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HMCS ST LAURENT 205
ST LAURENT Class Destroyer
Name ship of her trend-setting class of "Cadillacs," ST LAURENT was built by Canadian Vickers Ltd., Montreal, and commissioned on 29 Oct 1955. In February 1956 she proceeded to the U.S. Trials Centre at Key West, Florida, for three months' evaluation, after which she visited Washington, arriving on the Potomac River on 15 Apr 1956 at 0800 hrs. Afterwards she departed for the UK and in the course of the latter excursion escorted HMY Britannia on a state visit to Sweden. On 02 Feb 1960, ST LAURENT, by then stationed on the west coast, departed Esquimalt with two of her sisters, OTTAWA 229 and SAGUENAY 206, on a 2 1/2-month Pacific cruise, visiting Long Beach, Pearl Harbour, Yokosuka, Okinawa and Hong Kong. On 28 Mar 1960 they departed Hong Kong after a port visit and returned to Esquimalt on 29 Apr 1960. On 02 Mar 1961, ST LAURENT, in company with OTTAWA 229, and SAGUENAY 206 departed Esquimalt for Operations with US Carrier Division 17 off Hawaii; returning to Esquimalt on 04 Apr 1961. She was test-fitted with VDS prior to being converted to a DDH at Burrard Dry Dock, Vancouver. Re-commissioned on 04 Oct 1963, she departed Esquimalt on 07 Jan 1964 for a world cruise and then transfer to the Atlantic Fleet.
On 22 Jan 1969, HMCS ST LAURENT sailed for Ex Maplespring 69 accompanied by BONAVENTURE, PROVIDER and other ships from the squadron. She arrived in San Juan, Puerto Rico (PR) on 09 Feb 1969 for an 8 day port visit, sailing on 17 Feb 1969 for exercises with the Canadian and US Navy. During this period she made stops at Roosevelt Roads, PR and Canal De Luis Pena, PR, returning to San Juan on 22 Feb 1969. Sailing again on 24 Feb 1969 for passage to Bridgetown, Barbados, ST LAURENT made stops at St. Thomas and Pelican Island in the Virgin Island, arriving at Bridgetown on 06 Mar 1969. ST LAURENT departed Bridgetown on 12 Mar 1969 and returned to Halifax, arriving on 21 Mar 1969.
After a short work period at Halifax, ST LAURENT departed Halifax for Plymouth, England on 29 Apr 1969 in company with PROVIDER, GATINEAU, and FRASER for the Spithead Fleet Review by Queen Elizabeth II on the occasion of the 20th Anniversary of the formation of NATO. On 13 May 1969, the squadron left Plymouth for the anchorage of Spithead in formation with other NATO warships. On 15 May 1969 the squadron arrived in Portsmouth, England for a port visit - sailing again on 19 May 1969 for Halifax. The squadron arrived at Halifax on 29 May 1969.
On 31 May 1969, ST LAURENT departed Halifax in company with PROVIDER and FRASER for Norfolk, Virginia, arriving there on 02 Jun 1969. The squadron departed Norfolk on 04 Jun 1969 for Ex Sparkplug off the Caroling coast. On completion of the exercise, ST LAURENT made a port visit to Shelburne, NS while enroute back to Halifax. She arrived back in Halifax on 26 Jun 1969.
On 27 Jun 1969, ST LAURENT took part in a day sail for a Dependants Day Cruise.
On 29 Jun 1969 ST LAURENT departed Halifax for Cambellton, NB for their Salmon Festival - returning to Halifax on 04 Jul 1969.
On 05 Jul 1969, ST LAURENT'S ships company was recalled to shadow Soviet ships in Canadian waters. ST LAURENT shadows the Soviet vessels until relieved by the USN, returning to Halifax on 08 Jul 1969.
On 13 Jul 1969, ST LAURENT departed Halifax in company with PROVIDER and FRASER to ferry troops of the Blackwatch and Airborne to Fortune Bay, Newfoundland for Exercise Northern Ranger, returning to Halifax on 17 Jul 1969.
