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Destroyer HMCS Saguenay (D 79)

23 Oct 1939
The British light cruiser HMS Orion (Capt. H.R.G. Kinahan, RN) and the Canadian destroyer HMCS Saguenay (Lt.Cdr. G.R. Miles, RCN) intercept the German tanker Emmy Friedrich (4372 GRT) in the Yukatan Strait west of Tampico. When the British light cruiser HMS Caradoc (Capt. E.W.L. Longley-Cook, RN) also arrived on the scene the Germans scuttled their own ship to prevent her capture.

28 Aug 1940

Convoy SHX 69.

This convoy departed Sydney, Cape Brenton Island on 28 August 1940.

It was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Asbjorn (British, 4387 GRT, built 1935), Beaverdale (British, 9957 GRT, built 1928), Bridgepool (British, 4845 GRT, built 1924), Delilian (British, 6423 GRT, built 1923), Lord Byron (British, 4118 GRT, built 1934), Parracombe (British, 4702 GRT, built 1928), Roxby (British, 4252 GRT, built 1923), Stad Maastricht (Dutch, 6907 GRT, built 1924) and Vestvard (Norwegian, 4319 GRT, built 1925).

On departure from Sydney the convoy was escorted by the destroyer HMCS Saguenay (Cdr. G.R. Miles, RCN).

Around 0800P/30, in position 42°54'N, 57°50'W, the armed merchant cruiser HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) H.J. Woodward, DSO and Bar, RN) took over from HMCS Saguenay which then parted company to proceed to Halifax where she arrived later the same day.

The convoy merged with convoy HX 69 around 1300P/30 in position 42°49'N, 56°44'W. (1)

20 Oct 1940
The British merchant Sulaco is torpedoed and sunk about 360 miles west of Rockall in position 57°25'N, 25°00'W by German U-boat U-124. HMCS Saguenay (Cdr. G.R. Miles, RCN) picks up 1 survivor.

21 Oct 1940
HMCS Saguenay (Cdr. G.R. Miles, RCN) picks up 29 survivors from the Norwegian merchant Cubano that was torpedoed and sunk the previous day south-west of Iceland in position 57°55'N, 24°57'W by German U-boat U-124.

1 Dec 1940 (position 54.40, -15.50)
Around 0350 hours on 1 December 1940 the Italian submarine Argo torpedoed and damaged the Canadian destroyer HMCS Saguenay (Cdr. G.R. Miles, RCN) about 300 nautical miles west of Ireland in position 54°40'N, 15°50'W. The bow was blown off and 21 of the crew lost their lives in this attack. HMCS Saguenay was escorting convoy HG-47 at the time. Saguenay was out of service for nearly 6 months (repairs were completed on 22 May 1941). (2)

Destroyer HMCS Athabaskan (i) (G 07)

15 Feb 1943
HMCS Athabaskan (Cdr. G.R. Miles, DSO, OBE, RCN) completed her trials programme.

She then left North Shields around 1930A/15 for Scapa Flow. (3)

16 Feb 1943
Shortly before 1100A/16, HMCS Athabaskan (Cdr. G.R. Miles, DSO, OBE, RCN) arrived at Scapa Flow from North Shields. She then started her work-up period.

[As there are no logbooks available for HMCS Athabaskan details regarding, for instance, exercises will be missing]. (4)

25 Feb 1943
Around 1100A/25, HMCS Athabaskan (Cdr. G.R. Miles, DSO, OBE, RCN) departed Scapa Flow for Scrabster where she picked up the Rear-Admiral Destroyers, Home Fleet, Rear-Admiral, I.G. Glennie, RN. She arrived back at Scapa Flow around 1745A/25. (5)

11 Mar 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0800A/11, HMCS Athabaskan (Cdr. G.R. Miles, DSO, OBE, RCN) departed Scapa Flow for the Clyde where repairs were to be made.

She arrived at Greenock the following day. (6)

20 Mar 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0800A/20, with her hull repairs completed, HMCS Athabaskan (Cdr. G.R. Miles, DSO, OBE, RCN) departed Greenock for Scapa Flow. (7)

21 Mar 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0700A/21,HMCS Athabaskan (Cdr. G.R. Miles, DSO, OBE, RCN) arrived at Scapa Flow from Greenock. (7)

29 Mar 1943
Around 2030A/29, the escort destroyer HMS Brecon (Lt.Cdr. T.D. Herrick, DSC and Bar, RN) departed Hvalfjord for ' Patrol Black ', an anti-blockade breaker patrol in the Iceland - Faeroer gap.

Around 2200A/29, the light cruiser HMS Bermuda (Capt. T.H. Back, RN) and the destroyer HMCS Athabaskan (Cdr. G.R. Miles, DSO, OBE, RCN) departed Scapa Flow to join HMS Brecon on patrol.

