HMCS Chaudière (H99)

HMCS "Chaudière" (I) was the name of a H-class destroyer which was commissioned by the Royal Canadian Navy for use in the North Atlantic Campaign of World War II. It was a member of the RCN's fleet of River-class destroyers.

Career

Commission

Formerly HMS "Hero", the then seven-year-old ship was acquired from the Royal Navy and commissioned as HMCS "Chaudière" (H99) on 15 November, 1943.

Complement

The Canadian River-class destroyers were home to between 7 to 13 officers and 160 to 182 other ranks.

Crew

The following is a partial list of seamen who served aboard HMCS "Chaudière" (I) at various times from November 1943 to August 1945 . This list has been attained by searching through public records of the Canada Gazette ca. 1945, and/or personal accounts from veterans and their families (with permission):

*Badams, Harry - AB
*Bayford, George Charles - LS/Sig - "Leading Signalman"
*Boyle, Douglas Seaman - S/Lt
*Davenport, Wilfred - A/LCdr - "Commanding Officer"
*Elliott, Walter Alwin - CPO - "Chief Stoker"
*Hay, James MacMurray - Lt (Temp)
*James, Henry - PO
*Kaizer, George Murray - A/LCdr - "Commanding Officer"
*MacDonald, A D - L/Sea LTO
*Millar, Robert Beverley - PO/Sup - "Supply Petty Officer"
*Nixon, Charles Patrick - A/LCdr - "Commanding Officer"
*Richardson, Glenn Elrick - AB
*Webb, George Fitzgerald - Lt - "Chief Engineer"

Combat

Under the command of Acting Lieutenant Commander Charles Patrick Nixon, the ship and crew were involved in several major actions in the North Atlantic; This included combat in the Bay of Biscay and providing support during the D-Day Invasion on June 6, 1944.

A/LtCdr Nixon received the Distinguished Service Cross for his leadership and bravery during his 16-month tenure aboard the ship; The entry for this distinction in the Canada Gazette, 16 June 1945, describes some of the combat situations that Nixon and his crew encountered: :"While in command of HMCS Chaudiere, this Officer assisted in the destruction of one U-Boat and the probable destruction of another. During the period May to December 1944, HMCS Chaudiere experienced difficult conditions in the English Channel, the Bay of Biscay, and the North Atlantic, when she was handled in a most loyal and efficient manner. Lieutenant-Commander Nixon displayed outstanding coolness and ability in action with enemy submarines, with aircraft, when under fire of shore batteries, and during a bombardment at Concarneau. His leadership, unfailing cheerfulness, outstanding skill and devotion to duty were responsible for a most efficient ship. This Office was awarded a Mention in Dispatches on two different occasions: 18 July 1944 and 5 December 1944."

As partially mentioned in the dispatch, HMCS "Chaudière" (I) and her crew were involved in the sinking of U-Boats on three separate occasions:

U-744

On 6 March, 1944 at 1830 hrs, the German U-Boat "U-744" was sunk in the North Atlantic, in position coord|52.01|-22.37. It was initially torpedoed by the British I-class destroyer HMS "Icarus" and an unsuccessful attempt was made at towing the submarine to port. The U-Boat was subsequently sunk by depth charges from HMS "Icarus", Canadian corvettes HMCS "Chilliwack" and HMCS "Fennel", Canadian frigate HMCS "St. Catharines", Canadian destroyers HMCS "Chaudière" (I) and HMCS "Gatineau", and the British corvette HMS "Kenilworth Castle". This fleet of ships was known as the "C-2 Support Group".

The sinking of U-744 is described in Chapter 34 of "The Canadian Naval Chronicle 1939-1945" (McKee, 2000):

"HMCS Gatineau had to break off the attack but Chilliwack, Fennel and St. Catherines stayed right on throughout the action almost from the moment of its first appearance until it finally broke surface. HMCS Chilliwack was the first to spot it when it did come up, and closed in a full speed. Soon the other vessels were pouring fire around the U-Boat which was so concentrated that the U-Boat crew never had a chance to man its guns. The first salvo from Chilliwack's 4 inch gun wiped out a twin mounting right off the conning tower and killed the U-Boat captain who was the first to emerge from the hatch. HMCS Chaudiere rescued German submariners and the Canadians who were thrown into the water when three of the motorboats and whalers launched to rescue the submariners were overturned in the waves."

Many sailors were awarded Mentioned in Despatches for the effort; The entry in the Canada Gazette and London Gazette read as follows: "For outstanding leadership, skill and devotion to duty in HMS Icarus and H.M. Canadian Ships Chilliwack, Chaudiere, Fennel, Gatineau and St. Catherines in a successful operation against a U-Boat."

U-621

On 18 August, 1944 the German submarine "U-621" was encountered in the Bay of Biscay near La Rochelle. The U-Boat was sunk at coord|45.52|-02.36 by depth charges from Canadian destroyers HMCS "Ottawa" (II), HMCS "Kootenay" and HMCS "Chaudière" (I).

A/LCdr Nixon along with several crew members were awarded a MID "For services in destroying an enemy submarine on 18-19th August 1944."

U-984

On 20 August, 1944 the German U-Boat "U-984" was encountered in the Bay of Biscay, West of Brest. The submarine was sunk in position 48.16N, 05.33W by depth charges from HMCS "Ottawa" (II), HMCS "Kootenay" and HMCS "Chaudière" (I). It was the same fleet of Canadian destroyers that had sunk "U-621" two days previous.

Decommission

After a successful career at sea, HMCS "Chaudière" (I) was decommissioned and paid off on 17 August, 1945, A/LCdr George M. Kaizer was last to command. The vessel and its remaining parts were sold by the RCN for scrap on 19 March 1946.

References

* Fraser M. McKee, "Canadian Naval Chronicle, 1939-1945" (Vanwell Publishing Limited, May 2000) ISBN 1551250179
* Niestle, Axel, "German U-Boat Losses During World War II" (United States Naval Inst., 1998) ISBN 1557506418

ee also

*HMS "Hero"
*Royal Canadian Navy
*List of ships of the Canadian Navy
*Battle of the Atlantic (1939-1945)

External links

* [http://uboat.net/allies/warships/listing.html?navy=HMCS The RCN during WWII @ uboat.net]
* [http://www.hazegray.org/navhist/canada/ww2/ WWII Canadian Ship Listing]
* [http://www.rcnvr.com/ Awards to the Canadian Navy]
* [http://canadagazette.gc.ca/index-e.html The Canadian Gazette]