Her Majesty's Canadian Ship Haida

Excerpts from Navy Matters by Ray White, Friends of the Canadian War Museum, Volume 14, Number 2, May 2003:

Her Majesty's Canadian Ship Haida, the Tribal Class Destroyer that made its mark on Canadian Naval History in the Second World War and the Korean War, was moved from the Toronto waterfront to Hamilton, Ontario in the summer of 2003, the 60th anniversary of her commissioning. She once again took her place as a major naval artefact.

Haida, known to many as "the fightingest ship in the Navy", has been, for the four decades since she left active service, a naval museum, a maritime memorial and a Sea Cadet training ship. Of the 27 Tribal class destroyers built between 1937 and 1945 for the Royal Navy, The Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), Haida is the only one remaining. Haida is famous for destroying more enemy vessels than any other RCN ship. After VE-Day, Haida was overhauled in preparation for Pacific operations, but the war ended before the conversion was completed.

Following her re-commissioning in 1947, Haida joint the Atlantic Fleet. In 1949 she underwent extensive modernization and was again re-commissioned in 1952, the first Canadian ship to be commissioned in the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. She did two tours in Korean waters between 1952 and 1954, circumnavigating the globe twice during this time. After her Korean War service she rejoined the Atlantic Fleet based in Halifax until she was paid off in 1963.

When it became known that plans were afoot to scrap her, Haida was acquired by a group of Torontonians who recognized her as an irreplaceable part of our military history. From 1965 to 1970 Haida filled the role of naval museum and maritime memorial. In 1970 she became an attraction at Ontario Place. Her significance as a national icon was recognized in 1990 when the Historic Sites and Monument Board of Canada unveiled a plaque on board summarizing her history.

Haida remained at Ontario Place until December 2002 when the delicate process of towing the venerable lady to the Port Weller Dry Docks took place. She underwent preparatory work prior to the final move to Hamilton Harbour. Haida's battle honours: Arctic 1943-1945, English Channel 1944, Normandy 1944, Biscay 1944, Korea 1952-1954 (Thanks to Jerry Proc, Friends of HMCS Haida, and to Cdr (Ret'd) Peter Johnston's article in "The Maple Leaf", January 15, 2003.) http://www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/on/haida/index_E.asp

[plaque]

HMCS Haida is the last of the Tribal Class destroyers which saw heavy action with the Australian, British and Canadian navies during World War II. Built for the Royal Canadian Navy at Newcastle, England, in 1942, this ship served on the frigid Murmansk run and in clearing the English Channel for the Normandy invasion. She helped sink 14 enemy vessels. Haida was recommissioned in 1952 and served two tours of duty with the United Nations in Korea, taking part in shore bombardment, blockades and attacks on trains.

Le NCSM est le dernier des destroyers de la classe Tribal qui participèrent à des combats importants aux côtés des marine australienne, britannique et canadienne pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale. Construit pour la marine canadienne en à Newcastle (Angleterre), en 1942, il a escorté des convois vers Mourmansk, participé au préparatifs d'invasion de la Normandie dans la Manche et aidé à couler 14 navires ennemis. Remis en service en 1952, il a prit part à des opérations de tir côtier, de blocus et d'attaque de trains à l'appui des forces des Nations Unies en Corée.

[plaque inside of ship/plaque à l'intérieur du navire]

H.M.C.S. HAIDA

ARCTIC 1943-1945
ENGLISH CHANNEL 1944
NORMANDY 1944
BISCAY 1944
KOREA 1952-1954