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HMCS GASPÉ 143
Bay Class Minesweeper
Built by the Davie Shipbuilding Co., Lauzon, she was commissioned on 05 Dec 1953. When GASPÉ sailed from Davie Shipbuilding to Halifax, NS, she became the senior ship to the First Canadian Minesweeping Squadron on 10 Dec 1953. She spent most of the first year in service performing various tasks, including trials and experiments and undergoing various modifications.
In 1955, GASPÉ led the Squadron on a southern cruise to the West Indies and the United States. During this cruise the Squadron engaged in exercises which involved USN minesweepers from the base at Charleston, South Carolina, and paid a visit to the US Naval School of Mine Warfare at Yorktown, Virginia.
The summer of 1956 was spent in exercises, such as the NATO exercises: SWEEPCLEAR 1 in April; CORDEX V in July; and New Broom in September. The annual southern cruise began in November and followed the usual routine, including a visit to Charleston for USN-RCN exercises. The Squadron returned to Halifax on 10 December.
The new year opened with another successful southern cruise when, on 24 Jan 1957, GASPÉ led the Squadron back to Charleston to join the USN in an exercise off the Virgin Islands. Shortly after returning to Halifax, GASPÉ went in for refit on 07 Mar. The ship was gradually immobilized, and follwoing the completion of post refit trials, was paid off into the custody of the Commodore Superintendent, HMC Dockyard, Halifax on 22 August 1957. The Following day she was towed to the Naval Armament Jetty at Dartmouth and remained their until to the Turkish Navy on 31 Mar 1958 and renamed TRABZON. (1)
Specifications on completion: Displacement: 396 tons, Length: 152 ft, Beam: 28 ft, Draught: 8 ft, Speed: 16 kts, Complement: 3 officers and 35 men, Armament: 1-40mm
Photos and Documents The Ship's Bell
Commanding Officers
LCdr H.B. Carnall, RCN - 26 Nov 1953 - 17 Oct 1955
Cdr W.S.T. McCully, RCN - 18 Oct 1955 - 04 Jun 1957
LCdr Henry Charles LaRose, RCN - 05 Jun 1957 - 22 Aug 1957
They shall not be forgotten
Former Crew Members
Fleming, William (Bill)
Photos and Documents
(GSP001) HMCS GASPÉ 143 - undated DND / RCN photo
(GSP002) HMCS GASPÉ 143 // RCN Photo - Negative # HS-29019 (GSP003) Sweep deck of HMCS GASPÉ 143 // RCN photo - Negative # 35638 (GSP004) Sweep deck of HMCS GASPÉ 143 // RCN photo - Negative # 35636 (GSP005) Sweep deck of HMCS GASPÉ 143 - Bill Fleming (on extreme right) on the winch controls // RCN photo - Negative # 35722 Courtesy of
William (Bill) Fleming
(1) The ship's history for HMCS GASPÉ 143 was from "GASPÉ of Yesterday" by Ken Annett
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In memory of those who Crossed the Bar 
