User:Llammakey/Canadian ship articles II

Canadian ship articles I References Canadian ship articles III

Tribal class
The Tribal class were ordered by the Canadian Naval Staff's intent to build a stronger, permanent force. The Tribals were designed to fight heavily armed destroyers of other navies, such as the Japanese Fubuki-class destroyer. Canada chose the design based on its armament, with the size and power of the Tribal class allowing them to act more like small cruisers than as fleet destroyers. The Naval Staff intended to order the construction of a flotilla of Tribals, with two under construction every year. However, due to war demands, British yards could not accommodate such a request. Therefore, it was decided that Canadian shipyards would construct the second batch of Tribals. They were ordered with modified ventilation and heating systems for North Atlantic winter service. Design modifications were made after deficiencies were noted in HMCS Iroquois (G89), the lead ship of the Canadian Tribals. Canadian Tribals were a foot longer than their British counterparts and carried an auxiliary boiler for heating and additional power requirements.

During construction delays soon began due to a shortage of skilled labour and engineering personnel. Furthermore, on the first batch, Micmac and Nootka, there was a shortage of high-quality steel in Canada required in the construction of destroyers. The steel was imported from the United States. By the time the second batch of Canadian-built Tribals, Cayuga and the second Athabaskan, began construction, Canada was capable of providing the steel.

The ship was 335 ft long between perpendiculars and 377 ft long overall with a beam of 36 ft and a draught of 13 ft. As built, the destroyer had a standard displacement of 1927 LT and 2745 LT at deep load. Nootka had a complement of 14 officers and 245 ratings. The destroyer was propelled by two shafts driven by two Parsons single-reduction geared turbines powered by steam created by three Admiralty-type three-drum boilers. Each boiler was housed in a separate compartment and were rated at 300 lb/in2. This created 44000 shp and gave the ship a maximum speed of 36.5 kn. The destroyers could carry 505 - 516 LT of fuel oil. Tribals had poor freeboard and were considered "wet" ships. They had a range of 5700 nmi at 15 kn.

As built, Nootka was fitted with six quick firing 4.7 in Mk XII guns placed in three twin turrets, designated 'A', 'B' and 'Y' from bow to stern. The turrets were placed on 40° mountings with open-backed shields. The ship also had one twin turret of QF 4 in Mk XVI guns in the 'X' position. The mounts were powered by turbo generators and turbo-hydraulic units. For secondary anti-aircraft armament, the destroyer was equipped with four single-mounted 2-pounder "pom-pom" guns and six Oerlikon 20 mm cannon. The vessel was also fitted with four 21 in torpedo tubes in one quad mounting, situated behind the second funnel for Mk IX torpedoes. Along the stern of the ships were racks for depth charges positioned along the centreline, holding three depth charges at a time and space for nine reloads. A depth charge thrower was set high on each side of the superstructure ahead of the tripod main mast.

The ship was equipped Type 291 radar for air search, Type 293 radar for target indication and Type 285 for 4.7-inch gun control and a DCT controller, utilizing a Fuze Keeping Clock, for the 4-inch guns (working with the Type 285 radar). The radar was carried on a lattice mast and the HF/DF was situated on a pole aft.

1939–1940 and 1940–1941 Programmes
Flower-class corvettes like  serving with the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War were different from earlier and more traditional sail-driven corvettes. The Flower-class corvettes originated from a need that arose in 1938 to expand the Royal Navy following the Munich Crisis. A design request went out for a small escort for coastal convoys. Based on a traditional whaler-type design, the initial Canadian ships of the Flower class had a standard displacement of 950 LT. They were 205 ft long overall with a beam of 33 ft and a maximum draught of 13 ft. The initial 1939–1940 corvettes were powered by a four-cylinder vertical triple expansion engine powered by steam from two Scotch boilers turning one three-bladed propeller rated at 2800 ihp. The Scotch boilers were replaced with water-tube boilers in later 1939–1940 and 1940–1941 Programme ships. The corvettes had a maximum speed of 16 kn. This gave them a range of 3450 nmi at 12 kn. The vessels were extremely wet.

