Characteristics:
Class
|
Built for RCN
|
"C" Class
|
"D"
Class |
"E"
Class |
"F"
Class
|
"G"
Class |
"H"
Class |
Ships
|
SAG.
SKE. |
ASSINI.
FRAS. (Orig.)
OTT. 1 (Orig.)
REST.
ST. LAUR. |
FRAS.
OTT. 1
|
MARG.
|
KOOT. |
GAT. |
QU'APP.
|
SASK. |
OTT.
(2)
|
CHAUD. |
Period
(Orig. / Final)
|
O
|
F |
O
|
F
|
O
|
O
|
F
|
O
|
F
|
|
O
|
F
|
O
|
F
|
F
|
Displacement
in tons
|
1,337
|
1,375
|
1,370
|
1,405
|
1,335
|
1,340
|
Dimensions
meters (feet)
|
Length
|
97.5
(320)
|
100.3
(329)
|
100.3
(329)
|
98.4
(323)
|
100.3
(329) |
Width
|
9.9
(32.5)
|
10
(33)
|
10.2
(33.25)
|
10
(33)
|
10
(33) |
Draught
|
3
(10)
|
3
(10)
|
3.25
(11)
|
3.2
(10.5)
|
3.25
(11) |
| Propulsion |
2
shafts;
3 Admiralty 3-drum boilers;
2 Parsons Geared Turbines, 36,000 shp., 31 knots. |
| Crew |
Early War: 7 officers and 160 other
ranks.
War's End: 13
officers and 182 other ranks.
|
Radar
(approx. year fitted based on photos)
|
Type
286
|
1942
|
1942-43
|
1942
(Ott)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Type
271
|
1942-44
|
1942-44
|
|
|
1943
|
1944-5
|
1944
|
1943
|
1943
|
|
Type
277
|
|
|
|
|
|
1945
|
|
|
|
1945
|
Type
291
|
|
1943
|
|
|
1943
|
1943
|
1944
|
1943
|
1943
|
1944
|
| Sonar |
Type
124 (fitted to
SAG. & SKE. in Autumn 1939).
|
| Fire
Control |
Unknown
director
|
|
Unknown
director
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| EW |
|
|
|
HF/DF
|
|
|
|
HF/DF
|
|
HF/DF
|
HF/DF
|
HF/DF
|
|
HF/DF
|
HF/DF
|
Class
|
Built for RCN
|
"C" Class
|
"D"
Class |
"E"
Class |
"F"
Class
|
"G"
Class |
"H"
Class |
Ships
|
SAG.
SKE. |
ASSINI.
FRAS. (Orig.)
OTT. 1 (Orig.)
REST.
ST. LAUR. |
FRAS.
OTT. 1
|
MARG.
|
KOOT. |
GAT. |
QU'APP.
|
SASK. |
OTT.
(2)
|
CHAUD. |
Period
(Orig. / Final)
|
O
|
F |
O
|
F
|
O
|
O
|
F
|
O
|
F
|
|
O
|
F
|
O
|
F
|
F
|
Armament
(No. of)
|
4.7"
guns
|
4
|
2
|
4
|
2
or 3
|
3-4
|
3
|
3
|
3
|
3
|
3
|
2
|
3
|
3
|
3
|
2
|
2
|
| 3"
HA guns |
|
1
|
|
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
|
1
|
|
|
1
|
|
1
|
|
|
6
Pdr guns
(Hotchkiss)
|
|
|
|
2
(RE)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2
|
|
|
|
|
2
|
2
Pdr guns
|
2
|
|
2
|
|
2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
20mm
guns
|
|
4
|
|
6
|
|
6
|
|
7
|
|
6
|
|
|
6
|
|
6
|
|
Quad
.5" MG
|
|
|
|
|
|
2
|
2
|
|
2
|
|
|
|
|
2
|
|
|
21"
TT
|
8
|
4
|
8
|
4 |
4
|
4
|
8
|
4
|
8
|
4
|
4
|
8
|
4
|
8
|
4
|
4
|
DC
|
Twin
depth charge
rails at stern. Most or all of class later fitted with 4 Mk.II depth
charge throwers at stern, with 2 Mk.X depth charges loaded in torpedo
tubes.
|
Hedgehog
|
No
|
1
large
|
No
|
Yes |
No
|
No
|
No
|
2
small
|
No
|
2
small
|
1
large
|
No
|
2
small
|
No
|
1
large
|
1
large
|
Specifications given are intended to provide "snapshots" of
equipment fitted when commissioned by the RCN (Original or "O") and at
the end of the war (Final or "F"). However, due to the wide variations
in equipment fitted to different ships at different times, this
information may not be 100% correct. Radar information primarily
derived from the study of photographs, and not published sources.
