HMCS Miramichi (MCB 163)

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Miramichi underway
History
Canada
NameMiramichi
NamesakeMiramichi Bay
BuilderVictoria Machinery Depot, Victoria, British Columbia
Laid down2 February 1956
Launched22 February 1957
Commissioned29 October 1957
Decommissioned16 December 1998
IdentificationMCB 163
MottoLoyal à la mort[1]
FatePaid off 1998, fate unknown
BadgeOn a field of birch bark proper, a pile barry wavy of ten argent and azure and overall an equilateral triangle, apex to the chief gules, charged with a porcupine or.[1]
General characteristics
Class and typeBay-class minesweeper
Displacement
  • 390 long tons (400 t)
  • 412 long tons (419 t) (deep load)
Length152 ft (46 m)
Beam28 ft (8.5 m)
Draught8 ft (2.4 m)
Propulsion2 shafts, 2 GM 12-cylinder diesels, 2,400 bhp (1,800 kW)
Speed16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Range3,290 nmi (6,090 km; 3,790 mi) at 12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Complement38
Armament1 × 40 mm Bofors gun
Miramichi between 1957 and 1965

HMCS Miramichi (hull number MCB 163) was a Bay-class minesweeper that was constructed for the Royal Canadian Navy during the Cold War. Entering service in 1957, the vessel was used as a training ship on the West Coast of Canada for the majority of her career. Miramichi was decommissioned in 1998 and the vessel's fate is unknown.

Design and description[edit]

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.[2][3]

Displacing 390 long tons (400 t) standard at 412 long tons (419 t) at 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).[2][3] They had a complement of 38 officers and ratings.[2][note 1]

The Bay-class minesweepers were powered by two GM 12-cylinder diesel engines driving two shafts creating 2,400 brake horsepower (1,800 kW). This gave the ships a maximum speed of 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph) and a range of 3,290 nautical miles (6,090 km; 3,790 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph).[3][4] The ships were armed with one 40 mm Bofors gun and were equipped with minesweeping gear.[2][3]

Operational history[edit]

Ordered as a replacement for sister ship, Miramichi (MCB 150) which had been transferred to the French Navy in 1954, the ship's keel was laid down on 2 February 1956 by Victoria Machinery Depot at their yard in Victoria, British Columbia. Named for a bay located in New Brunswick, Miramichi was launched on 22 February 1957. The ship was commissioned on 29 October 1957.[5]

After commissioning, the minesweeper joined Training Group Pacific on the West Coast of Canada.[5] In 1972, the class was redesignated patrol escorts.[2] The vessel remained a part of the unit until being paid off on 16 December 1998.[5] Colledge claims the vessel was paid off in October 1998.[6]

References[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Gardiner and Chumbley claim the complement was 40.

Citations[edit]

  1. ^ a b Arbuckle, p. 68
  2. ^ a b c d e Macpherson and Barrie, p. 271
  3. ^ a b c d Gardiner and Chumbley, p. 49
  4. ^ Moore, p. 82
  5. ^ a b c Macpherson and Barrie, p. 275
  6. ^ Colledge, p. 414

References[edit]

  • Arbuckle, J. Graeme (1987). Badges of the Canadian Navy. Halifax, Nova Scotia: Nimbus Publishing. ISBN 0-920852-49-1.
  • 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.
  • Gardiner, Robert; Chumbley, Stephen; Budzbon, Przemysław, eds. (1995). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-132-7.
  • Macpherson, Ken; Barrie, Ron (2002). The Ships of Canada's Naval Forces 1910–2002 (Third ed.). St. Catharines, Ontario: Vanwell Publishing. ISBN 1-55125-072-1.
  • Moore, John, ed. (1981). Jane's Fighting Ships, 1981–1982. New York: Jane's Information Group. ISBN 0-531-03977-3.