RIVER Class

destroyer

RIVER Class
Characteristics:

Class
Built for RCN
"C" Class
"D" Class "E" Class "F" Class
"G" Class "H" Class
Ships
SAG.
SKE.
ASSINI.
FRAS. (Orig.)
OTT. 1 (Orig.)
REST.
ST. LAUR.
FRAS.
OTT. 1
MARG.
KOOT. GAT. QU'APP.
 
SASK. OTT. (2)
CHAUD.
Period
(Orig. / Final)
O
F O
F
O
O
F
O
F

O
F
O
F
F
Displacement
in tons
1,337
1,375
1,370
1,405
1,335
1,340
Dimensions
meters (feet)
Length
97.5 (320)
100.3 (329)
100.3 (329)
98.4 (323)
100.3 (329)
Width
9.9 (32.5)
10 (33)
10.2 (33.25)
10 (33)
10 (33)
Draught
3 (10)
3 (10)
3.25 (11)
3.2 (10.5)
3.25 (11)
Propulsion 2 shafts;
3 Admiralty 3-drum boilers;
2 Parsons Geared Turbines, 36,000 shp., 31 knots.
Crew Early War: 7 officers and 160 other ranks.                         War's End: 13 officers and 182 other ranks.
Radar (approx. year fitted based on photos)
Type 286
1942
1942-43
1942 (Ott)







Type 271
1942-44
1942-44


1943
1944-5
1944
1943
1943

Type 277





1945



1945
Type 291

1943


1943
1943
1944
1943
1943
1944
Sonar Type 124 (fitted to SAG. & SKE. in Autumn 1939).
Fire Control Unknown
director

Unknown
director













EW


HF/DF



HF/DF

HF/DF
HF/DF
HF/DF

HF/DF
HF/DF
Class
Built for RCN
"C" Class
"D" Class "E" Class "F" Class
"G" Class "H" Class
Ships
SAG.
SKE.
ASSINI.
FRAS. (Orig.)
OTT. 1 (Orig.)
REST.
ST. LAUR.
FRAS.
OTT. 1
MARG.
KOOT. GAT. QU'APP.
 
SASK. OTT. (2)
CHAUD.
Period
(Orig. / Final)
O
F O
F
O
O
F
O
F

O
F
O
F
F
Armament (No. of)
4.7" guns
4
2
4
2 or 3
3-4
3
3
3
3
3
2
3
3
3
2
2
3" HA guns
1


1
1
1

1


1

1


6 Pdr guns
(Hotchkiss)



2 (RE)






2




2
2 Pdr guns
2

2

2











20mm guns

4

6

6

7

6


6

6

Quad .5" MG





2
2

2




2


21" TT
8
4
8
4 4
4
8
4
8
4
4
8
4
8
4
4
DC
Twin depth charge rails at stern. Most or all of class later fitted with 4 Mk.II depth charge throwers at stern, with 2 Mk.X depth charges loaded in torpedo tubes.
Hedgehog
No
1 large
No
Yes No
No
No
2 small
No
2 small
1 large
No
2 small
No
1 large
1 large

Specifications given are intended to provide "snapshots" of equipment fitted when commissioned by the RCN (Original or "O") and at the end of the war (Final or "F"). However, due to the wide variations in equipment fitted to different ships at different times, this information may not be 100% correct. Radar information primarily derived from the study of photographs, and not published sources.

Ships:
 
 
Name
Pendant
Commissioned (RCN)
Paid Off
Notes
Built for the RCN
SAGUENAY
D/I79
22/5/31
30/7/45
Collision 1942, training vessel 1943.
SKEENA
D/I59
10/6/31
26/10/44
Wrecked in Iceland, 25/10/44
RN "C" Class
ASSINIBOINE
D/I18
19/10/39
8/8/45
ex-HMS KEMPENFELT, ex-HMS VALENTINE
FRASER
H48
17/3/37
28/6/40
Ex-HMS CRESCENT, Sunk 25/6/40
OTTAWA (1)
H60
15/6/38
14/9/42
Ex-HMS CRUSADER, Sunk 13/9/42
RESTIGOUCHE
H00
15/6/38
6/10/45
Ex-HMS COMET
ST. LAURENT
H83
17/2/37
10/10/45
Ex-HMS CYGNET
RN "D" Class
MARGAREE
H49
6/9/40
22/10/40
Ex-HMS DIANA, Sunk 20/10/40
KOOTENAY
H75
12/4/43
26/10/45
Ex-HMS DECOY
RN "E" Class
GATINEAU
H61
3/6/43
10/1/46
Ex-HMS EXPRESS
RN "F" Class
QU' APPELLE
H69
8/2/44
27/5/46
Ex-HMS FOXHOUND
SASKATCHEWAN
H70
31/5/43
28/1/46
Ex-HMS FORTUNE
RN "G" Class
OTTAWA (2)
H31
20/3/43
31/10/45
Ex-HMS GRIFFIN
RN "H" Class
CHAUDIERE
H99
15/11/43
17/8/45
Ex-HMS HERO


Notes:

The RIVER class was far from being a homogeneous class of ships, consisting of Royal Navy "C", and other similar classes of ships. SAGUENAY and SKEENA were the first ships laid down for the Royal Canadian Navy, and were adapted from the RN's "A" class. The rest of the ships were purchased used from the RN.

