HMCS Fraser (H48)
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| Career (Canada) |  |
|---|---|
| Namesake: | Fraser River |
| Builder: | Vickers-Armstrongs, Barrow-in-Furness |
| Laid down: | 18 December 1930 |
| Launched: | 29 September 1931 |
| Commissioned: | 17 February 1937 |
| Honours and awards: |
Atlantic |
| Fate: | sunk 25 June 1940 |
| Notes: | Formerly HMS Crescent |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | River class, C class |
| Displacement: | 1,375 tons (1,397 tonnes) standard 1,942 tons (1,974 tonnes) deep |
| Length: | 329 feet (100 m) o/a |
| Beam: | 33 feet (10.1 m) |
| Draught: | 12.5 feet (3.8 m) |
| Propulsion: | 3 x Admiralty 3-drum water tube boilers (except Kempenfelt, Yarrow boilers, Parsons geared steam turbines, 36,000 shp on 2 shafts |
| Speed: | 35.5 kt |
| Range: | 5,500 nmi at 15 kt |
| Complement: | 181 (10 officers, 171 ratings) |
| Armament: |
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HMCS Fraser (H48) was a Canadian River-class destroyer that served in the Royal Canadian Navy from 1937-1940. She was formerly HMS Crescent of the Royal Navy's C-class and wore pennant H48 during her service. Built by Vickers-Armstrongs, Barrow-in-Furness and commissioned into the RN around 1932, she ended her service with the RN on 17 February 1937 when she was commissioned into the RCN.
[edit] World War II
After the declaration of World War II, Fraser was assigned to convoy duty in the North Atlantic. On the night of 25 June 1940, Fraser was tasked to join the destroyer HMCS Restigouche (H00) and cruiser HMS Calcutta (D82) on a mission to the coast of Bordeaux, France where 4,000 refugees trapped by the German Army were awaiting rescue.
The warships encountered rough seas and poor visibility, forcing the commanding officer of the Fraser to close quarters with the other two vessels. Fraser executed a turn to port to bring the ship behind Calcutta but in doing so, the two ships collided with the bow of the heavier Calcutta slicing Fraser with such force that the destroyer was cut into three pieces.
The Fraser lost 45 crew along with 19 crew from Calcutta. Many of the survivors from Fraser transferred that summer to crew aboard HMCS Margaree (H49) and were lost when that vessel sank on 22 October 1940 as a result of a collision with the freighter Port Fairy.
[edit] See also
[edit] References and notes
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