H . M . C
. S
S K E E N A ( D 5 9 )
A-Class destroyer modified to suit RCN requirements
and ordered by the Canadian Government from John I
Thornycroft at Woolston
on 29th February 1929 with HMCS SAGUENAY. The ship was laid down as Yard No. 1092 on 14 October 1929 and launched on 10th October
1930. Build was completed on 10th June 1931 and she was commissioned for service in the Royal Canadian
Navy at Portsmouth that day. Until 1938 this destroyer was deployed with the Western Division of the RCN based at
Esquimalt but then was transferred to Halifax
B a t t
l e H o n o u r s
As this ship belonged to the
Royal Canadian Navy there is no record
H e r a l d i
c D a t a
Similarly details are not
available in the Admiralty Record of Ships Badges.
D e t a i
l s o f W a r
S e r v i c e
1 9 3 9
September
3rd Embarked CinC West Indies Station at Halifax for
passage to Bermuda
10th Canada declared war on Germany during
return passage to Halifax
11th On arrival at Halifax joined Halifax Escort Force
for deployment as Local Escort for
Atlantic convoys to and from Newfoundland.
October Local Escort deployment in continuation.
to
December
1 9 4 0
January Halifax deployment for Local Escort in continuation.
to
April
May Transferred to Western Approaches Command for
Atlantic convoy escort based in UK.
Took passage to Plymouth.
31st Arrived at Plymouth and joined Western Approaches
Command.
June Deployed for escort of evacuation convoys from ports
in Brittany and Bay of Biscay.
(Operation AERIAL - Allied troops, Diplomatic
personnel and civilians taken to Channel
ports in UK after fall of France. See EVACUATION
OPERATIONS by J De Winser,
Naval Staff History, HOLD THE NARROW SEA by P
Smith and ENGAGE THE
ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by Corelli Barnett.)
July On release from AERIAL commenced Atlantic convoy
defence duties.
See HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair, THE BATTLE
OF THE ATLANTIC by
D MacIntyre and U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC
(HMSO) for details.
August Atlantic convoy defence in NW Approaches continued.
to
September
October
14th Took part in rescue work after HM Armed Merchant
Cruiser CHESHIRE was torpedoed
in NW approaches.
Embarked 230 survivors and put Party on board to
maintain steam until tug arrived to take
stricken ship in tow for repair.
November Atlantic convoy escort duties in continuation.
to
December
1 9 4 1
January Atlantic convoy defence duties in continued.
to Nominated for return to Canada for refit.
February
March
3rd Took passage to Halifax.
Taken in hand for refit on arrival.
April Under refit.
to Nominated for service with Newfoundland Escort
Force on completion.
May
June On completion of post refit trials carried out
work-up prior to resuming operational
service with newly formed Escort Force.
Deployed for Ocean Escort to and from Mid-Ocean
Meeting Point.
July Deployed for Atlantic convoy escort with Group.
to See HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR, THE BATTLE OF THE
ATLANTIC and
August U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC for further details.
September Part of escort for Convoy SC42
October Ocean Escort for Atlantic convoys in continuation.
to
December
1 9 4 2
January Transferred to 3rd Canadian Escort Group and joined HM
Canadian Destroyer
to SAGUENAY, HM Canadian Corvettes WETASKIWIN, SACKVILLE,
GALT
April and CAMROSE for Ocean Escort of Atlantic convoys.
May Part of escort for Convoy HX119 with ships of Group.
June Atlantic convoy defence with Group in continuation.
July Deployed with HM Canadian Destroyers SAGUENAY and
HAMILTON,
HM Canadian Corvettes AGASSIZ, SACKVILLE and
WETASKIWIN
as escort for Convoy HX115
31st Shared credit for sinking U588 with HMCS WETASKIWIN
during defence
of HX115 against attacks by TIGER Group of
U-BOATS.
(See HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR.)
August Mid Ocean escort duties with Group in continuation.
to
For development of new weapons and changes in U-Boat deployments see
December
U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC (HMSO) and SEEK and
STRIKE by
W Hackmann. For information relating to development and use of radar in
the Royal Navy see RADAR AT SEA by D Howse.
1 9 4 3
January Under refit.
to
March
April On completion of post refit trials prepared for
return to operational duties with
3rd Canadian Escort Group.
