HMCS Moncton (K139)
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| Career (Canada) |  Royal Canadian Navy |
|---|---|
| Namesake: | Moncton, New Brunswick |
| Ordered: | 24 Jan 1940 |
| Builder: | St. John Dry Dock & Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., Saint John |
| Laid down: | 17 Dec 1940 |
| Launched: | 11 Aug 1941 |
| Commissioned: | 24 Apr 1942 |
| Decommissioned: | 12 Dec 1945 |
| Honours and awards: |
Battle of the Atlantic, 1942-1944 |
| Fate: | Sold in 1955 to the Netherlands as mercantile Willem Vinke. Scrapped in 1966 at Santander. |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Flower-class corvette (original) |
| Displacement: | 925 long tons (940 t/1,036 S/T) |
| Length: | 205 feet (62.48 m)o/a |
| Beam: | 33 feet (10.06 m) |
| Draught: | 11.5 feet (3.51 m) |
| Propulsion: |
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| Speed: | 16 knots (29.6 km/h) |
| Range: | 3,500 nautical miles (6,482 km) at 12 knots (22.2 km/h) |
| Complement: | 85 |
| Sensors and processing systems: |
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| Armament: |
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HMCS Moncton (K139) was a Flower-class corvette that served in the Royal Canadian Navy.
Contents |
[edit] Construction
She was ordered on 24 January 1940 from St. John Dry Dock & Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., Saint John and laid down on 17 December 1940. She was launched on 11 August 1941 and commissioned into the RCN on 24 April 1942. She is named after Moncton, New Brunswick.
Moncton was the last of the RCN's original 64Flower-class orders and her construction had been significantly delayed due to heavy demands on her builder for priority repair work on war-damaged ships.
[edit] Wartime service
Following her commissioning, Moncton sailed to Halifax and was assigned to Atlantic coast command (AT) but unallocated as she was fitting out and performing sea trials for the remainder of April. In May she began work-ups with her new crew out of Halifax and she joined the RCN's Atlantic Fleet on 12 May 1942.
From June 1942 to June 1943, Moncton was tasked to Western Local Escort Force (WLEF) for convoy escort operations. During this year with WLEF, she participated in the escort of convoys ON-128 (Western Local South) and later HX-218 (Local Escort Northern, joined convoy on Dec 8, 1942 position 44 19N 61 16W, and left the convoy at 10:00 Dec. 11 in 47 47N 49 20W). Records from Convoy HX 203 list HMCS Macton as one of the escorts, which is probably a misspelling of Moncton, as no warship in Canada's history has been named Macton. She joined convoy HX 214 at noon Nov. 6, 1942. She escorted convoy HX 221 From position Z to HOMP - along with HMCS Trail and Melville (07:40 Dec. 29-16:15 Jan. 1, 44 41N 61 25W). [some info found on www.warsailors.com]
Detailed Convoy Duty in 1942: More info on http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/ & http://www.warsailors.com MONCTON in Convoy SC.87 (Jun 1942: Sydney CB - Liverpool) Departed Sydney, C.B. on June 12-1942 and arrived Liverpool on the 27th. ESCORT June 12 - June 15 41 ships in convoy, 1 of 14 escorts
MONCTON in Convoy ON.103 (Jun 1942: Liverpool - Boston) Escort began June 21 51 merchants, 12 escorts
MONCTON in Convoy SC.90 (Jul 1942: Sydney CB - Liverpool) Departed Sydney, C.B. on July 3-1942 and arrived Liverpool on July 16. Escort July 3 - July 6 34 merchants and 12 escorts
MONCTON in Convoy ON.109 (Jul 1942: Liverpool - Halifax) Departed Liverpool July 3 Escort July 11 - July 16 28 merchants, 10 escorts
MONCTON in Convoy SC.93 (Jul 1942: Sydney CB - Liverpool) Departed Sydney, C.B. on July 24-1942 and arrived Liverpool on Aug. 7. Escort July 24 - July 26 45 merchants and 13 escorts
MONCTON in Convoy ON.114 (Jul 1942: Liverpool - Dispersed) Departed Loch Ewe July 19 Escort July 30 - Aug 2 34 Merchants, 10 escorts
MONCTON in Convoy BX.32 (Aug 1942: Boston - Halifax) Depart Boston on 5 August 1942. Arrive Halifax on 7 August 1942. (not listed among the escorts by Hague) 33 merchants and 4 escorts
