HMCS Comox (J64)

In 1936, new minesweepers were ordered for the Royal Canadian Navy.Johnston et al., p. 979 Based on the British {{sclass|Basset|trawler|4}},Chesneau, p. 65 those built on the west coast would cost $403,000 per vessel.Johnston et al., p. 1075 At the outbreak of the Second World War, the Royal Canadian Navy considered constructing more, but chose to build {{sclass|Bangor|minesweeper|1}}s instead upon learning of that design due to their oil-burning engines.Macpherson and Barrie, p. 167Pritchard, pp. 21–2Tucker, p. 29

The Fundy class, named after the lead ship, displaced {{convert|460|LT|t ST|lk=in}}. They were {{convert|163|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} long, with a beam of {{convert|27.5|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} and a draught of {{convert|14.5|ft|m|1|abbr=on}}. They had a complement of 3 officers and 35 ratings.Macpherson and Barrie, p. 32

The Fundy class was propelled by one shaft driven by vertical triple expansion engine powered by steam from a one-cylinder boiler. This created between {{convert|850|-|950|ihp|kW|lk=in}} and gave the minesweepers a top speed of {{convert|12|kn|lk=in}}. The ships were capable of carrying between {{convert|180|-|196|LT|t}} of coal.

The ships were armed with one QF QF 4 inch naval gun Mk IV, XII, XXII mounted forward on a raised platform.Macpherson and Barrie state that the ships were equipped with one QF 12-pounder 12 cwt naval gun.Mark IV = Mark 4. Britain used Roman numerals to denote Marks (models) of ordnance until after World War II. The minesweepers were armed with two 20 mm Oerlikon anti-aircraft cannons. They were later equipped with 25 depth charges.

Comox was ordered on 23 August 1937.{{cite web|url=http://www.uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/5622.html |title=HMCS Comox (J64) |work=uboat.net |accessdate=29 May 2014}} The ship was laid down on 5 February 1938 by Burrard Dry Dock Co. Ltd. at Vancouver, British Columbia with the yard number 117 and launched on 9 August later that year.{{csr|register=MSI|id=5344841|shipname=Comox |accessdate=30 April 2016}} She was commissioned into the Royal Canadian Navy on 23 November 1938.

Comox was initially assigned to the west coast.{{cite web |url=http://www.navy.gc.ca/project_pride/history/history_e.asp?section=4&category=11&title=1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002012415/http://www.navy.gc.ca/project_pride/history/history_e.asp?section=4&category=11&title=1 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2 October 2011 |title=Minesweepers |publisher=Canadian Naval Heritage}} At the onset of the Second World War, she remained at Esquimalt carrying out local patrol duties. In March 1940, she and her sister ship {{HMCS|Nootka|J35|2}} were reassigned to the east coast. Arriving in April 1940 Comox spent the rest of the war performing minesweeping duties for Halifax Harbour. Along with her sister ship, {{HMCS|Fundy|J88|2}}, she rescued survivors of the torpedoed Liberty ship SS Martin Van Buren on 15 January 1945.

Comox was paid off on 27 July 1945. The vessel was sold in 1946 for commercial service to Ming Sung Industrial Co Ltd and converted to the tugboat Sung Ming. The ship was deleted in 1993.

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• {{cite book |editor-last=Chesneau |editor-first=Roger |date=1980 |title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946 |publisher=Conway Maritime Press |location=Greenwich, UK |isbn=0-85177-146-7}}
• {{Cite Colledge2006}}
• {{cite book |last1=Johnston |first1=William |last2=Rawling |first2=William G.P. |last3=Gimblett |first3=Richard H. |last4=MacFarlane |first4=John |date=2010 |title=The Seabound Coast: The Official History of the Royal Canadian Navy, 1867–1939 |volume=1 |publisher=Dundurn Press |location=Toronto |isbn=978-1-55488-908-2}}
• {{cite book |last=Macpherson |first=Ken |date=1990 |title=Minesweepers of the Royal Canadian Navy 1938–45 |publisher=Vanwell Publishing Limited |location=St. Catharines, Ontario |isbn=0-920277-55-1}}
• {{cite book |last1=Macpherson |first1=Ken |last2=Barrie |first2=Ron |date=2002 |title=The Ships of Canada's Naval Forces 1910–2002 |edition=Third |publisher=Vanwell Publishing |location=St. Catharines, Ontario |isbn=1-55125-072-1}}
• {{cite book |last=Pritchard |first=James |date=2011 |title=A Bridge of Ships: Canadian Shipbuilding during the Second World War |publisher=McGill-Queen's University Press |location=Montreal, Quebec and Kingston, Ontario |isbn=978-0-7735-3824-5}}
• {{cite book |last=Tucker |first=Gilbert Norman |date=1952 |title=The Naval Service of Canada, Its Official History – Volume 2: Activities on Shore During the Second World War |publisher=King's Printer |location=Ottawa|oclc=4346983}}

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{{Commons category|HMCS Comox (J64)}}

{{Fundy class minesweeper}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Comox (J64)}}

Category:Fundy-class minesweepers

Category:Ships built in North Vancouver

Category:1938 ships

Category:World War II minesweepers of Canada