HMCS ST CATHARINES K325

River Class Frigate

CCG ST CATHARINES

Weather Ship

Built by Yarrows Ltd., Esquimalt, BC, she was commissioned on 31 Jul 1943, at Esquimalt. Departing Esquimalt soon after, she arrived at Halifax on 04 Oct 1943 and in Nov 1943 sailed for the U.K. as a member of EG C-2. She was continuously employed on convoy duty until Oct 1944, and from Feb to Sep 1944 she was Senior Officer's ship. With six other escorts of convoy HX.280, she took part in the destruction of U-744 on 06 Mar 1944. After refitting at Shelburne from Oct to Dec, 1944, she went to Bermuda to work up and, on her return to Halifax, commenced tropicalization refit there. By the time this was completed in Aug 1945, the war was over and the ship was paid off on 18 Nov 1945. In 1947 she was sold to Marine Industries Ltd. and laid up at Sorel. Later re-sold to Morton Engineering & Drydock Co., Quebec City, she was re-acquired in 1950 and converted to a weather ship. Transferred to the Department of Transport, she was taken round to the west coast to be stationed in the North Pacific as of July, 1952. Replaced in March, 1967, by CGS Vancouver, she was broken Japan in 1968.

U-Boats Sunk:  U-744 (Oblt Heinz Blischke) a type VIIC U-boat, sunk on 06 Mar 1944 by HMCS St. Catharine K325, HMCS Chilliwack K131, HMCS Gatineau H61, HMCS Fennel K194, HMCS Chaudiere H99, HMS Icarus and HMS Keniworth Castle in position 52-01 N, 22-37 W. Of her crew of 51, there were 40 survivors.

Photos and Documents          Ship's Company Photos

Commanding Officers

     In memory of those who have crossed the bar    

They shall not be forgotten

Former Crew Members

Photos and Documents

(SCA001) HMCS ST CATHARINES K325 circa 1943-1944  //  Photo taken from HMCS Kamloops K176  //  From the collection of Kenneth Medford, DSM  //  Courtesy of Gary Medford

(SCA002) Canadian Naval Craft Sink German U-boat  //  The Halifax Chronicle 01 Jun 1944  //  Ships mentioned in the article:  HMCS GATINEAU, HMCS CHAUDIERE, HMCS CHILLIWACK, HMCS FENNEL, HMCS ST CATHARINES, HMS ICARUS  //  Researched by / Courtesy of George Newbury

(SCA003) Canadian Warships Rescue U-Boat Crew  //  Article on the rescue of survivors from U-744  //  The Halifax Chronicle 01 Jun 1944  //  Ships mentioned in the article:  HMCS CHAUDIERE, HMCS CHILLIWACK, HMCS FENNEL, HMCS ST CATHARINES  //  Sailors mentioned in the article:  Lt Douglas S. Boyle, RCN of Revelstoke, BC (HMCS Chaudiere);  Lt Charles Rathget, RCNVR of Toronto (HMCS Chaudiere);  PO Stevenson;  Lt W.W. Spicer, RCNVR of Regina, Sask  //  Researched by / Courtesy of George Newbury

(SCA004) Captured U-744 on the starboard quarter of HMCS ST CATHARINES K325. Photo taken from the port side bridge wing // Courtesy of the Naval Museum of Halifax

(SCA005) HMCS ST CATHARINES' mascot  //  From the collection of Jack Agnew, RCNVR  //  Courtesy of Kelly Boag

(AE004) Jacket patch for HMCS ST CATHARINES K32

(AE005) Alvin Epp with the ship's mascot of HMCS St. Catharines K325 circa 1945 Epp

(AE006) Alvin Epp (Centre) with shipmates and ship's mascot on HMCS ST CATHARINES K325 circa 1945

From the collection of Alvin Epp, Coder, RCNVR

Courtesy of Steve Epp

(IC020) HMCS ST CATHARINES K325 in dry dock at Saint John, NB circa spring 1945

(IC021) HMCS ST CATHARINES K325 (left) and HMCS LINDSAY K338 (right) in dry dock at Saint John, NB circa spring 1945

From the collection of Ivan Chamberlain AB AA III, RCNVR

Courtesy of Dave Chamberlain