Heavy weather was encountered during the patrol and both HMS Brecon and HMCS Athabaskan sustained weather damage.

Also HMS Bermuda and HMCS Athabaskan failed to find HMS Brecon.

Around 1930Z/31, HMS Brecon had to leave patrol for Scapa FLow due to the weather damage she had sustained.

On 1 April, HMS Bermuda and HMCS Athabaskan were also ordered to return to Scapa Flow where they arrived around 1400A/2.

HMS Brecon had arrived around 1030A/2. She was docked in the floating dock later the same day. (8)

8 Apr 1943
Around 1900A/11, HMCS Athabaskan (Cdr. G.R. Miles, DSO, OBE, RCN) departed Scapa Flow for the Tyne. (3)

9 Apr 1943
HMCS Athabaskan (Cdr. G.R. Miles, DSO, OBE, RCN) arrived in the Tyne from Scapa Flow. She is to be taken in hand for repairs and strengthening at the Middle Docks & Engineering Company Ltd. at South Shields. (3)

17 May 1943
HMCS Athabaskan (Cdr. G.R. Miles, DSO, OBE, RCN) completed hull and structural repairs at the Middle Docks & Engineering Company Ltd. at South Shields. (3)

19 May 1943
Around 1600B/19, HMCS Athabaskan (Cdr. G.R. Miles, DSO, OBE, RCN) departed the Tyne for Scapa Flow. (3)

20 May 1943
Around 0600B/20, HMCS Athabaskan (Cdr. G.R. Miles, DSO, OBE, RCN) arrived at Scapa Flow from the Tyne. (9)

5 Jun 1943
Around 0100Z/5, HMCS Athabaskan (Cdr. G.R. Miles, DSO, OBE, RCN) and HMS Eclipse (Lt.Cdr. E. Mack, DSO, DSC, RN) departed Hvalfjord for Akureyri where they arrived around 2100Z/5. (7)

22 Jun 1943
Around 1000B/22, HMCS Athabaskan (Cdr. G.R. Miles, DSO, OBE, RCN) departed Scapa Flow for Plymouth. (7)

24 Jun 1943
Around 1500B/24, HMCS Athabaskan (Cdr. G.R. Miles, DSO, OBE, RCN) arrived at Plymouth from Scapa Flow. She was taken in hand for repairs at the Devonport Dockyard the following day. (7)

1 Aug 1943
Around 1700B/1, the destroyers HMCS Athabaskan (Cdr. G.R. Miles, DSO, OBE, RCN) and HMS Grenville (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Hill, DSO, RN) departed Plymouth. They were to patrol on longitude 14°W to provide cover for convoy OG 91 / KMS 22G.

They were to pass through positions (K) 180° - Bishops Rock - 10 nautical miles, (L) 48°40'N, 11°01'W to position (M) 45°01'N, 14°01'W. They were then to patrol on longitude 14°W to provide cover for convoy OG 91 / KMS 22G. After the convoy had crossed 45°N they were to return to Plymouth by reverse route.

In a signal timed 0925B/2, the C-in-C Plymouth ordered HMCS Athabaskan and HMS Grenville to proceed forthwith at best speed to position 47°01'N, 08°01'W to act in support of the 40th Escort Group which is on A/S patrol off the Bay of Biscay. The 40th Escort Group is made up of the sloops HMS Landguard (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) T.S.L. Fox-Pitt, RN), HMS Hastings (Lt.Cdr. L.B. Philpott, DSC, RD, RNR), HMS Bideford (Lt.Cdr. W.F. Hollins, RN) and frigate HMS Waveney (Lt.Cdr. A.E. Willmott, DSC, RNR).

In a signal timed 1053B/2, the C-in-C Plymouth ordered HMCS Athabaskan and HMS Grenville to reduce speed so as to join the 40th Escort Group one hour before last light and then remain in company throughout the night.

Also on A/S patrol off the Bay of Biscay was the 2nd Escort Group which was made up of the sloops HMS Kite (Lt.Cdr. W.F.R. Segrave, RN, with Capt. F.J. Walker, DSO and Bar, RN, on board), HMS Wild Goose (Lt.Cdr. D.E.G. Wemyss, RN), HMS Woodcock (Lt.Cdr. C. Gwinner, DSO, RN), HMS Woodpecker (Lt.Cdr. R.E.S. Hugonin, DSC, RN) and HMS Wren (Lt.Cdr. R.M. Aubrey, RN).

In a signal timed 1644B/2, the C-in-C Plymouth, informed HMCS Athabaskan, HMS Grenville 40th Escort Group and the 2nd Escort Group that three enemy destroyers were sighted by an aircraft (228Sq./Z) at 1620B/2 in position 46°13'N, 10°02'W, course possibly 180°. This was augmented by the aircraft in a signal timed 1645B/2 as the enemy being in position 46°23'N, 10°02'W, course 180°, speed 20 knots.