16th Part of escort for Convoy HX223 with US Coastguard
Cutters SPENCER and
DUANE, HM Canadian Corvettes WETASKIWIN and
ARVIDA, HM Corvettes
DIANTHUS, BERGAMOT and BRYONY,
17th Carried out anti-submarine operations in defence of
convoy during intensive attacks
by U-Boat Groups. Escort reinforced by 3rd
British Support Group which reduced
scale of attack after series of depth charge
operations.
May Deployed as escort for Convoy HX238
17th Threat of attacks by U-Boat Groups did not
materialise after extensive air operations
using depth charges from LIBERATOR aircraft of
Coastal Command.
See above references and BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC
by Costello and Hughes.
June Atlantic convoy escort duties in continuation.
to
December
1 9 4 4
January Atlantic convoy defence in continuation
February Nominated for support of planned allied invasion
(Operation NEPTUNE)
Taken in hand for refit to prepare for service
prior to passage to UK
March Under refit
April Carried out post refit trials and prepared for
passage.
May Joined escort for Convoy SC157 for passage to UK to
join 12th Escort Group.
Detached from SC157 on arrival in Home waters
and took passage to join HM
Canadian Destroyers QU’APPELLE, RESTIGOUCHE and
SASKATCHEWAN
of Group at Plymouth.
June Deployed with Group for ant-submarine operations in
Bay of Biscay.
(Note : These were intended to deny access to
English Channel for attacks on
invasion convoys and assemblies.
For details of naval activities prior to and
during NEPTUNE see
OPERATION NEPTUNE by K Edwards, LANDINGS IN
NORMANDY
June 1944 and INVASION FLEETS by J de Winser.)
July On completion of NEPTUNE deployed with Group for interception patrol in French
coastal waters to prevent use of ports for
support of enemy military operations
including use as submarine bases.
5th Carried out attack on U-Boat escorts sinking three
patrol vessels.
11th In collision with HMCS QU’APPELLE during engagement
with enemy ships in
AUDIERNE Bay. 14 of the ship’s company were
injured
Sustained some structural damage.
Taken in hand for repair.
August On completion rejoined Group for deployment in Channel
and SW Approaches.
12th During interception patrol with HMCS QU’APPELLE, HMCS RESTIGOUCHE and
HM Escort Destroyer ALBRIGHTON engaged and sank
three trawlers south of Brest.
September Released from deployment at Plymouth and transferred to
11th Escort Group in
WESTERN Approaches Command.
Deployed for ant-submarine operations to
intercept U-Boats in transit through NW
Approaches to and from bases in
Norway.
October NW Approaches deployment in continuation.
24th Dragged anchor at Hvalfjord whilst taking shelter
adverse weather.
25th Stranded on Videy Island and salvage impossible
due to weather,
November Ship remained stranded and further attempts not feasible.
December Ship declared Constructive Total Loss.
F i n a l P h
a s e
HMCS SKEENA was placed on Disposal List and sold for
demolition in June 1945.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of
HMCS SKEENA
by Don Kindell
Date convoy
Joined
convoy
Convoy
No.
Left convoy Date
convoy
sailed as
escort
arrived
23/09/39 23/09/39 HX 002 25/09/39 10/10/39
26/11/39 26/11/39 HX 010 28/11/39 10/12/39
02/12/39 02/12/39 HXF 011 03/12/39 15/12/39
04/12/39 04/12/39 HX 011 05/12/39 18/12/39
10/12/39 10/12/39 HXF 012 12/12/39 24/12/39
