C-Class Destroyer
ordered from Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow under the revised 1930 Build Programme
On 9th July 1930. This ship was laid down as
Yard No 667 on 1st December 1930 and named HMS CYGNET on 29th September 1930 when launched on the same date as her sister ship HMS CRESCENT, also laid down on the same date
in 1930. She was the 19th RN ship to carry this name, introduced for a Pinnace
built in 1585 and which served in the engagement with the Spanish Armada in 1588- Build was completed on 1st April
1932 and the ship was used for a series of propeller trials to compare the
performance of an Aerofoil design propellers with that of the standard
Admiralty design. The results showed that the Admiralty propellers gave a 2
knot advantage in speed during the six hour trial. The ship then joined the 2nd
Destroyer Flotilla, Hone Fleet and visited the West Indies. Later in 1935 she was detached
for duty in the Red Sea for six months after the Italian invasion of Abyssinia. The ship carried
out Non-intervention patrol duty in the Bay of Biscay after return to UK and later was replaced in the
Flotilla by the new destroyer HMS HUNTER. She was put in Reserve at the Nore on 30th September 1936. This destroyer was transferred
to the Royal Canadian Navy and commissioned as HMCS ST LAURENT on 17th February 1937 at Chatham after a refit. She arrived at Halifax on April 8th and remained there
for a year until transferred to Esquimalt for service in the Pacific. In September 1939 she
took up her war station at Halifax.
B a t t l e H o n o u r s a s
H M S C Y G N E T
CADIZ 1587 - ARMADA 1588
- PORTLAND 1653
- HAVANA 1762 - GUADALOUPE 1810 - ALEXANDRIA
1882 - SUAKIN 1884 - SICILY 1943+ - ATLANTIC 1943-44+ - ARCTIC 1944-45+
(+ Awarded to HM Sloop CYGNET)
H e r a l d i c D a t a
Badge: On a Field Black a
Cygnet Silver on wavelets Gold and blue.
D e t a i l s o f
W a r S e r v i c e a s H M C S S T
L A U R E N T
(for more ship information,
go
to
Naval History Homepage
and type name in Site Search)
1 9 3 9
August
During deployment at Esquimalt nominated for war service at Halifax.
September
Passage to Halifax.
3rd - In transit of Panama Canal.
15th - Deployed at Halifax for convoy defence.
October
Local escort duties based at Halifax in continuation. Joined HM
Battleship REVENGE, HM Cruisers EMERALD, ENTERPRISE and CARADOC during Atlantic
passage for escort to Halifax. (Note: These British ships were carrying gold
bullion to Canada for custody.)
November to December
Halifax deployment for Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.
1 9 4 0
January to April
Deployed at Halifax for Atlantic convoy defence.
May
Nominated for transfer to UK for service in Western Approaches.
24th - Took passage from Halifax to Plymouth.
31st - Joined Western Approaches Command at Plymouth.
June
Deployed for support of evacuation of British and allied troops and
civilians from Bay of Biscay ports (Operation AERIAL). On release from AERIAL
transferred to Clyde for Atlantic convoy defence in
the NW Approaches and joined screen for HM Battleship NELSON.
July
Detached in response to SOS from mercantile.
2nd - Took part in rescue of 860 survivors from ss
ARANDORA STAR torpedoed and sunk earlier by U47. (Note: U47 was commanded by
Otto Prien who had sunk HM Battleship ROYAL OAK in a
daring attack inside Scapa Flow on 14th October 1939.)
August
Atlantic convoy defence in
continuation.
September
4th - Rescued survivors from ss
TITAN torpedoed in NW Approaches.
October
Atlantic convoy defence in
continuation.
6th - Deployed as Local Escort for military convoy WS3B (Fast) off
Liverpool with HM Destroyer DOUGLAS for passage to assembly point in Clyde
area.
18th - Part of Local Escort for military convoy WS4B with H M Destroyers
HIGHLANDER, OTTAWA (RCN), SAGUENAY (RCN) and SKEENA (RCN) for passage in NW Approaches.
