HMCS Haida (G63)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Career

Launched:	August 25, 1942
Commissioned:	August 30, 1943
Recommissioned:	March 15, 1952 as DDE-215
Fate:	Museum in Hamilton, Ontario
General Characteristics
Displacement:	2,000 tons
Length:	377 ft (115 m)
Beam:	37 ft 6 in (11.4 m)
Draft:	9 ft 6 in (2.9 m)
Armament:	initial: 6 x 4.7 in (120 mm) guns; 2 x 4 in (102 mm) guns; 4 x 40 mm guns, 10 x 20 mm guns, 4 x 21 inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes; depth charges from the 1950s: 4 x 4 in (102 mm) guns; 2 x 3 in (76 mm) / 50 caliber guns, 4 x 40 mm Bofors guns, 2 x twin Oerlikon 20 mm guns, 2 x Squid antisubmarine mortars, 4 x 21 inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes;
Motto:
Battle Honours:	Arctic, 1943-1945; English Channel, 1944; Normandy, 1944; Biscay, 1944; Korea, 1952-1953.
Badge:	Blazon Or, a base barry wavy azure and argent, a thunderbird of the Haida tribe with wings displayed sable.
Colours:	Gold and azure blue

HMCS Haida (G63) is the most famous ship in the Royal Canadian Navy, having sunk more enemy surface tonnage than any other Canadian ship. Haida is the only surviving Tribal-class destroyer. Between 1937 and 1945 twenty-seven were built for the Royal Navy, Royal Canadian Navy, and Royal Australian Navy.

[edit] Operations

Haida was assigned to the 10th Destroyer Flotilla stationed at Plymouth in early 1944. She had an illustrious World War II career. She gained the moniker "The Fightingest Ship in the RCN." by reason of sinking 14 enemy ships during patrols in the English Channel and the Bay of Biscay. She was also assigned to two tours of duty in the Korean War.

After its retirement the ship was turned over to a public organization that sought to turn it into a museum. Haida was paid off in September 1963, and brought to Toronto and moored at the foot of York Street. In 1970, when financial difficulties hit 'Haida Inc.', the provincial government took ownership and moved it to its new home. She was then put on display on at Ontario Place in Toronto where the ship was opened to the public in 1971 as an attraction at the government-owned theme park. It was also used as a training facility for local Royal Canadian Sea Cadets.

She was on display until 2002 when the ship was acquired by Parks Canada who undertook repairs to the hull and superstructure costing $5 million. On August 30, 2003, the 60th anniversary of her commissioning into the Royal Canadian Navy, she was moved to the city of Hamilton, Ontario where HMCS Haida has become a focal point of a revitalized waterfront.

In July 2006 the Haida was "twinned" with the Polish destroyer ORP Błyskawica in a ceremony in Gdynia, Poland. Both ships served in the 10th Destroyer Flotilla during World War 2. The ceremony was attended by former crew members of both ships and the general public. A similar ceremony will take place in Canada with the HMCS Haida in 2007.

[edit] Technical Details

Class: Tribal Destroyer
Built by: Vickers-Armstrong, Newcastle-on-Tyne, England
Launched: August 25, 1942
Commissioned: August 30, 1943
Modernized: 1950-52
Recommissioned: March 15, 1952 as DDE-215
Length: 377 ft (115 m)
Beam: 37 ft 6 in (11.4 m)
Draft: 9 ft 6 in (2.9 m)
Displacement: 2,000 tons
Armament: (from the 1950s)
- 4 x 4 in (102 mm) guns;
- 2 x 3 in (76 mm) / 50 caliber guns;
- 4 x 40 mm Bofors guns;
- 2 x twin Oerlikon 20 mm guns
- 2 x Squid antisubmarine mortars;
- 4 x 21 inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes;