Annapolis class destroyers (1963)

Royal Canadian Navy – DDE-265 HMCS Annapolis, DDE-266 Nipigon.

The Annapolis-class destroyer escort were the last “classic” design going back to the 1950s St Laurent class, with just two ship built and in service with the Royal Canadian Navy and Canadian Forces from the 1960s to the 1990s. In the 1980s they were still were suited for anti-submarine warfare and rugged enough for the north Atlantic conditions. Both were sunk as artificial reefs on the east coast of Canada.

Design of the class

The Royal Canadian Navy initially wanted six ship for the Mackenzie class but in design phase, the last two ordered were so much altered they became their own class, completely modified to the later modernized the St. Laurent DDH design, named Annapolis despite the fact Nipigon was laid down, launched and completed earlier. This naming was only due to the pennant order. Initially both were repeat Restigouche-class vessel ordered in 1958. However, in 1959, these last two repeat Restigouches were altered to incorporate variable depth sonar and helicopter.
#265 HMCS Annapolis was ordered to Halifax Shipyards Ltd. in Nova Scotia on 2 September 1961, launched on 27 April 1963 and completed on 19 December 1964. She had her DELEX overhaul modernization on 15 September 1986 and was paid off ten years later on 15 November 1996, scuttled off Gambier Island in 2015.
#266 HMCS Nipigon was ordered at the same time, but laid down earlier at Marine Industries Ltd. in Sorel, Quebec on 5 August 1960, launched on 10 December 1961 and completed 30 May 1964. She had her DELEX upgrade on 22 August 1984 and was paid off on 7 July 1998. Like her sister she scuttled as an artificial reef, but off Rimouski, Quebec in 2003.

Hull and general design

The Annapolis class measured 366 feet (112 m) in length, a bit shorter than their predecessors, with a slightly larger beam of 42 feet (13 m) and draught of 13 feet 2 inches (4.01 m), a but lighter than the MacKenzie class. Initially the were displacing 2,400 tonnes (2,400 long tons) standard with a complement of 228. But this figure rapidly rose as they were redesigned as helicopter escort destroyers, and new calculations were made for stability. This was reflected as well in their simplified armament. The sihouette included the same flush deck hull with a well rounded, turtleback forcastle and prow, upper hull, with a blocky bridge and low, fully enclosed bridge (and small open bridge aft, a 1/2 level higher). The bridge structure which was as large as the ship, supported a small tubular mast supporting a platform and masts for all main arreys. After DELEX this was changed for a lattice.

The rear section was organized around the tall hangar and its integrated funnel and half-mast. The hangar size was tailored to house comfortably the CH-124 Sea King and service it. There was an elevated helideck with mousetrap. After of the helideck on the main after deck was located the Limbo ASW mortar (later eliminated). The torpedo Mark 4 projectors were located close to the bridge amidships. There were two utility boats on either side of the hangar and many NATO standard encapsulated rafts.

Powerplant

The ships were powered the same way as all previous class, with good and trusted steam turbines arrangement: Two Babcock & Wilcox boilers fed two-shaft English-Electric geared steam turbines for a total of 30,000 shaft horsepower (22,000 kW). No change from previous designs. This gave them a not so stellar 28 knots (52 km/h; 32 mph) in calm waters, but degraded in heavy weather (as well as conxumption rising steeply). 28 knots was problematic after the arrival of the November class SSN capable of 30+ knots and more so with the later Alfa and Sierra classes. As for range, it was 4,570 nautical miles at 12 knots.

Armament

The initial MacKenzie sub-class was armed with two 3-inch (76 mm)/70 Vickers calibre dual-purpose guns in a single turret forward. When the project was redesigned as an halicopter destroyer, the extra topweight of the helicopter and hangar soon forced a swap to the lighter US pattern Mk 22 3-inch gun. The anti-submarine warfare suite included until DELEX a Mk 10 Limbo mortar placed on stabilized mountings in a well aft and they had two Mk.4 throwers with homing torpedoes.
The 3-inch (76 mm)/50 Mk 33 was guided by a fire-control director atop the bridge superstructure, raised one full deck higher to see above this new gun mount.

3 in (76 mm) Mk.22 on Mk.33 FMC twin mount

The 3 in/50 Mk 22 dual-purpose gun was a 1942 developed caliber for destroyer escorts. It was installed forward, the barrels alone weighing 800 kilograms (1,760 lb) and they fired a 10.9 kilograms (24 lb) shell at 820 metres per second (2,700 ft/s). Their Mk 33 twin mount capable of 360° and 85° elevation was semi-open and placed in the ‘Y’ position aft of the ship. Each had a rate of 50 rounds per minute with a useful range of 13 kilometres (8 mi). The Sea King helicopter deck and hangar caused weight concerns, so this lighter US pattern was used instad of the British Vickers equivalent.