20th - Detached from WS4B with Local Escort and
returned to Clyde.
November
Atlantic
convoy defence in continuation.
December
2nd - Rescued survivors from tanker CONCH (on charter to the Admiralty)
and HM Armed Merchant Cruiser FORFAR both of which had been torpedoed by
submarine attacks. (Note: Tanker had been with Convoy HX90. HM Destroyer
VISCOUNT also took part in rescue work.)
19th - Joined HM Destroyers KELVIN, KIPLING, OTTAWA
(RCN), Polish ORP PIORUN and Free French LE TRIOMPHANTE as Local Escort in
during passage in N W Approaches for military convoy WS5A.
22nd - Detached from WS5A with Local Escort and
returned to Clyde. (Note: This convoy came under attack on 25th by
German commerce raider and had to disperse.)
1 9 4 1
January
Atlantic convoy defence in
continuation.
February
Joined HM Destroyers ATHERSTONE, COTTESMORE and KEPPEL in Local Escort
for WS6A military convoy with HM Destroyer RESTIGOUCHE (RCN). Detached from
WS6A with Polish Destroyer, ORP PIORUN and above Local Escort. Returned to
Clyde.
March
Taken in hand for refit at Halifax.
April to June
Under refit. Nominated for transfer to
Newfoundland Escort Force on completion of refit.
July
Post refit trials and passage to St Johns.
14th - Joined 14th Escort Group for escort of convoys to and from
Mid-Ocean Meeting Point.
August to November
Atlantic convoy defence based at St Johns. (For
details of U-Boat deployments, weapons and tactics used in the Battle of the
Atlantic see BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC by D MacIntyre,
SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann, U-BOAT WAR IN THE
ATLANTIC (HMSO) and HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair.)
December
Transferred to 2nd Canadian Escort Group in continuation.
1 9 4 2
January to March
Deployed with Group for Atlantic convoy defence.
April to July
Under refit at Halifax. (Note: Surface warning radar
Type 271 was fitted. See RADAR AT SEA by D. Hawse for details of development
and use of radar in RN. Fire-control Radar Type285 fitted for main armament.)
Transferred to 1st Canadian
Escort Group.
August
9th - On completion of Post Refit Trials joined Group at St Johns,
Newfoundland for defence of Atlantic convoys.
September to October
Atlantic convoy defence in
continuation with Group. (Note: Convoys SC99, CN133 and HX211 were escorted by
Group.)
November
Passage from Iceland with ships of Group tin convoy
ONSS3 for escort from mid-Atlantic to Newfoundland. Sustained structural damage in heavy weather south of Iceland.
11th - Took over escort duty from British 4th Escort Group. (Note: Group
escorted Convoys SC110 without loss and ON143 with 1 ship sunk.)
December
Part of escort for Convoy ONS154 from Mid Ocean Meeting Point with HM
Canadian Corvettes BATTLEFORD, CHILLIWACK, KENOGAMI, NAPANEE and SHEDIAC. (Note:
HM Special Service Ship FIDELITY (Ex French ss LE
RHIN) was deployed as part of this convoy to act as a Decoy. See HITLER'S
U-BOAT WAR Volume 2 by C Blair.)
26th - Convoy under attacks by U-Boats of SPITZ Group. Three mercantiles sunk and one damaged
28th - Further sustained U-Boat attacks by SPITZ and UNGSTEM Groups. Intercepted U356 on surface and attacked with depth charges.
Submarine was sunk in position 45.30N 25.40W after two attacks. There were no
survivors. (See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp. Note: Sinking
of U356 was not firmly established until after May 1945. It was the only
submarine sunk in defence of this convoy.)
29th - Escort reinforced by HM Destroyers MILNE and METEOR. U-Boat
attacks continued.
30th - HM Destroyer FAME joined and took over command of the Escort. HMS
FIDELITY sunk by U435 during the continued onslaught of the attacking U-Boat
Groups. (Note: Commander G. Windmeyer, RCN had
collapsed from exhaustion.)
