HMCS Ottawa (H31)

HMCS "Ottawa (H31)" was purchased by the Royal Canadian Navy on 20 March 1943 and commissioned into the RCN on 7 April 1943.

She had previously served with the Royal Navy as HMS "Griffin" (H31).

Royal Navy service

She began life in 1935 as HMS "Griffin" (H31) and served for 8 years before her transfer and commissioning into the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) as a replacement for HMCS "Ottawa" (H60).

Royal Canadian Navy service

HMCS "Ottawa" (H31) joined the Mid-Ocean escort force in April 1943 as an escort between St. John's, Newfoundland, and Derry, Northern Ireland. On April 25 1944, "Ottawa" was transferred to a "Hunter Killer" group of Canadian destroyers. As senior ship in EG-11 she led HMC ships "Kootenay", "Chaudiere", "Gatineau", and "St. Laurent". On D-Day, the EG-11 participated in "Operation Neptune" as anti-submarine pickets, 25 miles east of Plymouth, England.

On 6 July 1944, "Ottawa" and "Kootenay" were detached from a convoy to assist the "Statice" with a submarine contact off Beachy Head, Sussex. As "Ottawa" swept the area, she gained sonar contact and attacked with depth charges. Shortly afterwards, large amounts of debris appeared on the surface, including caps marked U-678. Post war investigations credited "Ottawa" with two additional submarine kills, U-621 and U-984. In total "Ottawa" and her group were credited with the sinking of five U-Boats.

In September 1944, "Ottawa" returned to Canada for refit. In May 1945, she was declared surplus and turned over to the War Assets Corporation for disposal.

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