For Posterity's Sake         

A Royal Canadian Navy Historical Project

HMCS DUNVEGAN K177

Named after a village in Nova Scotia, Dunvegan was commissioned at Sorel on 09 Sep 1941, and arrived at Halifax a week later. She joined Sydney Force after working up, but in mid-Nov 1941 was transferred to Newfoundland Command, leaving St. John's on 18 Nov 1941 as ocean escort to convoy SC.55 as far as Iceland. On her return she underwent repairs at Halifax, and on their completion in Jan 1942, was assigned briefly to WLEF. On 27 Jan 1942, while escorting convoy HX.172, both engines of HMCS Annapolis stopped because of water in the oil fuel. HMCS Dunvegan comes to her aid. While trying to pass a line for a tow, Dunvegan fouled the line in her own propeller. With rapidly deteriorating weather, Annapolis drifted into Dunvegan and sustained damage to her own propellers and substructure. As a result of the collision, the two ships limped into Halifax Harbour with Annapolis towing her would-be rescuer. Resuming her duties as ocean escort with Newfoundland Command, she arrived at Londonderry on 10 Mar 1942. In succeeding weeks she made two more round trips to 'Derry, leaving that port for the last time in mid-Jun 1942. On reaching Halifax, she was assigned to WLEF and, in Jun 1943, to its EG W-8. In Oct 1943, she proceeded to Baltimore, Md., for a refit which included fo'c's'le extension and lasted until the end of the year. She then carried out workups off Norfolk, Va., completing the process in Bermuda after some repairs at Halifax. On her return she resumed her duties with WLEF, from Apr 1944 onward as a member of EG W-6. On 07 May 1945, she left Halifax as local escort to convoy SC.175, but was detached on 10 May 1945 to act, with HMCS Rockcliffe, as escort to the surrendered U 889. She was paid off on 03 Jul 1945, at Sydney, and sold in 1946 to the Venezuelan Navy, serving as Indepencia until broken up in 1953.

Ship's company photos          Photos and Documents

Photos and Documents