HMCS Beaver (S10)
| History | |
|---|---|
 Canada
| |
| Name: | Beaver |
| Builder: | Crescent Shipyard, Elizabeth, New Jersey |
| Launched: | 1902 |
| Commissioned: | 1 April 1941 |
| Decommissioned: | 17 October 1944 |
| Identification: | Pennant number: S10 (later Z10) |
| Honours and awards: | Atlantic 1942[1] |
| Notes: | Formerly Aztec |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type: | Armed yacht |
| Displacement: | 808 tons |
| Length: | 260 ft (79 m) |
| Beam: | 28 ft (8.5 m) |
| Draught: | 13 ft (4.0 m) |
| Speed: | 12 knots (22 km/h) |
| Complement: | 50 |
| Armament: | 1 x 4-inch naval gun |
HMCS Beaver was an armed yacht that served in the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War. Originally named Aztec, after commissioning, Beaver was primarily used as a training ship with limited time as a patrol vessel. Following the war she was sold in 1946 and scrapped in 1956.
Service history
Aztec was laid down by Crescent Shipyard at Elizabeth, New Jersey and launched in 1902. After failing to acquire any British vessels at the outset of the Second World War for auxiliary purposes, the Royal Canadian Navy discreetly searched the American market for suitable ships. However, American law prevented the sale of ships for possible use in the war to any of the belligerents. The Canadian Navy, requisitioned unsuitable Canadian yachts and had their respective owners go the United States and buy those ships the Navy wanted as replacements. Once the ships arrived in Canada, the navy then returned the original yachts and requisitioned the new ones.[2] Aztec was one such ship and was acquired by the Royal Canadian Navy in 1940.
Initially carrying the pennant number S10 and later Z10, she was commissioned as Beaver into the Royal Canadian Navy on 4 April 1941. After commissioning, the ship was assigned to the Halifax Local Defence Force. Deployed mainly as a radar training ship, the vessel transferred briefly to the local force operating out of Saint John, New Brunswick and then Sydney Force as a local patrol vessel at then end of 1942.[3]
On 27 December 1942, Beaver underwent a refit at Halifax. Returning to service, the ship was ordered to Digby, Nova Scotia to become a training ship for the Defensively equipped merchant ship (DEMS) gunners and later, seamanship training.[3]
Beaver was paid off on 17 October 1944. She was sold in 1946 and in 1956 was scrapped.[3]
References
- Notes
- References
- Macpherson, Ken; Barrie, Ron. (2002) Warships of Canada's Naval Forces 1910-2002. 3rd Edition. St. Catharines: Vanwell Publishing Limtied. ISBN 1-55125-072-1
- HMCS Beaver - source: readyayeready.com