H .
M . C . S . C O L U M B I
A ( I 4 9 )
Ex USS HARADEN (Type C NEWPORT Class) built by Newport
News Shipbuilders. The ship was laid down on
30th March 1918 and launched on
4th July that year.
Commissioned on 6th June 1919 for US Naval Service this
ship was deployed in Adriatic until 1920 when she was used as
a training ship at Norfolk before reduction to
Reserve in Philadelphia. Brought forward for US Navy
use in December 1939 she was deployed for Neutrality
Patrol duties until transferred to the Royal Navy
under the UK/US Lend/Lease Agreement on 3rd September 1940. On 24th September that year this destroyer was
selected for service with the Royal Canadian Navy and
renamed HMCS COLUMBIA at Halifax. The name like those of other
destroyers provided under this Agreement
was common to places in Britain or Canada and in the USA.
B a t t
l e H o n o u r s
None are recorded in the
Admiralty records but RCN Honours will be available in RCN records
H e r a l d i
c D a t a
Similarly this will be held in
RCN records
D e t a i
l s o f W a r
S e r v i c e
1 9 4 0
September
24th Transferred to Royal Navy at Halifax and manned by
Canadian crew.
Commissioned as HMCS HARADEN.
(Note : This name was later changed to HMCS
COLUMBIA.)
October Deployed at Halifax for Local Escort duties.
to
December
1 9 4 1
January Halifax deployment in continuation.
Nominated for refit in UK.
15th Took passage to UK
(Note : Ship probably joined escort of Atlantic
convoy to Clyde.)
Passage to Plymouth.
February Taken in hand for refit by HM Dockyard, Devonport.
(Note : Refit included modifications to suit
RCN convoy defence requirements
which were not as extensive as those required
for ships of this Class
under RN control.)
March On completion of refit work joined Western Approaches
Command for convoy
escort duties and attached to 4th Escort Group.
April Deployed for convoy defence with Group.
to Nominated for return to Canada for duty with
Newfoundland Escort Force on
May formation at St. Johns.
June Passage to join NEF
July Deployed for convoy defence with NEF
to
December
1 9 4 2
January Convoy escort duties with NEF in continuation.
February Under repair at Halifax
March Transferred to Western Local Escort Force (WLEF) and
deployed for convoy defence
between Canadian ports.
April WLEF deployment in continuation
to
September
October
24th Deployed in support of eastbound Convoy SL107 under
attack by several
U-Boats south of Iceland escorted by ships of
Canadian EG C4.
See HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR BY C Blair for details.
November WLEF deployment in continuation.
to
December
1 9 4 3
January Local Escort duties in continuation
Assisted sister ship HMCS CALDWELL which was
adrift after breaking away
from tow during passage between St Johns and
Boston.
Towed disabled destroyer to Halifax for repair.
February
1st Taken in hand for refit at St John, NB.
March Under refit
to
April
May On completion of post refit trials rejoined WLEF at
St Johns for
Local Escort duties.
June Joined Canadian Escort Group W4 for convoy defence
July Convoy escort duties with W4 in continuation.
to
November
December Transferred to Canadian Escort Group W10 in continuation
of escort duties.
1 9 4 4
January Deployment with W10 in continuation
February
25th Struck cliff at Moreton Bay, Newfoundland and sustained
major damage
to bow structure
(Note : Weather was foggy and radar may not have
been serviceable.)
March Awaiting repair to bow structure to allow tow.
to
April
May Under temporary repair at Bay Bulls
to
August Ship to be withdrawn from operational service
September Taken in tow to Liverpool, NS for use as a storeship.
October Hulk used for storage of ammunition from ships being
refitted.
to
December
1 9 4 5
January Store ship use in continuation at Liverpool
to
May
June
12th Paid-off at Sydney and placed on Disposal List
Sold to International Iron and Steel for
demolition
August Taken in tow to Hamilton
9th Arrived at Breaker’s Yard at Hamilton. |
