HMCS MIRAMICHI

Caution: This article contains dated, biased and/or racist language. 

The three ships of the Royal Canadian Navy that have borne the name “Miramichi” were named for Miramichi Bay, a deep inlet on the east coast of New Brunswick.  The name is said to have come from a word used by the Montagnais Indians to refer to the country of the Micmac or “Micmac land”.

The first MIRAMICHI, a Bangor Class minesweeper, was laid down under the 1939-1940 shipbuilding programme.  Of steel construction, the ship was built in the yards of the Burrard Dry Dock Co. Ltd, at Vancouver.  Particulars of the ship were as follows:

Displacement: 672 tons

Length overall: 180’

Extreme breadth:   28’ 6”

Draught forward:   9’ 10”

Draught aft:   10’ 2”

Main engines: Steam reciptrocating

Maximum speed: 16 knots

Endurance at 11½ knots: 2,950 nautical miles.

The armament for this class was one 3-inch, 12-pounder, or 4-inch gun forward, as well as close range weapons and depth-charges.

HMCS MIRAMICHI was launched without ceremony in the waters of Burrard Inlet 2 September, 1941.  The naming of the ship took place the following month at a double ceremony which was attended by a large number of guests.  This was the launching of HMCS BELLECHASSE on 20 October, the christening of both ships being sponsored by Mrs. J.M. Smith, wife of Lieutenant-Commander J.M. Smith, RCN, the Extended Defence Officer at Esquimalt.

Little more than a month later, the ship’s company for the MIRAMICHI arrived from HMCS NADEN and, under the command of Lieutenant W.G. Johnstone, RCNR, the new minesweeper was commissioned under the White Ensign at Vancouver 26 November, 1941.

HMCS MIRAMICHI, like her sisters the CHIGNECTO and OUTARDE, performed the whole of her war service protecting Canada’s Pacific coast.  Her pendants, J-169, were almost as familiar in the countless fjords and inlets of the British Columbia coast as they were in the busy ports of Esquimalt, Vancouver and Prince Rupert.

As an active theatre of war, the North Pacific sea areas off the North American continent in no way compared with those of the North Atlantic, but after “Pearl Harbor” it was recognized that there was, at all times, a potential threat of attack by the forces of Japanese sea power.  As a result, MIRAMICHI, like the rest of the minesweepers, corvettes and armed yachts of the Esquimalt Force and the Prince Rupert Force, kept the seas in constant watch for enemy activity.  The treacherous inside channels and the open rolling Pacific were constantly patrolled and every submarine sighting report was promptly investigated.

The war over, the MIRAMICHI was declared surplus to RCN requirements and paid off at Esquimalt 24 October, 1945.  Two days later, she was handed over to War Assets Corporation for disposal.  At last report (1949) the ship was still in the hands of her purchaser, Union Steamships Ltd, lying alongside in Vancouver harbour in much the same state as when she had paid off.

The ship’s bell of HMCS MIRAMICHI, bearing the date 1941, now occupies an honoured place in St Peter’s Church at Birch Cove, Halifax County, Nova Scotia.

The MIRAMICHI, second of name, though a minesweeper, was of an entirely different class of ship had a length of 152 feet, a beam of twenty-eight feet and drew 8.5 feet of water.  Powered by Diesel engines, twin propellers drive her at a maximum speed of sixteen knots.  The ship’s main armament was a forty millimetre gun and her complement was five officers and twenty-nine men.  MIRAMICHI’s skeletal structure was of an aluminum alloy, the hull being wood planked.

The new minesweeper was launched from the yards of Saint John Dry Dock Co. Ltd, at Saint John, 4 May, 1954.  A very large gathering of official guests heard Lady Dunn, wife of Sir James Dunn, declare, as she christened the ship, “I will watch her exploits with pride wherever she goes”.

After fitting out at Courtenay Bay jetty, the ship soon became ready to join the fleet.  On 30 July, 1954, HMCS MIRAMICHI was commissioned at Saint John with fitting ceremony.  Afterwards, HMCS BRUNSWICKER played host to the new ship’s company and the foremen of Saint John Dry Dock.  At the same time, the Commanding Officer of the MIRAMICHI, Lieutenant-Commander J.L. Panabaker, RCN, entertained some two hundred guests at a reception in the Admiral Beatty Hotel.  Festivities over, the ship cleared Saint John for Halifax on 2 August.

On 3 August, 1954, HMCS MIRAMICHI, flying pendants MCB-150, joined the First Canadian Minesweeping Squadron.

Like her sister ship the CHALEUR, it had been known for some time that HMCS MIRAMICHI was destined for service in the navy of the French Republic.  Shortly after arrival at Halifax then, preparation were begun by the new Commanding Officer Lieutenant D.A. Scott, RCN, (appointed 12 August) for the transfer of the ship.

In accordance with the N.A.T.O. Mutual Aid Agreement, French seamen boarded the ship to muster stores 30 September and next day, 1 October, the ship was paid off and the French Tricolour hoisted.  The ceremonial transfer of the CHALEUR and MIRAMICHI took place at Halifax 9 October, 1954.  Prior to this, the ship’s bell bearing the inscription “HMCS MIRAMICHI 1954” had been inscribed “LA LORIENTAISE 1954”.  Both minesweepers sailed 23 October for the Azores escorted by the French Frigate L’Aventure.

HMCS MIRAMICHI, third of name (MCB-163), another Bay Class minesweeper is presently under construction on the ways of Victoria Machinery Depot Co. Ltd, and is expected to be launched 22 February, 1957.

The badge of HMCS MIRAMICHI is both distinctive and interpretative.  On a field of birch bark (with which the Micmac covered the frame of his canoe and wigwam) is a V-shaped device called in heraldry a ‘pile’.  This ‘pile’ filled with heraldic water represents Miramichi Bay.  Superimposed is a red triangle suggesting the Indian’s wigwam and this is charged with a golden porcupine which provided both food and decorative quills.  The ship’s colours are red and gold.