HMCS LOUISBURG (1st) (K143)
HMCS LOUISBURG (1st)
The History of HMCS LOUISBURG (1st)
Built at Quebec City and commissioned there on October 2, 1941, Louisburg arrived at Halifax on October 15. She was assigned to Sydney Force until mid-January, 1942, when she was transferred to Newfoundland Command. On February 1 she left St. John's for Londonderry as escort to convoy SC.67, another of whose escorts, HMCS Spikenard, was lost. After a long refit at Halifax, from March 27 to June 27, 1942, Louisburg made two more round trips to 'Derry before being assigned to duties in connection with Operation "Torch," the invasion of North Africa. She arrived at Londonderry on September 23, then proceeded to the Humber for fitting of extra A/A/ armament. This work was completed on October 18, the day before the accompanying photograph was taken. On December 9, 1942, while anchored at Londonderry, she was accidentally rammed by HMS Bideford, necessitation five weeks' repairs at Belfast. Louisburg had scarcely commenced her "Torch" duties when, on February 6, 1943, she was sunk by a Italian aircraft east of Oran while escorting a convoy from Gibraltar to Bone, Algeria. Thirty-eight of her ship's company were lost.
HMCS LOUISBURG (1st) Statistical Data
- Pendant: K143
- Type: Corvette
- Class: FLOWER Class 1939-1940
- Displacement: 950 tonnes
- Length: 205.1 ft
- Width: 33.1 ft
- Draught: 11.5 ft
- Speed: 16 kts
- Compliment: 6 Officers and 79 Crew
- Arms: 1-4" Gun, 1-2 pdr, 2-20mm, Hedgehog
- Builder: Morton Engineering and Dry Dock Co., Quebec City, Que.
- Keel Laid: 04-Oct-40
- Date Launched: 27-May-41
- Date Commissioned: 02-Oct-41
- Paid off: 06-Feb-43
Remarks
Attacked and sunk by Italian aircraft east of Oran, while escorting a convoy from Gibralter to Bone, Algeria. 38 of her ship's company were lost.