NEVER UNPREPARED

HMCS ASSINIBOINE 234

Battle honours and awards:  Atlantic  1939-45,   Biscay  1944,   English Channel  1944-45

Laid down: 19 May 1952

Launched: 12 Feb 1954

Commissioned: 16 Aug 1956

Paid off for DDH conversion: 01 Jun 1962

Re-commissioned: 28 Jun 1963

Paid off for DELEX Refit: 23 Apr 1979

Re-commissioned: 16 Nov 1979

Paid off: 14 Dec 1988

Fate: Sold for scrap.

Cdr E.P. Earnshaw, RCN - 16 Aug 1956 - 23 May 1958

Cdr James Robert Coulter, RCN - 24 May 1958 - 19 Feb 1959

Capt James Charles Pratt, RCN - 19 Feb 1959 - 17 Aug 1960

Capt J.A. Charles, RCN - 17 Aug 1960 - 18 Aug 1961

Cdr V. Browne, RCN - 18 Aug 1961 - 30 Apr 1962

Cdr Edgar Alfred Wiggs, RCN - 30 Apr 1962 - 22 Jun 1962

Cdr Walter Stairs Blandy, RCN - 28 Jun 1962 - 15 Jan 1966

Cdr Thomas Leith B. Hebbert, RCN - 15 Jan 1966 - 15 Jul 1967

Cdr Gordon Lewis Edwards, RCN - 15 Jul 1967 - 06 Jul 1970

LCdr Robert Alan Ernest Cullwick - 06 Jul 1970 - 18 Aug 1970

Cdr Leonard Joseph Cavan - 18 Aug 1970 - 10 Jan 1972

Cdr Harley Buell Keiran - 10 Jan 1972 - 17 Jul 1972

Cdr Trevor Stephen Hayward - 17 Jul 1972 - 20 Nov 1972

Cdr Gerald George Freill - 20 Nov 1972 - 22 Dec 1972

LCdr R. Thomas - 22 Dec 1972 - 14 Apr 1973

Cdr John Robin Cornell - 14 Apr 1973 - 20 May 1974

LCdr R. Thomas - 20 May 1974 - 10 Jun 1974

Cdr Mark Hubert Taylor - 10 Jun 1974 - 16 Jul 1975

Cdr Edward Joseph Kelly - 16 Jul 1975 - 27 Jun 1977

Cdr Michael John Duncan - 27 Jun 1977 - unknown

Cdr Peter W. Cairns - 1978

Cdr Michael John Duncan - unknown - 15 Apr 1979

LCdr Kim Beardmore - 15 Apr 1979 - 31 Jul 1979

Cdr George Douglas Braithwaite - 31 Jul 1979 - 10 Aug 1981

Cdr R. Moore - 10 Aug 1981 - 04 Jul 1983

Cdr Wilfred Gourlay D. Lund - 04 Jul 1983 - 01 Jun 1984

Cdr Roger Michael Bernard - 16 Jun 1984 - 01 Aug 1985

Cdr B.D. Neal - 01 Aug 1985 - 11 Jun 1987

Cdr D.G. McNeil - 11 Jun 1987 - 02 Jan 1989

Bjornson, Carl R.

LS.RP, C.A.F. (Navy)

died - 14 Jun 1969

COUSLEY, Robert G.

AB, RCN

died - 01 Jul 1961

OLAN, Wayne J.

AB.WU, C.A.F. (Navy)

died - 20 Feb 1969

HMCS ASSINIBOINE'S bell - circa 1975-77

Courtesy of Danielle Boudreau

HMCS ASSINIBOINE, Hamburg German, 1957

Courtesy of photographer: Kent Malo

Source: ShipSpotting,com

(SH175) HMCS ASSINIBOINE and HMCS CRESCENT along side for the Big Exchange - Feb 1959 -  "In an orderly fashion by messes we exchanged ships while  in San Diego. I actually preferred the CRESCENT, older ship she had been converted with modernization of the Operations department plus all the updated equipment, with bunks similar to what the Yanks had for bunks, strapped canvas."

(SH176) LS Steve Hlasny and AB Dale Nordstrum in the Ops Room on HMCS ASSINIBOINE, 1960

From the collection of Steve Hlasny, CPO2.LT

Michael Forbes on the fo'c's'le of HMCS ASSINIBOINE 234, west coast of Vancouver Island, 1961

Courtesy of Michael Forshaw

HMCS ASSINIBOINE undergoing her conversion from DDE to DDH at the Victoria Machinery Depot - 1962

Courtesy of Richard Larcheveque

Helo Haul Down System on HMCS ASSINIBOINE 234

From the collection of LCdr Larry Zbitnew

Courtesy of Dennis Cardy

HMCS ASSINIBOINE 234

On 27 November 1963, the new landing platform aboard HMCS ASSINIBOINE was used for the first operational destroyer landing of a production CHSS-2.

