HMCS LAUZON (K671/322)

HMCS LAUZON

HMCS LAUZON

The History of HMCS LAUZON

HMCS LAUZON Badge

HMCS Lauzon (K671/322) was a River-class frigate of the Royal Canadian Navy, the only vessel to bear that name. She was named for Lauzon, Quebec, and served as a convoy escort in the final months of the Second World War before returning to service in the 1950s as a Prestonian-class ocean escort.

Built by George T. Davie & Sons Ltd. at Lauzon, Quebec, she was laid down on 2 July 1943 (initially as Glace Bay) and launched on 10 June 1944. She was commissioned on 30 August 1944 at Quebec City.

After arriving at Halifax in mid-October 1944, Lauzon completed three weeks of work-ups in Bermuda and joined Escort Group C-6 at St. John's, Newfoundland, on 30 November 1944. From then until Victory in Europe Day she served continuously as a mid-ocean escort for trans-Atlantic convoys in the Battle of the Atlantic, earning the battle honour Atlantic 1944-45.

She left Londonderry, Northern Ireland, for the last time on 13 June 1945 and spent the summer as a troop carrier between St. John's and Quebec City before being paid off on 7 November 1945 and laid up in reserve at Shelburne, Nova Scotia.

In 1946 she was purchased by Marine Industries Ltd. The Royal Canadian Navy reacquired her in 1951 for conversion to a Prestonian-class ocean escort in response to the perceived Soviet submarine threat.

Lauzon was recommissioned on 12 December 1953 with pennant number 322 and spent the rest of her career in a training role on the east coast.

Lauzon was finally paid off on 24 May 1963 and sold the following year to a buyer in Toronto, Ontario, for scrap.

HMCS LAUZON Statistical Data

  • Pendant: K671/322
  • 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: George T. Davie & Sons Ltd., Lauzon. Que.
  • Keel Laid: 02-Jul-43
  • Date Launched: 10-Jun-44
  • Date Commissioned: 30-Aug-44
  • Paid off: 07-Nov-45

Remarks

Recommissioned as a Prestonian Class on 12-Dec-53. Pendant Number 322. Finally Paid Off 24-May-65. Pictured is the Post War LAUZON.

Photos

HMCS Lauzon, Prestonian Class. (RCN Photo)

HMCS Lauzon, Prestonian Class. (RCN Photo)

HMCS LAUZON K671 at St. John

HMCS LAUZON K671 at St. John's, Newfoundland. Circa 1945.a

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