HMCS CRESCENT R16 / 226

C - Class Destroyer

In Jan 1945, after a year's discussion, the British Admiralty agreed to lend the RCN a flotilla of "C" Class destroyers for use against the Japanese. The Pacific war ended, however, before any of the eight ships had been completed, and only two were transferred. The previous ships to bear their names, CRESCENT and CRUSADER, had been lost during the war as HMC Ships FRASER and OTTAWA; this time they retained their names although the transfer was made permanent in 1951. CRESCENT and CRUSADER were virtually identical to ALGONQUIN and SIOUX, differing principally in having only one set of torpedo tubes and in being armed with 4.5-inch guns instead of 4.7-inch. Both ships were commissioned on the Clyde in 1945, CRESCENT on 10 Sep 1945 and CRUSDAER on 15 Nov 1945. CRESCENT arrived at Esquimalt in Nov 1945, having made the journey via the Azores and the West Indies. 

In Feb 1949 HMCS CRESCENT was sent to China to safeguard Canadian interests during the Chinese Civil War. She  arrived at Shanghai on 26 February - and then on 11 Mar 1949, entered Chinese waters and sailed to Nanjing via the Yangtze River, arriving at Nanjing on 20 Mar 1949. CRESCENT remained on station until 23 Mar 1949 when she was relieved at Nanjing by HMS CONSORT. She then sailed for Hong Kong and remained in the area until May 1949 when she returned to Esquimalt. About a month after her arrival on station 85 ratings staged a mutiny where they locked themselves in the mess decks and refused to turn to until the Captain heard their grievances. 

CRESCENT carried out training duties until taken in hand for a major conversion in 1953. She emerged in 1956 as a "fast A/S frigate," following an RN pattern which entailed stripping her to deck level, extending the fo'c's'le right aft, erecting new superstructure, and fitting completely new armament. She was now a near-sister to Algonquin, which had undergone similar transformation earlier. On 15 Jan 1958 HMCS CAYUGA 218, HMCS CRESCENT 226, HMCS FRASER 233, HMCS MARGAREE 230, HMCS SKEENA 207 departed Esquimalt, BC, for a Far Eastern Training cruise. In Feb 1959, HMCS CRESCENT and HMCS ASSINIBOINE met at San Diego and exchanged crews. CRESCENT was paid off at Esquimalt on 01 Apr 1970. She left Victoria with ALGONQUIN on 21 Apr 1971, for Taiwan, to be broken up. She arrived at Taiwan on 15 May 1971.

Photos and Documents          The Ship's Bell          Commissioning Booklet - 31 Oct 1955

"To Many Chiefs and Not Enough Seamen" - The case of HMCS CRESCENT, 1949

The Station Bill

Commanding Officers

     In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice    

     Lest We Forget     

     In memory of those who have crossed the bar    

They shall not be forgotten

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

R

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T

V

W

Y

Photos and Documents

(CRS001) HMCS CRESCENT R16  //  Courtesy of Daniel Miller

(CRS002) HMCS CRESCENT R16  //  From the collection of John Carpenter  //  Courtesy of Brian Carpenter

(CRS003 - CRS004) HMCS CRESCENT R16  //  From the collection of Harry Seright, Petty Officer 1st Class Radio Technician, RCN  //  Courtesy of Sam Seright

(CRS005) Cadets Robert Rice (left) and Jack Cummer (right) on the twin bofors on HMCS CRESCENT, 03 Sep 1946  //  From the collection of Robert Rice  //  Courtesy of J.D. Ford

(CRS006) Cadet Robert Rice leaning on the gun barrel on HMCS CRESCENT, 03 Sep 1946  //  From the collection of Robert Rice  //  Courtesy of J.D. Ford

(CRS007) HMCS UGANDA joins HMCS WARRIOR and HMCS CRESCENT of Acapulco Bay  //  Halifax Mail, Wed. 27 Nov 1946  //  Courtesy of George Newbury

