Pacific Command Water Transport Company, R.C.A.S.C.

The Pacific Command Water Transport Company, R.C.A.S.C., was a secret freight-patrol shipping unit of the Canadian Army based at Vancouver, British Columbia, during World War II. The unit fell under the jurisdiction of Pacific Command, the Canadian Army formation responsible for defending the Pacific Coast of Canada against Japanese attack.

Pacific Command - Water Transport Company - (Royal Canadian Army Service Corps)
Active1942 to 1945
Country Canada
BranchCanadian Army
RoleWater-borne Freight Hauling, Maritime Patrol
WeaponsTwin Mounted Lewis guns,.303
Lee–Enfield rifles,.303

History

Based at the Old Vancouver Hotel and the R.C.A.S.C. wharf (Vancouver) under the command of Major C.G. Matthews, the Pacific Command Water Transport Company of the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps was formed in 1942, utilizing fishing packers and seiners 'leased' from local civilians for army use. The Company was tasked with re-supplying camps established to build a telephone line from British Columbia to Dutch Harbor, Alaska, after the Aleutian Islands Attu and Kiska were occupied by Japanese Imperial Forces. Upon completion of the communication link, the Water Transport Company was assigned with re-supplying freight and personnel to remote RCAF radar stations on the west coast of British Columbia, basing ships at Coal Harbour, Port Alberni, and Prince Rupert. The Company maintained an estimated 70 vessels (including scows) in its order-of-battle, each motor vessel mounted with a twin-Lewis Gun .303 battery and Lee–Enfield rifles for all crewmembers, usually eight O.R.s.

On 6 March 1945, after the munitions freighter GREENHILL PARK exploded in Vancouver harbour, the M/V GENERAL KENNEDY, M/V GENERAL MACKENZIE, M/V BRIGADIER SUTHERLAND BROWN, and M/V GENERAL COTTON (skippered by Warrant Officer 'Dutchy' Knox) rendered assistance, towing the stricken vessel to outer harbour in preparation for beaching. The Company also towed targets for RCA coastal gunnery practice. Ships in the Water Transport Company, R.C.A.S.C., sailed under their own distinctive flag, a maritime blue ensign with crossed swords on the fly. The Company was disbanded in 1945.

Ships
  • MLC #42
  • M/V ANNA M (Z49)(Skipper: G. Wilson)
  • M/V BRIGADIER SUTHERLAND BROWN
  • M/V BRIGADIER D.J. MACDONALD
  • M/V COLONEL GREER
  • M/V COLONEL HOLMES
  • M/V COLONEL LAWSON
  • M/V COLONEL OGILVY
  • M/V COLONEL PETERS
  • M/V COLONEL ROY
  • M/V COLONEL STUART
  • M/V COLONEL WADMORE
  • M/V COLONEL WARD
  • M/V COLONEL ROBINSON
  • M/V GENERAL ANDERSON (Z27)
  • M/V GENERAL COTTON (Z72) (Skipper: W.O. 'Dutchy' Knox)
  • M/V GENERAL HERTZBERG
  • M/V GENERAL KENNEDY
  • M/V GENERAL LAKE
  • M/V GENERAL LECKIE
  • M/V GENERAL MACKENZIE
  • M/V GOOD PARTNER
  • M/V LADY ROSE
  • PPL 42
  • PPL 45
  • PPL 144
  • RCASC #2 (SCOW)
  • RCASC #5
  • RCASC #6
  • RCASC #9
  • RCASC #10
  • RCASC#23 (Range target-towing speed boat; 24 n/mile/hr.)
  • RCASC #26

See also

Sources
  • Cliff Faulknor, R.C.A.S.C., The Unknown Service (unpublished), 2002
  • Library and Archives Canada File No. 3225 War Diary of Pacific Command Water Transport Company, R.C.A.S.C., Ottawa, 1945.
  • Knight, Darrell The West Coast Privateers: a History of the Pacific Command "WATER TRANSPORT COMPANY" of the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps (300-page manuscript, unpublished) Calgary, 2008
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