31st - U-Boat Groups withdrew. (Note: 14 mercantiles
were sunk during passage of ONS154. Following this disastrous episode three of
the RCN Escort Groups were given training at Tobermory used for working-up all RN escorts.)
1 9 4 3
January to March
Deployment with Group for Atlantic convoy defence in continuation. Group escorted Convoy HX222
with loss of 1 ship.
April
Atlantic convoy defence in
continuation including escort of Convoy SC127.
May
Deployed with HMCS ST CROIX, HM Frigate ITCHEN and three RCN corvettes
for the escort of Convoy ON184.
21st - Convoy under attacks by MOSEL Group of U-Boats. Support for convoy was being provided by US aircraft carrier USS
BOGUE and US Navy destroyers of 6th Support Group. Forced two submarines
to submerge with USS OSMOND INGRAM.
22nd - Detached from ON184 after U569 had been
attacked by US Navy aircraft. Found submarine sinking
and rescued 24 German survivors. (See U-BOATS DESTROYED and HITLER'S
U-BOAT WAR for details. Note: U569 was the first submarine to be sunk by
aircraft from a USN Support Group CVE deployed in North Atlantic for convoy defence.)
June to July
Atlantic convoy escort in continuation.
August
Passage to Dartmouth, Nova
Scotia for refit.
17th - Taken in hand for refit.
September to November
Under refit.
December
Passage to Londonderry after post refit trials.
Resumed service with Group for Atlantic convoy defence.
1 9 4 4
January to February
Atlantic convoy defence in
continuation.
March
Part of escort for Convoy SC154 with HM Destroyer FORESTER, HM Canadian
Frigate SWANSEA, HM Canadian Corvette OWEN SOUND and three other RCN corvettes
of 1st Canadian Escort Group.
10th - Detached from SC154 to assist mercantile and
sighted U845 on surface. Carried out attacks on submerged submarine using
depth charges and HEDGEHOG. Remained in immediate area
as these were unsuccessful. When U845 finally surfaced, engaged with main and
secondary armament. Submarine abandoned and sank before boarding possible. 34 of submarine crew were rescued by escorts. (Note: 119
rounds of 4in and over 2,000 rounds of smaller calibre
were fired. Radar Type 285 outfit was used for main
armament fire-control. See RADAR AT SEA and above references for details.)
April to May
Atlantic convoy defence deployment with Group
in continuation. Nominated for transfer to 11th Escort Group for support of
planned allied landings in Normandy. Joined Group based at Plymouth. (Operation
NEPTUNE - See OPERATION NEPTUNE by K Edwards for details.)
June
Deployed with HM Canadian Destroyers CHAUDIERE, GATINEAU, KOOTENAY and OTTAWA
in SW Approaches to prevent U-Boat attacks on Assault convoys to beachhead. (Note:
Ten Support Groups with aircraft from RAF Coastal Command took part in this
extensive deployment. See LANDINGS IN NORMANDY, JUNE 1944 (HMSO).)
July
Deployed with Group in Bay of Biscay for anti-submarine operations to
support passage of convoys and prevent transit of U-Boats.
August
Bay of Biscay operations in continuation.
8th - Under attack by glider bomb which was
unsuccessful.
13th - Rescued some of the 71 survivors from U270 sunk earlier in attack
by depth charges from SUNDERLAND aircraft. (Note: Submarine was evacuating
German personnel from Lorient. The survivors were rescued by this ship and HMCS
OTTAWA. See above references.)
September to October
Western Approaches convoy support in continuation with Group. Incidence
of defects increased and nominated for return to Canada for refit.
November
Took passage to Halifax for repair and refit. Taken in hand for repair
at Shelburne, Nova Scotia.
December
Under repair.
1 9 4 5
January to February
Under repair. Nominated for Local Escort duty
at Halifax on completion.
March
20th - Post Refit Trials.
April
Deployed with Halifax Escort Force for convoy defence
off American East coast. Nominated for duty to carry returning Canadian
servicemen from UK to Canada.
May
6th - Deployed as troop transport Trooping duties in continuation.
