C-Class Destroyer
HMS CRUSADER was ordered with sister destroyer HMS COMET from HM Dockyard Portsmouth
on 15th July 1930 under the 1929 Build Programme. This programme was intended
to include a full Flotilla of eight ships with a Flotilla Leader but on 30th
January 1930 it was announced that only four destroyers and a Flotilla Leader
would be built under the estimates as part of the economies being made during
the depressed economy of that period. The ship was laid down on 12th September
1930 with the COMET and launched on 30th September 1931, the same
day as COMET. This destroyer was the 2nd to bear the name, introduced in
1909 for a destroyer built in Preston by Ward and sold in 1920. Build was completed
on 2nd May 1932 and she was renamed HMCS OTTAWA on 15th June 1938 after
transfer to the Royal Canadian Navy.
B a t t l e H o n o u r s
a s H M S C O M E T
BELGIAN
COAST 1914-18
H e r a l d i c D a t a
Badge: On a Field Black, a Shield silver, thereon a
cross Red.
M o t t o
Non nobis Domine: 'Not under us, Lord'
S u m m a r y o f P r
e - War
S e r v i
c e a s H M S C O M E T
1 9 3 2
April
Contractors trials
May
2nd
- Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials.
Commissioned
for service in 2nd Destroyer Flotilla, Home Fleet. On
completion of Acceptance Trials-worked-up in Home waters.
June to December
Deployed for
Home Fleet duties and took part in Flotilla and Fleet exercises.
1 9 3 3
Home Fleet deployment
in continuation with Flotilla.
1 9 3 4
January to
June
Home
Fleet deployment in continuation.
July
30th
- Taken in hand for refit by HM Dockyard, Portsmouth. Under refit.
August
Under
refit.
September
4th
- Carried out post-refit trials on completion of dockyard work.
October to
December
Resumed
Flotilla duties in Home Fleet
1 9 3 5
January to July
Home
Fleet deployment in continuation. Nominated
for detached service in Mediterranean. (Note:
Following the Italian invasion of Abyssinian with ships of Flotilla to
reinforce the Fleet in the Mediterranean at
Alexandria.)
August
Passage
to Alexandria. Nominated for surveillance of Italian
warship movements in Red Sea.
September to
December
Deployed with
sister ships of 2nd Flotilla in Red Sea.
1 9 3 6
January to
March
Red
Sea deployment in continuation.
April
27th
- Taken in hand for refit.
May
30th - Carried
out post refit trials and on completion took passage for this duty.
June to July
Deployed in
Home waters. Nominated for deployment for patrol
duties off Spanish Coast in Bay of Biscay (Note:
This duty was also being carried out by other ships of the Flotilla)
August
Deployed for
patrols to intercept traffic of arms to insurgents and for protection of British flagged ships Bay of Biscay. Assisted in evacuation of civilians from Spanish
ports. Returned to service in Home waters
on relief.
September to October
Home Fleet
duties with Flotilla including attendance during the post refit trials of HM Battleship ROYAL OAK. (Note:
Transfer to Royal Canadian Navy of ships of this Class of destroyer was under consideration by the Admiralty as the deployment
of a Flotilla made up of only four ships was presenting
administrative difficulties.)
November
Reduced to
special complement pending result of current transfer discussions. (Note: Sister ship HMS COMET was also subject to this
reduction.)
December
Nominated for
service as plane guard for HM Aircraft Carrier COURAGEOUS.
1 9 3 7
January to
February
Deployed as
plane guard to HMS COURAGEOUS.
March
30th
- Taken in hand for docking and refit by HM Dockyard, Portsmouth.
April
27th
- Carried out post refit trials on completion of dockyard work.
May
Nominated for
attendance at Coronation Review of Fleet at Spithead by HM King George VI.
Resumed duties with HMS COURAGEOUS.
20th - Took
part in Review with 141 other RN ships including eight battleships, two battle
cruisers, 16 cruisers, five aircraft carriers,
a seaplane carrier, 60 destroyers 22 submarines, five escort sloops, 20 minor warships, a Fleet oiler and other
auxiliaries.
June to December
Deployed with
HMS COURAGEOUS in Home waters.
1 9 3 8
January to March
Nomination for
transfer to Royal Canadian Navy confirmed. Plane
Guard duties with HMS COURAGEOUS in continuation.
April
Nominated for
refit and detached from HMS COURAGEOUS.
Passage to Sheerness for refit and transfer. Paid off prior to being taken in hand for refit.
28th
- Taken in hand for refit. (Note: Ship became responsibility of
RCN during refit.)
