|
HMCS MACKENZIE 261
MACKENZIE Class Destroyer
First of her class, MACKENZIE, built by Canadian Vickers, Montreal, was commissioned there on 06 Oct 1962. As with the other destroyer-escorts of her class, she is named after a famous Canadian river - the Mackenzie River in the North West Territories. Initially based at Halifax, she sailed for the west coast on 02 Mar 1963. Arriving in Esquimalt on 06 May 1963, she spent the remainder of her service life in Pacific waters.
In April 1964, HMCS QU'APPELLE (call sign CYQD) transferred from the East to the West coast and became the 2nd Squadron Senior ship. To avoid confusion with similar call signs - HMCS MACKENZIE's was CGQD - HMCS MACKENZIE, being the junior ship, had her call sign changed to CGYZ on 01 Aug 1964.
On 02-05 June 1967, MACKENZIE had a port visit in Powell River, BC. From 05-07 June 1967 she visited Sechelt, BC.
On 04 May 1970, HMCS PROVIDER 508, HMCS MACKENZIE 261, HMCS YUKON 263 and HMCS TERRA NOVA 259 departed Esquimalt for a Far East cruise.
On 30 Jun 1973, crew members of HMCS MACKENZIE boarded and seized MV Marysville in a reported million dollar drug seizure
Between 26 May 1986, and 16 Jan 1987, she received her DELEX refit at SRU(P).
After 30 years of service, in the course of which she visited 96 foreign ports and steamed 845,640 nautical miles either as a unit of the 4th Canadian Destroyer Squadron or of Training Group Pacific, MACKENZIE was paid off on 03 Aug 1993. On 16 Sep 1995, like several of her sisters, she was sunk off Rum Island, near Sidney, B.C., as a sport-divers' venue.
Historical note: MACKENZIE was commissioned in Montreal with a West coast crew. Initially based in Halifax for her first 5 months after commissioning she departed for Esquimalt on 02 Mar 1963. This was her first trip through the Panama Canal and other than one exercise in the Caribbean after which she returned directly to Esquimalt she never returned to the Atlantic. She never had an East coast crew and other than her stop in Halifax after her commissioning in Montreal, she never returned to Halifax - the only one of the Cadillacs to do so.
Photos and Documents Ship's company photos The Ship's Bell
HMCS MACKENZIE Crew List - 11 Jul 1987
RCN Memories: Radio Check - Over Yes, we have ducks in the Canadian Navy
Commanding Officers
Captain for the day
Captain for the day is a tradition in the RCN where during the ship's Christmas celebrations, the Commanding Officer changes places with the youngest member of the ship's company.
Raymond Johnson, OS.CK - 1973
David E. Baldwin, OSER - 1977
Kevin Smith - 1991
They shall not be forgotten A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
V
W
Y
Z
Former Crew Members
Note: entries c1976-1979 were from a ships recall list date 1976-1979
Photos and Documents
Commissioning 1962
(MKZ001) HMCS MACKENZIE 261 (MKZ002) HMCS MACKENZIE 261 // DND-RCN photo // From the collection of Sid Dobing // Courtesy of Brian Dobing (MKZ003) HMCS MACKENZIE 261, Hong Kong - 1964 Far East Cruise // From the collection of Gordon Arnold (Art) Broster // Courtesy of Cathy Robinson (MKZ004) HMCS MACKENZIE 261 departing Vancouver - Jul 1964 // Note that she is flying her original call sign CGQD. In April 1964, HMCS QU'APPELLE (call sign CYQD) was brought around from Halifax to Esquimalt and became 2nd Squadron Senior ship. To avoid confusion between the call signs, and with MACKENZIE being the junior ship to QU'APPELLE, her (MACKENZIE'S) call sign was changed on 01 Aug 1964 to CGYZ. // Courtesy of Robert Berbeck (MKZ005) HMCS MACKENZIE - 29 Sep 1965 // Photographer Walter E. Frost // Source: City of Vancouver Archives
(MKZ006) Cooks off HMCS MACKENZIE in Japan, 1965 // L-R: LS Gordon Young, AB Peter Hemstreet, AB Larry Johansen, AB Phil Sullivan // Photo of Gordon Young 52 years later - Photo of Peter Hemstreet 52 years later // Courtesy of Gordon Young (MKZ007) HMCS MACKENZIE on SEATO Exercise Jet64 in Indian Ocean // © 1964 - Ken Watson RCN 1961-1968 (MKZ008) HMCS MACKENZIE 261 enroute to San Diego and the gunnery range at San Clemente Island circa 1980-1981 // Copyright / Courtesy of Brad Stewart // Not for commercial use without permission of Brad Stewart (MKZ009) Freedom of the City of Victoria is bestowed upon the crew of HMCS MACKENZIE in 1985 for the Navy's 75th anniversary. Admiral Thomas, LCdr Redman is the guard officer, and the Mayor (Peter Pollen) // Courtesy of Brian Forsyth (MKZ010) HMCS MACKENZIE 261 with HMCS SASKATCHEWAN on her starboard side and HMCS ORIOLE astern // DND-RCN photo
