Back in the saddle folks. Sorry for the Mystery Ship sebatical. We added another Allied Fan-boy to the family (Benjamin, 7 lbs. 9 oz). I've been changing diapers, instead of goofing off at work and posting Mystery Ships.
Very good csatahajos! I sometimes get "inspiration" from the pics in folks sigs (or their IDs - Mogami), and post a pic, just to see if the owner will recognize it, I realize this wasn't up for very long, most of them aren't.
A new name added to the roster!
-F-
"It is obvious that you have greatly over-estimated my regard for your opinion." - Me
Actually, I first thought you were waving that Canadian flag of yours.
The HMCS Haida in Ontario, but she's a Tribal class.
Ever been to see her? She's evidently a museum ship, in Hamilton (wherever that is).
-F-
Some history on the USCGC Haida :
On 7 December 1941 the Haida was at the Puget Sound Navy Yard undergoing repairs. The work was completed in January, 1942, and she departed Port Townsen on 13 January. On 16 January, while leaving Grenville Channel en route Ketchikan the Haida assisted in trying to float the USAT Branch aground for many days at Hamer Island, B. C. but after pulling unsuccessfully with the CGC Hemlock on the 17th, she transported some soldiers to Prince Rupert, leaving the Branch to salvage underwriters. Arriving at Ketchikan 20 January 1942 she began escorting the SS Columbia and the USAT Gorgas in Icy Strait on the 23rd, arriving at Kind Cove on the 29th. The Haida later escorted the Gorgas to Cape Decision. On February 21st she was escorting the SS Yukon across the Gulf of Alaska, mooring at Juneau. Departing on the 27th she started escorting the USAT Chas. L. Wheeler to Seward, but returned to Icy Straits because of heavy weather.
On March 10th she arrived at King Cove and went to the assistance of the Mount McKinley ashore 1-1/2 miles west of Scotch Cap. The Yukon and Hattfield were standing by off shore but unable to communicate with the stranded vessel and heavy seas prevented a close approach. On the 12th it stopped snowing and 127 passengers, officers and crew were observed pulling seaward in five lifeboats, all being safely rescued and landed at Dutch Harbor. Departing for Akutan with officers and men from the Mount McKinley on 11 March 1942, she intercepted a message from the YP-86 in distress off North Head, Akutan Island. She led the YP safely in Umnak Bight on the 15th, removing machine guns and platform from over the pilot house to stabilize her. On the 16th she convoyed the YP to Dutch Harbor. On the 22nd the Haida returned to the Mount McKinley to salvage such stores and equipment as she could but weather conditions prevented her and she returned to Dutch Harbor.
On March 23rd, 1942, the Haida escorted the USAT Delaroff to Nikolski on Umnak Island and on April 14th accompanied her on trip to Chernofski and return. On the 30th she contacted the USAT Goldbrook off Chernofski and escorted her and the Delaroff past Unimak Pass towards Seattle. On May 1st the Haida escorted the SS Aleutian to Cape Pankof. On the 18th she called at Sitka and loaded 32 tons of torpedoes and ammunition for Women's Bay, then, still heavily loaded, escorted the USAT North Coast to Cold Bay, returning to Dutch Harbor. She helped search for a submarine on the 27th and then proceeded to Chernofski to patrol and guard merchant shipping until June 3rd.
Returning to Dutch Harbor on the 12th she escorted the USAT Downey to Otter Point guarding her as she unloaded aviation gasoline. Reports on the Haida during latter part of 1942 are partially missing. From 23 to 29 August 1942, she escorted vessels off the Kenai Peninsula, eastward to Seward.
During the week ending October 17th, 1942, she escorted 16 merchant vessels between Yukitat, Women's Bay, and Pleasant Island. After escorting six vessels with one naval escort to Pleasant Island on 26 October 1942, she proceeded to Juneau and returning to Pleasant Island on the 28th, she escorted six vessels to St. Paul Harbor. During the week of 28 November 1942, she escorted convoys west of Cape Spencer, Pleasant Island and St. Paul, heaving to off Kodiak Island on 1 December 1942., to escort the SS North Pacific to Kodiak, following which she escorted her onward to Pleasant Island. Returning to Juneau she departed for Pleasant Island on the 12th to escort two vessels to Seward where she arrived on the 14th departing the same day to escort a vessel to St. Paul arriving on the 15th. On the 20th she escorted vessels to Juneau, arriving on 26 December 1942.