Mk NC 10 Limbo ASW mortars

Like the previous class they had a Limbo triple ASW mortar installed in a recess aft of the hull. The Limbo was a British-designed three-barrel mortar capable of launching a projectile shell between 370–910 metres (400–1,000 yd). These used stabilized mountings, to always enter the water at the same angle. Total weight for each was 180 kilograms (390 lb). Apart a few minor updates, the system was completely obsolete by 1980s standards was was eliminated in DELEX.

Mk.4 “K-gun”

The Mk.4 “K-gun” launchers replaced the earlier Mark 2 to launched homing torpedoes. They were installed on either beam, midship-aft. They fired the same Mk 43 homing torpedoes to increase target reach as their forebears. These US designed Mk 43 torpedo was capable of 4,100 metres (4,500 yd) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph).

CH-124 Sea King

The Annapolis class had a large, long range ASW helicopter with a midships helicopter deck and hangar with Beartrap. The CH-124 was a Canadian produced variant of the famous Sikorsky SH-3/Westland Sea King, also called CHSS-2 at the start. The CH-124 served with the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) and Canadian Armed Forces from 1963 to 2018 with 41 operated. It was declined into sub-variants such as the CH-124, 124A, 124B, 124B2, 124C and 124U.

Hangar on Nipigon

Sensors

The Mackenzies had the following suite:
SPS-12 air search radar: L-band, medium surveillance radar for aircraft and surface vessels, first AN/SPS-12 delivered in September 1953. Antenna: Truncated parabolic mesh fed by a massive feed horn, unstabilized vane. Signals shown on a PPI scope and A-scope for range. FRQ 1250 to 1350 MHz PRF 300/600 Hz pwt 4 µs/1 µs, PP 500 kW Range 200 nm (370 km), bwt 3°, 2.5 to 15 rpm.
SPS-10B surface search radar: Raytheon 1959 2D, C Band radar with a PRF of 650 Hz, bwt 1.9° × 16°, pwt 1.3 µs PP 280 kW
Sperry Mk.2 navigation radar: X-band medium range surface search, single curved parabolic reflector, vertical bwt 17°, on all RCN ships between 1950 and 1970, replaced by the Sperry Mk 127E. FRQ 9330 to 9420 MHz, PRF 2 kHz, pwt 0.25 µs, PP 30 kW Range 30 nm (55 km) accuracy 75 m, bwt 2°, 15 rpm
SQS-501 high frequency bottom profiler sonar
SQS-503 hull mounted active search sonar
SQS-502 high frequency mortar control sonar
SQS-11 hull mounted active search sonar
For all, see the whole suite on on hazegray.org/

Active Protection

ULQ-6 jammer: Deception transmitter.
WLR-1C radar analyzer: Used primarily for electronic countermeasures applications, in the RCN around 1967. Many versions and upgrades.
UPD-501 radar detector: High Probability Radar Early Warning directional finding receiver (in SHF radar bands). Receiver connected to a horn antenna assembly mounted on the foremast, connected to the receiver by RG55/U coax.
SRD-501 HF/DF: Receiver Operator and Maintenance.

Destroyer Life Extension (DELEX)

HMCS Nipigon in 1993, post-DELEX, showing her lattice mast.

The DEstroyer Life EXtension (DELEX) refit was a mid-life complete overhaul, in order to keep them active until, ideally, the late 1980s, scheduled to be replmaced by tnew planned ships such as the “city” (Halifax) class frigates with the “Tribals” making the interim. All previous classes (St. Laurent, Restigouche, Mackenzie) were impacted. This allowed them to fight modern Soviet submarines on better terms and to operate as part of NATO task forces.
Nipigon, the firts completed, had her DELEX refit in 1982, Annapolis in 1984.

This was basically the same sensor and communications suite applied to the ships, with notably installation of the tactical data system (ADLIPS) for better NATO integration and satellite navigation as well as the new Canadian Tactical Towed Array Sensor (CANTASS). This was a long-range towed sonar array (VDS) affixed to the stern. To support new sensors a lattice mast was built to support the AN/SPS-503 radar and upgdated AN/SPS-10D.

