CCGS Labrador

Early history

Throughout the first half of the twentieth century, the Canadian government made limited exploration within the vast Arctic coast it laid claim to, largely because it lacked the capacity to make forays into much of this remote terrain. Labrador was conceived as Canada's first modern, powerful icebreaking vessel, which could help meet national defence needs in the high Arctic but also explore the vast area and its rich resources.

Labrador was built in the Marine Industries LTD yards in Sorel, Quebec She was laid down 18 Nov. 1949 and launched 14 Dec. 1951. The builder used modified plans from the just-completed Wind-class icebreakers of the United States Coast Guard. The ship was modified to include then state-of-the-art scientific equipment changing her from a purely military patrol vessel to a self-sufficient explorer—an elaborately equipped floating laboratory, hospital, transport, rescue ship and school. Labrador also trained Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) cadets; with college instructors included in crew. At the time of her commissioning Labrador was the worlds most advanced icebreaker, with Denny Brown gyro stabilizers, and full bridge control of her diesel engines. She was the RCN's first fully diesel-electric vessel, with six 2000 HP engine/generators driving a 5,000 SHP motor on each shaft. Labrador was equipped with starboard and port heeling tanks with 40,000 gallons per minute transfer capability, which facilitated icebreaking operations.

On 10 July 1954 Labrador departed Sorel, Quebec, en route to her new homeport in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Whilst underway the vessel experienced engine troubles (lowered oil pressure), between Sorel and Quebec City, Quebec. Further difficulty was experienced in the Richelieu river, where she developed steering gear problems which were fixed. Labrador arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia on 14 July 1954.

Northwest Passage voyage

Labrador set sail on her maiden voyage on 23 July 1954 from Halifax, Nova Scotia, bound for the Labrador Sea. Over the next summer the vessel worked her way through Canada's Arctic archipelago from east to west, conducting hydrographic soundings, resupplying RCMP outposts and deploying assorted scientific and geological teams. Her rendezvous with her American sister-ships USCGC Northwind and USCGC Burton Island off the coast of Melville Island on 25 August 1954 marked the first time American and Canadian Government ships had met in the Arctic from the east and west. During the rendezvous, the crews visited with one another. The three ships surveyed the Beaufort Sea together until the end of September 1954, at which point Labrador headed for the base of Canada's Pacific fleet at Esquimalt, British Columbia. Labrador then became the first large vessel to transit the Northwest Passage. Upon sailing down the west coast of the United States, through the Panama Canal and back to Halifax, Nova Scotia on 21 November 1954; Labrador also became the first ship to circumnavigate North America in a single voyage.

Career

In January 1955 Labrador underwent refit. The remainder of Labrador's early career involved considerable work on the Distant Early Warning Line (DEW Line) project. From June to September 1955, she led a task group of 14 Canadian and American ships delivering thousands of tons of supplies for DEW Line sites under construction in the Foxe Basin area of the eastern Arctic, and in following years continued to provide icebreaking and operational support.

In 1956, Captain T.C. Pullen RCN, sailed Labrador on an expedition through the Northwest Passage. Labrador sailed west through the Prince of Wales Strait, re-tracing the 1944 route of RCMPV St. Roch, which was commanded by Captain Henry A. Larsen, RCMP. Labrador then conducted extensive surveys in the areas of Prince of Wales Strait, including; Somerset Island, and Prince Regent Inlet. Labrador used her helicopters to establish triangulation points on the shore for the survey.

During this voyage Labrador recovered two Admiralty Pattern anchors on "Fury Beach" of Somerset Island (Nunavut), which were left there in 1825 by the crew of HMS Fury. Fury, with HMS Hecla, both commanded by Rear Admiral Sir William Edward Parry, RN, FRS (who then held the rank of Commander, RN); left the anchors, stores, boats, and other useful items there, as Fury was beset and had to be abandoned. The gear was left there for future explorers to use, and because there was no space in Hecla for the equipment. The cache left by Hecla did indeed prove useful to mariners years later. The anchors remained as landmarks for navigators for 136 years. Labrador transported the artifacts to Halifax, and they were placed in the Maritime Command Museum (1961). In 1972 Fury's anchors were moved to CCG Base Dartmouth Nova Scotia. In 1981 the anchors were removed to the Canadian Coast Guard College at Sydney, Nova Scotia, in 1991 the relics were prepared to be part of a popular exhibit. The anchors were donated by MARCOM on 6 May 1998 to the Collège militaire royal de Saint-Jean at Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec. The anchors are displayed at the northeastern corner of the parade square, and are in the custody of le Musèe du Fort Saint-Jean.

Labrador was transferred to civilian control in 1957, and operated within the Department of Transport (DOT) during the four years before the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) was formally established. She continued to serve the CCG for 29 years, before being sold for scrap in 1987.

Pogo (YFL-104), HMCS Labrador's hydrographic sounding craft was obtained by the Outaouais Branch of the Navy League of Canada from the Canadian War Museum in 2005. Pogo, a 36-ft all-welded aluminum motor boat constructed in 1954, is used in Royal Canadian Sea Cadets Program support.

Ship's History