HMCS Haida facts for kids
class="infobox " style="float: right; clear: right; width: 315px; border-spacing: 2px; text-align: left; font-size: 90%;"
| colspan="2" style="text-align: center; font-size: 90%; line-height: 1.5em;" | 
|}
The HMCS Haida is a special type of warship called a Tribal-class destroyer. It served in the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) for many years, from 1943 to 1963. This ship played a big part in both World War II and the Korean War. It was named after the Haida people, an Indigenous group in Canada.
Haida is very unique because it's the only Tribal-class destroyer still around. There were 27 of these ships built for the Canadian, British, and Australian navies. Haida sank more enemy ships than any other Canadian warship. Because of this, people often call it the "Fightingest Ship in the Royal Canadian Navy."
Today, Haida is a national historic site of Canada. It's now a museum ship in Hamilton, Ontario. You can find it docked next to HMCS Star, which is a training center for the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve. In 2018, Haida was even made the official ceremonial flagship of the RCN.
Contents
| History | |
|---|---|
 Canada |
|
| Name | Haida |
| Namesake | Haida |
| Ordered | 5 April 1940 |
| Builder | Vickers-Armstrongs, Ltd., Newcastle-upon-Tyne |
| Yard number | 41 |
| Laid down | 29 September 1941 |
| Launched | 25 August 1942 |
| Commissioned | 30 August 1943 |
| Decommissioned | 20 March 1946 |
| Recommissioned | 15 March 1952 |
| Decommissioned | 11 October 1963 |
| Out of service | 22 February 1964 |
| Identification |
|
| Honours and awards |
|
| Status | Museum ship |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Tribal-class destroyer |
| Displacement |
|
| Length | 377 ft (114.9 m) |
| Beam | 37 ft 6 in (11.4 m) |
| Draught | 13 ft (4.0 m) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 36.5 knots (67.6 km/h; 42.0 mph) (maximum), 32 knots (59 km/h; 37 mph) (service) |
| Complement | 259 (14 officers, 245 ratings) |
| Sensors and processing systems |
|
| Armament |
|
| Official name: HMCS Haida National Historic Site of Canada | |
| Designated: | 1984 |
Building a Powerful Warship
The Tribal-class destroyers were designed to be very strong. They could fight against other heavily armed destroyers from different navies. Canada chose this design because of its powerful weapons. These ships were so big and strong that they acted more like small cruisers than regular destroyers.
Haida was one of the first Tribal-class destroyers ordered by the RCN. These ships were built with special heating and ventilation systems. This helped them handle the cold winters in the North Atlantic Ocean. Haida's design was improved after some issues were found in the first Canadian Tribal ship, HMCS Iroquois.
What Made Haida Special?
Haida was built in Britain. It was 377 feet (115 m) long from end to end. The ship was 36 feet 6 inches (11.13 m) wide and went 13 feet (4.0 m) deep into the water. When it was first built, the ship weighed about 1,927 long tons (1,958 t).
Haida had a crew of 14 officers and 245 sailors. The ship was powered by two propellers. These were driven by two steam turbines. Steam came from three special boilers. This system gave the ship 44,000 shaft horsepower (33,000 kW) of power. It allowed Haida to reach a top speed of 36.5 knots (67.6 km/h; 42.0 mph). The destroyers could carry about 505–516 long tons (513–524 t) of fuel.
Haida's Weapons
When it was first built, Haida had six quick-firing 4.7-inch (119 mm) guns. These were placed in three twin turrets on the ship. It also had one twin turret with 4-inch (102 mm) guns. For defense against airplanes, it had four single 2-pounder "pom-pom" guns. The ship also carried four 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes. These tubes launched powerful torpedoes.
Haida's Journey: From Building to Battle
Haida's construction began on 29 September 1941. It was built by Vickers-Armstrongs, Ltd. in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The ship was officially launched on 25 August 1942. It joined the Royal Canadian Navy on 30 August 1943. Its first commanding officer was H.G. DeWolf. After testing, Haida joined the British Home Fleet in October 1943.
Early Days and Arctic Convoys
Haida was part of the Royal Navy's Home Fleet. In November 1943, it helped escort convoys to Russia. These convoys carried important supplies. Haida protected them from German attacks.
One famous event happened in December 1943. Haida was escorting Convoy JW 55B. The German battleship German battleship Scharnhorst tried to attack the convoy. Haida and other destroyers helped keep the convoy safe. The Scharnhorst was later sunk by British forces. Haida continued to escort convoys, ensuring supplies reached Russia safely.
Fighting Along the French Coast
In January 1944, Haida moved to Plymouth. It joined the 10th Destroyer Flotilla. This group took part in missions called Operation Tunnel and Operation Hostile. These missions involved sweeping the Bay of Biscay and the French coast. They were looking for enemy ships.
On the night of 25/26 April, Haida and other ships fought German torpedo boats. These German boats were similar to destroyers. Haida sank one of them, the T29. Another German ship was damaged.
A few nights later, on 28/29 April, Haida and its sister ship, Athabaskan, met more German ships. During this fight, Athabaskan was hit by a torpedo and sank. Haida bravely rescued 44 survivors from Athabaskan's crew. It also damaged another German ship, T27, which was later destroyed.
Haida continued its patrols before Operation Overlord, the D-Day invasion. On 8–9 June, Haida and Huron fought German destroyers. They worked together to sink the German ship Z32. This was part of the Battle of Ushant.
Later, Haida helped protect Allied motor torpedo boats. It also hunted German ships along the French coast. On 24 June, Haida helped sink a German U-boat called U-971. Haida rescued six survivors from the submarine.
