HMCS ANNAPOLIS (1st) (I04)

HMCS ANNAPOLIS (1st)

HMCS ANNAPOLIS (1st)

The History of HMCS ANNAPOLIS (1st)

The first HMCS Annapolis was a Town-class destroyer of the Royal Canadian Navy. She began life as the United States Navy Wickes-class destroyer USS Mackenzie (DD-175).

Laid down on 4 July 1918 at Union Iron Works in San Francisco, she was launched on 29 September 1919 and commissioned into the US Navy on 25 July 1919. After brief service with the Pacific Fleet, she was decommissioned at Mare Island, California, in May 1922 and placed in reserve. She was recommissioned in November 1939 as war loomed in Europe.

In September 1940, under the Destroyers for Bases Agreement, she was transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy. She arrived at Halifax on 20 September and was handed over on 24 September, when she was renamed HMCS Annapolis (pendant number I04) after the Annapolis River in Nova Scotia. Shortly afterward, a fire damaged her No. 4 boiler, forcing the removal of the after funnel. The resulting loss of endurance meant she never made a full Atlantic crossing.

For the rest of her RCN career she served with the Western Local Escort Force, protecting coastal convoys between Newfoundland and the New York area. In June 1943 she joined Escort Group W-8 (and briefly W-10). From April 1944 she was assigned to training duties at HMCS Cornwallis and also escorted Royal Navy submarines between Halifax and Digby, Nova Scotia.

She was paid off at Halifax on 4 June 1945, then towed to Boston and broken up. She earned the battle honour Atlantic 1941-43.

HMCS ANNAPOLIS (1st) Statistical Data

  • Pendant: I04
  • Type: Destroyer
  • Class: TOWN
  • Displacement: 1069 tonnes
  • Length: 314.3 ft
  • Width: 30.5 ft
  • Draught: 8.5 ft
  • Speed: 28 kts
  • Compliment: 10 Officers and 143 Crew
  • Arms: 4-4", 12-21" Torpedo Tubes (4 x III)
  • Builder: Union Iron Works, San Francisco. Calif.
  • Keel Laid: 04-Jul-18
  • Date Launched: 19-Sep-18
  • Date Commissioned: 24-Sep-40
  • Paid off: 04-Jun-45

Remarks

Ex USS MACKENZIE

Photos

HMCS Annapolis

HMCS Annapolis

Keywords: HMCS ANNAPOLIS (1st), Royal Canadian Navy Ship, Destroyer, TOWN Class