DND / RCN photo

HMCS ASSINIBOINE 234

On 27 November 1963, the new landing platform aboard HMCS ASSINIBOINE was used for the first operational destroyer landing of a production CHSS-2.

Photographer: Raymond Cumby

Courtesy of Raymond Cumby

HMCS ASSINIBOINE 234 mid 1960s

Courtesy of Robert Berbeck.

HMCS ASSINIBOINE 234 anchored off Malaysia, 1962

Courtesy of Michael Forshaw

On board HMCS ASSINIBOINE 234, Malaysia, 1962

Courtesy of Michael Forshaw

On Board HMCS ASSINIBOINE 234, Malaysia, 1962

Courtesy of Michael Forshaw

On board HMCS ASSINIBOINE 234, India Ocean 1962

Courtesy of Michael Forshaw

Michael Forshaw in Japan, 1962

Courtesy of Michael Forshaw

Newspaper article on HMCS ASSINIBOINE from The Halifax Mail Star, 24 Oct 1963

Courtesy of Art Moore

A few sailors from HMCS ASSINIBOINE and HMCS Saguenay at the beer gardens, Honolulu, Hawaii

Courtesy of Michael Forshaw

Splice the Mainbrace on board HMCS ASSINIBOINE

Governor General's Cruise, 1968

Courtesy of Tom Wright

HMCS ASSINIBOINE 1968 Governor General's Centennial Cruise of Newfoundland.

This picture shows the Governor General Roland Mitchener and his wife with the helicopter fire fighting crew, which at the time was a secondary duty of members of the ships company, as the ship didn't carry any dedicated firefighters. I'm  (Robert Thomas) standing to the right of Mrs. Mitchener and was the only person who had an all silver fire fighting suit . As I recall, she asked me if I was "special". The Sikorsky H04S-3 (Pedro) we carried for the trip is now part of the National Aviation and Space Museum collection and on display in Ottawa. The rescue diver in the picture is LS Olan who was lost overboard during a storm in 1969.. The picture was taken by a Killick Photographer assigned to cover the cruise and it cost me a tot. He developed it in a portable photo lab set up in sickbay.

Courtesy of Robert Thomas

HMCS ASSINIBOINE, Maple Spring 1969

Wayne Robbins with sparkers Ted Brown, Jake Thomas and Pete Melnyk, enjoying a coolie after a guard practice at Martinique in the Lesser Antilles.

Courtesy of Robert Thomas

HMCS ASSINIBOINE 234 Routine Orders 11 Jul 1969

HMCS ASSINIBOINE 234

Courtesy of Nigel Whiteley, LCdr, RCN, Ret'd

DND/RCN photo

HMCS PRESERVER 510 conducting a RAS with HMCS ASSINBOINE 234 (Stbd side) and unknown DDH on port side - 22 Feb 1971 during Ex Maple Spring '71

Courtesy of Hugh Muir

HMCS ASSINIBOINE 234 - Welcome Aboard Booklet

Circa 1968-1970

Courtesy of Nigel Whiteley, LCdr, RCN, ret'd

Memorial Service held on HMCS ASSINIBOINE 234 on 26 Oct 1969 for the crew of HMCS Kootenay 258 and those killed and injured during the explosion on her on 23 Oct 1969

Courtesy of Jake Thomas

HMCS ASSINIBOINE "fully dressed" for her duties as Royal Escort to HRH Prince Charles and Princess Diana during their visit to the Maritimes, 10-29 June 1983

Courtesy of Ron Eccles

HMCS ASSINIBOINE alongside St. John's Newfoundland with HMY Britannia, 22-24 June 1983

Courtesy of Ron Eccles

HMCS ASSINIBOINE anchored outside Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island as escort to HMY Britannia, 27-29 June 1983

Courtesy of Ron Eccles

HMCS ASSINIBOINE alongside Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, 29 June 1983.  Last day as Royal Escort

Courtesy of Ron Eccles

HMCS ASSINIBOINE off Norfolk Va, late 1960's. 'Goofers' watch a rehearsal for the Naval Air portion of a NATO fire power demonstration, while the ship acts as plane guard for the USS John F. Kennedy. Always remember that trip. The concussions from nearby 500lb bomb blasts forced some of the one-way flapper valves, that kept sea water from coming up the the waste water pipes, stuck open. On the trip back to slackers, using the forward heads was like playing Russian Roulette.

