HMCS Haida (G63)
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| Career | |
|---|---|
| Launched: | "August 25, 1942" |
| Commissioned: | August 30, 1943 |
| Recommissioned: | March 15, 1952 as DDE-215 |
| Fate: | Museum in Hamilton, Ontario |
| General Characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 2,000 tons |
| Length: | Length: 377 ft (115 m) |
| Beam: | 37 ft 6 in (11.4 m) |
| Draft: | 9 ft 6 in (2.9 m) |
| Armament: | 4 x 4in (102mm) guns; 2 x 3in (76mm) 50 caliber guns, 4 x 40mm Bofors guns, 2 x twin Oerlikon 20 mm guns, 2 x Squid antisubmarine mortars, 4 x 21 inch (533mm) torpedo tubes; |
| Motto: | |
HMCS Haida (G-63) is the most famous ship in the Royal Canadian Navy, having sunk more enemy surface tonnage than any other Canadian ship. Haida is the only surviving Tribal-class destroyer. Between 1937 and 1945 twenty-seven were built for the Royal Navy, Royal Canadian Navy, and Royal Australian Navy.
Operations
Haida was assigned to the 10th Destroyer Flotilla stationed at Plymouth in early 1944. She had an illustrious World War II career. She gained the moniker "The Fightingest Ship in the RCN." by reason of sinking 14 enemy ships during patrols in the English Channel and the Bay of Biscay. She was also assigned to two tours of duty in the Korean War.
Haida was paid off in September 1963, and brought to Toronto and moored at the foot of York Street. In 1970, when financial difficulties hit 'Haida Inc.', the Province took ownership and moved it to it's new home. She was then put on display on at Ontario Place Toronto where it was opened to the public in 1971 as an attraction at the Government owned theme park. It was on display until 2002 when ship was acquired by Parks Canada who undertook repairs to the hull and superstructure costing $5 million. On August 30, 2003, the 60th anniversary of her commissioning into the Royal Canadian Navy, she was moved to the city of Hamilton, Ontario where the Haida has become a focal point of a revitalized waterfront. Haida is part of the Canada Marine Discovery Centre, a National Historic Site of Canada.
Technical Details
- Class: Tribal Destroyer
- Built by: Vickers-Armstrong, Newcastle-on-Tyne, England
- Launched: August 25, 1942
- Commissioned: August 30, 1943
- Modernized: 1950-52
- Recommissioned: March 15, 1952 as DDE-215
- Length: 377 ft (115 m)
- Beam: 37 ft 6 in (11.4 m)
- Draft: 9 ft 6 in (2.9 m)
- Displacement: 2,000 tons
- Armament:
- 4 x 4in (102mm) guns;
- 2 x 3in (76mm) 50 caliber guns;
- 4 x 40mm Bofors guns;
- 2 x twin Oerlikon 20 mm guns
- 2 x Squid antisubmarine mortars;
- 4 x 21 inch (533mm) torpedo tubes;