Ships:
|
Name
|
Pendant
|
Commissioned (RCN)
|
Paid Off
|
Notes
|
Built for the RCN
|
|
SAGUENAY
|
D/I79
|
22/5/31
|
30/7/45
|
Collision 1942, training vessel 1943.
|
|
SKEENA
|
D/I59
|
10/6/31
|
26/10/44
|
Wrecked in Iceland, 25/10/44
|
RN "C" Class
|
|
ASSINIBOINE
|
D/I18
|
19/10/39
|
8/8/45
|
ex-HMS KEMPENFELT, ex-HMS VALENTINE
|
|
FRASER
|
H48
|
17/3/37
|
28/6/40
|
Ex-HMS CRESCENT, Sunk 25/6/40
|
OTTAWA (1)
|
H60
|
15/6/38
|
14/9/42
|
Ex-HMS CRUSADER, Sunk 13/9/42
|
|
RESTIGOUCHE
|
H00
|
15/6/38
|
6/10/45
|
Ex-HMS COMET
|
|
ST. LAURENT
|
H83
|
17/2/37
|
10/10/45
|
Ex-HMS CYGNET
|
RN "D" Class
|
|
MARGAREE
|
H49
|
6/9/40
|
22/10/40
|
Ex-HMS DIANA, Sunk 20/10/40
|
|
KOOTENAY
|
H75
|
12/4/43
|
26/10/45
|
Ex-HMS DECOY
|
RN "E" Class
|
|
GATINEAU
|
H61
|
3/6/43
|
10/1/46
|
Ex-HMS EXPRESS
|
RN "F" Class
|
|
QU' APPELLE
|
H69
|
8/2/44
|
27/5/46
|
Ex-HMS FOXHOUND
|
|
SASKATCHEWAN
|
H70
|
31/5/43
|
28/1/46
|
Ex-HMS FORTUNE
|
RN "G" Class
|
|
OTTAWA (2)
|
H31
|
20/3/43
|
31/10/45
|
Ex-HMS GRIFFIN
|
RN "H" Class
|
|
CHAUDIERE
|
H99
|
15/11/43
|
17/8/45
|
Ex-HMS HERO
|
Notes:
The
RIVER class was far from being a homogeneous class of ships, consisting
of Royal Navy "C", and other similar classes of ships. SAGUENAY and
SKEENA
were
the first ships laid down for the Royal Canadian Navy, and were adapted
from the RN's "A" class. The rest
of the ships were
purchased used from the RN.
Most or all of the ships started the war off much the same as they were
built, and their equipment was gradually revised as the war progressed.
First to go was the "Y" mounting 4.7" gun (to make room for additional
depth charge storage and Mk.II depth charge throwers) and the aft
torpedo tubes (replaced by a 3" HA
(high angle) anti-aircraft gun). In some ships, the 3" HA was later
relocated to replace the X mounting. The aft mast was removed, but was
later replaced with a new lattice mast to support a HF/DF (high
frequency direction finder) antenna which was used in concert with
other ships to locate U-boat positions when they broke radio silence.
In some ships "B" mounting was replaced with a single Hedgehog
anti-submarine mortar, although other ships received two smaller
Hedgehog mountings to either side of a forward gun and retained both
forward 4.7" guns. In some ships, the "X" mounting 4.7" gun was
replaced
with a relocated 3" HA gun. Several different radars were fitted
starting with the Type 286 followed by the Type 271 and 291 sets. Two
ships had their Type 271 radar replaced with the newer Type 277 set.
These ships were the backbone
of the RCN's destroyer fleet throughout the Battle of the Atlantic.
Worn out by the end of the war, all of the River class were paid off
soon thereafter.
