HMCS Trinity (MCB 157)

This article is about the minesweeper. For the communications unit, see HMCS Trinity.

HMCS Trinity (hull number MCB 157) was a Bay-class minesweeper that was constructed for the Royal Canadian Navy during the Cold War. Entering service in 1954, the minesweeper was paid off in 1958 and transferred to the Turkish Navy. Renamed Terme, the ship remained in service until 1991.

History
Canada
Name	Trinity
Namesake	Trinity Bay
Builder	Davie Shipbuilding, Lauzon
Laid down	31 January 1952
Launched	31 July 1953
Commissioned	16 June 1954
Decommissioned	21 August 1957
Identification	MCB 157
Fate	Sold in 1957 to Turkey as Terme.
Badge	Gules, an equilateral triangle, apex to the chief argent charged with a pitcher plant proper, and having on each side of the triangle arranged counter clockwise, a lion passant guardant or, langued gules[1]
Turkey
Name	Terme
Acquired	31 March 1958
Out of service	1991
Identification	M 531
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 31 January 1952 by George T. Davie & Sons. Ltd at their yard in Lauzon, Quebec. Named for a bay located in Newfoundland, Trinity was launched on 31 July 1953. The ship was commissioned on 16 June 1954.^[5] The ship joined the First Canadian Minesweeping Squadron upon commissioning.^[6] The squadron sailed to the Caribbean Sea in April 1955 for a training cruise, making several port visits.^[7] In May 1956, the First Canadian Minesweeping Squadron deployed as part of the NATO minesweeping exercise Minex Sweep Clear One in the western Atlantic.^[8]

The ship remained in service with the Royal Canadian Navy until being paid off on 21 August 1957.^[5] The ship was transferred to the Turkish Navy as part of the NATO Mutual Aid Agreement on 31 March 1958.^[5][9] Renamed Terme by the Turkish Navy, the vessel sailed for Turkey on 19 May 1958.^[10] The ship remained in service until 1991.^[11]