Crest The Canadian Submarines
 

CC1:      and CC2:  CC2

These Submarines, originally named "IQUIQUE" and "ANTOFAGASTA", were built at Seattle for the Chilean government. However, the deal with the Chileans fell through, and on the eve of the First World War, these Submarines were purchased by the Premier of British Columbia, Sir Richard McBride.

The Dominion government ratified the purchase and on 6 August 1914 the two submarines were commissioned CC1 and CC2. This was chosen because of their resemblance to the British "C" class of the their Submarines. After three years of cruising and training on the west coast they were ordered to Europe, and on 21 June 1917 set sail for Halifax with their mother ship HMS SHEARWATER. They were the first warships ever to transit the Panama Canal under the White Ensign. Unfit for a transatlantic crossing, they remained at Halifax until sold for scrap in 1920.

CH14 and CH15: CH 15

These two Submarines comprised of the ten submarines of this "H" class built at Quincy, Massachusetts. H14 and H15 were on their way to Britain when hostilities ended for World War 1 and were routed to Bermuda. They wee presented to the RCN in February 1919 and commissioned at Halifax that June as CH14 and CH15. Scarcely used, they were paid off on 30 June 1922 and sold for scrap five years later.

U889 and U190 (captured U-boats)

On the 12 and 13th of May, 1945, U-190 and U-889 formally surrendered at sea to ships of the RCN, war having ended days earlier. Both were of the large IX C Type, built at Bremen in 1942 (U-190) and 1944 (U-889). They were almost immediately commissioned into the RCN for testing and evaluations. Following which on 12 January 1946, U-889 was turned over to the USN. She was expended in torpedo tests off New England the following year. U-190 was paid off on 24 July 1947 and on October 21 was sunk by Canadian Naval Aircraft near the position of her last victim, HMCS ESQUIMALT in April of 1945.

HMCS GRILSE:  Grilse Grilse

The GRILSE (SS-71) is the former United States Navy Submarine USS BURRFISH (SSR 312). She was loaned to Canada for five years and returned at that time. The GRILSE was commissioned into the RCN at Groton, Connecticut, 11 May 1961. The Submarine was originally commissioned on 13 September 1943 and conducted 6 War Patrols during World War II. After American and Canadian service she was sunk off San Clemente as a target on 19 November 1969.

HMCS RAINBOW:   Rainbow

The RAINBOW is the former United States Navy Submarine USS ARGONAUT (SS475), originally commissioned on the 15 January 1945. The ARGONAUT only conducted 1 war patrol during World War Two. On 2 December 1968, at Norfolk, Virginia she was transferred to the Canadian Navy and became HMCS RAINBOW (SS-75). The RAINBOW remained on the West Coast of Canada and conducted numerous exercises. On the 31 December, 1975 she was decommissioned and returned to the United States.

HMCS OJIBWA, ONONDAGA, OKANAGAN:

 

These Submarines all where built at H.M. Dockyard Chatham England. The OJIBWA the first commissioned 23 September 1965, the ONONDAGA in the middle commissioned 22 June 1967 and the newest arrival the OKANAGAN commissioned on 22 June 1968. After yeoman service of 35 years the last of these, HMCS Onondaga decommissioned in July 2000.


HMCS VICTORIA, WINDSOR, CORNER BROOK,  CHICOUTIMI:

 


The design was based on the Vickers commercial Type 2400 design and were intended to provide successors to the Oberon class. The 4 submarines saw very little service with the RN and were mothballed  in 1992. In 1998 The 4 Upholder Class submarines were sold to Canada.

HMCS Victoria formally HMS Unseen   (2nd built.)
HMCS Windsor formally HMS Unicorn   (4th built.)
HMCS Corner Brook formarlly  HMS Ursula (3rd built.)
HMCS Chicoutimi formally HMS Upholder (1rst built.)

HMCS Victoria and Windsor have been "Canadianized"  HMCS Corner Brook is in the process and HMCS Chicoutimi is in the process in conjunction with repairs taking place as a result of a major fire on board.







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