HMCS Kentville (J312)

HMCS "Kentville" (J312) was a Bangor Class Minesweeper that served in the Royal Canadian Navy during World War II.

Built in the 1941-42 programme of RCN minesweeper production, she was commissioned on October 10, 1942 with pennant number J146.

"Kentville" was assigned to Sydney, Nova Scotia as a coastal escort vessel, escorting coastal convoys in Atlantic Canada. During the course of her duties, she rescued the freighter "Imperial Monarch" in distress from heavy weather and the tug Foundation Franklin. "Kentville" saw enemy action in January, 1945 when she defended her convoy agaist submarine attacks which sank two merchant ships. During the war her crew often took leave in her namesake town of Kentville, Nova Scotia. [Daniel Sanford, "HMCS Kentviile", "Kings County Vignettes", (Kings County Museum: 1995) p. 43.]

She was put into strategic reserve following the war and "Kentville" was briefly recommissioned in 1954 under pennant number 182. After being mothballed again, she was transferred to Turkey in 1957 where she was renamed "Bartin" and served until 1972. Today her bell is preserved at the Kings County Museum in Kentville.

ee also

* List of ships of the Canadian Navy

References

* "HMCS Kentviile", Daniel Sanford, "Kings County Vignettes", (Kings County Museum: 1995) p. 41-42.
* [http://www.hazegray.org/navhist/canada/ww2/bangor/ Haze Gray and Underway]
* [http://www.readyayeready.com/ships/shipview.php?id=1199 "HMCS Kentville", ReadyAyeReady.com]