The sonar suite was also upgraded and notably by the AN/SQS-505(V) in a modified fixed dome below the waterline. Still, for their size and tonnage, if they had an impressive sonar array for detection, their combat abilities were pretty barebones. Outside their venerable Mark 33 US twin 3-in guns retained for self defence, the only ASW weapon left was a pair of triple US standard 12.75-inch (324 mm) torpedo tubes and associated Mk.44 or Mk.46 Mod 5 torpedoes. The latter were excellent, but they lacked a long range projection weapon (such as ASROC).

In concrete terms, this comprehensive upgrade gave them the following upgrade:
Simplification of armament, down to the forward FMC 3-inch/50 Mk.33 twin gun and two new US triple Mk.32 12.75-inch torpedo tubes firing torpedoes instead of the Limbo and Mk.4 torpedo thrower.
On the electronics side, they obtained the Marconi SPS-503 air search radar, Raytheon/Sylvania SPS-502 surface search radar, Sperry Mk.127E navigation radar and URN 25 TACAN radar. The sonar suite was modernized as well with the SQS-505(V) or SQS-510 hull mounted active search sonar and the SQS-504 VDS medium frequency active search sonar, as well as the SQR-19(V) CANTASS towed array sonar.
They kept however the UQC-1B “Gertrude” underwater telephone and Mk 60 GFCS fire control with SPG-48 tracker (GUNAR) for their turret forward.
As for active protection they kept the ULQ-6 jammer and SRD-501 HF/DF, but obtained the SLQ-501 intercept (CANEWS).

Career of the Annapolis class

Built at Halifax Shipyards Ltd she was Christened prior to launch by Mrs. Miriam Nowlan, wife of George Nowlan M.P. for Digby Annapolis Kings. After more work she was launched on 27 April 1963 and commissioned on 19 December 1964 into the Royal Canadian Navy under the pennant #265.

Annapolis was first assigned to the Maritime Forces Atlantic (MARLANT) and later Maritime Forces Pacific (MARPAC), swapping east for west coast. In 1965, Annapolis, while under MARLANT was ordered to sail to the Dominican Republic to assist the the US intervention. In 1970 she sailed with the destroyer Skeena and replenishment ship Protecteur to Manitoba’s centennial celebrations at Churchill, Rankin Inlet and moved to Chesterfield Inlet and Wakeham Bay.

As part of STANAVFORLANT in 1974. Annapolis is in the center. Note: There are very few pre-DELEX photos of the ships
She had the honor of a flagship in 1974 as part of STANAVFORLANT (standing NATO fleet, Atlantic). In June 1975 she rescued the crew of a Sea King lost at sea after a failed attempt to land on USS Julius A. Furer, and later recovered the helicopter to boot. In December she boarded five suspicious Soviet fishing vessels in the Atlantic, under illegal fishing, and then released them.

Annapolis enyering Pearl Harbor

Annapolis her her DELEX refit from 19 August 1985 to 8 January 1987 at the Saint John Shipbuilding yards, Saint John, New Brunswick. Right after she was plunged into her largest NATO exercise yet, Ocean Safari ’87. Later that year she escorted the royal yacht HMY Britannia on the Great Lakes. In the late 1980s she was the first to test the new CANTASS towed sonar array system before adoption.
On 14 August 1989 she was transferred to the Pacific coast (MARPAC), homeported to Esquimalt in British Columbia from 25 September. On 3–7 June 1990 she was part of a task group visiting Vladivostok in Russia as part of the detente between the two giants. In 1994, she took part in Operation Forward Action, the UN-sanctioned blockade of Haiti, arriving on 25 March. On 12 April she had an explosion in her port boiler (no casualty) but remained on station 30 days more before heading for Esquimalt and repairs.

This was not long as she was decommissioned on 15 November 1996 and placed in reserve until paid off on 1 July 1998, stripped and sent, laid up at CFB Esquimalt until sold to the Artificial Reef Society of British Columbia in 2008. She was sunk despite ongoing legal disputes on environmental issues, creating a new artificial reef in Halkett Bay Provincial Park, Gambier Island, Howe Sound, on 4 April 2015 under 32 metres (105 ft), and marked on mats as her top still ise just under 10.5 metres (34 ft).

Nipigon after DELEX in 1985
HMCS Nipigon was ordered in 1958 but only laid down after redesign on 5 August 1960 at Marine Industries Ltd. in Sorel, launched on 10 December 1961 and final work commenced under Cdr Donald Clark CD, also responsible of the hydrofoil HMCS Bras d’Orprogram. She was commissioned on 30 May 1964, penant 266. The wife of the then Governor-General Georges Vanier, Madame Pauline Vanier baptised her at launch and became her sponsor. In 1964 she escorted the royal yacht HMY Britannia on a tour of Canada.