P o s t W a
r N o t e s
HMCS ST LAURENT continued trooping duties until October
1945. She was paid off on 15th October 1945 at Sydney, NS and reduced to Reserve status. After being
placed on the Disposal List in 1946 this ship was sold to International Iron and Metal. She was broken up at Levis,
NS IN 1947. This name was carried forward in 1942 when given to the sloop HMS CYGNET sold in 1956 and later
in 1976, it was again used for a Patrol Vessel deployed at Hong Kong.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of
HMCS ST
LAURENT
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
16/09/39
|
16/09/39
|
HX 001
|
17/09/39
|
30/09/39
|
23/09/39
|
23/09/39
|
HX 002
|
25/09/39
|
10/10/39
|
30/09/39
|
30/09/39
|
HX 003
|
02/10/39
|
14/10/39
|
08/10/39
|
08/10/39
|
HX 004
|
08/10/39
|
22/10/39
|
17/10/39
|
17/10/39
|
HX 005
|
19/10/39
|
29/10/39
|
25/10/39
|
25/10/39
|
HX 006
|
27/10/39
|
06/11/39
|
31/10/39
|
31/10/39
|
HXF 007
|
01/11/39
|
12/11/39
|
02/11/39
|
02/11/39
|
HX 007
|
03/11/39
|
17/11/39
|
08/11/39
|
08/11/39
|
HXF 008
|
10/11/39
|
21/11/39
|
10/11/39
|
10/11/39
|
HX 008
|
11/11/39
|
25/11/39
|
17/11/39
|
17/11/39
|
HXF 009
|
18/11/39
|
29/11/39
|
18/11/39
|
18/11/39
|
HX 009
|
20/11/39
|
02/12/39
|
02/12/39
|
02/12/39
|
HXF 011
|
03/12/39
|
15/12/39
|
04/12/39
|
04/12/39
|
HX 011
|
05/12/39
|
18/12/39
|
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
|
30/01/40
|
30/01/40
|
TC 003
|
01/02/40
|
07/02/40
|
12/02/40
|
12/02/40
|
HXF 020
|
13/02/40
|
25/02/40
|
16/02/40
|
16/02/40
|
HX 020
|
17/02/40
|
04/03/40
|
26/02/40
|
26/02/40
|
HX 023
|
27/02/40
|
12/03/40
|
05/03/40
|
05/03/40
|
HX 025
|
06/03/40
|
20/03/40
|
13/03/40
|
13/03/40
|
HX 027
|
14/03/40
|
28/03/40
|
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
|
02/04/40
|
02/04/40
|
HX 032
|
03/04/40
|
17/04/40
|
14/04/40
|
14/04/40
|
HX 035
|
15/04/40
|
29/04/40
|
22/04/40
|
22/04/40
|
HX 037
|
23/04/40
|
07/05/40
|
30/04/40
|
30/04/40
|
HX 039
|
10/05/40
|
15/05/40
|
08/05/40
|
08/05/40
|
HX 041
|
09/05/40
|
23/05/40
|
12/05/40
|
12/05/40
|
HX 042
|
13/05/40
|
28/05/40
|
12/05/40
|
12/05/40
|
TC 004
|
14/05/40
|
21/05/40
|
24/05/40
|
24/05/40
|
HX 045
|
unknown
|
08/06/40
|
08/07/40
|
08/07/40
|
OA 179
|
13/07/40
|
13/07/40
|
06/07/40
|
15/07/40
|
BC A
|
16/07/40
|
16/07/40
|
30/07/40
|
30/07/40
|
OA 192
|
03/08/40
|
03/08/40
|
23/07/40
|
04/08/40
|
HX 060
|
07/08/40
|
07/08/40
|
31/08/40
|
31/08/40
|
OA 207
|
06/09/40