The Canadian Flower-class vessels were initially armed with a Mk IX BL 4 in gun forward on a CP 1 mounting and carried 100 rounds per gun. The corvettes were also armed with a QF Vickers 2-pounder (40 mm) gun on a bandstand aft, two single-mounted .303 Vickers machine guns or Browning 0.5-calibre machine guns for anti-aircraft defence and two twin-mounted .303 Lewis machine guns, usually sited on bridge wings. For anti-submarine warfare, they mounted two depth charge throwers and initially carried 25 depth charges. The corvettes were designed with a Type 123 ASDIC sonar set installed. The Flower-class ships had a complement of 47 officers and ratings. The Royal Canadian Navy initially ordered 54 corvettes in 1940 and these were fitted with Mark II Oropesa minesweeping gear used for destroying contact mines. Part of the depth charge rails were made portable so the minesweeping gear could be utilised.

Modifications
In Canadian service the vessels were altered due to experience with the design's deficiencies. The galley was moved further back in the ship and the mess and sleeping quarters combined. A direction-finding set was installed and enlarged bilge keels were installed to reduce rolling. After the first 35–40 corvettes had been constructed, the foremast was shifted aft of the bridge and the mainmast was eliminated. The compass house was moved further aft and the open-type bridge was situated in front of it. The ASDIC hut was moved in front and to a lower position on the bridge. The Type 271 radar was placed aft. The minesweeping gear, a feature of the first 54 corvettes, was removed. Most Canadian Flower-class corvettes had their forecastles extended which improved crew accommodation and seakeeping. Furthermore, the sheer and flare of the bow was increased, which led to an enlarged bridge. This allowed for the installation of Oerlikon 20 mm cannon, replacing the Browning and Vickers machine guns. Some of the corvettes were rearmed with Hedgehog anti-submarine mortars. The complements of the ships grew throughout the war rising from the initial 47 to as many as 104.

Construction and career
The vessel was ordered as part of the 1939–1940 Progamme in January 1940, and laid down on 29 April 1940 by Burrard Dry Dock Co. Ltd. in North Vancouver, British Columbia. Corvettes commissioned by the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War were not named after flowers, as the class name might suggest, but after communities for the most part, to better represent the people who took part in building them. This idea was put forth by Admiral Percy W. Nelles. Sponsors were commonly associated with the community for which the ship was named. Agassiz, named for the town in British Columbia, was launched on 15 August 1940 and commissioned on 23 January 1941 in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Description
Warrior was a Colossus-class light aircraft carrier that was 630 ft long at perpendiculars and 695 ft overall with a beam at the waterline of 80 ft and an overall width of 112 ft. The ship had a mean draught of 23 ft. Warrior had a standard displacement of 13350 LT when built and a full load displacement of 18300 LT. The aircraft carrier had a flight deck 690 ft long that was 80 ft wide and was 39 ft above the water. The flight deck tapered to 45 ft at the bow. For takeoffs, the flight deck was equipped with one BH 3 aircraft catapult capable of launching 16000 lb aircraft at 66 kn. For landings, the ship was fitted with 10 arrestor wires capable of stopping a 15000 lb aircraft, with two safety barriers rated at stopping a 15,000-pound aircraft at 40 kn Warrior had two aircraft elevators located along the centreline of the ship that were 45 by and could handle aircraft up to 15,000 pounds on a 36-second cycle. The aircraft hangar was 275 by with a further 57 by section beyond the aft elevator, all with a clearance of 17 ft. The hangar was divided into four sections by asbestos fire curtains. The hangar was fully enclosed and could only be entered by air locks and the lifts, due to the hazardous nature of aviation fuel and oil vapours. The vessel had stowage for 98600 impgal of aviation fuel.

