HMCS KENTVILLE J312 / 182 - For Posterity's Sake

HMCS KENTVILLE J312 / 182

Bangor Class Minesweeper

HMCS KENTVILLE J312

From the collection of John & Martin Nickels

Courtesy of Steve Hlasny

Written on back of photo: To the best shipmate I ever had. We sailed on this one "HMCS KENTVILLE" in the North Atlantic Squadron. V10495

Battle honours and awards: Atlantic 1944-45

Laid down: 15 Dec 1941

Launched: 17 Apr 1942

Commissioned: 10 Oct 1942

Paid off: 28 Oct 1945

Re-acquired by RCN: 1952

Re-commissioned: 10 May 1954

Paid off: 30 Sep 1954

Transferred to Turkish Navy: 29 Nov 1957

Paid off: 1972

Fate: Unknown

Built at Port Arthur, Ont., she was commissioned there on 10 Oct 1942. KENTVILLE arrived at Halifax on 15 Nov 1942, having escorted a Quebec-Sydney convoy en route. After working up, she was assigned to Halifax Force in Jan 1943. With the exception of the period between May and Nov 1943, when she served with Sydney Force, she spent her entire career based at Halifax. In May 1944, she underwent a refit at Charlottetown, on completion of which in Jul 1944 she proceeded to Bermuda for working up, returning to Halifax in mid-Aug 1944. KENTVILLE was paid off into reserve, first at Shelburne and then, in 1946, at Sorel. She was re-acquired by the RCN in 1952, refitted and placed in reserve at Sydney, and was again in commissioned during the summer of 1954. Transferred on 29 Nov 1957 to the Turkish Navy and renamed BARTIN, she remained in service until 1972.

Photos and Documents Ship's company photos

Commanding Officers

Lt John Gwynda Hughes, RCNR - 10 Oct 1942 - 21 Mar 1944

Lt William James Gilmore, RCNVR - 22 Mar 1944 - 28 Apr 1944

Lt John Gwynda Hughes, RCNR - 29 Apr 1944 - 21 Jul 1944

Lt Frank Gordon Rainsford, RCNVR - 22 Jul 1944 - 14 Dec 1944

Lt J.R. Brown, RCNVR - 15 Dec 1944 - 03 Feb 1945

Lt Philip William Lee, RCNVR - 09 Jul 1945 - 10 Aug 1945

Lt William George Hunt, RCN - 10 May 1954 - 30 Sep 1954

In memory of those who have crossed the bar