HMCS Elk (S05)
 HMCS Elk | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Canada | |
| Name: | Elk |
| Namesake: | Elk, a large deer species found in North America |
| Builder: | Newport News SB. Co., Newport News, Virginia |
| Launched: | 1926 |
| Commissioned: | 10 September 1940 |
| Decommissioned: | 4 August 1945 |
| Identification: | pennant number: S05/Z27 |
| Honours and awards: | Gulf of St. Lawrence 1942, 1944.[1] |
| Fate: | sold for commercial service 1945, scrapped 1968 |
| Notes: | formerly Arcadia |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Armed yacht |
| Displacement: | 578 tons |
| Length: | 188 ft (57 m) |
| Beam: | 27 ft (8.2 m) |
| Draught: | 11 ft (3.4 m) |
| Propulsion: |
|
| Speed: | 11 knots (20 km/h) |
| Complement: | 40 |
| Armament: | 1 × 4-inch gun |
HMCS Elk was an armed yacht serving with the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War. Prior to service with the Royal Canadian Navy, the ship was named Arcadia. She was used initially as a patrol vessel, but later saw use as a training and guard ship for submarines on the east coast. Following the war, Elk was sold for commercial use, renamed Grand Manan III and used as a short-haul passenger ferry before being broken up in 1968.
Career
Arcadia was built by the Newport News Shipbuilding Company, Newport News, Virginia and launched in 1926. After failing to acquire any British vessels at the outset of the Second World War for auxiliary purposes, the Royal Canadian Navy discreetly searched the American market for suitable ships. However, American law prevented the sale of ships for possible use in the war to any of the belligerents. The Canadian Navy, requisitioned unsuitable Canadian yachts and had their respective owners go the United States and buy those ships the Navy wanted as replacements. Once the ships arrived in Canada, the navy then returned the original yachts and requisitioned the new ones.[2] Arcadia was one such ship and was acquired by the Royal Canadian Navy in 1940.
Following the ship's arrival, the vessel was sent to Pictou, Nova Scotia where a 4-inch naval gun was installed. Commissioned on 10 September 1940 at Halifax, Nova Scotia, they renamed her Elk, in common with the conventions where armed yachts took the names of animals native to Canada. The vessel was given the pennant number S05 initially, this later being changed to Z27.[3]
Elk was ordered to the America and West Indies Station after commissioning and arrived on 23 September. She remained there until 13 May 1941 when she returned to Canada for a refit. Following the refit, the ship was sent to Trinidad, arriving on the 2 December 1941, returning only the following May. Once back, Elk was assigned to Sydney Force, utilized as a convoy escort for convoys on the Sydney - Corner Brook run.[3]
At the beginning of 1943, Elk was sidelined for repairs and was ordered to Digby, Nova Scotia to be employed as a training ship and escort for submarine HMS L23, also assigned for training purposes. She remained in such a role for the remainder of the war, being paid off on 4 August 1945.[3]
Following the war Elk was sold to commercial interests and eventually was placed in service as a short-haul passenger ferry, renamed Grand Manan III. She remained in this role until being sold in 1968 for breaking up.[3]
References
- Notes
- References
- Macpherson, Ken; Barrie, Ron. (2002) Warships of Canada's Naval Forces 1910-2002. 3rd Edition. St. Catharines: Vanwell Publishing Limtied. ISBN 1-55125-072-1
- HMCS Elk at readyayeready.com, the history of the Canadian Navy