HMCS GUYSBOROUGH (J52)
HMCS GUYSBOROUGH
The History of HMCS GUYSBOROUGH
Built at Vancouver for the RN but transferred to the RCN for manning, she was commissioned on April 22, 1942, and assigned to Esquimalt Force, On March 17, 1943, she left for Halifax, arriving on April 30. After brief service with WLEF, she joined Halifax Force. In mid-September Guysborough underwent six weeks' refit at Baltimore, Md. On February 21, 1944, with Canso. Kenora and Wasaga, she left Halifax for the Azores en route to Plymouth, where she arrived on March 8. She was assigned to the 14th Minesweeping Flotilla and was present on D-Day. That December she returned to Canada for refit at Lunenburg, after which, bound again for Plymouth, she was torpedoed and sunk on March 17, 1945, by U 878 off Ushant in the Channel. Fifty-one of her complement lost their lives.
HMCS GUYSBOROUGH Statistical Data
- Pendant: J52
- Type: Minesweeper
- Class: BANGOR Class (Ex-RN)
- Displacement: 672 tonnes
- Length: 180 ft
- Width: 28.5 ft
- Draught: 8.3 ft
- Speed: 16 kts
- Compliment: 6 Officers and 77 Crew
- Arms: 1-12 pdr, 2-20mm
- Builder: North Van Ship Repairs Ltd., Vancouver, B.C.
- Keel Laid: 28-May-41
- Date Launched: 21-Jul-41
- Date Commissioned: 22-Apr-42
- Paid off: 17-Mar-45
Remarks
Torpedoed and sunk by U878 in the English Channel off Ushant, 17 Mar 45. Fifty-one of her ship's company were lost.