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. ST LAURENT was paid off for the final time on 14 Jun 1974. She remained in Halifax as a source for spare parts for her sister ships. 

On 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!

Photos and Documents          Ship's company photos

Commanding Officers

     In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice    

     Lest We Forget     

O'GORMAN, John W.

LS.WS2, RCN

Died - 14 Feb 1964

     In memory of those who have crossed the bar    

They shall not be forgotten

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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 End

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!!