|
unknown
|
24/08/40
|
07/09/40
|
HX 068
|
08/09/40
|
08/09/40
|
12/09/40
|
12/09/40
|
OA 213
|
13/09/40
|
unknown
|
02/09/40
|
17/09/40
|
SC 003
|
18/09/40
|
18/09/40
|
07/10/40
|
07/10/40
|
WS 003B
|
12/10/40
|
28/10/40
|
24/10/40
|
05/11/40
|
SC 009
|
09/11/40
|
09/11/40
|
09/11/40
|
21/11/40
|
SC 011
|
24/11/40
|
26/11/40
|
21/06/41
|
21/06/41
|
TC 011
|
24/06/41
|
30/06/41
|
11/07/41
|
15/07/41
|
HX 138
|
23/07/41
|
27/07/41
|
21/07/41
|
26/07/41
|
OB 349
|
01/08/41
|
01/08/41
|
26/08/41
|
27/08/41
|
TC 012B
|
01/09/41
|
01/09/41
|
08/09/41
|
08/09/41
|
CT 002
|
14/09/41
|
14/09/41
|
18/09/41
|
22/09/41
|
SC 045
|
29/09/41
|
04/10/41
|
28/09/41
|
05/10/41
|
ON 021
|
14/10/41
|
14/10/41
|
23/10/41
|
02/11/41
|
SC 051
|
04/11/41
|
09/11/41
|
03/11/41
|
10/11/41
|
ON 033
|
13/11/41
|
23/11/41
|
04/12/41
|
06/12/41
|
SC 058
|
15/12/41
|
21/12/41
|
19/12/41
|
26/12/41
|
ON 048
|
unknown
|
31/12/41
|
13/01/42
|
13/01/42
|
HX 170
|
16/01/42
|
28/01/42
|
17/01/42
|
20/01/42
|
SC 065
|
29/01/42
|
04/02/42
|
01/02/42
|
06/02/42
|
ON 062
|
15/02/42
|
15/02/42
|
28/02/42
|
07/03/42
|
SC 072
|
16/03/42
|
17/03/42
|
29/03/42
|
30/03/42
|
ON 081
|
09/04/42
|
09/04/42
|
06/08/42
|
15/08/42
|
ON 119
|
20/08/42
|
20/08/42
|
12/08/42
|
20/08/42
|
ON 121
|
22/08/42
|
27/08/42
|
16/08/42
|
26/08/42
|
ON 122
|
29/08/42
|
03/09/42
|
29/08/42
|
30/08/42
|
ON 126
|
13/09/42
|
18/09/42
|
25/09/42
|
26/09/42
|
ON 133
|
06/10/42
|
11/10/42
|
01/11/42
|
09/11/42
|
ON 143
|
13/11/42
|
16/11/42
|
17/11/42
|
24/11/42
|
SC 110
|
06/12/42
|
06/12/42
|
18/12/42
|
19/12/42
|
ON 154
|
unknown
|
12/01/43
|
18/02/43
|
24/02/43
|
HX 227
|
05/03/43
|
06/03/43
|
28/03/43
|
05/04/43
|
ONS 002
|
14/04/43
|
19/04/43
|
16/04/43
|
20/04/43
|
SC 127
|
02/05/43
|
03/05/43
|
15/05/43
|
16/05/43
|
ON 184
|
25/05/43
|
31/05/43
|
31/05/43
|
06/06/43
|
HX 242
|
14/06/43
|
15/06/43
|
24/06/43
|
25/06/43
|
ON 190
|
03/07/43
|
09/07/43
|
08/07/43
|
14/07/43
|
HX 247
|
21/07/43
|
22/07/43
|
31/07/43
|
03/08/43
|
ON 195
|
08/08/43
|
13/08/43
|
22/01/44
|
27/01/44
|
HX 276
|
06/02/44
|
07/02/44
|
14/02/44
|
15/02/44
|
ON 224
|
26/02/44
|
02/03/44
|
28/02/44
|
02/03/44
|
SC 154
|
15/03/44
|
15/03/44
|
28/03/44
|
29/03/44
|
ONS 032
|
13/04/44
|
18/04/44
|
12/04/44
|
22/04/44
|
HX 287
|
25/04/44
|
26/04/44
|
18/11/44
|
19/11/44
|
ON 267
|
24/11/44
|
05/12/44
|
13/03/45
|
13/03/45
|
TA 193
|
14/03/45
|
19/03/45
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)