In July 1944, Haida and a Polish destroyer, ORP Błyskawica, attacked German ships. They destroyed two submarine chasers and sank a German merchant ship. In August, Haida was part of another attack. During this battle, a shell exploded in one of Haida's gun turrets. Two sailors were killed and eight were injured. The turret was put out of action, but Haida kept fighting.
Repairs and Northern Missions
Haida left Europe on 22 September 1944. It sailed to Halifax, Nova Scotia, for repairs. It received new radar equipment. In January 1945, Haida returned to duty. It escorted aircraft carriers and helped attack German shipping off Norway.
In April 1945, Haida escorted a convoy to Russia. This was one of the last battles for the RCN in World War II. German U-boats attacked the convoy. Haida and Huron narrowly avoided torpedoes. Two German U-boats were sunk in the fight. Haida returned to port in May 1945.
Haida was then prepared for a possible invasion of Japan. However, Japan surrendered, so the work was stopped. Haida was taken out of service on 20 March 1946.
Cold War Operations
Haida was inactive for about a year. But in 1947, it was prepared to return to service. It received updated weapons and sensors. The old 4.7-inch guns were replaced with new 4-inch guns. A 3-inch gun was added at the back. One gun turret was removed. In its place, two Squid anti-submarine mortars were installed. These were used to fight submarines.
Haida also got new radar and sonar systems. After some repairs, it returned to the fleet in May 1947.
Haida and its sister ship HMCS Nootka took part in training exercises. They worked with the US Navy and Royal Navy. In 1948, they were the first RCN ships to enter Hudson Bay. In 1949, Haida helped rescue 18 crew members from a US Air Force B-29 bomber that crashed in the Atlantic. Later that year, Haida became a support ship in Halifax.
Haida in the Korean War
When the Korean War began in June 1950, Haida was called back to active duty. It was converted into a destroyer escort. It received new weapons, sensors, and communication systems. Haida was recommissioned on 15 March 1952. It then sailed to Japan, arriving in November.
Haida began patrolling off the coast of Korea. It screened aircraft carriers and patrolled close to shore. In December, Haida shelled a railway yard and North Korean troops. On 29 January 1953, Haida joined the "Trainbusters Club". It destroyed an enemy train north of Riwon. It destroyed a second train in May. Haida returned to Halifax in July 1953.
Haida went back to Korea for a second tour in December 1953. It arrived in February 1954. Even though there was a ceasefire, a naval presence was still needed. Haida left Korea in September 1954 and returned to Halifax in November.
After the Korean War, Haida took part in Cold War anti-submarine duties. It worked with other NATO ships in the North Atlantic.
Challenges and Final Years
Haida's hull and equipment started to show its age. In 1958, it underwent repairs. More problems were found in 1959 and 1960. In 1960, its steering gear failed, forcing it back to Halifax. A survey found a lot of corrosion and cracks. Haida spent much of 1960 and 1961 in drydock for repairs. More cracks were found in 1962, leading to more repairs until February 1963.
Preserving a Hero: Haida as a Museum Ship
Haida's last mission was a summer tour of the Great Lakes in 1963. It left Halifax on 25 April. The ship offered public tours and training. During this tour, a former RCN sailor named Neil Bruce toured the ship. He realized Haida might be scrapped. So, he formed a group called HAIDA Inc. to try and save it. On 30 April 1963, the ship was officially taken out of service for the last time.
Haida was placed in reserve in Sydney. In 1964, it was announced that Haida would be scrapped. HAIDA Inc. bid $20,000 and won the right to restore the ship. The RCN towed Haida to a shipyard in Sorel, Quebec. There, it became civilian property.
A small crew from the Naval Reserve Division HMCS York helped. Haida was towed to Toronto by two tugboats. It arrived on 25 August 1964. The ship's first commanding officer, Harry DeWolf, was there. Haida was restored and given its old pennant number, G63. It was docked in Toronto.
Haida opened as an attraction in August 1965. HAIDA Inc. faced financial problems later. The ship was then transferred to the provincial government for $1. In 1970, Haida moved to Ontario Place in Toronto. It was an attraction there until 2002. The ship's guns were even fired when the Toronto Symphony played Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture nearby! Haida was also used to train Royal Canadian Sea Cadets.
HMCS Haida National Historic Site
In 2002, Parks Canada bought Haida from the provincial government. It was towed to a shipyard for major repairs. These repairs cost $5 million. On 30 August 2003, Haida arrived at its new home in Hamilton, Ontario. This was the 60th anniversary of its commissioning.
Today, Haida is a National Historic Site of Canada. It is a museum ship on the Hamilton waterfront. It sits in front of Hamilton's Naval Reserve Division, HMCS Star.
In July 2006, Haida was "twinned" with the Polish destroyer Błyskawica. This ceremony took place in Poland. Both ships served together in the 10th Destroyer Flotilla during World War II. Former crew members from both ships attended.
In 2009, Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, visited Haida. In June 2010, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, presented an award to representatives of HMCS Haida. In September 2016, the ship went for more repairs and upgrades. These were finished in December 2016. In February 2018, Haida was named the ceremonial flagship of the Canadian Navy. A special Haida tribal flag is now flown on the ship.
Related Groups and Organizations
There is a Sea Cadet Corps named after the ship. It is called 186 Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps Haida. It was started on 9 January 1963. The museum is connected with several organizations. These include the Canadian Museums Association and the Virtual Museum of Canada.
See also
- List of attractions in Hamilton, Ontario
- List of museum ships
- Ships preserved in museums