On 25 Aug 1969, ST LAURENT, in company with FRASER and OKANAGAN, sailed from Halifax for exercises in the local Op Area returning to port on 29 Aug 1969.
On 10 Sep 1969, ST LAURENT in company with BONAVENTURE, PROVIDER, TERRA NOVA and FRASER, departed Halifax for exercises in European waters. The squadron arrived in Portsmouth, England on 21 Sep 1969. On 29 Sep 1969, the squadron departed Portsmouth for Gotenburg, Sweden, arriving there on 01 Oct 1969. Sailing again on 06 Oct 1969, the squadron rendezvoused with KOOTENAY and other Canadian ships. There was a stop at Scapa Flow before continuing on to Greenwich, England arriving there, anchoring in the Thames, on 14 Oct 1969. The squadron departed of Halifax on 21 Oct 1969. During exercises, KOOTENAY suffered a gearbox explosion, killing 7 of her crew. KOOTENAY was towed to England, partway by SAGUENAY, then by tug. The remainder of the squadron returned to Halifax on 29 Oct 1969.
In Nov 1969, ST LAURENT went into refit at Saint John, NB, returning to the fleet in Apr 1970. She conducted work-ups from 08 Jun 1970 to 08 Aug 1970.
On 10 Sep 1970, ST LAURENT sailed for Exercise Northern Wedding off of UK. Port visits were made at St. John's, Newfoundland and Loch Ewe, Scotland during the exercise period. After the exercise, ST LAURENT arrived in Oslo, Norway on 27 Sep 1970 for a port visit. Sailing from Oslo on 02 Oct 1969, she rendezvoused with PROTECTEUR, SKEENA and FRASER north of Ireland. The squadron arrived in Faslane, Scotland on 03 Oct 1970 for a 5 day port visit, followed by Liverpool for 5 days. The squadron departed Liverpool on 11 Oct 1970 and arrived in Halifax on 22 Oct 1970.
On 28 Oct 1970, ST LAURENT, in company with PROTECTEUR, ANNAPOLIS and SKEENA, departed Halifax for exercises; arriving in Boston on 04 Nov 1970 for a 4 day port visit. The squadron departed Boston on 08 Nov 1970 and arrived in Halifax on 13 Nov 1970.
On 13 Nov 1970, ST LAURENT departed Halifax for 5 days exercises in the Halifax Op Area returning on 13 Dec 1970.
On 22 Jan 1971, ST LAURENT, in company with OTTAWA, ASSINIBOINE, MARGAREE and PROTECTEUR, departed Halifax for Exercise Maplespring 71. The squadron arrived in Roosevelt Roads, PR on 02 Feb 1971 for an 8 day port visit. ST LAURENT departed Roosevelt Roads on 10 Feb 1971 for exercises enroute to San Juan, PR; arriving at San Juan on 12 Feb 1971. She departed San Juan on 16 Feb 1971 for exercises with HMS BACCHANTE and arrived in Bridgetown, Barbados on 22 Feb 1971. Departing Bridgetown on 25 Feb 1971, she rendezvoused with PROTECTEUR, OTTAWA, MARGAREE, ASSINIBOINE and TERRA NOVA for exercises enroute to Fort Lauderdale, FL. The squadron arrived at Fort Lauderdale on 01 Mar 1971, and departed on 05 Mar 1971 for Halifax. The squadron arrived back in Halifax on 11 Mar 1971.
During the later half of Mar 1971 and first half of Apr 1971, ST LAURENT carried out pre-refit trials. She sailed on 01 May 1971 for sea trials, with a port visit to Hamilton, Bermuda before returning to Halifax on 16 May 1971.
