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HMCS CARAQUET J38
Bangor Class Minesweeper
Named for a New Brunswick bay, she was built for the RN but transferred to the RCN for manning and commissioned 02 Apr 1942, at Vancouver. In May 1942 she joined Esquimalt Force and in Sep 1942 was transferred to Prince Rupert Force, but she returned to Esquimalt in Mar 1943, with order to proceed to the east coast. She left Esquimalt for Halifax on 17 Mar 1943 arriving on 02 May 1943 and was allocated to WLEF, transferring in Jul 1943 to Halifax Force and in Dec 1943 to Newfoundland Force. During this period she underwent a six-week refit at Baltimore, MD., from mid-Jul 1943. On 19 Feb 1944, with COWICHAN, MALPEQUE and VEGREVILLE, she left for Plymouth via the Azores, arriving on 13 Mar 1944. She was assigned to the 31st Minesweeping Flotilla for invasion duties and was present on D-Day. CARAQUET proceeded to Canada at the end of Sep 1944 to refit at Lunenburg, returning to Plymouth in Mar 1945, for further mine-clearance work. Paid off on 26 Sep 1945 and returned to the RN at Sheerness. In 1946 she was sold to the Portuguese Navy and renamed ALMIRANTE LACERDA. In 1975 she was sold to the navy of the Republic of Mozambique and remained in service till 1984.
Photos and Documents Ship's company photos
The Thirty-First Minesweeping Flotilla
Commanding Officers
Lt Aubrey Alvin Randle Dykes, RCNR - 02 Apr 1942 - 03 Nov 1943
Cdr Anthony Hubert Gleadow Storrs, RCNR - 04 Nov 1943 - 18 Sep 1944
Lt G.W. Leckie, RCNVR - 13 Nov 1944 - 26 Sep 1945
They shall not be forgotten
Former Crew Members
Photos and Documents
(CQT001) HMCS CARAQUET J38 // Source: Juno Beach Centre // Credit: Library and Archives of Canada PA-125683 (CQT002) Cramped quarters in a mess deck on HMCS CARAQUET J38 // Source: Facebook page - Royal Canadian Navy Today and Yesterday // Courtesy of Rebecca Melnyk (CQT003) Station Card for L/SA William McLean, HMCS CARAQUET // From the collection of William McLean, L/SA, RCNVR // Courtesy of Derwyn Crozier-Smith (CQT004) HMCS CARAQUET J38 // Courtesy of the CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum (CQT005) HMCS CARAQUET Christmas card - year unknown // From the collection of Harry A. Stones, Cook (S), RCNR // Courtesy of Mike Stones
(RTC097) Ryan (left) who was lost on HMCS SHAWINIGAN and Johnny Vimbor on HMCS CARAQUET J38 // Click here to see the back of the photo // Webmaster's note: While the list of casualties from SHAWINIGAN do not show the name Ryan this photo has been entered here as Roy Cardy wrote this info on the back of the photo. It may be that the name Ryan was a nickname and not his actual name. (RTC098) A double exposed photo showing Johnny Vimbor and Ryan on the quarterdeck of HMCS CARAQUET J38 (RTC099) Roy Cardy (left) and Ryan on the quarterdeck of HMCS CARAQUET J38 (RTC100) HMCS CARAQUET in Halifax - date unknown // RCN Photo (RTC101) Roy T. Cardy (Right) with friend at Beacon Hill Park, Victoria, BC - Summer 1942
(RTC102) HMCS CARAQUET J38 in Halifax - date unknown // RCN Photo (RTC103) HMCS CARAQUET J38 // "Painting Ship - A never-ending , fruitless task. It washed-off as soon as you put to sea. - wet paint on wet steel ...but, it made the Cox'n happy." // RCN photo (RTC104) HMCS CARAQUET OSQ card for Roy Cardy // "As a young lad, he and I listened to Radio Moscow on short wave skip down in the basement on re-powered war surplus radio sets with 50 feet of copper wire in the back yard. I remember him telling me that when he was on ship about being allowed into the radio shack on convoy duty, and listening to strong morse code signals. " What's that?" asked Dad. "U-boats" said Sparky." (RTC105) Buzzy Daniels - Buzz Artist - on HMCS CARAQUET J38 // Photographer: Roy T. Cardy (RTC106) HMCS CARAQUET J38 Icing Up during convoy off Newfoundland // Photographer: Roy T. Cardy // "On his early trips dad told me he did not appreciate just how rapidly dangerous ice build-up happens and just how hard it was to get rid of. Frantic action, that could go on for hours, by the crew, with axes, hammers, steam hoses - before the ship rolled, and didn't recover. Things people at home never heard about."
(RTC107) Roy T. Cardy on HMCS CARAQUET J38 // Note the depth charge cradles along the bulkhead. The depth charges were strapped on these cradles and then lowered onto a launcher (RTC108) Unknown sailor on the deck of HMCS CARAQUET J38 // Note the depth charge fuse setting on the right side of the photo (RTC109 - RCT111) HMCS CARAQUET J38 recovering a minesweeping float // Photographer: Roy T. Cardy
(RCT112) "The Thinker" // AB Halliday, Lookout // Photographer: Roy T. Cardy (RCT113) Fo'c's'le of HMCS CARAQUET J38 beginning to ice up (RCT114) Roy T. Cardy by the 4-inch gun on HMCS CARAQUET J38 (RCT115) Whaler of HMCS CARAQUET J38. Sig Bonzor (?Bonsor?) in the foreground - 1943 (RCT116) Whaler of HMCS CARAQUET J38 - 1943 // Unknown ship in background
(RCT117) Depth charge crew on HMCS CARAQUET J38 (RCT118) Some crew of HMCS CARAQUET J38 on deck in the English Channel with their new lifejackets and flashing headgear, hopefully for rescue! (RCT119) Securing for sea on HMCS CARAQUET J38 // Photographer: Roy T. Cardy (RCT120) Newspaper article on SLt Walter Eastwood, RCNVR, Gunnery Officer, HMCS CARAQUET J38 From the collection of Roy T. Cardy, Anti-Aircraft Rating 3rd Class, RCN Courtesy of Dennis Cardy
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In memory of those who have crossed the bar 