The ship was powered by steam created by four Admiralty 3-drum type boilers driving two Parsons geared turbines, each turning one shaft. The machinery was separated into to two spaces, each containing two boilers and one turbine, separated by 24 ft spaces containing aviation fuel. The spaces were situated en echelon within the ship to prevent a single disabling torpedo strike. The engines were rated at 42000 shp and the vessel had a capacity for 3196 LT of fuel oil, with an endurance of 8300 nmi at 20 kn. The ship's maximum speed was 25 kn. There was no armour aboard the vessel save for mantlets around the torpedo storage area. There were no longitudinal bulkheads, but the transverse bulkheads were designed to allow the ship to survive two complete sections of the ship being flooded.

Warrior was designed to handle up to 42 aircraft. The aircraft carrier carried a wide range of ordnance for their aircraft from torpedoes, depth charges, bombs, 20 mm cannon ammunition and flares. For anti-aircraft defence, the aircraft carrier was initially armed with four twin-mounted and twenty single-mounted 40 mm Bofors guns. The original radar installation included the Type 79 and Type 281 long-range air search radars, the Type 293 and Type 277 fighter direction radar and the "YE" aircraft homing beacon. The ship had a maximum ship's company of 1,300, which was reduced in peace time.

FELEX
Planning for FELEX began in 2002. However it was not until November 2008 that a contract was awarded to Lockheed Martin Canada as prime contractor. The cost of the contract was $2 billion CAN.

The FELEX upgrade

While planning, preparation and co-ordination of the HCM/ FELEX project began back in 2002, it was not until November 2008 that Lockheed Martin Canada Mission Systems and Training was brought under contract as prime contractor and Combat System Integration (CSI) and in-service support agent. Under the C$2 billion CSI contract, Lockheed Martin Canada is taking responsibility for the development, integration and test of a new CMS, together with the procurement integration of new radars, ESM, Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) equipment, and a multi-link data processor. The company is additionally responsible for redesign of ship compartments and structures, modifications to the operations room, and the provision of a suite of simulation/ training systems, and is also integrating other sensors and weapons acquired under prior standalone programmes.

Upgraded combat system At the core of the upgraded combat system is the upgraded CMS330 command and control system, which introduces open architecture and functionality from Saab’s 9LV Mk 4 CMS line.

The SPS-49 2D long range air search radar is replaced by the Thales Nederland SMART-S Mk 2 E/F-band 3D surveillance radar, while the two legacy STIR 1.8 firecontrol radars are replaced by a pair of Saab Ceros 200 re-control radars. The existing Sea Giraffe 150HC is also being enhanced by Saab to improve performance in high clutter environments.

Other key equipments being introduced under the scope of the HCM/FELEX programme comprise a Telephonics IFF Mode 5/S interrogator, the Elisra NS9003A-V2HC ESM system (replacing the SLQ-501 CANEWS suite), an IBM multi-link (Link 11, Link 16 and Link 22 enabled) datalink processing system, and two Raytheon Anschütz Pathfinder Mk II navigation radars.

Lockheed Martin Canada is also responsible for integrating other equipments (acquired separately by the Canadian government and supplied to the programme as government-furnished materiel) into the upgraded combat system.

For example, a tailored variant of Rheinmetall’s Multi-Ammunition So kill System (MASS), known as MASS_DUERAS, has been procured to replace the obsolete Plessey Shield decoy system.

BAE Systems Bofors is upgrading existing 57mm Mk 2 guns to Mk 3 standard.

New 3P ‘smart’ pre-fragmented programmable ammunition is being introduced commensurate with the Mk 3 upgrade. Other weapons integrated as part of the HCM/FELEX upgrade include the Harpoon Block II surface-to- surface guided weapon, the Phalanx Block 1B close-in weapon system, and the Evolved SeaSparrow Missile point defence missile system.

