HMCS Moncton (K139)

HMCS "Moncton" (K139) was a Flower-class corvette that served in the Royal Canadian Navy.

Construction

She was ordered on 24 January 1940 from St. John Dry Dock & Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., Saint John and laid down on 17 December 1940. She was launched on 11 August 1941 and commissioned into the RCN on 24 April 1942. She is named after Moncton, New Brunswick.

"Moncton" was the last of the RCN's original 64 "Flower"-class orders and her construction had been significantly delayed due to heavy demands on her builder for priority repair work on war-damaged ships.

Wartime service

Following her commissioning, "Moncton" sailed to Halifax and was assigned to Atlantic Coast Command (AT) but unallocated as she was fitting out and performing sea trials for the remainder of April. In May she began work-ups with her new crew out of Halifax and she joined the RCN's Atlantic Fleet on 12 May 1942.

From June 1942 to June 1943, Moncton was tasked to Western Local Escort Force (WLEF) for convoy escort operations. During her assignment to WLEF, "Moncton" participated in the escort of the following convoys

In June 1943, WLEF was divided into separate escort groups and "Moncton" was tasked to EG W5 (HQ in Halifax) during June-July. "Moncton" collided with merchant "Jamaica Producer" on 28 July 1943. From August-September 1943 "Moncton" underwent repairs at Dartmouth Marine Slips, Dartmouth. She returned to EG W5 and operated in convoy escort operations from October-December.

"Moncton" was transferred to the RCN's Pacific Fleet in January 1944 and departed for Esquimalt, via Guantanamo Bay, Cristóbal, Balboa and San Pedro.

Upon her arrival, she was tasked to the Esquimalt Force (unallocated) and underwent an extensive refit at Vancouver from 5 May - 7 July, 1944 where her forecastle was extended and she was brought into line with the modified "Flower"-class design. From July 1944 to December 1945 she was tasked to Pacific Coast Command (unallocated).

Following V-J Day, she was placed in reserve status at Esquimalt and decommissioned from the RCN on 12 December 1945.

Commanding officers

"Moncton" had 6 commanding officers during her service in the RCN:

* Lt. Cdr. A.R.E. Coleman, RCNR (24 Apr 1942 - 11 Oct 1942)
* Lt. A.W. Ford, RCNR (12 Oct 1942 - 3 Feb 1944)
* Lt. Cdr. A.T. Morrell, RCNR (4 Mar 1944 - 3 Apr 1944)
* Lt. Cdr. R.J. Roberts, RCNR (4 Apr 1944 - 26 Jan 1945)
* Lt. W. McCombe, RCNR (27 Jan 1945 - 26 Jun 1945)
* Lt. Cdr. C.G. Trotter, RCNR (27 Jun 1945 - 12 Dec 1945)

Crew commendations

* Lt. D. Logie, RCNVR, for his leadership as Acting Executive Officer while in charge of damage control party following collision with "Jamaica Producer".

* D.R. D'Aubin, RCNVR, an Engine Room Artificer Fourth Class awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for his leadership among the engine room personnel who were successful in raising steam to reach port following collision with "Jamaica Producer".

Civilian service

"Moncton" was sold by Crown Assets in 1955 into mercantile service and was re-flagged under the Netherlands as the whaling ship "Willem Vinke". She was scrapped in 1966 at Santander, Cantabria, Spain, in 1966.

References

* "Ships Of Canada's Naval Forces", Author: Ken Macpherson, Published:November 1, 2002, Published By:Vanwell Publishing Ltd
* [http://www.convoyweb.org.uk http://www.convoyweb.org.uk]
* [http://www.warsailors.com http://www.warsailors.com]