Courtesy of Robert Thomas

HMCS ASSINIBOINE 234 - Photo taken during "Northern Wedding 82"

USN photo

HMCS ASSINIBOINE 234

Map of NORPLOY 74 trip - 06-31 Aug 1974

Courtesy of Ronald J. MacDonald

Crossing the Line certificate for the Equator - Steven Mark Adams - 27 Feb 77

South American Cruise - HMCS ASSINIBOINE, HMCS Algonquin, HMCS Protecteur

Courtesy of Steven Mark Adams

Crossing the Line Ceremony on HMCS ASSINIBOINE 234 on 27 Feb 1977 during the South American Cruise

Courtesy of Danielle Boudreau

HMCS ASSINIBOINE 234 in drydock in Shelburne, Nova Scotia circa 1979

Courtesy of Vincent Pyman

Atlantic rendezvous between a CH113A Voyageur Helicopter and HMCS ASSINIBOINE 234

HMCS ASSINIBOINE and the 1974 Portuguese Coup or "Where was this covered in command exams?"

 by Captain Robert H. Thomas, RCN, Ret'd

In the spring of 1974, Portugal had been in political turmoil for some time, with dissent focused within the Army over policies in overseas Portuguese territories. In Angola, Mozambique, and Guinea-Basseau revolution and terrorism had challenged the Portuguese colonial administrations for over a decade. An attempted coup on March 16, led by junior officers opposed to the extreme right-wing government, had failed, lulling the government into complacency. Six weeks later, a second military coup succeeded and seized power.

HMCS ASSINIBOINE found herself in the middle of the coup. She was part of a NATO fleet scheduled to assemble in Lisbon and to sail at first light on April 25. The timing of the coup had been planned, in part, to follow the departure of the fleet to ensure that the Tagus would be free of foreign warships.{1} The vagaries of the sea intervened.

In the morning of April 22, while en route to Lisbon, ASSINIBOINE sighted a small Grenadian merchant vessel, the Trade Mariner, which had been adrift without power for eight days. Day-long attempts to repair her engine were unsuccessful so ASSINIBOINE took her in tow and headed for Lisbon, 350 miles away. This delayed ASSINIBOINE's arrival until 11:00 a.m. on April 24. However, Captain Jock Allen, Commander of the Canadian Task Group, approved a 48 hour stay in Lisbon.

On arrival, ASSINIBOINE secured outboard of several other warships and had to shift very early on April 25 to permit the others to sail as planned for the exercise. The pilot in charge of the move arrived late, almost incoherent and complaining of a traffic jam in the city. A "cold" shift by tug to the anchorage duly commenced at just before 7:00 a.m.{2} Two members of ASSINIBOINE's ship's company were left ashore to move a rental vehicle to the Doca de Marinho, where the ship was due to move.

At anchor, permission could not be received to move alongside and it soon became clear that something serious was going on. The pilot was talking to authorities ashore but either could not, or would not, explain what was happening. In fact, unbeknownst to us, the coup had started at 3:00 that morning and the Army had moved rapidly to seize control of the city.

Shortly after 9:00 a.m. a Portuguese frigate, the Almirante Gago Coutinho, approached ASSINIBOINE. She was clearly at action stations and circled around us. Our reaction was to go to a higher degree of watertight integrity but to take no overt action which might be perceived as threatening or provocative by the Portuguese. At the same time, we were giving serious thought as to what to do if she attempted any hostile action. What we did not know was that the Army was equally uncertain about the frigate's intentions and had tanks ready to fire at it if it took hostile action. However, in mid-morning, after its officers had apparently refused the orders of the Captain to fire on the city, the ship elevated its guns skyward and withdrew.{3}

We were finally ordered to remain at anchor at 10:00 a.m. hours due to political unrest ashore. To find out what was going on, the Commanding Officer, Commander Robin Corneil, took a small party ashore at 10:25 in an attempt to meet the Canadian Ambassador and seek his instructions.

Meanwhile, our two sailors ashore had blissfully driven to the ship's destination and parked, only to hear gunfire and witness considerable commotion. Here members of the PIDE (International Police for Defence of the State) had barricaded themselves in their headquarters across the street and fired indiscriminately into the crowd.{4} Ultimately, five individuals were killed and many more wounded - the only bloodshed in the coup.{5}

On his trip ashore, Commander Corneil first spoke to Commander Gregor MacIntosh of HMCS Yukon which was about to sail from back to Canada after participating in The NATO Standing Naval Force Atlantic (STANAVFORLANT).{6} Meanwhile, the boat's crew was standing by a railing around the square watching the gunfire! Commander Corneil called the Canadian Embassy and was advised by the Second Secretary that there did not appear to be any danger to Canadians. He then contacted the Canadian Ambassador, R. Duhamel, seeking advice and direction. He was unable to get any specific direction from him, being told repeatedly to "do what your superiors tell you to do". After these many repetitions, Corneil finally said "Mr. Ambassador, you are my superior officer, until you decide what you want me to do!" He was then advised to get back to the Embassy.