On 23 May 1971, ST LAURENT departed Halifax for St. John's, Newfoundland as host ship for 2 visiting ships from the French Navy. Afterwards she conducted a series of inspections of Royal Canadian Sea Cadet corps in Cornerbrook, St. Georges, Ramea, Burgeo, Grand Bank, Marystown and Harbour Grace, with a final port visit to St. John's before returning to Halifax on 11 Jun 1971.
On 18 Jun 1971, ST LAURENT took part in Exercise Rough Ride off the coast of Nova Scotia, returning to Halifax on 22 Jun 1971.
On 02 Jul 1971 ST LAURENT departed Halifax for an East Coast Fisheries patrol returning to Halifax on 08 Jul 1971.
On 09 Jul 1971 ST LAURENT conducted a Dependants Day Cruise.
For the remainder of July and first half of Aug, ST LAURENT conducted pre-refit trials at sea and alongside in Halifax. She went into refit at Halifax Shipyard on 19 Aug 1971, returning to the fleet on 25 Feb 1972. Work-ups were conducted from 20 Mar 1972 to 07 Apr 1972.
On 10 Apr 1972, ST LAURENT, in company with FRASER, YUKON and PROTECTOR departed Halifax for Exercise Marcot 72. She arrived in Port Royal, Bermuda on 18 Apr 1972 for a short work period, then sailed on 05 May 1972 for Ireland Island, Bermuda to pant ship. The squadron departed Bermuda on 17 May 1972 and arrived in Halifax on 20 May 1972.
On 05 Jun 1972, ST LAURENT departed Halifax in company with FRASER, YUKON and PROTECTEUR for Operation Pink Lace, returning to Halifax on 15 Jun1972.
On 19 Jun 1972, ST LAURENT departed Halifax with YUKON, FRASER and ONONDAGA for exercises in the local op area, returning to Halifax on 28 Jun 1972.
On 05 Aug 1972, ST LAURENT departed Halifax in company with YUKON, FRASER, PROTECTEUR and ONONDAGA for Operation Norploy 72. During the deployment ST LAURENT paid a port visit to Koartac, Quebec. This village had no road in or out and had a population of 107, three quarters of which were children. On 17 Aug 1972, due to ice conditions, ST LAURENT could not visit Port Burwell, Quebec and continued on to Frobisher Bay. During this time the sun never set for long. Dusk would come around 0200 and dawn at 0400. The squadron returned to Halifax on 25 Aug 1972.
On 02 Oct 1972, ST LAURENT departed Halifax in company with PROTECTEUR, YUKON, FRASER and OTTAWA for Eastlant (European waters). The squadron arrived in Amsterdam, Holland on 18 Oct 1972 for a 3 day port visit - sailing on 21 Oct 1972 for the Clyde op area off Scotland. During the week of 24-28 Oct 1972, ST LAURENT visited Cambelltown in the Mull of Kintyre, Rothsay on the Isle of Bute and Loch Striven. ST LAURENT arrived in Liverpool, England on 29 Oct 1972 - her last port visit. The squadron sailed on 02 Nov 1972 for Halifax and arrived there on 09 Nov 1972.
ST LAURENT went into Category C Reserve and was secured at the jetty at Shearwater. She was paid off on 14 Jun 1972 and was cannibalized for parts for her sisters.
On New Years Day, 01 Jan 1980, ST LAURENT left Halifax under tow of the tug Odin Salvator for Brownsville, Texas, to be broken up, but on 12 Jan 1980, the towline broke in a gale and she foundered off Cape Hatteras. Bravo Zulu ST LAURENT!
Note: ST LAURENT'S history from 22 Jan 1969 till she went into Class C Reserve was transcribed from her ship's logs by ABER Gord Page.