On 18 October 1965 she had a fire in her fuel-handling room, killing one, seriously injuring several sailors, two of whoch will later died of their burns at the RN hospital in Plymouth after three days. Eight were evacuated to HMCS Bonaventure for intensive treatment.
Nipigon remained in the RCN/Canadian Forces Atlantic Fleet for most her career unlike Annapolis. She srved with Maritime Forces Atlantic (MARLANT) as a training ship. Wheb cracks were discovered in the boilers of HMCS Ottawa, they were both decommissioned for close inspection in 1981 (negative results).
In 1982, Nipigon made a SAR mission to located survivors from the collapsed semi-submersible oil platform Ocean Ranger due to heavy seas. She had then her DELEX refit at Davie Shipbuilding in Lauzon from 27 June 1983 to 22 August 1984 under $16 million.

HMCS Protecteur refulling Nipigon and the Portugues frigate NRP Almirante Magahlaes Correa

On 28 April 1985, she shelled and sank the abandoned fishing trawler Lady Marjorie, now a hazard to navigation. Thus had been approved by the Canadian Coast Guard. In June 1985 she took part in naval exercises in heavy weather when a 15-metre (49 ft) stress crack appeared, shearing 215 rivets in her superstructure. repairs were made but structural issues remained until 1986. On 27 February 1987, her CH-124 helicopter rescued the crew of the tug Gulf Gale which burned at Cabo Rojo (Puerto Rico). In September 1987 she was the second Canadian warships to receive servicewomen in her crew.

Nipigon in the exercise red star 91

She had a last refit at Port Weller, Ontario from 30 August 1988 to 16 February 1990. In August 1991 she took part in STANAVFORLANT. In May 1993 she was present for a commemoration of the Battle of the Atlantic in Liverpool and toured the Welsh coast. In 1995, she was tasked as a guard ship in the “Turbot War”. In June 1995, she intercepted the Spanish fishing vessel “Patricia Nores”, boarded her at the fringe of Canadian’s EEZ and seized 11 tonnes of unrecorded turbot catch, in a secret compartment.

Nipigon at the end of her life at Rimouski in 2003, waiting to be sunk.
She was decommissioned on 2 July 1998, sold for use as an artificial reef (see above), sunk in the St. Lawrence River, NE of Rimouski in Quebec, 22 July 2003.

Read More/Src

The Duke of Edinburgh visiting Nipigon when she escorted the Royal yacht in 1964, freshly commissioned.

Books

Barrie, Ron; Macpherson, Ken (1996). Cadillac of Destroyers: HMCS St. Laurent and Her Successors. Vanwell Publishing Limited.
Gardiner, Robert; Chumbley, Stephen; Budzbon, Przemysław, eds. (1995). Conway’s All the World’s Fighting Ships 1947–1995.
Gimblett, Richard H., ed. (2009). The Naval Service of Canada 1910–2010: The Centennial Story. Toronto: Dundurn Press.
Hadley, Michael L.; Huebert, Rob; Crickard, Fred W., eds. (1992). A Nation’s Navy: In Quest of Canadian Naval Identity. McGill-Queen’s University Press.
Macpherson, Ken; Barrie, Ron (2002). The Ships of Canada’s Naval Forces 1910–2002 (Third ed.).Vanwell Publishing Limited.
Milner, Marc (2010). Canada’s Navy: The First Century (Second ed.). Toronto: University of Toronto Press.

Links

https://www.navypedia.org/ships/canada/can_es_annapolis.htm
http://www.hazegray.org/navhist/canada/postwar/annapoli/
https://www.seaforces.org/marint/Canadian-Navy/Destroyer/Annapolis-class.htm
https://www.silverhawkauthor.com/post/royal-canadian-navy-destroyers-st-laurent-restigouche-mackenzie-and-annapolis-class-1950-1989
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annapolis-class_destroyer
http://www.hazegray.org/navhist/canada/postwar/annapoli/
http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WAMBR_ASW.php
http://jproc.ca/sari/counter.html
http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNUS_3-50_mk27-33-34.php
https://web.archive.org/web/20160316062540/http://shearwateraviationmuseum.ns.ca/ships/annapolis.htm
https://www.seaforces.org/marint/Canadian-Navy/Destroyer/Annapolis-class.htm
https://www.canada.ca/en/navy/services/history/ships-histories/annapolis.html
https://readyayeready.com/ships/shipview.php?id=1012
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/hmcs-annapolis-sunk-to-make-artificial-reef-1.3021329
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Annapolis_class_destroyers
https://www.hazegray.org/navhist/canada/rcnships/destroy/
https://shipshub.com/classes/273-2.html

Model Kits

None