HMCS ALGONQUIN R17 / 224
V - Class Destroyer
Not a "Tribal" despite her name, she was laid down as HMS VALENTINE but commissioned on 17 Feb 1944, at Glasgow as HMCS ALGONQUIN. Assigned to the 26th Destroyer Flotilla of the British Home Fleet, she left Scapa Flow with HMCS SIOUX on 31 Mar 1944 to help escort the carrier attack on the TIRPTIZ. In Apr 1944 she escorted a similar attack on German shipping off the Lofoten Island, Norway, and on 28 May 1944 left Scapa, from whence she carried out attacks on German convoys off Norway. Taking part in D-Day operations she bombarded shore targets on the Normandy coast. On 22 Aug 1944, she took off 203 of Nabob's ship's company when the latter was torpedoed in the Barents Sea. In November 1944, ALGONQUIN was part of an attack on a German convoy that sank or destroyed seven vessels. During their layover in northern Russia along with HMCS SIOUX, after Convoy JW.63 arrived at Kola Inlet, ALGONQUIN's CO, Desmond Piers, organized a Canada Russia hockey game. ALGONQUIN was short handed and Trygve Hansen from the Norwegian Navy (HNoMS STORD) played for ALGONQUIN'S team. ALGONQUIN beat SIOUX, but was later trounced by reps from the Port of Murmansk with a final game being played with Russian equipment and under Russian rules.
She returned to Halifax in Feb 1945, for refit, leaving on 12 Aug 1945 via Malta to join the British Pacific Fleet, but was recalled on VJ-Day and left Alexandria for Esquimalt on 03 Nov 1945. There she was paid off into reserve on 06 Feb 1946, but was re-commissioned on 25 Feb 1953, after very extensive modernization, and sailed for the east coast that summer.
In Nov / Dec 1959, during a 6-week deployment that included a NATO Exercise, HMCS BONAVENTURE, in company with HMCS ALGONQUIN, HMCS IROQUOIS, HMCS SIOUX and, HMCS ATHABASKAN encounter a major storm that battered the squadron.
Four newspaper articles on the Nov/Dec 1959 deployment during which 5 RCN sailors died.
In Apr 1963, 12 RCN ships, ALGONQUIN, MICMAC, CAYUGA, ST CROIX, TERRA NOVA, KOOTENAY, SWANSEA, LA HULLOISE, BUCKINGHAM, CAPE SCOTT, CNAV BLUETHROAT AND CNAV ST CHARLES, took part in NATO Exercise New Broom Eleven, an exercise designed to test convoy protection tactics. In Oct 1963, BONAVENTURE, ALGONQUIN, CAYUGA, MICMAC and SASKATCHEWAN took part in a NATO exercise in which all participating ships were battered by a severe North Atlantic storm. After fourteen years' service with the Atlantic Command, she returned to the west coast in Mar 1967, and was paid off for the last time on 01 Apr 1970, to be broken up in Taiwan in 1971.
Photos and Documents The Ship's Bells
Convoys Escorted during the Second World War
RCN Memories: (1) A Storm and a Dye Marker (2) ALGONQUIN's Navigator Speaks Out (3) ALGONQUIN's Last Hurrah (4) Hands to breakfast (5) ALGONQUIN's race to the fueling jetty in Manzanillo
Commanding Officers
OS, RCN died - 02 Mar 1963
They shall not be forgotten A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
V
W
Former Crew Members
Photos and Documents
(AGQ001) HMCS ALGONQUIN R17 // From the collection of Wilfred Bowen, A/AB, RCNVR // Courtesy of Abbie Gourgon (AGQ002) HMCS ALGONQUIN R17 (AGQ003) Burial at sea of a seaman from HMCS ALGONQUIN who was killed during the invasion of France, 08 Jun 1944 // Source: Library and Archives of Canada MIKAN # 3256402 (AGQ004) Officers on the bridge of HMCS ALGONQUIN observing the results of their bombardment of German coastal fortifications in the Normandy beachhead, France, 7 Jun 1944. // Source: Lt Richard G. Arless / Canada. Dept. of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada / PA-140084 (AGQ005) ALGONQUIN Fires a Salvo // Crow's Nest newspaper dated Sep 1944
(AGQ006) HMCS ALGONQUIN Fires a Salvo // Photo used in newspaper article # AGQ005 // Courtesy of the Naval Museum of Halifax (AGQ007) Two Ontario men - LCdr (E) J.F. Lloyd and AB D.R. Langton serving in HMCS ALGONQUIN during the D-Day invasion // From the collection of John A. Rickard, AB, RCNVR // Courtesy of John H. Rickard (AGQ008) CPO Torpedo Cox'n W.J. Johnson, RCNVR of Shelburne, NS - serving in HMCS ALGONQUIN during the D-Day invasion // From the collection of John A. Rickard, AB, RCNVR // Courtesy of John H. Rickard