Photos:
(click on thumbnail for larger image)
|
ASSINIBOINE
|
|
Notes:
|
1. |
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CHAUDIERE
|
|
Notes:
|
1. A late-war photo of
CHAUDIERE, showing her final configuration. She is missing "B"
mounting,
whose removal made way for a single Hedgehog ASW mortar. Her aft mast
has been replaced with a newer lattice mast to mount a HF/DF antenna,
and the Type 271 radar has been replaced with a newer Type 277 radar.
DND photo, courtesy of Royal Canadian Legion "White Ensign" Branch.
2. An earlier photo, showing her in a similar state except with the
Type 271 radar immediately forward of the main mast. DND photo,
courtesy of Royal Canadian Legion "White Ensign" Branch. |
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FRASER
|
|
Notes:
|
1. HMS CRESCENT, the
future FRASER, prior to her hand-over. This is a good example of the
pre-war appearance of the class, with both forward guns present, the
gunnery rangefinder just ahead of the main mast, and no radar antenna.
DND photo, courtesy of Royal Canadian Legion "White Ensign" Branch. |
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
GATINEAU
|
|
Notes:
|
1. |
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
KOOTENAY
|
|
Notes:
|
1. |
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MARGAREE
|
|
Notes:
|
1. DND photo, courtesy
of Royal Canadian Legion "White Ensign" Branch. |
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OTTAWA (1)
|
|
Notes:
|
1. The first HMCS
OTTAWA, before she was
sunk
in 1942. This photo was almost certainly taken in September 1940, and
shows her pretty much unaltered from her original configuration. Photo
courtesy of Bjoern Rehnfeldt.
2. A pre-war photo of OTTAWA, showing her pretty much as built. DND
photo, courtesy of Royal Canadian Legion "White Ensign" Branch. |
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
 |
|
|
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OTTAWA (2)
|
|
Notes:
|
1. |
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
QU'APPELLE
|
|
Notes:
|
1. |
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RESTIGOUCHE
|
|
Notes:
|
1. HMCS RESTIGOUCHE,
known as Rustyguts, was present
during the evacuation of France, and rescued survivors of FRASER after
she was sunk in a collision. She spent much of the war on escort duty,
and patrolled the English Channel after she participated in D-Day. DND
photo, Courtesy of Bill Croshaw.
2. RESTIGOUCHE again, in 1942. There is a Type 286 radar antenna atop
her forward mast, and her aft mast has been replaced with a new lattice
mast with a HF/DF antenna. Courtesy of Corvus
Publishing Group./Canada's Navy. |
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
|
 |
|
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SAGUENAY
|
|
Notes:
|
1. SAGUENAY is shown in
in June, 1941. A Type 286 radar antenna is visible atop the mast.
Courtesy of Corvus
Publishing Group./Canada's Navy. |
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
 |
|
|
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ST. LAURENT
|
|
Notes:
|
1. Not yet in her final
configuration, this photo was probably taken around May 1944 based on
her paint scheme. Her "B" mounting was later removed and replaced with
a
Hedgehog. DND photo, courtesy of Royal Canadian Legion "White Ensign"
Branch. |
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SASKATCHEWAN
|
|
Notes:
|
1. SASKATCHEWAN leaving
St. John's harbour, with Fort Amherst in the background. Victor
Borushynski photo, courtesy of Don Bjordahl. |
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SKEENA
|
|
Notes:
|
1. SKEENA in Bermuda in
the 1930s. DND photo, courtesy of Royal Canadian Legion "White Ensign"
Branch. |
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sources:
Barrie, Ron and Macpherson, Ken. (2002). This Ships of
Canada's Naval Forces 1910-2002. Vanwell Publishing Ltd. St.
Catherines, ON.
Douglas, Sarty, Whitby, Caldwell, Johnston, Rawling. (2002). No Higher Purpose. Vanwell
Publishing Ltd. St.
Catherines, ON.
Freeman, David J. (2000). Canadian Warship Names.
Vanwell Publishing Ltd. St.
Catherines, ON.
Macpherson, Ken. (1985). The RIVER Class Destroyers of the
Royal Canadian Navy. Charles J. Musson & Associates,
Publishers. Toronto, ON.
ASDIC, RADAR, and IFF
Systems Aboard HMCS HAIDA website by Jerry Proc.
Jane's Fighting Ships, various editions.
|