HMCS Ville de Quebec completed her modernisation in late 2015, but has yet to return to operations.

In April 2016, HMCS Regina, the fifth and final frigate on the west coast to complete its modernisation by Seaspan’s Victoria Shipyard, was returned to the RCN to complete sea trials.

HMCS Toronto, the seventh and final east coast frigate, and the last of the 12 ships to go through the HCM/FELEX modernisation, is due to complete its refit at Irving Shipbuilding’s Halifax Shipyard in the third quarter of this year.

Following acceptance of Toronto, corresponding sea trials and project close-out activities are expected to be completed by January 2018.

Bluethroat
Bluethroat, constructed as a mine and loop layer, had a standard displacement of 785 LT and 870 LT at full load. The vessel measured 157 ft long overall and 150.7 ft between perpendiculars, a beam of 33 ft with a draught of 10 ft. The ship was powered by a diesel engine driving two shafts rated at 1200 bhp. The ship had a maximum speed of 13 kn.

The ship was authorised as part of the 1951 Programme during the Korean War. The ship was laid down by George T. Davie & Sons Ltd. at their yard in Lauzon, Quebec on 31 October 1952. Bluethroat was launched on 15 September 1955 and completed on 28 November. The ship was designated a harbour mineplanter upon commissioning and in 1957, re-designated a controlled minelayer. In 1959, the ship was re-designated a cable layer. Bluethroat took part in the NATO naval exercise Sweep Clear V off the coast of Shelburne, Nova Scotia in October 1960. In 1964, the ship was re-designated a research vessel.

Norton-class tug
The four Norton-class tugboats constructed for the Royal Canadian Navy were of a modified design. They had a displacement of 462 LT, were 104 ft long between perpendiculars and 111+3/4 ft overall with a beam of 28 ft and a draught of 11 ft. They were powered by Dominion Sulzer diesel engines rated at 1000 bhp with a maximum speed of 11 kn. They had a complement of 17. They were rated as large harbour tugs.

Clifton was launched on 31 July 1944. Beaverton was sunk in a collision in 1947 at Montreal, Quebec.

Saint-class tug
The Saint class were authorised in the 1951 Programme. Ocean-going tugboats, they had a full load displacement of 840 LT. They had a length overall of 46.2 m, a beam of 10 m and a draught of 5.2 m. They were powered by a diesel engine driving one shaft rated at 1920 bhp. They had a maximum speed of 14 kn. The Saint class had a complement of 21. They were armed with two Bofors 40 mm gun for anti-aircraft defence.

The three tugboats were constructed by St. John Dry Dock Company. Saint Anthony was commissioned on 22 February 1957. Saint Charles was commissioned on 7 June 1957.

Wasaga
In January 1943, the Royal Navy destroyer HMS Caldwell (I20) was being towed to Boston to have her propellers installed by the tugboat Foundation Franklin. During transit, the ships passed into a storm, where under strain, Foundation Franklin's towing winch broke and was unable to resume towing. Caldwell was cast adrift on the Atlantic, while attempts to make makeshift towing lines were prepared. Wasaga, escorting the two vessels, aided in getting the destroyer back under tow, this time by the Canadian destroyer HMCS Columbia (I49), which had come to aid the stricken Caldwell. The minesweeper then escorted the two destroyers to Halifax.

