HMCS Shearwater (ship)

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HMCS Shearwater was a commissioned sloop of the Royal Canadian Navy and was one of the many Canadian ships to serve in World War I or World War II. Shearwater was originally commissioned HMS Shearwater for the Royal Navy. She was part of the remnants of the Royal Navy's Pacific Squadron based in Esquimalt, British Columbia. By 1914, the RN's Pacific Squadron was phased out. The Sloop HMS Shearwater and her sister Sloop HMS Algerine were the last two ships of the RN left in Esquimalt, British Columbia. The British Government's Admiralty transferred control and presented these vessels to the Dominion of Canada's Navy in 1914.

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[edit] Royal Canadian Navy War Service

With the outbreak of war (World War I), two of Shearwater's 4 Pounder Naval gun's were taken ashore and placed into shore battery positions to defend the Seymour Narrows. The crew was immediately sent to Halifax to man HMCS Niobe. On September 8, 1914, the RN transferred ownership and the Shearwater (RN Decommissioned) became HMCS Shearwater. The Shearwater was manned after re-commissioning in order to be the Submarine tender for the two Submarines HMCS CC-1 and CC-2. This service saw the Shearwater escort the two Submarines to the East Coast's port in Halifax. For the remainder of the war, she saw very limited duty as a support vessel.

[edit] Specifications

  • Commissioned: HMS Shearwater January 1901, HMCS Shearwater (transferred control and commisioned into RCN September 8, 1914
  • Launched: 10/2/1900,
  • Paid Off: June 13,1919, sold into Mercantile service and renamed Vedas in 1924
  • Displacement: 980 tons
  • Length: 204 feet
  • Width: 33 feet
  • Draught: 11.5 feet
  • Speed: 12 knots
  • Crew: ?
  • Armament: 4 X 4 Pounder (Naval gun capable of firing a 4 pound shot)and 4 X 3 Pounder (Naval gun capable of firing a 3 pound shot)

[edit] Current Use of the Unit Name HMCS Shearwater

It is now the name of the base in Halifax, Nova Scotia, as part of CFB Halifax that contains the Air Force elements that support Naval Operations. It has the training and operational facilities for the Helicopter and Fixed Wing assets for the Navy.

[edit] References

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