HMCS Arras
Encyclopedia
HMCS Arras was one of twelve Battle class naval trawlers used by the Royal Canadian Navy
(RCN). Named after the Battle of Arras
, she was built by the Kingston Shipbuilding Company, in Kingston, Ontario
, and was commissioned on 8 July 1918. Decommissioned on 1 April 1919, she became a fisheries protection vessel, and often served as a hospital ship for the fishing fleet on the Grand Banks. During the Second World War, Arras returned to RCN service, and was re-commissioned on 11 September 1939. Initially stationed in Halifax
, Nova Scotia
as a gate vessel, in mid-1941 she was sent to Sydney
, Nova Scotia, where she served as Gate Vessel 15. While the ship was in Sydney, a November 1943 fire caused extensive damage. Decommissioned in April 1946, Arras was broken up
at Halifax in 1957.
Royal Canadian Navy
The history of the Royal Canadian Navy goes back to 1910, when the naval force was created as the Naval Service of Canada and renamed a year later by King George V. The Royal Canadian Navy is one of the three environmental commands of the Canadian Forces...
(RCN). Named after the Battle of Arras
Battle of Arras (1917)
The Battle of Arras was a British offensive during the First World War. From 9 April to 16 May 1917, British, Canadian, New Zealand, Newfoundland, and Australian troops attacked German trenches near the French city of Arras on the Western Front....
, she was built by the Kingston Shipbuilding Company, in Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post...
, and was commissioned on 8 July 1918. Decommissioned on 1 April 1919, she became a fisheries protection vessel, and often served as a hospital ship for the fishing fleet on the Grand Banks. During the Second World War, Arras returned to RCN service, and was re-commissioned on 11 September 1939. Initially stationed in Halifax
City of Halifax
Halifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...
, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
as a gate vessel, in mid-1941 she was sent to Sydney
Sydney, Nova Scotia
Sydney is a Canadian urban community in the province of Nova Scotia. It is situated on the east coast of Cape Breton Island and is administratively part of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality....
, Nova Scotia, where she served as Gate Vessel 15. While the ship was in Sydney, a November 1943 fire caused extensive damage. Decommissioned in April 1946, Arras was broken up
Ship breaking
Ship breaking or ship demolition is a type of ship disposal involving the breaking up of ships for scrap recycling. Most ships have a lifespan of a few decades before there is so much wear that refitting and repair becomes uneconomical. Ship breaking allows materials from the ship, especially...
at Halifax in 1957.