(AGQ009) Victoria Seamen Play Important Part in French Coast Landings The Daily Colonist, Victoria, BC 11 Jun 1944 Photo shows part of the crew of HMCS ALGONQUIN, which played an important part in the landings on the French coast. Left to right; Petty Officer R.Q. Rodger, RCN, Swift Current, Sask.; Petty Officer Shipwright J.T. Down, RCNVR, Victoria; Able Seaman D.R. Langton, RCNVR, Peterborough, Ont.; Able Seaman H.W. George, RCNVR, Pictou, N.S.; Able Seaman J. James, RCNVR, Montreal; Able Seaman J. Sinnott, RCNVR, Windsor, Ont.; Leading Telegrapher E. Duxbury, RCNVR, Winnipeg; Petty Officer Writer J. Pope, RCNVR, of Toronto. Many of the ALGONQUIN's crew trained at Esquimalt // Courtesy of Frank Statham
(AGQ010) Crossing the Ling Certificate (Arctic Circle) for Alf Pinnell, HMCS ALGONQUIN R17, 26 Oct 1944 // From the collection of Alf Pinnell // Courtesy of Terry Pinnell (AGQ011) Alf Pinnell, on HMCS ALGONQUIN R17, Valetta, Malta, Aug 1945 // From the collection of Alf Pinnell // Courtesy of Terry Pinnell (AGQ012) HMCS ALGONQUIN R17 - Record of Proceedings - Jan 1945. Written by LCdr Desmond Piers, D.S.C., R.C.N. // Courtesy of Terry Pinnell (AGQ013) ALGONQUIN Fires A Fish // Crow's Nest newspaper - Aug 1945
(AGQ014) Crew members of HMCS ALGONQUIN R17 // Courtesy of the CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum (AGQ015) Crew members relaxing in the sun on HMCS ALGONQUIN R17 // Courtesy of the CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum (AGQ016) HMCS ALGONQUIN R17 icing up in the North Atlantic // Courtesy of the CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum
HMCS ALGONQUIN R17 in the Mediterranean Aug/Sep 1945 (WJB003) In Aug 1945, HMCS ALGONQUIN departed Halifax for the Pacific via the Suez Canal to join the RN Pacific Fleet. This was called off after VJ day and she sailed for Esquimalt. (WJB004) "Our first stop "Ponta Delegata", St. Miquel Island, Azores. Arrived August 18th, at 1000" (WJB005) "The "Bum Boats" alongside the ship selling bruit, barrels and different souvenir's." (WJB006) "The old boy in person at Malta. Notice the tiddley whites." // William J. Brooks on HMCS ALGONQUIN R17, Mediterranean, Aug 1945 (WJB007) (L-R) William Brooks, Cassie & Greer on HMCS ALGONQUIN R17, Malta
HMCS ALGONQUIN R17 in the Mediterranean Aug/Sep 1945 (WJB008) HMS GLASGOW and HMS HOGUE during manouveres off Malta (WJB009) " My chum Jack Buller (left) and myself under the twin gun of HMS HOGUE" From the collection of William J. Brooks, Stoker, RCNVR Courtesy of Ruth (Brooks) DeYoung
(TJW024) HMCS ALGONQUIN 224, alongside Jetty #3, Halifax between Apr 1955 - Jun 57 From the collection of Terry Whiteland, RCN Courtesy of Steve Whiteland
(AGQ001) Newspaper article, dated 26 Sep 1963, on ALGONQUIN'S and MICMAC'S visit to Stockholm. The first RCN ship's to do so since 1957 // Courtesy of Art Moore (AGQ002) Marven Karl Hatter (left) HMCS ALGONQUIN 224 and unknown friend off of HMCS Crusader (right) - date unknown // Source: Obituary for Marven Hatter (AGQ003) HMCS ALGONQUIN 224 circa 1958-63 // Courtesy of Mark MacKenzie (AGQ004) HMCS ALGONQUIN 224 (AGQ005) HMCS ALGONQUIN 224 with her two-tone paint scheme // From the collection of Lt VS Curry, RCN // Courtesy of Gerry Curry
(AGQ106) Assessing the damage to ALGONQUIN'S stern after her collision with Buckingham // Source: The Ship in Peacetime - HMCS ALGONQUIN 224 // Credit/Photographer: Cam Snowdon (AGQ107) HMCS ALGONQUIN 224 // Courtesy of James Brannen (AGQ108) HMCS ALGONQUIN 224 circa 1953-54 // Courtesy of Steve Rowland (AGQ109) HMCS ALGONQUIN 224 - date unknown // Courtesy of Dennis McGillivray // RCN photo (AGQ110) HMCS ALGONQUIN 224 - date unknown // Courtesy of James Brannen
(AGQ111) HMCS ALGONQUIN 224 in Halifax Harbour // RCN Photo (AGQ112) HMCS ALGONQUIN 224 // RCN Photo (AGQ113) HMCS ALGONQUIN, now an anti-submarine frigate, leads Tribal destroyers out of Halifax for exercises - 1961 // RCN photo // Courtesy of Hugh Muir (AGQ114) HMCS ALGONQUIN 224 - Undated
The photos in the gallery were taken during HMCS ALGONQUIN 224's trip from Halifax to Esquimalt in April 1967. The photographer, seen in the first photo, is unknown. If anyone knows his name, please send me an EMAIL so he can be properly credited for his photos.