12/12/39 12/12/39 HX 012 13/12/39 27/12/39
19/12/39 19/12/39 HXF 013 20/12/39 30/12/39
20/12/39 20/12/39 HX 013 22/12/39 04/01/40
27/12/39 27/12/39 HXF 014 29/12/39 08/01/40
29/12/39 29/12/39 HX 014 30/12/39 12/01/40
28/01/40 28/01/40 HXF 018 29/01/40 08/02/40
31/01/40 31/01/40 HX 018 10/02/40 16/02/40
04/02/40 04/02/40 HXF 019 05/02/40 17/02/40
07/02/40 07/02/40 HX 019 08/02/40 22/02/40
22/02/40 22/02/40 HX 022 23/02/40 09/03/40
02/03/40 02/03/40 HX 024 03/03/40 17/03/40
10/03/40 10/03/40 HX 026 11/03/40 26/03/40
18/03/40 18/03/40 HX 028 19/03/40 02/04/40
25/03/40 25/03/40 HX 030 26/03/40 09/04/40
06/04/40 06/04/40 HX 033 07/04/40 20/04/40
18/04/40 18/04/40 HX 036 19/04/40 03/05/40
26/04/40 26/04/40 HX 038 27/04/40 12/05/40
04/05/40 04/05/40 HX 040 05/05/40 19/05/40
16/05/40 16/05/40 HX 043 17/05/40 31/05/40
20/05/40 20/05/40 HX 044 21/05/40 03/06/40
24/05/40 24/05/40 HX 045 25/05/40 08/06/40
10/07/40 10/07/40 OA 182 14/07/40 14/07/40
03/07/40 15/07/40 HX 055 unknown 18/07/40
15/07/40 27/07/40 HX 058 31/07/40 31/07/40
28/07/40 10/08/40 SL 041F 14/08/40 14/08/40
12/08/40 24/08/40 HX 065 27/08/40 27/08/40
18/08/40 unknown OA
201 unknown unknown
02/09/40 02/09/40 OA 208 unknown unknown
25/08/40 07/09/40 SC 002 08/09/40 10/09/40
12/09/40 12/09/40 LG 001 15/09/40 15/09/40
02/09/40 15/09/40 SC 003 18/09/40 18/09/40
11/10/40 11/10/40 OG 044 14/10/40 24/10/40
19/10/40 19/10/40 OL 008 21/10/40 22/10/40
09/10/40 22/10/40 HG 045 27/10/40 27/10/40
24/10/40 04/11/40 HX 083 05/11/40 07/11/40
24/10/40 05/11/40 SC 009 09/11/40 09/11/40
09/11/40 21/11/40 SC 011 26/11/40 26/11/40
08/01/41 21/01/41 HG 050 26/01/41 26/01/41
21/06/41 21/06/41 TC 011 24/06/41 30/06/41
27/07/41 30/07/41 HX 141 06/08/41 11/08/41
06/08/41 11/08/41 ON 005 14/08/41 14/08/41
30/08/41 02/09/41 SC 042 17/09/41 20/09/41
13/09/41 20/09/41 ON 016 26/09/41 27/09/41
09/10/41 11/10/41 TC 014 15/10/41 17/10/41
16/10/41 23/10/41 ON 027 02/11/41 02/11/41
10/11/41 12/11/41 SC 054 22/11/41 26/11/41
25/11/41 30/11/41 ON 040 04/12/41 04/12/41
03/01/42 05/01/42 SC 063 10/01/42 13/01/42
11/04/42 19/04/42 SC 079 27/04/42 27/04/42
08/05/42 09/05/42 ON 093 16/05/42 17/05/42
24/05/42 28/05/42 HX 191 05/06/42 06/06/42
16/06/42 18/06/42 ON 104 27/06/42 02/07/42
03/07/42 06/07/42 SC 090 16/07/42 16/07/42
24/07/42 25/07/42 ON 115 31/07/42 08/08/42
09/08/42 12/08/42 HX 202 17/08/42 21/08/42
12/08/42 17/08/42 ON 121 20/08/42 27/08/42
29/08/42 02/09/42 SC 098 12/09/42 13/09/42
18/09/42 19/09/42 ON 131 25/09/42 04/10/42
01/10/42 07/10/42 HX 210 15/10/42 16/10/42
25/10/42 26/10/42 ON 141 31/10/42 10/11/42
09/11/42 16/11/42 SC 109 25/11/42 30/11/42
09/12/42 10/12/42 ON 152 19/12/42 31/12/42
06/04/43 12/04/43 HX 233 20/04/43 21/04/43
24/04/43 25/04/43 ON 180 07/05/43 14/05/43
07/05/43 13/05/43 HX 238 20/05/43 22/05/43
01/06/43 03/06/43 ON 187 10/06/43 15/06/43
15/06/43 20/06/43 HX 244 29/06/43 30/06/43
09/07/43 10/07/43 ON 192 18/07/43 22/07/43
23/07/43 29/07/43 HX 249 05/08/43 06/08/43
20/08/43 23/08/43 ONS 016 29/08/43 01/09/43
02/09/43 08/09/43 HX 255 15/09/43 16/09/43
26/09/43 27/09/43 ONS 019 09/10/43 14/10/43
11/10/43 17/10/43 HX 261 25/10/43 26/10/43
06/11/43 07/11/43 ON 210 17/11/43 23/11/43
19/11/43 23/11/43 SC 147 03/12/43 04/12/43
16/12/43 17/12/43 ON 216 29/12/43 03/01/44
28/01/44 29/01/44 ONS 028 11/02/44 15/02/44
17/04/44 27/04/44 SC 157 28/04/44 01/05/44