May
Under
refit.
June
15th - Commissioned
for RCN service and renamed HMCS OTTAWA.
S e r v i c e a s H M
C S O T T A W A
B a t t l e H o n o u r s
KOREA 1952-53*
(*
Awarded to HMCS OTTAWA (ii))
Awards during
RCN WW2 service are not available in Admiralty records.
July
Under
refit.
August
Carried out Harbour trials.
20th
- Deployed for post refit sea trials in Nore Command.
September
On completion
of trials carried out work-up with RN ships at Portland and in Home waters.
October
Took passage to
Halifax with HM Canadian Destroyer RESTIGOUCHE. (Note:
It may be assumed that ship complement was brought to required standard after
arrival.) Passage in
Atlantic to Panama with HMCS RESTIGOUCHE.
November
Passage
to Esquimalt after transit of Panama Canal.
7th - Arrived
at Esquimalt with HMCS RESTIGOUCHE to begin RCN service in Pacific.
December
Deployed at Esquimalt.
1 9 3 9
January to August
Carried out
training and patrol duties in Pacific. (Note:
RCN ships based at Esquimalt carried out exercises with those based at Halifax. During this period RCN destroyers were involved in
escort and guardship duties during the visit to Canada by HM King George VI and Queen
Elizabeth.)
D e t a i l s o f W a r S e
r v i c e
(for more ship information, go to
Naval History Homepage and type name in Site Search)
September
Prepared to take-up war station.
October
Deployed at Esquimalt. Nominated for Atlantic convoy defence
and took passage to Halifax. Took passage via Panama to Halifax.
November
Atlantic passage after transit of Panama Canal.
7th - Arrived at Halifax.
December
Deployed for Atlantic convoy defence between
Halifax and Newfoundland.
1 9 4 0
January to March
Deployed at Halifax for Local escort duties.
April
Involved in collision with tug BANSHEE and sustained structural damage
on stern.
May
Under repair.
June to July
On completion resumed Local Escort duties. Nominated for service in Western
Approaches with 10th Escort Group based at Greenock.
August
27th - Took passage from Halifax to join Group.
September
Joined 10th Escort Group in Clyde for Atlantic convoy escort.
21st - Joined Convoy OB217 as escort during passage to
Dispersal Point in NW Approaches.
25th - Detached from OB217 on arrival at Dispersal Point and took return
passage.
Rescued survivors from mercantiles EURYMEDON
and SULARIA sunk by U-Boat torpedo. (Note: OB217 had no losses
during escort and it is presumed they were sailing independently. These losses
are NOT recorded in HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair and may have been attacked
by an Italian submarine. Loss is recorded in Official List of Losses (HMSO) by torpedo. To
be further investigated.)
October
Nominated for refit. Taken in hand for removal of after bank of torpedo
tubes and replacement by 3in AA gun. Resumed deployment with Group
for Atlantic convoy escort.
November
6th - Took part in anti-submarine attacks on Italian submarine FAA DI
BRUNO with HM Destroyer HARVESTER.
7th - Italian submarine sunk after 24 hour operation. There were no
survivors. (See HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair. Note: This was the first Italian
submarine to be sunk in Atlantic.)
December
Atlantic convoy defence with
Group in continuation.
1 9 4 1
January to May
Deployment with Group in NW Approaches for Atlantic
convoy escort in continuation. Nominated for transfer to
Newfoundland Escort Group based at St Johns.
June
Atlantic passage to join Group on formation. (Note: Other
ships in this Group included HM Canadian Destroyer ST FRANCIS, HM Canadian
Corvettes LETHBRIDGE, PRESTCOTT and ARVIDA.)
July to December
Deployed with Group for escort of outward and inward Atlantic convoys
between Newfoundland and Mid Ocean Meeting Point in continuation.
1 9 4 2
January to April
Newfoundland Escort Force deployment in continuation. Nominated for
transfer to newly formed 4th Canadian Escort Group.
May
Passage to UK to join new Group. (Note: Other
ships in this Group included HM Canadian Destroyer RESTIGOUCHE, three RCN corvettes
and one British, HMS CELANDINE).
8th - Joined eastbound Convoy ON95 at Liverpool with
Group as escort for passage to Dispersal Point in NW Approaches.
17th - Detached from ON95 and took passage to St Johns.
29th - Joined eastbound Convoy SC85 as escort with
ships of Group during passage to Liverpool.
June
Detached from SC85 and returned to St Johns.
16th - Deployed with Group for escort of eastbound
Convoy HX133 to 30 degrees East. (Note: This was the fifth
eastbound convoy to provided with an escort throughout passage to UK.)
