HMCS SKEENA (2nd) (207)

HMCS SKEENA (2nd)

The History of HMCS SKEENA (2nd)

HMCS Skeena (207) was the second vessel of that name in the Royal Canadian Navy and later the Canadian Forces. A St. Laurent-class destroyer escort named for the Skeena River in British Columbia, she served primarily in an anti-submarine role during the Cold War.

She was built by Burrard Dry Dock in Vancouver, with her keel laid on 1 June 1951 and launched on 19 August 1952. Commissioned as a destroyer escort (DDE 207) on 30 March 1957, she was initially assigned to the Second Canadian Escort Squadron based at Esquimalt, British Columbia. Early service included a training cruise around the Pacific in early 1958.

In January 1962, during gunnery practice in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, shrapnel from her guns accidentally struck Clallam Bay, Washington; her commanding officer was later court-martialled and convicted.

In 1964 she underwent conversion at Davie Shipbuilding in Lauzon, Quebec, to a helicopter-carrying destroyer (DDH). The work added a flight deck with Beartrap system, hangar facilities for a CH-124 Sea King helicopter, fin stabilizers, and other modifications while removing some gun and mortar mounts. She recommissioned as DDH 207 on 14 August 1965 and transferred to service out of Halifax with the Third Canadian Escort Squadron.

In 1972 Skeena was designated a French Language Unit. In 1976 she joined HMCS Fraser and HMCS Protecteur in providing security, rescue crews, and emergency support for the Montreal Olympics.

Skeena completed a Destroyer Life Extension (DELEX) refit in Montreal between April and November 1981. Later service included participation in the NATO exercise Ocean Safari 91 in 1991, visits to St. Lawrence and Great Lakes ports for recruiting, and deployments with STANAVFORLANT. Over her career she steamed more than 980,000 nautical miles while conducting sovereignty patrols, training, and international exercises.

Skeena was paid off on 1 November 1993. She was sold in 1994 and, on 3 July 1996, left Halifax under tow for India, where she was broken up

HMCS SKEENA (2nd) Statistical Data

• Pendant: 207
• Type: Destroyer Escort
• Class: St. Laurent
• Displacement: 2,263 tonnes
• Length: 366 ft
• Width: 42 ft
• Draught: 13.2 ft
• Speed: 28 kts
• Compliment: 12 Officers and 237 Crew
• Arms: 4 - 3" (2 X II), 2 - 40MM, 2 Limbo, Homing Torpedoes. After refit to DDH: 2 - 3" (1 x II), 1 Limbo, Homing Torpedoes, Helicopter
• Builder: Burrard D.D. Co., Vancouver
• Keel Laid: 01-Jun-51
• Date Launched: 19-Aug-52
• Date Commissioned: 30-Mar-57
• Paid off: 01-Nov-93

Remarks

Two major refit/reconfigurations. Re-commissioned as DDH 14 Aug 65. DELEX refit comnpleted 1981.

Photos

HMCS SKEENA

HMCS Skeena (207) in her original configuration, 1 August 1959. (Photographer: Walter E. Frost Source: City of Vancouver Archives)

Keywords: HMCS SKEENA (2nd), Royal Canadian Navy Ship, Destroyer Escort, St. Laurent Class