HMCS Cowichan (MCB 162)

Cowichan seen derelict in 2014 near Sooke
History
Canada
Name	Cowichan
Namesake	Cowichan Bay
Builder	Yarrows Ltd., Esquimalt
Laid down	10 July 1956
Launched	26 February 1957
Commissioned	12 December 1957
Decommissioned	22 August 1997
Identification	MCB 162
Honours and awards	Atlantic 1941–45, Normandy 1944[1]
Fate	Converted to yacht 1999
Badge	On a field barry wavy argent and azure, a pale argent on which a chief's ceremonial mask traditional of the "Cowichan" type of the Salish, vert.[1]
General characteristics
Class and type	Bay-class minesweeper
Displacement	390 long tons (400 t) 412 long tons (419 t) (deep load)
Length	152 ft (46 m)
Beam	28 ft (8.5 m)
Draught	8 ft (2.4 m)
Propulsion	2 shafts, 2 GM 12-cylinder diesels, 2,400 bhp (1,800 kW)
Speed	16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Range	3,290 nmi (6,090 km; 3,790 mi) at 12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Complement	38
Armament	1 × 40 mm Bofors gun

HMCS Cowichan (hull number MCB 162) was a Bay-class minesweeper that served in the Royal Canadian Navy during the Cold War. Entering service in 1957, the minesweeper was used primarily as a training vessel on the Pacific coast of Canada. Decommissioned in 1997, the ship was sold in 1999 for conversion to a yacht.

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.^[2][3]

Displacing 390 long tons (400 t) standard at 412 long tons (419 t) at 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).^[2][3] They had a complement of 38 officers and ratings.^{[2][note 1]}

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) and a range of 3,290 nautical miles (6,090 km; 3,790 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph).^[3][4] The ships were armed with one 40 mm Bofors gun and were equipped with minesweeping gear.^[2][3]

Ordered as a replacement for sister ship, Cowichan (MCB 147) which had been transferred to the French Navy in 1954, the ship's keel was laid down on 10 July 1956 by Yarrows Ltd. at Esquimalt, British Columbia. Named for a bay located in British Columbia, Cowichan was launched on 26 February 1957.^[5][6] The ship was commissioned on 12 December 1957.^[5]

After commissioning, the minesweeper joined Training Group Pacific on the West Coast of Canada.^[5] In 1972, the class was re-designated patrol escorts.^[2] In 1986, the ship rammed and sank a fishing boat in heavy fog in Nanaimo Harbour, but the occupants of the fishing vessel were rescued. Cowichan's commanding officer was cleared of charges in the ensuing court martial.^[7] The vessel remained a part of the unit until being paid off on 22 August 1997.^[5] The ship was sold in May 1999 for conversion to a yacht.^[6] However, the conversion did not take place and the ship remains alongside in Sooke, British Columbia.^[8]

• Arbuckle, J. Graeme (1987). Badges of the Canadian Navy. Halifax, Nova Scotia: Nimbus Publishing. ISBN 0-920852-49-1.
• Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8.
• Gardiner, Robert; Chumbley, Stephen; Budzbon, Przemysław, eds. (1995). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-132-7.
• Macpherson, Ken; Barrie, Ron (2002). The Ships of Canada's Naval Forces 1910–2002 (Third ed.). St. Catharines, Ontario: Vanwell Publishing. ISBN 1-55125-072-1.
• Moore, John, ed. (1981). Jane's Fighting Ships, 1981–1982. New York: Jane's Information Group. ISBN 0-531-03977-3.