Although Canada had decided to construct four Tribals during World War 2, her own yards were kept busy building urgently needed escort vessels and merchantmen. There was also a shortage of technical equipment which had to be brought over from the UK. As a result, not one of the Canadian-built Tribals saw service during the Second World War. The last of her class to be completed, "Athabee" was commissioned at Halifax on 20th January 1948. After the main part of her crew arrived from British Columbia, sea trials were completed and the ATHABASKAN sailed to her appointed station on the West Coast on 15th May, 1948. There, she spent the first part of her service career with CAYUGA and other RCN ships showing the flag along the Pacific shores of Canada and the US.

On 15th September 1949, ATHABASKAN began a comprehensive refit. In the process, two triple-barrelled Squid mortars were fitted in place of 'Y' mounting. The Asdic Control Room and the Operations Room were enlarged and electronic gear was installed to link the Squid directly to the submarine detection instruments. The two depth-charge throwers were removed but the depth-charge chute was retained. Her complement was now at 278 men and it was intended that ATHABASKAN should concentrate on training personnel in the use of equipment, while the other ships on the west coast get on with their more complex exercises. She sailed from Esquimalt on 5th July, 1950 for the first of three tours of duty in Korean waters, returning 11th December, 1953 from the last of them.

For ATHABASKAN and CAYUGA, the years between 1955 and 1959 meant pilotage and amphibious exercises in the narrow inlets of British Columbia, air defence, gunnery and anti-submarine exercises off California and Pearl Harbour, goodwill visits, reviews, regattas, refits and sea trials. When this training role was completed, in January 1959, she left for the east coast to become part of a homogeneous Tribal class squadron.

In 1960, MICMAC was used in filming exterior and interior shots for the film “The Great Impostor” and to take external shots of ATHABASKAN representing CAYUGA.

In October of 1963, she was in European waters once again only this time it was to hold a memorial service over the resting place of her namesake, the first ATHABASKAN. After five years of training cruises and NATO exercises she was placed in reserve at Halifax and on 21st April 1966, paid off for disposal. ATHABASKAN'S last voyage began at the end of a tow line in July 1969 - to be broken up at La Spezia, Italy.
 

GENERAL INFORMATION

Builders: Halifax Shipyards, Halifax, Nova Scotia; Canada
Engined by: John Inglis, Halifax, Nova Scotia; Canada
Ordered: 1942
Laid Down: 15th May 1943
Launched: 4th May 1946 (by Mrs. J. Hamilton Stubbs)
Commissioned: 20th January 1948
Pennant numbers: R79 December 1947 - December 1949; DDE219 January 1950 - July 1969
Radio call sign: CGWM
Voice call sign: Night Letter

 

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