MONCTON in Convoy BX.32B (Aug 1942: Boston - Halifax) Depart Boston on 6 August 1942. Arrive Halifax on 8 August 1942. Escort Aug 6 - Aug 8 Hague's records contain 18 merchants and 4 escorts
MONCTON in Convoy BX.35 (Aug 1942: Boston - Halifax) Depart Boston on 26 August 1942. Arrive Halifax on 28 August 1942. (not listed among the escorts by Hague) Hague's records contain 51 merchants and 3 escorts
MONCTON in Convoy HX.203 (Aug 1942: Halifax - Liverpool) Departed Halifax on Aug. 16-1942 and arrived Liverpool on the 28th Aug 16 - Aug 19 39 merchants and 11 escorts
MONCTON in Convoy ON.121 (Aug 12, 1942: Liverpool - Dispersed) Escort,Aug 20 - Aug 27 35 merchants, 19 escorts
MONCTON in Convoy BX.35B (Aug 1942: Boston - Halifax) Depart Boston on 28 August 1942. Arrive Halifax on 30 August 1942. Escort Aug 28 - Aug 30 Hague's records contain 35 merchants and 5 escorts
MONCTON in Convoy ON.127 (Sep 1942: Liverpool - NYC) Departed Liverpool on Sept. 4-1942 and arrived New York on Sept. 20 Escort Sept. 14, Sept 18 34 Merchants, 15 escorts This convoy had been attacked prior to Moncton's escort, but suffered no Axis action after Moncton arrived on station.
MONCTON in Convoy SC.99 (Sep 1942: Halifax - Liverpool) departed Halifax on Sept. 5-1942 and arrived Liverpool on the 20th ESCORT Sept 05- 09 59 merchants and 17 escorts
MONCTON in Convoy ON.128 (Sep 1942: Liverpool - NYC) Departed Liverpool on Sept. 5-1942 and arrived New York City on the 24th (Arnold Hague says 22 ships, agreeing with Commodore's notes). Moncton joined as part of Western Local South by Sept 22 Convoy Commodore said all escorts provided very good protection and co-operation.
MONCTON in Convoy SC.103 (Sep 1942: NYC - Liverpool) Depart NYC on 26 September 1942. Arrive Liverpool on 14 October 1942. Escort Sept 26 - Sept 30 60 merchants and 26 escorts
MONCTON in Convoy ON.135 (Oct 1942: Liverpool - NYC) left Haven on Oct 1 Escort Oct 17 - 18 44 merchants 14 escorts
MONCTON in Convoy ON.137 (Oct 1942: Liverpool - NYC) Left Clyde on Oct 10 Escort Oct 26 - 29 43 Merchants, 16 escorts
MONCTON in Convoy SC.108 (Nov 1942: NYC - Liverpool) Depart NYC on 1 November 1942. Arrive Liverpool on 19 November 1942. Escort Nov 1 -4 46 merchants and 24 escorts
MONCTON in Convoy HX.214 (Nov 1942: NYC - Liverpool) Departed New York City on Nov. 3-1942, and arrived Liverpool on the 18th. Escort from noon Nov 6 -8 33 merchants and 17 escorts
MONCTON in Convoy ON.142 (Oct 1942: Liverpool - NYC) left Oban on Oct 31 Escort Nov 13 - 18 68 Merchants, 16 escorts
MONCTON in Convoy ON.145 (Nov 1942: Liverpool - NYC) Departed Liverpool on Nov. 9-1942 and arrived New York on the 25th Joined the convoy on Nov 22 for final leg into NYC, under command of Lt AW Ford, RCNR convoy was attacked by U-518 on Nov 21, no further attacks after Moncton commenced escort.
MONCTON in Convoy ON.150 (Dec 1942: Liverpool - NYC) left Clyde Dec 1 Escort Dec 16-22 42 Merchants 12 escorts
MONCTON in Convoy SC.112 (Dec 1942: NYC - Liverpool) Depart NYC on 4 December 1942. Arrive Liverpool on 25 December 1942. Escort Dec 4 - 7 63 merchants and 25 escorts
MONCTON in Convoy HX.218 (Dec 1942: NYC - Liverpool) Departed New York City on Dec. 5-1942 and arrived Liverpool on the 21st. Escort Dec 8 - 11, Local Escort (Northern) left at 10:00 Dec. 11 in 47 47N 49 20W. 55 Merchants, 20 escorts
MONCTON in Convoy HX.221 (Dec 1942: NYC - Liverpool) Departed New York on Dec. 29-1942 and arrived Liverpool on Jan. 14-1943. Escort Dec 29, 1942 - Jan 1, 1943 From position Z to HOMP - HMCS Trail, Moncton and Melville (07:40 Dec. 29-16:15 Jan. 1, 44 41N 61 25W) 43 merchants and 16 escorts
In June 1943, WLEF was divided into separate escort groups and Moncton was tasked to EG W5 (HQ in Halifax, Nova Scotia) for June and July. She collided with S.S. Jamaica Producer on 28 July 1943. From August-September 1943, she underwent refit repairs at Dartmouth Marine Slips, Dartmouth. She returned to EG W5 from October-December.
