HMCS COWICHAN (III)

HMCS COWICHAN, Third of Name, was, like the second, a “Bay” Class minesweeper.  She was launched at Yarrows, Ltd., Esquimalt, B.C., on 26 February 1957 and commissioned on 12 December of that year.  After commissioning, she joined the Second Canadian Minesweeping Squadron, operating out of Esquimalt.

During her commission, the ship was engaged primarily in training men in minesweeping.  But she took part in exercises as well, sharing them with other Canadian and United State ships.  In the course of them, she visited ports to the south, such as San Francisco and Long Beach, California.  She also, of course, cruised in British Columbia waters, calling at small ports en route, and going as far north as Alaska.

She was also present at ceremonial occasions, as, for example, the Review of the Fleet by HRH Princess Margaret and the presentation of colours to the First Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, by Her Majesty the Queen.  The naval ships formed an impressive background for the latter ceremony.

The minesweepers of the Squadron, including COWICHAN, were paid off on 28 February 1964.