HMCS Chaleur (MCB 144)
| Career (Canada) |  |
|---|---|
| Name: | Chaleur |
| Namesake: | Chaleur Bay |
| Laid down: | 8 June 1951 |
| Launched: | 21 June 1952 |
| Commissioned: | 18 June 1954 |
| Decommissioned: | 30 September 1954 |
| Identification: | MCB 144 |
| Fate: | Sold to France as La Dieppoise |
| Career (France) |  |
| Name: | La Dieppoise |
| Acquired: | 9 October 1954 |
| Commissioned: | 13 November 1954 |
| Decommissioned: | 9 July 1987 |
| Struck: | 1987 |
| Identification: | P 655 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Bay-class minesweeper |
| Displacement: | 390 tons (412 tons deep load) |
| Length: | 152 ft (46 m) |
| Beam: | 28 ft (8.5 m) |
| Draught: | 8 ft (2.4 m) |
| Propulsion: | 2 shafts, 2 GM 12-cylinder diesels, 2400 bhp |
| Speed: | 16 kn (30 km/h; 18 mph) |
| Complement: | 38 |
| Armament: | 1 x 40mm Bofors |
HMCS Chaleur was a Bay-class minesweeper that served in the Royal Canadian Navy for three and a half months in 1954 before being sold to the French Navy to become La Dieppoise. The ship was named for Chaleur Bay, located between Quebec and New Brunswick. Her name was given to her replacement, HMCS Chaleur (MCB 164).
Chaleur was laid down on 8 June 1951 by Port Arthur Shipbuilding at Port Arthur, Ontario and launched 21 June 1952. The vessel was commissioned into the Royal Canadian Navy on 18 June 1954 with the hull identification number 144.[1]
Design
The Bay-class were designed and ordered as replacements for the Second World War-era minesweepers that the Royal Canadian Navy operated at the time. Similar to the Ton-class minesweeper, they were constructed of wood planking and aluminum framing.[1][2]
Displacing 390 tons, or 412 tons deep load, the minesweepers were 152 ft (46 m) long with a beam of 28 ft (8.5 m) and a draught of 8 ft (2.4 m).[1][2] They had a crew of 38 officers and ratings.[note 1][1]
Propulsion and armament
The Bay-class minesweepers were powered by two GM 12-cylinder diesels creating 2400 bhp driving two shafts. This gave the ships a maximum speed of 16 kn (30 km/h; 18 mph).[2] The ships were armed with one 40mm Bofors and were equipped with minesweeping gear.[1][2]
Service history
Commissioned in 1954, Chaleur spent three months in service with the Royal Canadian Navy. The minesweeper was paid off on 30 September 1954. She was transferred to France on 9 October 1954. The minesweeper was commissioned on 13 November 1954 and renamed La Dieppoise.[1][3] She served as a minesweeper until 1973 when the minesweeping gear was removed and she transferred to the Pacific for duty as an overseas territories patrol vessel.[3] She was paid off 9 July 1987 and stricken later that year.[4]
References
- Notes
- ↑ Gardiner and Chumbley claim the crew was 40.
- Citations
- References
- Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8. OCLC 67375475.
- Gardiner, Robert and Stephen Chumbley. Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995. Annapolis, Maryland USA: Naval Institute Press, 1995. ISBN 1-55750-132-7.
- Macpherson, Ken; Barrie, Ron (2002). Warships of Canada's Naval Forces 1910-2002 (3 ed.). St. Catharines: Vanwell Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-55125-072-1.
- John Moore, ed. (1981). Jane's Fighting Ships, 1981-1982. New York: Jane's Information Group. ISBN 0-531-03977-3.
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