Shortly afterwards, the American Assistant Naval Attaché, in plain clothes, approached Commander Corneil. He was fluent in Portuguese and described what was going on. From this, Corneil was able to give the Embassy a detailed account of events and the uncertainty of the Portuguese naval officers present who did not want to leave the Doca until they were certain who was going to win. At 12:18 the Commander Corneil returned to the ship, having picked up the two members of ASSINIBOINE's ship's company who were ashore.

There were other Canadian complications ashore. A Canadian Air Force Argus detachment from Greenwood was at the international airport at Portela which had been seized at 3:30 that morning by a unit of the officer training school.{7} Several personnel had brought spouses to Lisbon and were with them in downtown hotels. There was no way of contacting them or ensuring their safety, but the swiftness and lack of violence in the coup prevented any harm coming their way.

By mid-afternoon it was clear that there was nothing further we could do. Therefore, we weighed anchor shortly before 3:00 p.m. and sailed slowly down the Tagus, watching the activities of crowds ashore, especially their rapid dispersal when a tank suddenly appeared at an intersection.

The author was the Executive Officer of HMCS ASSINIBOINE at the time.

Notes:

1. Michael Harsgor. Portugal in Revolution, The Washington Papers, (Beverly Hills: Sage Publications), 1976, p. 21.

2. All times are taken from the log of HMCS ASSINIBOINE for April 1974. (Times have been converted to a.m./p.m. and rounded out in some places - Editor)

3. Insight on Portugal (London: Times Newspapers Limited, Andre Deutch, 1975), p. 83.

4. Harsgor, p. 22. 

5. Insight, p. 96.

6. All details of Commander Corneil's activities ashore are from a letter to the author 11 Jan 98. 

7. Insight, p. 84-5.

    

   © Copyright NOAC 1998

    

   This article was re-published here with permission of the Naval Officers Association of Canada, Executive Director Ken Lait

   Author/Writer of this article is Captain Robert H. Thomas, RCN, Ret'd

   This article is not to be re-published without permission of the NOAC

HMCS ASSINIBOINE 234 in 1977 -Photo taken from cable deck hatch.

Courtesy of Vincent Pyman

Burma Road on HMCS ASSINIBOINE 234 looking aft from Engineering office

Courtesy of Vincent Pyman

HMCS ASSINIBOINE 234 "Flight Deck Olympics" September 1976

"11 mess wins again"

 "I am back row 2nd from the right (Steven Adams). I know that there is Lt. Gosse, Gerry Quesnel, Kenny Moen, Bob Carlsen, Robin Hill, Gerry Springer, Knobby Clarke but the rest are faces without names now."

Courtesy of Steven Mark Adams

Signalmen on HMCS ASSINIBOINE in their racks in the mess deck.  Charlie Nichol sitting on the left side of the settee

Courtesy of Robert Thomas

Webmaster's note: This was how we lived on the ships. Quarters were close and you learned to ignore everything so you could get some sleep.

(L-R) Radioman Charlie Nichol, unknown, Signalman Bob Ward, Radioman Hal Benson relaxing in the mess deck after coming off watch

Courtesy of Robert Thomas

Damage to HMS Cleopatra after being hit by HMCS ASSINIBOINE circa 1980

Courtesy of Warwick Franklin

HMS Cleopatra Old Shipmates Association

Prince Charles and Lady Diana - Royal Tour of Newfoundland - 1983

(SB01-SB02) HMCS ASSINIBOINE sails past the Royal Yacht Britannia and the crew salutes the Prince and Princess of Wales, Charles and Diana - June 1983  (SB03) Map of the Royal Tour  (SB04) Certificate given to OS Bossé on the occasion of the visit of the Prince and Princess of Wales to HMCS ASSINIBOINE

Courtesy of Simon Bossé

HMCS ASSINIBOINE 234

USN Photo - 1986

Public domain

Newspaper article on HMCS ASSINIBOINE's final sail past

Trident Magazine 07 Dec 1988

Courtesy of Claude Morissette

Newspaper article on HMCS ASSINIBOINE's final sail past

Courtesy of Claude Morissette

Final message from CFS Mill Cove to HMCS ASSINIBOINE 234

Courtesy of Claude Morissette