23rd - HX133 sighted by U203 and reported to U-Boat Headquarters
which arranged for reinforcement.
24th - Convoy under attack by U203, and U371 sinking
two ships. Carried out uncoordinated anti-submarine attacks with Group. Eastbound
convoy OB336 merged with HX133 totalling 65 mercantile
escorted by two RCN Groups.
Joint convoy under attack by U651 sinking one ship. Counter
attacks by ten escorts unsuccessful.
26th - Joint convoy under further sustained attacks
during which two ships were sunk.
27th - U556 joined attacking force and detected. (Note: This submarine was sunk
by depth charges from HM Corvettes CELANDINE, GLADIOLUS and NASTURTIUM of 4th
Escort Group.). Ship detached from joint convoy
with five corvettes and took passage to Iceland. (Note: Defence
of this merged convoy, which was the first carried out mainly by RCN ships, was subject to
criticism. See above reference for detail.).
29th - Group deployed as escort for west bound
convoy ON 105 during passage in Atlantic to St Johns. Detached from ON 105 and took
passage to St Johns.
July
15th - Group deployed as escort for east bound Convoy HX197 during
Atlantic passage.
17th - Group detached from HX197 on arrival at Liverpool.
26th - Group deployment as escort for westbound Convoy
ON116 during Atlantic passage.
August
Group detached from ON116 and joined eastbound Convoy SC96 during
Atlantic passage.
27th - Group detached from SC96 on arrival at Liverpool.
September
4th - Deployed with HM Destroyer ST CROIX, HM Canadian Corvettes
AMHERST, ARVIDA, SHERBROOKE and HM Corvette CELANDINE of Group for escort of westbound
Convoy ON127 during passage from Liverpool.
9th - ON127 sighted by U584 of VORWARTS Group.
10th - Carried out A/S operations with other escorts
during sustained attacks by U96, U659, U584, U484, U218, U608 and U92. Two ships in
convoy were sunk and others damaged.
11th - Carried out further operations against renewed
attacks during which another two mercantiles were sunk.
12th - U-Boat attacks in continuation and despite vigorous counter
operations another two ships in ONI27 were sunk.
13th - Air cover from Newfoundland arrived and many U-Boats driven off. U91 and U92
remained in contact and carried out night attacks.
14th - Hit by torpedo fired by U91 and sank in position 47.55N 42.27W.
114 of ship's company survived. (Note: For details of the defence
of ON127 see HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair.)
Special Note
This name was re-introduced
when HM Destroyer GRIFFIN was transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy on 20th
March 1943 and became HMCS OTTAWA (ii).
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of
HMCS OTTAWA
by Don Kindell
These convoy lists have not been cross-checked with the text above
|
|
|
|
|
Date convoy
sailed
|
Joined convoy as escort
|
Convoy No.
|
Left convoy
|
Date convoy
arrived
|
|
|
|
|
|
10/12/39
|
10/12/39
|
TC 001
|
12/12/39
|
17/12/39
|
22/12/39
|
22/12/39
|
TC 002
|
24/12/39
|
30/12/39
|
04/01/40
|
12/01/40
|
HXF 015
|
13/01/40
|
15/01/40
|
14/01/40
|
14/01/40
|
HX 016
|
15/01/40
|
28/01/40
|
30/01/40
|
30/01/40
|
TC 003
|
01/02/40
