HMCS HALLOWELL (K666)

HMCS HALLOWELL

HMCS HALLOWELL

The History of HMCS HALLOWELL

HMCS Hallowell (K666) was a River-class frigate of the Royal Canadian Navy. Originally planned as HMCS Picton after the Ontario town, the name was changed to avoid confusion with the existing corvette HMCS Pictou. Hallowell referred to a nearby township and also honoured Benjamin Hallowell Carew, a Royal Navy admiral who served under Nelson at the Battle of the Nile.

Built by Canadian Vickers Ltd. in Montreal, she was ordered on 1 February 1943, laid down on 22 November 1943, and launched on 28 March 1944. She displaced 1,445 tons, measured roughly 91.9 metres in length, and had a speed of 19 knots with a complement of about 141. Armament typically included two 4-inch guns, anti-aircraft weapons, a Hedgehog anti-submarine mortar, and depth charges.

Commissioned on 8 August 1944 at Montreal, Hallowell arrived at Halifax on 3 September and proceeded to Bermuda for working-up. Returning in early November, she joined Escort Group C-1 of the Mid-Ocean Escort Force and served as the Senior Officer's ship from December onward. She left St. John's on 28 November 1944 to join convoy HX.322 and thereafter escorted North Atlantic convoys until the end of the European war.

In early June 1945 Hallowell sailed from Greenock for Canada. In July and August she transported troops from St. John's homeward. She was paid off at Sydney, Nova Scotia, on 7 November 1945 and placed in reserve at Shelburne.

After the war, Hallowell was sold to Uruguayan interests in 1946. In 1949 she was resold to a Palestinian firm, converted into a short-service Mediterranean ferry, and renamed Sharon. In 1952 the Israeli Navy acquired her, reconverted her to a warship, and renamed her Misnak. In 1958-1959 she was sold to the Royal Ceylon Navy (later Sri Lanka Navy) and renamed Gajabahu. She served until being discarded or paid off in 1978, after which she was used for a time as a training ship at the Naval and Maritime Academy in Trincomalee.

HMCS HALLOWELL Statistical Data

  • Pendant: K666
  • Type: Frigate
  • Class: RIVER Class 43-44 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: 2-4" (1 x II), 4-20mm, Hedgehog
  • Builder: Canadian Vickers Ltd., Montreal. Que.
  • Keel Laid: 22-Nov-43
  • Date Launched: 28-Mar-44
  • Date Commissioned: 08-Aug-44
  • Paid off: 07-Nov-45

Remarks

Was originally planned to be named HMCS PICTON (after Picton, Ontario), but due to possible confusion with HMCS PICTOU, the name of the nearby town of Hallowell, Ontario was used.

Keywords: HMCS HALLOWELL, Royal Canadian Navy Ship, Frigate, RIVER Class 43-44 Programme Class