HMCS WENTWORTH (K331)

HMCS WENTWORTH

HMCS WENTWORTH

The History of HMCS WENTWORTH

HMCS Wentworth was a River-class frigate of the Royal Canadian Navy that served during the Second World War, primarily as a convoy escort in the Battle of the Atlantic. She was the only RCN vessel to bear the name.

She was named for Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. The intended name Dartmouth could not be used because it was already carried by another Commonwealth ship, so she was named after Sir John Wentworth, a former Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia. Her name is often mistakenly associated with Wentworth County, Ontario, in honour of the city of Hamilton.

Ordered in April 1942 under the 1942-1943 River-class program, she was built by Yarrows Ltd. at Esquimalt, British Columbia. Laid down on 11 November 1942, she was launched on 6 March 1943 and commissioned on 7 December 1943 at Victoria, British Columbia.

She arrived at Halifax, Nova Scotia, on 25 January 1944. She departed for working-up exercises in Bermuda, but defects forced her return; the exercises were completed in St. Margaret's Bay, Nova Scotia.

In June 1944 she joined Escort Group C-4 of the Mid-Ocean Escort Force. She became the Senior Officer's ship in August 1944 and remained on continuous trans-Atlantic convoy duty until February 1945. She is recorded as having escorted 14 convoys in this role.

She then underwent a major refit at Shelburne, Nova Scotia, from 7 March to 9 August 1945. By the time the refit ended, the war in Europe had concluded. She was paid off on 10 October 1945 into reserve in Bedford Basin, Nova Scotia, and was broken up in 1947 at Sydney, Nova Scotia, and sold for scrap and dismantled by Dominion Steel Corp.

HMCS WENTWORTH Statistical Data

  • Pendant: K331
  • Type: Frigate
  • Class: RIVER Class 42-43 Programme
  • Displacement: 1445 tonnes
  • Length: 301.5 ft
  • Width: 36.6 ft
  • Draught: 9 ft
  • Speed: 19 kts
  • Compliment: 8 Officers and 133 Crew
  • Arms: 1-4" (1 x II), 1-12 pdr.
  • Builder: Yarrows Ltd.. Esquimalt, B.C.
  • Keel Laid: 11-Nov-42
  • Date Launched: 06-Mar-43
  • Date Commissioned: 07-Dec-43
  • Paid off: 10-Oct-45

Photos

HMCS Wentworth K331 (RCN photo)

HMCS Wentworth K331 (RCN photo)

Keywords: HMCS WENTWORTH, Royal Canadian Navy Ship, Frigate, RIVER Class 42-43 Programme Class