HMCS Ontario (C53)

HMCS "Ontario" was a "Minotaur" class light cruiser built for the Royal Navy as HMS "Minotaur" (53), but transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy on completion and renamed "Ontario".

She was built by Harland & Wolff of Belfast; laid down on 20 November 1941 and launched on 29 July 1943. She was transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy in July 1944, and completed and commissioned with them on 25 May 1945.

She sailed to join the 4th Cruiser Squadron in the Pacific Theatre, but was too late to see active service, although she was employed in the operations at Hong Kong, Manila and in Japan. She returned home for refit, arriving at Esquimalt on 27 November 1945. She was used for training duties postwar until paid off on 15 October 1958. She arrived at Osaka for breaking up on 19 November 1960.

Later use of the name

"HMCS Ontario" became the name of a Sea Cadet Summer Training establishment located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, at the Royal Military College of Canada.

References

*Colledge
* [http://www.world-war.co.uk/index.php3 WWII cruisers]
* [http://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/4038.html HMCS Ontario at Uboat.net]
* [http://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/7950.html HMS Minotaur at Uboat.net]