At 1645B/2, aircraft 461Sq./N reported three 'Narvik-class' destroyers in position 46°50'N, 10°10'W, steering 300° at 25 knots.

At 1655B/2, the 2nd Escort Group reported that the ships reported by the aircraft at 1620B/2 and 1645B/2 were ships of his group.

At 1717B/2, aircraft 228Sq./N reported that three 'Narvik-class' destroyers were now in position 47°07'N, 10°05'W, course 270° at 30 knots. At 1733B/2, this aircraft reported that she was shadowing and requisted instructions.

At 1744B/2, aircraft 105Sq./C reported three destroyers in position 46°20'N, 10°13'W, course 270° at 25 knots.

More reports came in during the evening but with the enemy managed to retire to the east.

At 2019B/2, the AA cruiser HMS Charybdis (Capt. G.A.W. Voelcker, RN) was also ordered to attempt to intercept.

The enemy ships sighted were the German torpedo boats T 25, T 24 and T 22 which had departed Brest around 0330B/2 to make rendzvous with the damaged U-boat U-383 and then escort her back to France. The German U-boat was however not sighted and must have gone down as a result of the damage sustained. Around 1200B/2, it became clear to the Germans after U-383 could not be found and also did not answer signals sent to her that she must have been sunk the torpedo boats were ordered to search the area from which she had last reported. No survivors were however found. The torpedo boats were then ordered to make rendezvous with the also damaged U-106 which had also requested an escort to make it back to France. Around 2255B/2, T 25 managed to pick up 19 survivors from this U-boat and T 24 17 survivors. T 22 patrolled around her sister ships during the rescue operations. The three German torpedo boat arrived back in Brest around 1700B/3.

Around 1000B/3, HMS Charybdis was joined by HMCS Athabaskan and HMS Grenville. They provided cover for the A/S operations of the 2nd and 40th Escort Group between 09°30'W and 10°30'W.

Around 1835B/3, HMCS Athabaskan and HMS Grenville parted company with HMS Charybdis.

Around 1000B/4, in position 46°22'N, 10°08'W, HMS Grenville obtained an A/S contact. Several patterns of depth charges were dropped and the 40th Escort Group took over the hunt which was abandoned around 1900B/4 without success.

HMCS Athabaskan and HMS Grenville arrived at Plymouth in the afternoon of August 5th. (10)

10 Aug 1943
Around 1700B/1, the destroyers HMCS Athabaskan (Cdr. G.R. Miles, DSO, OBE, RCN) and HMS Grenville (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Hill, DSO, RN) departed Plymouth. They were to provide cover for the 2nd Escort Group during A/S operations off the Bay of Biscay. The 2nd Escort Group was made up of the sloops HMS Starling (Capt. F.W. Walker, DSO and Bar, RN), HMS Kite (Lt.Cdr. W.F.R. Segrave, RN), HMS Wild Goose (Lt.Cdr. D.E.G. Wemyss, RN), HMS Woodcock (Lt.Cdr. C. Gwinner, DSO, RN), HMS Woodpecker (Lt.Cdr. R.E.S. Hugonin, DSC, RN) and HMS Wren (Lt.Cdr. R.M. Aubrey, RN).

HMCS Athabaskan and HMS Grenville were to proceed through positions (F) 180° - Bishop Rock - 10 nautical miles, (G) 49°01'N, 10°40'W and then as necessary to provide cover for the 2nd Escort Group.

HMCS Athabaskan and HMS Grenville, which had left patrol around 0800A/15, arrived at Falmouth from patrol in the morning of 16 August 1943. (11)

16 Aug 1943
Around 1420A/16, the destroyers HMCS Athabaskan (Cdr. G.R. Miles, DSO, OBE, RCN) and HMS Grenville (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Hill, DSO, RN) departed Falmouth to join the light cruiser HMS Glasgow (Capt. E.M. Evans-Lombe, RN) on patrol off the Bay of Biscay to support the 2nd and 40th Escort Groups which were on A/S patrols.

HMCS Athabaskan and HMS Grenville were to proceed through positions (J) 180° - Bishop Rock - 15 nautical miles, (K) 48°49'N, 10°15'W and then to rendezvous with HMS Glasgow at 2030A/17 in position 45°50'N, 12°15'W. (12)

19 Aug 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
In the morning, HMCS Athabaskan (Cdr. G.R. Miles, DSO, OBE, RCN) and HMS Grenville (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Hill, DSO, RN) arrived at Falmouth from patrol. (12)

25 Aug 1943
Around 2000A/25, HMCS Athabaskan (Cdr. G.R. Miles, DSO, OBE, RCN) and HMS Grenville (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Hill, DSO, RN) departed Falmouth for patrol.

