Name Comox Commissioned 2 April 1954 Identification MCB 146 Launched 24 April 1952 Draft 2.4 m | Laid down 8 June 1951 Decommissioned 11 September 1957 Construction started 8 June 1951 Length 46 m | |
Builder Victoria Machinery Depot, Victoria | ||
HMCS Comox was a Bay-class minesweeper built for the Royal Canadian Navy during the Cold War. The vessel was named for Comox Harbour, a bay in British Columbia. The minesweeper was later transferred to the Turkish Navy where she was renamed Tirebolu and served until 1996.
Contents
Comox was laid down on 8 June 1951 by Victoria Machinery Depot at Victoria with the yard number 53 and launched on 24 April 1952. The vessel was commissioned into the Royal Canadian Navy on 2 April 1954 with the hull identification number 146.
Design
The Bay class were designed and ordered as replacements for the Second World War-era minesweepers that the Royal Canadian Navy operated at the time. Similar to the Ton-class minesweeper, they were constructed of wood planking and aluminum framing.
Displacing 390 tons, or 412 tons deep load, the minesweepers were 152 ft (46 m) long with a beam of 28 ft (8.5 m) and a draught of 8 ft (2.4 m). They had a crew of 38 officers and ratings.
Propulsion and armament
The Bay-class minesweepers were powered by two GM 12-cylinder diesel engines driving two shafts creating 2,400 brake horsepower (1,800 kW). This gave the ships a maximum speed of 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph). The ships were armed with one 40 mm Bofors and were equipped with minesweeping gear.
Service history
Commissioned in 1954, Comox spent three years in service with the Royal Canadian Navy. The minesweeper was paid off on 11 September 1957. She was transferred to Turkey on 31 March 1958 and renamed TCG Tirebolu with the identification number M-352. She was sold in 1996.