Most or all of the ships started the war off much the same as they were built, and their equipment was gradually revised as the war progressed. First to go was the "Y" mounting 4.7" gun (to make room for additional depth charge storage and Mk.II depth charge throwers) and the aft torpedo tubes (replaced by a 3" HA (high angle) anti-aircraft gun). In some ships, the 3" HA was later relocated to replace the X mounting. The aft mast was removed, but was later replaced with a new lattice mast to support a HF/DF (high frequency direction finder) antenna which was used in concert with other ships to locate U-boat positions when they broke radio silence. In some ships "B" mounting was replaced with a single Hedgehog anti-submarine mortar, although other ships received two smaller Hedgehog mountings to either side of a forward gun and retained both forward 4.7" guns. In some ships, the "X" mounting 4.7" gun was replaced with a relocated 3" HA gun. Several different radars were fitted starting with the Type 286 followed by the Type 271 and 291 sets. Two ships had their Type 271 radar replaced with the newer Type 277 set.

These ships were the backbone of the RCN's destroyer fleet throughout the Battle of the Atlantic. Worn out by the end of the war, all of the River class were paid off soon thereafter.

Photos:

 (click on thumbnail for larger image)

ASSINIBOINE
Notes:
1. 
1
2
3
4




5
6
7
8





CHAUDIERE
Notes:
1. A late-war photo of CHAUDIERE, showing her final configuration. She is missing "B" mounting, whose removal made way for a single Hedgehog ASW mortar. Her aft mast has been replaced with a newer lattice mast to mount a HF/DF antenna, and the Type 271 radar has been replaced with a newer Type 277 radar. DND photo, courtesy of Royal Canadian Legion "White Ensign" Branch.
2. An earlier photo, showing her in a similar state except with the Type 271 radar immediately forward of the main mast. DND photo, courtesy of Royal Canadian Legion "White Ensign" Branch.
1
2
3
4
Chaudiere
Chaudiere


5
6
7
8





FRASER
Notes:
1. HMS CRESCENT, the future FRASER, prior to her hand-over. This is a good example of the pre-war appearance of the class, with both forward guns present, the gunnery rangefinder just ahead of the main mast, and no radar antenna. DND photo, courtesy of Royal Canadian Legion "White Ensign" Branch.
1
2
3
4
Fraser



5
6
7
8





GATINEAU
Notes:
1. 
1
2
3
4




5
6
7
8





KOOTENAY
Notes:
1. 
1
2
3
4




5
6
7
8





MARGAREE
Notes:
1. DND photo, courtesy of Royal Canadian Legion "White Ensign" Branch.
1
2
3
4
Margareemargaree1.jpg



5
6
7
8





OTTAWA (1)
Notes:
1. The first HMCS OTTAWA, before she was sunk in 1942. This photo was almost certainly taken in September 1940, and shows her pretty much unaltered from her original configuration. Photo courtesy of Bjoern Rehnfeldt.
2. A pre-war photo of OTTAWA, showing her pretty much as built. DND photo, courtesy of Royal Canadian Legion "White Ensign" Branch.
1
2
3
4
Ottawa Ottawa


5
6
7
8





OTTAWA (2)
Notes:
1. 
1
2
3
4




5
6
7
8





QU'APPELLE
Notes:
1. 
1
2
3
4




5
6
7
8





RESTIGOUCHE
Notes:
1. HMCS RESTIGOUCHE, known as Rustyguts, was present during the evacuation of France, and rescued survivors of FRASER after she was sunk in a collision. She spent much of the war on escort duty, and patrolled the English Channel after she participated in D-Day. DND photo, Courtesy of Bill Croshaw.
2. RESTIGOUCHE again, in 1942. There is a Type 286 radar antenna atop her forward mast, and her aft mast has been replaced with a new lattice mast with a HF/DF antenna. Courtesy of Corvus Publishing Group./Canada's Navy.
1
2
3
4


5
6
7
8





SAGUENAY
Notes:
1. SAGUENAY is shown in in June, 1941. A Type 286 radar antenna is visible atop the mast. Courtesy of Corvus Publishing Group./Canada's Navy.
1
2
3
4



5
6
7
8





ST. LAURENT
Notes:
1. Not yet in her final configuration, this photo was probably taken around May 1944 based on her paint scheme. Her "B" mounting was later removed and replaced with a Hedgehog. DND photo, courtesy of Royal Canadian Legion "White Ensign" Branch.
1
2
3
4
St. Laurent



5
6
7
8





SASKATCHEWAN
Notes:
1. SASKATCHEWAN leaving St. John's harbour, with Fort Amherst in the background. Victor Borushynski photo, courtesy of Don Bjordahl.
1
2
3
4
Saskatchewan



5
6
7
8





SKEENA
Notes:
1. SKEENA in Bermuda in the 1930s. DND photo, courtesy of Royal Canadian Legion "White Ensign" Branch.
1
2
3
4
Skeena



5
6
7
8





Sources: 

Barrie, Ron and Macpherson, Ken. (2002). This Ships of Canada's Naval Forces 1910-2002. Vanwell Publishing Ltd. St. Catherines, ON.

Douglas, Sarty, Whitby, Caldwell, Johnston, Rawling. (2002). No Higher Purpose. Vanwell Publishing Ltd. St. Catherines, ON.

Freeman, David J. (2000). Canadian Warship Names. Vanwell Publishing Ltd. St. Catherines, ON.

Macpherson, Ken. (1985). The RIVER Class Destroyers of the Royal Canadian Navy. Charles J. Musson & Associates, Publishers. Toronto, ON.

ASDIC, RADAR, and IFF Systems Aboard HMCS HAIDA website by Jerry Proc.

Jane's Fighting Ships, various editions.

Back to the Canadian Navy - WW2 Fleet

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