Composition of the Fleet in 1961
Compostion of fleet in 1961

-Atlantic Command-


 * Bonaventure
 * First Escort
 * Algonquin
 * Huron
 * Haida
 * Nootka
 * Iroquois
 * Third Escort
 * Crescent
 * Micmac
 * Sioux
 * Cayuga
 * Athabaskan
 * Fifth Escort
 * Gatineau
 * Restigouche
 * Kootenay
 * St. Croix
 * Terra Nova
 * Chaudière
 * Columbia
 * Seventh Escort
 * Fort Erie
 * New Waterford
 * Lanark
 * Outremont
 * Victoriaville
 * Inch Arran
 * Ninth Escort
 * Cap de la Madeleine
 * Lauzon
 * La Hulloise
 * Swansea
 * Buckingham
 * First Minesweeping
 * Chaleur
 * Chignecto
 * Quinte
 * Thunder
 * Resolute
 * Fundy
 * Auxiliary
 * Cape Scott
 * Crusader
 * Granby
 * Porte Saint Jean
 * Loon
 * Mallard
 * Cormorant
 * Air Squadrons
 * VF-870
 * VS-880
 * VU-32
 * HS-50
 * HU-21
 * VX-10

-Pacific Command-


 * Second Escort
 * Ottawa
 * Saguenay
 * St. Laurent
 * Margaree
 * Fraser
 * Skeena
 * Assiniboine
 * Fourth Escort
 * Jonquiere
 * Sussexvale
 * Beacon Hill
 * Antigonish
 * Ste. Therese
 * New Glasgow
 * Stettler
 * Second Minesweeping
 * Fortune
 * James Bay
 * Miramachi
 * Cowichan
 * Auxiliary
 * Cape Breton
 * Grilse
 * Oriole
 * Air Squadrons
 * VU-32

1st MS Squadron
The First Canadian Minesweeping Squadron was constituted in December 1953. Gaspe and Chignecto were the initial members. They were joined by Cowichan and Thunder. The squadron was commanded by Lt. Cmdr. Bruce Carnall, commanding officer of Gaspe. Trinity and Ungava joined the squadron upon commissioning on 16 June and 4 June 1954 respectively. Resolute joined the squadron upon commissioning on 16 September 1954. The squadron, comprising, Gaspe, Trinity, Ungava and Quinte, sailed to the Caribbean Sea in April 1955 for a training cruise, making several port visits.

In May 1956, the First Canadian Minesweeping Squadron deployed as part of the NATO minesweeping exercise Minex Sweep Clear One in the western Atlantic. Gaspe, Trinity and Resolute. Ungava did not partake in the exercise, having been detached for duties for naval commanders in Newfoundland.

2nd MS Squadron
Comox was flagship of the Second Canadian Minesweeping Squadron of Pacific Command. The Second Canadian Minesweeping Squadron was formed in May 1954 at Esquimalt with Comox and James Bay as the first two vessels of the unit. Fortune later joined the unit. In November 1955, the Second Canadian Minesweeping Squadron was among the Canadian units that took part in one of the largest naval exercises since the Second World War off the coast of California.

1st Escort Squadron
The First Canadian Escort Squadron came into being on 10 November 1953 as part of Atlantic Command. Algonquin was the flagship and the unit was initially commanded by Patrick F.X. Russell. The unit was initially composed of Algonquin, Lauzon, Prestonian and Toronto. Penetang joined the First Canadian Escort Squadron upon commissioning on 1 June 1954.

2nd Escort Squadron
The Second Canadian Escort Squadron was established on 1 January 1955 under Pacific Command. It initially comprised the destroyer escorts Cayuga, Crescent and Athabaskan and the frigates Jonquiere, Stettler, New Glasgow, Ste. Therese and Sussexvale. The initial commanding officer of the group was Commander Henry H. Davidson, captain of Cayuga. In November 1955, the Second Canadian Escort Squadron was among the Canadian units that took part in one of the largest naval exercises since the Second World War off the coast of California. In June 1956, the squadron was composed of the destroyers Cayuga, Athabaskan and Sioux and the frigates Ste. Therese, Stettler and Sussexvale. The squadron departed on a two-month training cruise off Hawaii and California, returning to Esquimalt on 10 August.

3rd Escort Squadron
The Third Canadian Escort Squadron comprised the frigates Lanark, Fort Erie and Lauzon. The Third Squadron performed a training cruise to Europe in July 1956, visiting the United Kingdom and Belgium.