|
07/02/40
|
18/02/40
|
18/02/40
|
HX 021
|
19/02/40
|
04/03/40
|
18/03/40
|
18/03/40
|
HX 028
|
19/03/40
|
02/04/40
|
21/03/40
|
21/03/40
|
HX 029
|
22/03/40
|
04/04/40
|
29/03/40
|
29/03/40
|
HX 031
|
30/03/40
|
13/04/40
|
06/04/40
|
06/04/40
|
HX 033
|
07/04/40
|
20/04/40
|
10/04/40
|
10/04/40
|
HX 034
|
11/04/40
|
26/04/40
|
21/06/40
|
21/06/40
|
HX 052
|
22/06/40
|
06/07/40
|
25/06/40
|
25/06/40
|
HX 053
|
26/06/40
|
10/07/40
|
29/06/40
|
29/06/40
|
HX 054
|
30/06/40
|
14/07/40
|
03/07/40
|
03/07/40
|
HX 055
|
04/07/40
|
18/07/40
|
07/07/40
|
07/07/40
|
HX 056
|
08/07/40
|
22/07/40
|
19/07/40
|
19/07/40
|
HX 059
|
20/07/40
|
03/08/40
|
23/07/40
|
23/07/40
|
HX 060
|
24/07/40
|
07/08/40
|
27/07/40
|
27/07/40
|
HX 061
|
28/07/40
|
11/08/40
|
31/07/40
|
31/07/40
|
HX 062
|
02/08/40
|
15/08/40
|
04/08/40
|
04/08/40
|
HX 063
|
06/08/40
|
19/08/40
|
16/08/40
|
16/08/40
|
HX 066
|
17/08/40
|
31/08/40
|
27/08/40
|
27/08/40
|
TC 007
|
04/09/40
|
04/09/40
|
02/09/40
|
15/09/40
|
SC 003
|
18/09/40
|
18/09/40
|
21/09/40
|
22/09/40
|
OB 217
|
25/09/40
|
25/09/40
|
07/10/40
|
07/10/40
|
WS 003B
|
12/10/40
|
28/10/40
|
09/11/40
|
21/11/40
|
SC 011
|
26/11/40
|
26/11/40
|
17/02/41
|
24/02/41
|
TC 009
|
26/02/41
|
27/02/41
|
10/03/41
|
26/03/41
|
SC 025
|
29/03/41
|
29/03/41
|
30/04/41
|
30/04/41
|
SA 1
|
03/05/41
|
03/05/41
|
09/05/41
|
09/05/41
|
HP
|
12/05/41
|
24/05/41
|
22/05/41
|
22/05/41
|
WS 008B
|
26/05/41
|
04/06/41
|
16/05/41
|
28/05/41
|
HX 127
|
29/05/41
|
02/06/41
|
16/06/41
|
20/06/41
|
HX 133
|
27/06/41
|
03/07/41
|
02/07/41
|
07/07/41
|
OB 341A
|
15/07/41
|
18/07/41
|
07/07/41
|
15/07/41
|
OB 344
|
17/07/41
|
16/07/41
|
24/09/41
|
27/09/41
|
SC 046
|
05/10/41
|
10/10/41
|
09/10/41
|
11/10/41
|
TC 014
|
15/10/41
|
17/10/41
|
10/10/41
|
19/10/41
|
ON 025
|
24/10/41
|
24/10/41
|
28/11/41
|
01/12/41
|
SC 057
|
09/12/41
|
15/12/41
|
13/12/41
|
17/12/41
|
ON 046
|
20/12/41
|
21/12/41
|
09/01/42
|
12/01/42
|
SC 064
|
20/01/42
|
23/01/42
|
25/02/42
|
25/02/42
|
CT 011
|
05/03/42
|
09/03/42
|
29/05/42
|
31/05/42
|
SC 085
|
12/06/42
|
12/06/42
|
19/06/42
|
20/06/42
|
ON 105
|
28/06/42
|
30/06/42
|
06/07/42
|
09/07/42
|
HX 197
|
16/07/42
|
17/07/42
|
25/07/42
|
26/07/42
|
ON 116
|
05/08/42
|
12/08/42
|
11/08/42
|
15/08/42
|
SC 096
|
26/08/42
|
27/08/42
|
04/09/42
|
05/09/42
|
ON 127
|
14/09/42
|
20/09/42
|
06/05/43
|
07/05/43
|
ON 182
|
10/05/43
|
22/05/43
|
19/05/43
|
25/05/43
|
HX 240
|
03/06/43
|
04/06/43
|
10/06/43
|
11/06/43
|
ON 188
|
20/06/43
|
26/06/43
|
23/06/43
|
29/06/43
|
HX 245
|
05/07/43
|
07/07/43
|
16/07/43
|
17/07/43
|
ON 193
|
25/07/43
|
31/07/43
|
30/07/43
|
05/08/43
|
HX 250
|
11/08/43
|
12/08/43
|
26/08/43
|
27/08/43
|
ON 199
|
04/09/43
|
09/09/43
|
18/10/43
|
24/10/43
|
HX 262
|
02/11/43
|
02/11/43
|
13/11/43
|
14/11/43
|
ON 211
|
24/11/43
|
29/11/43
|
06/01/44
|
11/01/44
|
HX 274
|
21/01/44
|
21/01/44
|
30/01/44
|
31/01/44
|
ON 222
|
10/02/44
|
16/02/44
|
13/02/44
|
20/02/44
|
SC 153
|
01/03/44
|
02/03/44
|
13/03/44
|
14/03/44
|
ONS 031
|
25/03/44
|
30/03/44
|
28/03/44
|
02/04/44
|
HX 285
|
11/04/44
|
12/04/44
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)