On 1 January 1943, the Haida arrived at Seattle where she remained in overhaul status until 23 February 1943. After tests the next day she proceeded to Port Angeles where she began escorting a convoy to Alaska. Intensive training was carried on en route and on March 14th she anchored at Cold Bay, reporting to Commander, Alaskan Sector for duty. On the 5th while escorting a vessel to Dutch Harbor she expended two depth charges on an underwater contact with negative results. The remainder of March was spent in escort duty between Dutch Harbor and Chernofski, guarding a cable ship at Kelekta Bay escorting vessels to Atka Island, returning with a convoy to Dutch Harbor on the 27th. She left for Adak on the 29th. From then until the end of April she was engaged in anti-submarine patrol and escort duty between Adak and Atka Islands, dropping depth charges on a doubtful contact on at least one occasion. During May 1943, the Haida was engaged In escort duty between Dutch Harbor and Chernofski Harbor, conducting occasional anti-submarine patrols. This duty continued during June, the Haida dropping eight charges on a fair contact on the 12th with no results.
On 27 June 1943, the Haida stood out for weather patrol station "A" at 49° N x 148° W, assuming the station on the 30th. On July 18th she departed the station for Seattle, returning to the station on August 5th and again returning to Seattle on August 27th. Her weather station duties were not again assumed until September 9th, whence they continued until her arrival at Seattle on 28 September 1943. She was on weather patrol between October 10-26. On this patrol she fired 14 projectiles and three depth charges on a possible submarine contact. She again patrolled weather station "A" between November 18 and December 9, 1943, and was underway to the station at the end of the year.
The Haida continued to patrol Weather Station "A" at fortnightly intervals throughout the year 1944, basing on Seattle. This duty continued through 1945 and until 18 March 1946. Returning to Seattle 25 March 1946, she arrived at Ketchikan on 4 April 1946, for a series of operations between Alaskan ports and Continental U. S. ports, which brought her back to Seattle on 6 May 1946; Pelican City on 25 August 1946; Prince Rupert on 2 September 1946; Seattle on 16 September 1946, 2 October 1946 and 20 October 1946. (4)
Some history on the HMCS Haida
During World War 2, the Tribals saw considerable action in every theatre of war from the Arctic to Okinawa and their exploits are legend in naval history. In the fall of 1943, HAIDA operated out of Scapa Flow with the Royal Navy to assist with convoy escorting duties to North Russia on the Murmansk run. On Dec 26, 1943 she was present at the Battle of North Cape when the German battle cruiser SCHARNHORST was sunk by the British Home Fleet. Early in 1944, HAIDA joined the Tenth Destroyer Flotilla operating out of Plymouth England. The objective of this mixed force of British, Canadian and Polish warships was to clear enemy shipping off the coast of France in anticipation of the D-Day landings. During this period, HAIDA achieved great fame by destroying more enemy vessels than any other ship in the R.C.N. It was also during this period that her sister ship H.M.C.S. ATHABASKAN was sunk with the loss of 128 lives. We commemorate this tragic event annually with a memorial service on the Sunday closest to 29 April.
Following a refit in Halifax in late 1944, HAIDA rejoined the Fleet in Scapa Flow in early 1945 and spent the rest of the war operating in the Arctic and on the coast of Norway. After the surrender of Germany, the ship was overhauled to operate in the Pacific but the war ended before her conversion was completed. In 1947, HAIDA was recommissioned into the Royal Canadian Navy and worked on the East Coast and in the Arctic. In November 1949, HAIDA was doing maneuovers off the coast of Bermuda when an American B-29 bomber went down. She was first on the scene and lowered her seaboat once again to rescue the downed airmen. As a result, the ship's company received many letters of congratulations. The co-pilot of the aircraft was originally from Texas and for this reason, HAIDA's crew were bestowed with certificates naming them 'Honourary Texans'.
"It is obvious that you have greatly over-estimated my regard for your opinion." - Me
Been on Haida many times...glad money was finally reinvested in her as she was getting pretty dilapidated. As for sending her to Hamilton, Ontario, not sure this is a great idea, Hamilton is not exactly a tourist trap...on a par with Patterson, New Jersey or Scranton, Pennsylvania. Toronto (Ontario Place Park), while full of twats, at least gave her some exposure to revenue. Oh well, the government must know better, eh?[8|]
Yammas from The Apo-Tiki Lounge. Future site of WITP AE benders! And then the s--t hit the fan