2nd Reserve Squadron
The Second Canadian Reserve Squadron was established on 5 January 1955 under Pacific Command. It initially comprised the coastal escorts Brockville, Digby and Cordova. Employed for training purposes, the group was initially commanded by Lieutenant Commander E.S. Cassels of Brockville.

11th Escort Squadron
The 11th Canadian Escort Squadron formed on 15 April 1955 under Atlantic Command for training purposes. It was composed of Wallaceburg, Portage and Minas initially. After Minas transferred to the West Coast, Sault Ste. Marie transferred to Halifax to take her place in December 1955.

HMCS Llewellyn and Revelstoke
Llewellyn was the training ship associated with HMCS Scotian in 1949. That summer, the ship made a tour of Newfoundland, after it became the 10th province of Canada. Llewellyn was tender to HMCS Brunswicker in 1961.

Revelstoke was tender to HMCS Cabot in 1951-2.

Llewellyn-class minesweepers were wooden-hulled. They displaced 228 tons and had a maximum speed of 9 kn. They were 119 ft long overall with a beam of 22 ft and a draught of 8 ft. They had a complement of 3 officers and 20 ratings. They were armed with 1 .5-inch machine gun placed amidships and twin .303-inch machine guns on the bridge wings.

No photos of Coquitlam, Kalamalka and Lavallée are known to exist.


 * Coquitlam pennant number J364
 * Cranbrook pennant number J372
 * Daerwood  pennant number J357
 * Kalamalka pennant number J395
 * Lavallée  pennant number J371
 * Llewellyn pennant number J278 (postwar 141)
 * Lloyd George pennant number J279 (postwar 142)
 * Revelstoke pennant number J373
 * Rossland pennant number J358
 * St. Joseph pennant number J359

Daerwood constructed at Vancouver Shipyards Ltd. Launched 14 August 1943. Commissioned 22 April 1944 at Vancouver. Patrolled coast from Esquimalt to Prince Rupert until paid off 28 November 1945. Sold for commercial use 30 December 1946. Caught fire and sank at Bridgetown, Barbados, 13 October 1973.

Cranbrook constructed by Star Shipyards at New Westminster. Launched 5 June 1943. Commissioned 12 May 1944 at New Westminster. Patrolled west coast from Esquimalt to Prince Rupert until paid off 3 November 1945. Purchased by Nanaimo towing firm in November 1947. In 1950 registry disappeared from Lloyd's Registry.

Llewellyn constructed Chantier Maritime, Ile d'Orleans, Quebec. Launched 12 August 1942. Commissioned 24 August 1942 at Quebec City. Arrived at HAX 5 September, assigned to Halifax Local Defence Force. Spent rest of war performing sweeps of the approaches to Halifax Harbour. Following end of war, the minesweeper served as guardship for the reserve fleet at Halifax. The ship was paid off on 14 June 1946, but recommissioned on 25 July 1949 as tender at Saint John. The ship was paid off again on 31 October 1951. Sold 1957 for commercial use. Renamed Llewellyn II, the fishing vessel foundered off Cape Breton on 28 October 1960.

Lloyd George constructed Chantier Maritime. Launched 12 August 1942. Commissioned 24 August 1942 at Quebec City. Arrived at HAX 5 September and assigned to Halifax Local Defence Force. Spent rest of war performing sweeps of the approaches to Halifax harbour. Following war, used as bathythermograph vessel until 16 July 1948 when paid off. Sold 14 May 1951 to become floating restaurant at Bridgewater, Nova Scotia. Abandoned 10 years later.

Coquitlam built by Newcastle Shipping Co. Ltd, Nanaimo. Launched 5 Jan 1944. Commissioned 25 July 1944 at Nanaimo. Patrol duty Esquimalt to Prince Rupert until p.o. 30 November 1945. Sold October 1946, renamed Wilcox. Went aground on 17 June 1954 on Anticosti Island and written off.

