HMCS Long Branch (K487)

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The HMCS Long Branch (K487) is named for a village absorbed by the city of Toronto. She was originally laid down as HMS Candytuff but was transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy and commissioned on the Clyde on January 5,1944. In April, following a month's workup at Tobermory, the ship joined EG C-5 at Londonderry, and sailed to pick up her maiden convoy, ONS.233. She developed mechanical defects on the crossing and was under repairs at St.John's, Newfoundland for six weeks. She left on June 14 to resume her duties, but returned from her westbound convoy with the assistance of HM tug Tenacity. Repaired she left St.John's a week later to join HXS.300, the largest convoy of the war, and continued as an ocean escort until her final departure from "Derry" on January 27, 1945. Arriving at Halifax on February 11, she commenced a refit on completion of which, in April, she was assigned to Halifax Force for local duties. On June 17, she was paid off at Sorel for disposal. Sold for commercial use in 1947, she was renamed Rexton Kent II (later dropping the "II") and finally scuttled of the east coast in 1966.