(CRS008) ERAs on HMCS CRESCENT 1947  //  Ken Copeland, Chris Pepper, Doug Tyre, Dennis Tompkins, Hank Evans, Lawrence (Peck) Houghton, Tom Blyth  //  Source: Chief and POs Association, Esquimalt newsletter  //  Courtesy of Steve Hlasny

(CRS009) HMCS CRESCENT - 1948  //  From the collection of Tom Smith, C2ET, RCN

(CRS010) HMCS CRESCENT Fastball Champions 1948, West Indies  //  From the collection of Richard (Dick) James, CPO1 GI, RCN  //  Courtesy of Rick James

(CRS011)  P.O.s Boats Crew HMCS CRESCENT - 1948, West Indies  //  Dick James - Hank Bennetts - Bob Clements - Ned Kruncki - Harry Brown - "Popeye" Chambers (Cox)  //  From the collection of Richard (Dick) James, CPO1 GI, RCN  //  Courtesy of Rick James

(CRS012) Ernest Tuttle Pitches Navy Team To Win  //  Newspaper article from the Picton Gazette, Mar. 16, 1949  //  Source: Prince Edward County Archives Microfilm collection  //  Researched and complied by: © John Lyons 2016

(CRS013) HMCS CRESCENT sailors ashore - c 1948 - 1949  //  L-R Bud Fell, Harry Driemel, unknown  //  From the collection of Harry Driemel  //  Courtesy of Daryl Driemel

(CRS014) It is not known if this photo is HMCS CRESCENT or HMCS Crusader - circa 1950  //  From the collection of William C. Dziadyk  //  Courtesy of Bill Dziadyk

(CRS015) HMCS CRESCENT and HMCS ONTARIO, Esquimalt, BC circa 1950-1951  //  Courtesy of Gordon Howard

(CRS016) HMCS CRESCENT 226 cast iron ship's badge  //  Courtesy of Dirk Septer

(CRS017) HMCS CRESCENT 226 - date unknown  //  Courtesy of Dave Shirlaw

(CRS018) HMCS CRESCENT 226 flying her paying-off pennant prior to her Type 15 conversion - 23 Feb 1953  //  DND- RCN Photo

(CRS019) HMCS CRESCENT 226 - after her conversion - 1956  //  DND- RCN Photo

(CRS020) Second Canadian Escort Squadron - Spring Cruise 1958  //  HMCS CRESCENT, HMCS CAYUGA, HMCS SKEENA, HMCS FRASER, HMCS MARGAREE  //  Courtesy of Dave Tyre

(CRS021) HMCS CRESCENT ship's company dance - 31 May 1957  //  From the collection of Vern Little  //  Courtesy of Don Little

(CRS022) Unknown sailors on HMCS CRESCENT 226 - 1959  //  Original source unknown

(CRS023) HMCS CRESCENT 226 transiting the locks of the Panama Canal with HMCS ALGONQUIN 224 and HMCS COLUMBIA 260 during the Halifax - Esquimalt transfer Feb-Apr 1967. Photo taken from HMCS Algonquin.  // Courtesy of Peter Magwood

(CRS024) HMCS CRESCENT in Amsterdam, 23-31 Mar 1962  //  Courtesy of Allan Briscoe

(CRS025) A Christmas card from HMCS CRESCENT  //  Courtesy of Art Moore

(CRS026) HMCS CRESCENT 226 - date unknown  //  Courtesy of Jim Brannen

(CRS027) HMCS CRESCENT 226 - date unknown  //  Courtesy of Jim Brannen

(HJS033) Newspaper article on the arrival of HMCS CRESCENT at Esquimalt, BC

(HJS034) Newspaper articles on the arrival of HMCS CRESCENT at Esquimalt, BC

(HJS035) "Hello darling! Welcome home!  //  Newspaper article on the arrival of HMCS CRESCENT at Esquimalt, BC

(HJS036)Newspaper article on the arrival of HMCS CRESCENT at Esquimalt, BC

From the collection of Howard (Jack) Simmons, RCNVR

Courtesy of RCSCC Bowmanville