(UNK001) unknown crewmember of HMCS ALGONQUIN 224 who was the owner of the photos in this section * Transit from Halifax to Norfolk (UNK002) HMCS ALGONQUIN 224 taking a bit of a wave over the bow (UNK003) USS Dace exercising with the Canadian Squadron (UNK004) HMCS CRESCENT seen through the port hole (UNK005) Rough Seas
(UNK006) ALGONQUIN arriving at Norfolk, VA * Transit from Norfolk to Fort Lauderdale, FL (UNK007) An evening at sea (UNK008) A few crew members milling around the stern of HMCS ALGONQUIN 224 (UNK009) Fo'c's'le party preparing the lines for going alongside Fort Lauderdale (UNK010) Arriving at Fort Lauderdale
(UNK011) Along to boardwalk at Fort Lauderdale (UNK012) Scenery at the beach in Fort Lauderdale * Transit from Fort Lauderdale to the Panama Canal (UNK013) A few sailors milling around the quarterdeck of HMCS COLUMBIA 260 as we prepare to sa (UNK014) HMCS COLUMBIA 260 alongside Fort Lauderdale (UNK015) HMCS COLUMBIA 260 (left) conducting a RAS with HMCS ALGONQUIN 224
(UNK015 - UNK016) HMCS COLUMBIA 260 (right) RASing with HMCS ALGONQUIN 224
Each day at 1600, for a week in early March 1967, HMCS ALGONQUIN (left) had to receive tons of freshwater from HMCS COLUMBIA while crossing the Caribbean with HMCS CRESCENT. The story goes that ALGONQUIN'S aged evaporator was dismantled and after tot time and a few gargles, Stokers and HMs put it back together -- in the sweltering heat. Trouble was, an impeller was reversed on reinstallation, it was later discovered, which caused freshwater to be pumped over the side. I vaguely recall the Chief ERA and Chief Hull Tech trying to figure why freshwater was seen flowing at Point "A" but not making it to Point "B", even pouring food colouring from the galley to trace it. Eventually, the "vap" had to be dismantled again and, lo, the problem was discovered. But fresh water was rationed and "bird baths" were all that was available for a week!
(UNK017) HMCS ALGONQUIN 224 approaching the Panama Canal * Transiting the Panama Canal - 09 Mar 1967 (UNK018) One of the locks of the Panama Canal (UNK019) Fo'c's'le of HMCS ALGONQUIN 224. Temperature 100 degrees Fahrenheit (UNK020) Fo'c's'le of HMCS ALGONQUIN 224. Temperature 100 degrees Fahrenheit (UNK021) HMCS CRESCENT 225 astern of HMCS ALGONQUIN 224
(UNK018) Water slowly dropping in the lock (UNK019) The final lock and into the Pacific * Panama City, then northwards bound to Manzanillo and San Francisco and Esquimalt (UNK020) Squadron alongside at Panama City (UNK021) HMCS COLUMBIA 260 (left) and HMCS CRESCENT 226 (right) as seen from HMCS ALGONQUIN 224 (UNK022) HMCS CRESCENT 226 (left) and the fo'c's'le of HMCS ALGONQUIN 224 (right)
(UNK023) A quiet night and a calm sea (UNK024) Dawn, somewhere off Manzanillo, from HMCS ALGONQUIN, Apr 1967 - watching and hearing the ship come alive, and seeing the sun rise in the Pacific (UNK025) Preparing to launch the seaboat (UNK026) Three Cadillacs alongside in unknown port (UNK027) Sightseeing in an unknown port
(UNK028) Sightseeing in unknown port (UNK029) Sightseeing in unknown port (UNK030) Sightseeing in San Francisco (UNK031) Sightseeing in San Francisco (UNK032) Departing San Francisco - HMCS COLUMBIA 260 following astern of HMCS ALGONQUIN 224
(UNK033) Our voyage almost over - HMCS Crescent 226 (lead ship), followed by HMCS COLUMBIA 260 and HMCS ALGONQUIN 224 bound for Esquimalt
Convoys escorted during the Second World Ward
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