They were to proceed through positions (K) 180° - Bishop Rock - 10 nautical miles, (L) 48°52'N, 08°22'W and then to a position from where they can give support to the 1st and 5th Escort Groups which were on A/S patrol off the Bay of Biscay.

The 1st Escort Group was made up of the sloop HMS Egret (A/Cdr. J.V. Waterhouse, DSO, RN, with Capt. G.N. Brewer, RN, on board) and the frigates HMS Jed (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Freaker, DSO, RD, RNR) and HMS Rother (Lt.Cdr. R.V.E. Case, DSO, DSC and Bar, RD, RNR). The 5th Escort Group was made up of the frigates HMS Nene (Cdr. J.D. Birch, RD, RNR), HMS Tweed (Lt.Cdr. R.S. Miller, DSC, RNR) and the corvettes HMCS Edmundston (T/A/Lt.Cdr. R.D. Barrett, RCNR) and HMCS Snowberry (T/Lt. J.B. O'Brien, RCNVR).

HMCS Athabaskan and HMS Grenville joined the 1st Escort Group around 0700B/27 north of Cape Vilan after which they were to patrol to the south-westward of Cape Finisterre and then search to the southward on approximately the 100 fathom line until reaching 42°N. They were then to sweep north inside the 100 fathom line to reach Cape Prior at last light. They were then to sweep from Cape Prior to the south-westward between the 100 fathom line and the shore and then start another sweep from Cape Finisterre at daylight on the 28th.

However, at 1245A/27, east of Vigo, in position 42°10'N, 09°18'W, while proceeding on course 180° at 15 knots the formation was sweeping in line abreast in the order HMS Grenville, HMS Rother, HMS Egret, HMS Jed and HMCS Athabaskan reading from starboard to port.

At 1255A/27, a formation of 20 enemy aircraft were sighted approaching from astern. Capt. Brewer ordered ' repel air attack ' and the ships closed to form two columns in line ahead, two miles apart with HMS Grenville and HMS Rother in the starboard column and HMCS Athabaskan and HMS Jed in the port column. HMS Egret, with the best AA armament, was free to move across the rear of the columns to support whichever flank was threatened.

HMS Egret then proceeded to the rear of the port column while the enemy kept at a respectful distance on the port quarter and reconnoitred the Allied force.

At 1305A/27 the attack started. Four aircraft came up the port side while the remainder of the enemy broke off on a south-westerly course with the obvious intention to attack the starboard column. Those on the port side came into gun range first and were engaged by HMCS Athabaskan and HMS Egret. When approximately three miles on the port beam of HMS Egret each aircraft released a single rocket propelled bomb directed against HMCS Athabaskan. Three of these fell straight into the sea while the fourth hit HMCS Athabaskan at 1513A/27.

After the enemy on the port side, struck his blow, HMS Egret proceeded to support the starboard column. Seven or eight enemy aircraft were now engaged. These aircraft now engaged HMS Egret with rocket bombs. HMS Egret went to full speed and the wheel was put hard to starboard in an endeavour to present the smallest possible visual target. Two of the rocket bombs passed close astern and a third fell into the sea within 30 feet of the starboard side amidships. Only some superficial damage was sustained.

Two more rocket bombs were then approaching HMS Egret from just before and just abaft the starboard beam. One of these hit HMS Egret between the funnel and the Oerlikon gun on the starboard side abaft the boats. The explosion was tremendous. The port side of the ship over a long area of the boiler and engine rooms were blown out. The bridge was wrecked and abaft the bridge nothing was visible except for a pall of yellow smoke and occasional tongues of flame.

The ship took a list to port at such a rate that there was no doubt she would soon capsize. The order 'abandon ship' was then given. Within 40 seconds of the explosion the ship turned bottom up. HMS Egret floated upside down for a while before finally sinking around 1430A/27.

By 1415A/27, after the attack had ceased HMS Grenville and HMS Jed picked up 40 survivors. Four of the survivors picked up by HMS Jed however soon died from their wounds and were buried at sea the same day.

During the attack, HMS Grenville evaded three torpedoes fired by some of the aircraft.

In the evening the 36 remaining survivors were transferred by HMS Grenville and HMS Jed to HMCS Athabaskan which then left to proceed to Plymouth where she arrived in the evening of August 30th. On board HMCS Athabaskan there were 2 of the crew killed and 15 wounded. (13)

30 Aug 1943
Around 2130A/30, the damaged HMCS Athabaskan (Cdr. G.R. Miles, DSO, OBE, RCN) arrived at Plymouth from patrol. She was subsequently taken in hand for repairs and refit by the Devonport Dockyard. (14)

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