Kalamalka built A.C. Benson Shipyard, Vancouver. Launched 29 December 1943. Comm. 2 Oct 1944 at Vancouver. Patrol duty Esquimalt to Prince Rupert until p.o. 16 November 1945. Sold 1946, burned and sank while fishing in Wallis Bay, BC on 18 March 1968.

Lavallée built A.C. Benson Shipyard, Vancouver. Launched 27 May 1943. Comm. 21 June 1944 at Vancouver. Patrol and degaussing vessel at Esquimalt and Prince Rupert until p.o. 27 Dec 1945. Sold 13 November 1947 to become fishing vessel of same name. Burned and sank near Burgeo, NF on 1 Mar 1967.

Revelstoke constructed by Star Shipyards at New Westminster. Launched 3 Nov 1943. Commissioned 14 July 1944 at New Westminster. Patrol duty Esquimalt to Prince Rupert until p.o. 18 Feb 1946. Taken to HAX, served as tender to HMCS Stadacona and Cabot before being p.o. for the final time on 23 Oct 1953. Sold 1957, renamed Shirley Ann in 1959, caught fire and sank off NF 12 Oct 1979.

Rossland constructed at Vancouver Shipyards Ltd. Launched 14 August 1943. Commissioned 15 July 1944 at Vancouver. Patrolled coast from Esquimalt to Prince Rupert until paid off 1 November 1945. Sold to Vancouver towing company 1946 and renamed La Verne. Resold 1971 to US buyer. Still afloat as late as 1988.

St. Joseph built by Newcastle Shipping Co. Ltd, Nanaimo. Launched 14 Sep 1943. Commissioned 24 May 1944 at Nanaimo. Patrol duty Esquimalt to Prince Rupert until p.o. 8 November 1945. Sold for commerical use, Mexican-flagged cargo vessel until registry deleted 1988.

River-class frigate
The River-class frigate design was an upgraded version of the Flower-class corvette, remedying many of the Flower class' issues as an ocean escort. The initial vessels were constructed for the Royal Navy and were named for rivers, however, in Canada, they were named for cities. Canada was informed of the design development in December 1940, but the plans were not delivered until late April 1941. The design was too large to fit through the canals on the St. Lawrence River, restricting the construction of the River-class ships to three shipyards, all with direct access to the sea. The first fifteen Canadian ships followed the standard British design.

The frigates measured 301 ft long overall and 283 ft between perpendiculars with a beam of 36 ft and a draught of 9 ft. They had a standard displacement of 1445 LT and had increased flare and sheer forward to improve the vessel's dryness at sea. They were square amidships with deep bilge keels to alleviate rolling in heavy seas. They had a complement of 10 officers and 135 ratings.

The River class were powered by a steam created by two Admiralty three-drum boilers pumped to a vertical triple expansion engine turning two propeller shafts. The system creating 5500 ihp giving the ships a maximum speed of 20 kn. They had a range of 7200 nmi at 12 kn.

The first 15 Canadian ships that followed the British design mounted a single 4 in gun forward and one aft. The remaining Canadian ships mounted twin 4-inch guns forward and a single 12-pounder naval gun aft. The Canadian ships had four 20 mm cannon in two twin powered mounts for anti-aircraft defence. They also mounted four heavy machine guns. For anti-submarine warfare (ASW) the ships carried a Hedgehog ASW mortar forward and the frigates initially carried 100 depth charges, later rising to 145, to be fired from four throwers and two stern tracks and rails. Two of the throwers were located on the port side of the ship, and the other two on the starboard side. 30 charges were kept for the rails and racks and 32 for the the throwers.

The River-class frigates were equipped with the Type 147B Sword sonar and ASDIC which were used in conjunction to find submarines below the surface. The combination of the two allowed for the frigates to maintain tracking targets even while firing. For tracking surfaced submarines, HFDF was installed. HFDF searched for the communication signals of opposing submarines, which had to surface to communicate.