Mackenzie-class destroyer

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HMCS Mackenzie (DDE 261) off San Diego, in 1992
Class overview
Name: Mackenzie
Builders: Canadian Vickers Ltd., Montreal
Victoria Machinery Depot Ltd., Victoria
Burrard Dry Dock Ltd., North Vancouver
Davie Shipbuilding Ltd., Lauzon
Operators:
Preceded by: Restigouche-class destroyer
Succeeded by: Annapolis-class destroyer
Planned: 6
Completed: 4
Retired: 4
Preserved: 0
General characteristics
Type: Destroyer Escort
Displacement: 2,880 t (2,880.0 t) full load
Length: 366 ft (111.6 m)
Beam: 42 ft (12.8 m)
Draught: 14 ft (4.3 m)
Propulsion: 2 shafts
2 x English-Electric geared steam turbines
2 x Babcock and Wilcox boilers
30,000 shp
Speed: 28 kn (51.9 km/h)
Complement: 228 regular, 170-210 training
Sensors and
processing systems:
  • 1 x SPS-12 air search radar
  • 1 x SPS-10B surface search radar
  • 1 x Sperry Mk.2 navigation radar
  • 1 x SQS-501 high frequency bottom profiler sonar
  • 1 x SQS-502 high frequency mortar control sonar
  • 1 x SQS-503 hull mounted active search sonar
  • 1 x SQS-11 hull mounted active search sonar
Electronic warfare
& decoys:
  • 1 x DAU (replaced by SRD 501) high frequency direction finder
  • 1 x WLR 1C radar analyzer
  • 1 x UPD 501 radar detector
Armament:
  • 1 x 3"/70 Mk.6 Vickers twin mount forward (HMCS Qu'Appelle (DDE 264) had 3"/50 twin)
  • 1 x 3"/50 Mk.33 FMC twin mount aft
  • 2 x Mk NC 10 Limbo ASW mortars
  • 2 x single Mk.2 "K-gun" launchers with homing torpedoes
  • 1 x 103mm Bofors illumination rocket launcher

The Mackenzie-class destroyer was a class of warship used by the Royal Canadian Navy and Canadian Forces from the 1960s-1990s. Six such ships were envisioned, of which four were completed to this specification. The last two hulls were completed to the post DDH conversion St. Laurent-class destroyer design (which included helicopter hangars); they were designated as Annapolis-class destroyers instead.

The four Mackenzie-class destroyers spent most of their service in the Pacific arena, used primarily in the training role. Their only significant update was the DELEX (destroyer life extension) program and thus were largely obsolete in their intended role by the late 1970s.

The Mackenzie class was similar to the previous Restigouche-class, which was a follow-on to the St. Laurent-class. The most noticeable change for Mackenzie was the replacement of the forward 3"/50 gun with a 3"/70 and the presence of a fire-control director atop the bridge superstructure. The bridge was raised one full deck higher than on previous classes in order to see over the new gun mount.

The Vickers 3"/70 Mk.6 gun was developed by the Royal Navy and fitted to the Tiger-class cruisers, with the RCN being the only other customer. The weapon had several shortcomings, and it was only installed on the first three hulls. HMCS Qu'Appelle (DDE 264) received a 3"/50 gun instead.

HMCS Mackenzie was used in an episode of The X-Files before being scuttled off Sidney, British Columbia. HMCS Saskatchewan was scuttled off Nanaimo, BC and HMCS Yukon was scuttled off San Diego, California.

Ships

Ship Original Pennant Number Builder Laid Down Launched Commissioned DELEX Refit Completed Paid Off Fate
HMCS Mackenzie DDE 261 Canadian Vickers, Montreal 15 December 1958 25 May 1961 6 October 1962 1985 3 August 1993 Sold March 1995 to Artificial Reef Society of British Columbia. Scuttled off Sidney, BC on 16 September 1995.
HMCS Saskatchewan DDE 262 Victoria Machinery Depot Ltd., Victoria 29 October 1959 1 February 1961 16 February 1963 1984 28 March 1994 Sold 1997 to Artificial Reef Society of British Columbia. Scuttled off Nanaimo, BC on 14 June 1997.
HMCS Yukon DDE 263 Burrard Dry Dock Ltd., North Vancouver 25 October 1959 27 July 1961 25 May 1963 1983 31 July 1992 Scuttled off San Diego, California in 2000.
HMCS Qu'Appelle DDE 264 Davie Shipbuilding Ltd., Lauzon 14 January 1960 2 May 1962 14 September 1963 1982 28 March 1994 Scrapped

References

     Royal Canadian Navy
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