HMCS Oakville K178, Flower Class, Short Fo'c's'le Corvette - page 1 of 3
Description
- Media Type
- Image
- Item Type
- Documents
- Description
- Information bulletin on HMCS Oakville sinking U-94 - source unknown
- Inscriptions
- Built in Port Arthur by Port Arthur Shipping Company. Keel laid 21st December 1940. Launched 21st June 1941. Proceeded through Great Lakes enroute to Atlantic Ocean.
Dropped anchor in Oakville on 5th November 1941 for the christening ceremony. Dr. Murray F. "Doc" Deans, Mayor of Oakville represented the Town of Oakville. Rear Admiral Percy W. Nelles, R.C.N., Chief of Naval Staff was introduced by Mr. Frank Pullen whose family had an outstanding connection with the Royal Canadian Navy. The Honourable Angus L. Macdonald, Minister of National Defense for Naval Affairs represented the government of Canada. Town Councillors and residents of Oakville were present. A naval guard of honour was provided by H.M.C.S. York naval headquarters in Toronto. Lieutenant A.C. Jones, RCNR, Captain of the Oakville received white ensign.
Commissioned in Montreal 18th November 1941. After fitting and trials in Halifax, made first voyage 8 January 1942 as part of the Western Local Escort Force (WLEF)
Following the Japanese attack on pearl Harbour 7th December 1941, U-boat attacks on all allied shipping in the Western Atlantic quickly developed and intensified with many sinkings in the U.S. coastal waters, the Caribbean, and later in the summer of 1942 reached even into the St. Lawrence River itself. Attacks on oil tanker traffic became so severe that gas rationing was introduced into Canada and a number of Canadian corvettes, including Oakville were withdrawn from the WLEF to protect and expedite oil cargoes from the Caribbean to Canada. The Royal Navy was also obliged to withdraw badly needed escort in the Caribbean area and adjacent waters.
At this time H.M.C.S. Oakville was commanded by Lieut. Commander Clarence A. King D.S.C, R.C.N.R. who had served with distinction in "Q-ships" in World War I.
In August 1942 H.M.C.S Oakville was part of the surface escort protecting a northbound convoy TAW (Trinidad-Aruba-Key West). The convoy was attacked by U-Boats in the southern approaches to the Windward Passage, between Cuba and Haiti. Four ships were lost in this encounter.
In the early evening of 27th August, (0257 GCT) H.M.C.S Oakville on patrol on the port beam of the convoy, discerned a flashing light on her port quarter about 2 miles away. A U.S. naval aircraft 92-P-6 (a PBY-5A) had sighted a submarine 3 miles astern of the convoy. The naval plane dropped 4 MKXXIX depth bombs set at 50 foot depth from an altitude of 50 to 75 feet, damaging the diving planes of the submarine and reducing its speed to 11 knots. The plane then sighted Oakville about a mile from the attack and flashed the "SSS" (... ... ...) (submarine) signal by Aldis lamp, then released a flare. - Subject(s)
- Collection
- HMCS Oakville - E. Stewart, Curator
- Language of Item
- English
- Copyright Statement
- Copyright status unknown. Responsibility for determining the copyright status and any use rests exclusively with the user.
- Contact
- Oakville MuseumEmail:oakvillemuseum@oakville.ca
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