Deployment for Op Projection

HMCS Montreal and MV Asterix departed on Sunday for Operation Projection in the Indo-Pacific. This is the first time an East Coast frigate will deploy for this operation, although Asterix has participated before. The weather for departure was cold and wet and will hopefully allow the crews to look forward to their southern deployment.

Montreal departing HMC Dockyard.

MV Asterix departing from HMC Dockyard.

Montreal is expected to be away until October 2023, while Asterix may stay longer and join up with the next two (West Coast) ships that will join Op Projection.

Salvage of the Maplebranch

On August 13th 1934, the Royal Navy's Danae-class cruiser HMS DRAGON was entering the Market Basin in the Port of Montreal. While trying to avoid contact with a third vessel, the also-maneuvering Saguenay Trader, DRAGON came into contact with the oil bunkering tanker Maplebranch, causing the latter to sink. At least, that was the defence provided by DRAGON's commanding officer, Frederic Wake-Walker, when he was later sued (successfully) by Maplebranch's owners. 

A partially-sunken Maplebranch sitting alongside in the Market Basin, with the offending HMS DRAGON in the background.

Maplebranch viewed from aft. 

The salvage was contracted to Foundation Maritime. Already sitting on the bottom and completely full of water, the salvage was somewhat involved. As the wreck was taking up valuable space in the port, there would presumably have been considerable pressure to remove it quickly. 

Salvage crews went about building a cofferdam around the ship so that the wreck could be pumped out and re-floated. 

With a cofferdam constructed around the aft end of Maplebranch, pumping begins. 

A barge consisting of a platform constructed on two large pontoons supports what I assume is an air compressor used in the salvage.

Another view of the cofferdam around the aft end of the ship and ongoing pumping operations.

Maplebranch returning to the surface as pumping continues.

The view from the other side of the channel. The deep sea salvage tug Foundation Franklin can be seen to the right of the image, behind Maplebranch. 

Once refloated, Maplebranch was taken in tow by two smaller harbour tugs.

Maplebranch now afloat, and being moved by two tugs.

Unfortunately, I am unable to find any further online information on Maplebranch herself, neither photos of her from before the sinking, nor whether she returned to service after this incident or was subsequently scrapped. 

In searching, however, I did learn about HMS DRAGON's then-commander, Frederic Wake-Walker. (links go to Wikipedia). The collision with Maplebranch did not end his career; on the contrary, from 1938-39 he was in command of the battleship HMS REVENGE, and he achieved flag rank as rear-admiral commanding the 12th Cruiser Squadron. He was later appointed rear-admiral in command of all vessels off the Franco-Belgium coast during the evacuation of Dunkirk, and later still was appointed commander of the 1st Cruiser Squadron, during which time he was deeply involved in the hunt for the Bismarck. He was promoted to admiral in May 1945, but died unexpectedly in September of that same year. 

Unconnected to all of this, but of local interest, REVENGE was a frequent visitor to Halifax over the years, and in 1940 (under a subsequent commander) she managed to run down (and sink) the Battle-class trawler HMCS YPRES, then being used as a gate vessel for opening and closing the submarine nets across the mouth of the harbour. 

Return from Operation Projection

By heading down for lunch on board HMCS SACKVILLE in HMC Dockyard, I was just in time to catch the return of Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels (MCDV) KINGSTON (MM 700) and SHAWINIGAN (MM 704). Both ships participated in a 5-month long cruise to Western Africa as part of Operation Projection. 

KINGSTON was already alongside when I arrived, and the crew were seeing their families for the first time in months.

Also alongside, and their crews manning the rails (of the outside ships at least), were VILLE DE QUEBEC (background), GOOSE BAY (left and aft of KINGSTON), and GLACE BAY (right and aft of KINGSTON).

SHAWINIGAN making her first appearance from my position.

Tugs alongside, SHAWINIGAN enters the camber.

The crew of GOOSE BAY doffing their caps to the arriving SHAWINIGAN.

Tugs easing SHAWINIGAN alongside KINGSTON.

Though small and under-armed (currently with only a pair of .50 calibre machine guns on the bridge wings), these ships still manage to provide useful service, and seem to be ideal for coastal missions showing the flag such as Operation Project along the coast of Western Africa.

Formerly armed with 40mm Bofors guns on mountings that could trace their direct lineage to the Second World War (the legendary "Boffin"), these ships were designed and built to be manned by the Naval Reserve and provide a notional mine warfare capability (or, at least, mine warfare training) along with other utility functions. While the 40mm gun has been removed from all the ships, and a remote weapons system trialed on GOOSE BAY not adopted for permanent installation, these ships have been deploying fairly widely in recent years, with the African coastal trips probably the most ambitious.