She was transferred to the RCN's Pacific Fleet in January 1944 and departed for Esquimalt, via Guantanamo Bay, Cristóbal, Balboa and San Pedro.
Upon her arrival, she was tasked to the Esquimalt Force (unallocated) and underwent an extensive refit at Vancouver from 5 May - 7 July, 1944 where her forecastle was extended and she was brought into line with the modified Flower-class design. From July 1944 to December 1945 she was tasked to Pacific Coast Command (unallocated).
Following V-J Day, she was placed in reserve status at Esquimalt and decommissioned from the RCN on 12 December 1945.
[edit] Commanding officers
She had 6 commanding officers during her service in the RCN:
- Lt. Cmdr. A.R.E. Coleman, RCNR (24 Apr 1942 - 11 Oct 1942
- Lt. A.W. Ford, RCNR (12 Oct 1942 - 3 Feb 1944)
- Lt. Cmdr. A.T. Morrell, RCNR (4 Mar 1944 - 3 Apr 1944)
- Lt. Cmdr. R.J. Roberts, RCNR (4 Apr 1944 - 26 Jan 1945)
- Lt. W. McCombe, RCNR (27 Jan 1945 - 26 Jun 1945)
- Lt. Cmdr. C.G. Trotter, RCNR (27 Jun 1945 - 12 Dec 1945)
[edit] Crew commendations
- LOGIE, Donald, Lieutenant - Mention in Despatches - RCNVR / HMCS Moncton
Awarded as per Canada Gazette of 8 January 1944 and London Gazette of 1 January 1944. Home: Hampton, King's County, New Brunswick. LOGIE. Donald, 0-42570, S/Lt(Temp) [22.12.41] RCNVR HMCS MONCTON (K139) Cof, (25.4.42-?) 1st MID~[8.1.44] Lt(Temp) [22.12.42] HMCS ST. THOMAS (K488) Coc, stand by (22.3.44-3.5.44) HMCS ST. THOMAS (K488) Coc, (4.5.44-?) Lt(Temp) [22.12.41] Demobilized [6.7.45] 2nd MID~[15.9.45]
- "When HMCS Moncton (Flower Class Corvette - K139) was in collision with S.S. Jamaica Producer on 28 July 1943, Lieutenant Logie took charge of the damage control party in his capacity of Acting Executive Officer. Due to his energy, resourcefulness and devotion to duty, the ship was soon able to proceed at slow speed to port."
[above from www.rcnvr.com]
- D.R. D'Aubin, RCNVR of Sidney was an Engine Room Artificer Fourth Class (V26252) on HMCS Moncton (K139) and was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) as per the Canada Gazette of 8 January 1944 and London Gazette of 1 January 1944 which states:
- D'AUBIN. Donald Rupert, V-26252, ERA4/cl. RCNVR, BEM~[8.1.44]
- "When HMCS Moncton (Flower Class Corvette - K139) was in collision with S.S. Jamaica Producer, this rating, in spite of severe damage incurred, tried the engines for damage and raised steam in order to attempt to reach port. He took charge of the engine room staff during the time when the Chief Engine Room Artificer was not available, due to a slight concussion received when the ship was rammed. D'Aubin set an example to the remained of the engine room staff and the ship was able to get under way one hour after the collision occurred."
[edit] Civilian service
Moncton was sold by Crown Assets in 1955 into mercantile service and was re-flagged under the Netherlands as the whaling ship Willem Vinke. She was scrapped in 1966 at Santander, Cantabria, Spain, in 1966.
[edit] References
"Ships Of Canada's Naval Forces", Author: Ken Macpherson, Published:November 1, 2002, Published By:Vanwell Publishing Ltd
http://www.convoyweb.org.uk
http://www.warsailors.com
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