Photos and Documents Ship's company photos The Ship's Bell
Commanding Officers
LS.WS2, RCN Died - 14 Feb 1964
They shall not be forgotten A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
O
P
R
S
T
V
W
Y
Former Crew Members
Photos and Documents
(STL001) HMCS ST LAURENT 205 - Oct 1957 // Courtesy of Francis Dowdall (STL002) HMCS ST LAURENT 205 - between 1865 and 1968 // DND- RCN photo (STL003) HMCS GATINEAU 236 and HMCS COLUMBIA 260 enter the locks to Antwerp Harbour. HMCS ST LAURENT 205 in the foreground // Courtesy of John Gabel (STL004) HMCS ST LAURENT 205 enters Antwerp Harbour - Jul 1966 // Courtesy of John Gabel (STL005) HMCS ST LAURENT Christmas Card // From the collection of C1CK John McGowan, RCN
(STL006) HMCS ST LAURENT, Maple Spring 1969 - ABRM Luc Nadon and LSRM Gord Relf // Courtesy of Ronald J. MacDonald (STL007) Unknown sailor on the fo'c's'le of HMCS ST LAURENT 205 - late1960s // Courtesy of John Hawley (STL008) Article on twin-brothers Don and Ron Marsh, both Petty Officers and both in the communications branch on HMCS ST LAURENT // The Crowsnest Magazine Oct 1957 pg 12 // Courtesy of Brian Lapierre
(TJW007) Sailors on the quarterdeck of HMCS ST LAURENT 205, Halifax, 1955 (TJW008-TJW009) Helo landing on the mortar well covers of HMCS ST LAURENT 205 off Halifax, 1955 (TJW010) HMCS ST LAURENT 205 arriving at Cuba - 1956 (TJW011) HMCS ALGONQUIN 224 off Bermuda. Photo taken from HMCS SAGUENAY 205
(TJW012-TJW013) Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II visits HMCS SAGUENAY 206. HMCS SAGUENAY was the escort ship for the Royal Yacht BRITANNIA for a visit to Sweden in 1956
(TJW014) USS STARSFIELD off Key West, Florida - Apr 1956 (TJW015) Annex Naval Base, Key West, Florida - Apr 1956 (TJW016) HMCS ST LAURENT 205 alongside at Key West, Florida - Apr 1956 (TJW017) HMCS ST LAURENT 205 ship's company photo, Key West, Florida - Apr 1956 From the collection of Terry Whiteland, RCN Courtesy of Steve Whiteland
(DM001) A few crew members of HMCS ST LAURENT 205 in one of the mess decks (DM002) Tot time on HMCS ST LAURENT 205 (DM003) Two members of HMCS DONNACONA checking out a mess deck on HMCS ST LAURENT 205 (DM004) Two members from HMCS DONNACONA checking out the forward 3"50 on HMCS ST LAURENT 205 (DM005) Two members of HMCS DONNACONA checking out the bridge equipment of HMCS ST LAURENT 205
(DM006) HMCS ST LAURENT 205 - date unknown (DM007) HMCS ST LAURENT 205, London, England, 1956 Courtesy of Daniel Miller
(WP132) 3 Mess, HMCS ST LAURENT - 1959 (WP133) HMCS ST LAURENT sailors ashore in Hong Kong - 1960 From the collection of William (Bill) Argyle Paterson, P1BN, RCN / C.A.F. Courtesy of Bruce Paterson
HMCS ST LAURENT 205 - World Cruise - 1964-1965 (BT199) HMCS ST LAURENT 1964-65 (BT200) Easter Services on HMCS ST LAURENT 205 - sailors mentioned in article AB J.H.W. Hicks, AB R.J. Hubble, AB B.L.Murray, Chaplain Mowatt, PO Theriault and LS Pinckard (BT201) Article on ST LAURENT arriving in Halifax after her world cruise From the collection of Robert (Bob) (Bud) Theriault, P1SG, RCN Courtesy of Bob Theriault
The former HMCS ST LAURENT 205 sinking on 12 Jan 1980 after her tow parted while en route to the breaker's yard in Texas. BZ ST LAURENT!!
Courtesy of Gus Cameron. Credit: Ches Walters, CPO2, Ret'd
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In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice
Lest We Forget
