HMCS Resolute

HMCS Resolute (hull number MCB 154) was a Bay-class minesweeper that was constructed for the Royal Canadian Navy during the Cold War. Entering service in 1954, the ship served on the East Coast of Canada until 1964 when Resolute was decommissioned. The vessel was discarded in 1965.

History
Canada
Name	Resolute
Namesake	Resolute Bay
Builder	Kingston Shipbuilding, Kingston
Laid down	29 August 1951
Launched	20 June 1953
Commissioned	16 September 1954
Decommissioned	14 February 1964
Identification	MCB 154
Fate	Discarded 1965
Badge	Gules, a pile barry wavy of ten argent and azure, charged with a warrior in tilting armour mounted on a sea-horse sable, trappings gules, and holding with the dexter hand a lance at the rest from which flies a pennant argent bearing a maple leaf gules[1]
General characteristics
Class and type	Bay-class minesweeper
Displacement	390 long tons (400 t) 412 long tons (419 t) (deep load)
Length	152 ft (46 m)
Beam	28 ft (8.5 m)
Draught	8 ft (2.4 m)
Propulsion	2 shafts, 2 GM 12-cylinder diesels, 2,400 bhp (1,800 kW)
Speed	16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Range	3,290 nmi (6,090 km; 3,790 mi) at 12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Complement	38
Armament	1 × 40 mm Bofors gun

Design and description

The Bay class were designed and ordered as replacements for the Second World War-era minesweepers that the Royal Canadian Navy operated at the time. Similar to the Ton-class minesweeper, they were constructed of wood planking and aluminum framing.^[2][3]

Displacing 390 long tons (400 t) standard at 412 long tons (419 t) at deep load, the minesweepers were 152 ft (46 m) long with a beam of 28 ft (8.5 m) and a draught of 8 ft (2.4 m).^[2][3] They had a complement of 38 officers and ratings.^{[2][note 1]}

The Bay-class minesweepers were powered by two GM 12-cylinder diesel engines driving two shafts creating 2,400 brake horsepower (1,800 kW). This gave the ships a maximum speed of 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph) and a range of 3,290 nautical miles (6,090 km; 3,790 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph).^[3][4] The ships were armed with one 40 mm Bofors gun and were equipped with minesweeping gear.^[2][3]

Operational history

The ship's keel was laid down on 29 August 1951 by Kingston Shipbuilding at their yard in Kingston, Ontario. Named for a bay located in Nunavut, Resolute was launched on 20 June 1953. The ship was commissioned on 16 September 1954.^[5]

Upon commissioning, Resolute joined the First Canadian Minesweeping Squadron.^[6] In May 1956, the First Canadian Minesweeping Squadron deployed as part of the NATO minesweeping exercise Minex Sweep Clear One in the western Atlantic.^[7] The ship paid off on 14 February 1964.^[5] In 1965, Resolute was declared surplus.^[5][8]