpherson and Barrie state that the ships were equipped with one QF 12-pounder 12 cwt naval gun.
  2. Mark IV = Mark 4. Britain used Roman numerals to denote Marks (models) of ordnance until after World War II.

Citations
  1. Macpherson, p. 14
  2. Johnston et al., p. 979
  3. Macpherson and Barrie, p. 167
  4. Chesneau, p. 65
  5. Johnston et al., p. 1075
  6. Pritchard, pp. 21–22
  7. Tucker, p. 29
  8. Macpherson and Barrie, p. 32
  9. Macpherson and Barrie, p. 33
  10. "Nootka (5344839)". Miramar Ship Index. Retrieved 13 August 2016.

Sources
  • Chesneau, Roger, ed. (1980). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. Greenwich, UK: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-146-7.
  • Johnston, William; Rawling, William G.P.; Gimblett, Richard H.; MacFarlane, John (2010). The Seabound Coast: The Official History of the Royal Canadian Navy, 1867–1939. 1. Toronto: Dundurn Press. ISBN 978-1-55488-908-2.
  • Macpherson, Ken (1990). Minesweepers of the Royal Canadian Navy 1938–45. St. Catharines, Ontario: Vanwell Publishing Limited. ISBN 0-920277-55-1.
  • 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.
  • Pritchard, James (2011). A Bridge of Ships: Canadian Shipbuilding during the Second World War. Montreal, Quebec and Kingston, Ontario: McGill-Queen's University Press. ISBN 978-0-7735-3824-5.
  • Tucker, Gilbert Norman (1952). The Naval Service of Canada, Its Official History – Volume 2: Activities on Shore During the Second World War. Ottawa: King's Printer. OCLC 4346983.
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