(MKZ011) HMCS MACKENZIE 261 - undated // Courtesy of David Shirlaw
(DS01) OS Don Smeeth on HMCS MACKENZIE - entering San Francisco - 1978 (DS02) Christmas dinner aboard HMCS MACKENZIE 1979. L-R: CPO2 Dick Mills, unknown, Don Smeeth, AB Stinson, unknown Courtesy of Don Smeeth
(SH338) HMCS MACKENZIE circa 1977-78 (SH339) Signalmen Johns, Manz and unknown on HMCS MACKENZIE (SH340) HMCS MACKENZIE circa 1977
On the occasion of Badger leaving the ship at the entrance to Esquimalt Harbour for Release Centre, Feb 1978 (SH342) 2nd photo Honour Guard - C2 Irving, P1 Strandbur, C2 Hlasny, C2 Woychuk, P1 Fletcher (SH343) 3rd photo - On left of photo, Cox'n - D. Coughlin and XO - B. Hodgkins
(SH346) Milt, Marsh, Nester on HMCS MACKENZIE, Nov 1978 (SH347-SH3489) Captain Hook Bi-Centennial, Apr 1978 (SH349) Lieut. Governor of BC invitation to HMCS MACKENZIE'S ship's company for a reception at Government House (SH350) HMCS MACKENZIE Christmas card - 1979
(SH351-353) Old Sailors Night on HMCS MACKENZIE, 24 Jan 1979
Old Sailors Night on HMCS MACKENZIE, 24 Jan 1979 (SH354) Gunderson, Zbitnew, Abbott, Riggs, Batchelor (SH355) Ken Irvine, Freeman AbbotT (SH356) Bruce Riggs, Ken Irvine (SH357) Cdr H.R. Waddell, C.O., Freeman Abbott, Ken Irvine (SH358) Stennes, Tanner, Windle, Mills
Old Sailors Night on HMCS MACKENZIE, 24 Jan 1979 (SH359) WO White, our Army Writer (SH360) Irvine, Lesperance, Marsh, Hlasny (SH361-SH362) group photo (SH363) Windle, Mills, Marginet, Boucher, Riggs
Old Sailors Night on HMCS MACKENZIE, 24 Jan 1979 (SH364) Dave Windle, Freeman Abbott (SH365) Steve Hlasny, Ken Irvine (SH366) Dave Windle, Steve Hlasny, Ken Irvine, Freeman Abbott, Ray Marginet (SH367) Bart Batcheleor, Steve Hlasny (SH368) The boys are starting to feel mellow
Old Sailors Night on HMCS MACKENZIE, 24 Jan 1979 (SH369) The boys are starting to feel mellow (SH370) Freeman Abbott, Steve Hlasny (SH371) The Engineers (SH372) Old Sailors night at it's close (SH373) Grant, Nestor, Ken Irvine, Steve Hlasny
Old Sailors Night on HMCS MACKENZIE, 24 Jan 1979 (374) Running mates - Steve Hlasny, Ken Irvine, Freeman Abbott
(SH375) HMCS MACKENZIE rescues two fishermen off Cape Flattery, May, 1979 (SH376) Mortar instruction on HMCS MACKENZIE, May 1979 (SH377) "They Work!" - HMCS MACKENZIE firing her mortars, May 1979 (SH378) Mortars Bombs Exploding (SH379) Committal ceremony for the ashes of a Chief Gunner. Piping party - CPO1 Coughlin, CPO2 Gunderson
(SH380) At sea on HMCS MACKENZIE - Lt Morrison, Ken Irvine, Howie Kolson (SH381) At sea on HMCS MACKENZIE - Barry Stewart, Ken Irvine (SH382) HMCS MACKENZIE (foreground) going up the Sacramento River. Max at the hatch (SH383) Ken Irvine receiving his C1s. HMCS MACKENZIE - at sea (SH384) Doug Miller receiving his C1s. HMCS MACKENZIE - at sea
(SH385) BBQ on HMCS MACKENZIE at sea - Richardson, Howie Kolson (SH386) BBQ on HMCS MACKENZIE at sea - Freeman Abbott, Marsh, Bert Batcheleor (SH387) Dave Windle on HMCS MACKENZIE (foreground, centre) (SH388) "Beauty Contest" during a Banyan on HMCS MACKENZIE - The contestant all in white with the black hat is Donald Smeeth
(SH389) HMCS MACKENZIE entering Peurto Vallarta, Mexico (SH390) Coming alongside Peurto Vallarta - the Love Boat had just left (SH391) Some recreational sailing - Ken Irvine, Freeman Abbott (SH392) Recreational sailing - Heading for the beach - Steve Hlasny (SH393) Recreational sailing - Freeman Abbott, Ken Irvine, D. Molson
(SH394-395) Steve Hlasny para-sailing in Puerto Vallarta ... and coming in for a landing on the beach (SH396) Freeman Abbott having a swinging time ashore (SH397) RPs bash ashore at Long Beach, Calif. Lesperance (centre) (SH398) Max Brand cooking our steaks onboard ship
(SH399) Freeman, Moller, Dennet, Raymond and Irvine - fine dining at sea (SH400) HMCS MACKENZIE entering Esquimalt Harbour (SH401) Looking astern on HMCS MACKENZIE, one last look at the Strait of Juan de Fuca (SH402) HMCS MACKENZIE passing Duntz Head (SH403) Coming alongside C Jetty - was to be my last trip
Old Sailors Night on HMCS MACKENZIE, Apr 1980 - to help the CP (SH404) Old Sailors' caps with various cap tallies (SH405) "Some new, some old" (SH406) Ken Irvine and Freeman Abbott (SH407) Norm Bone, Steve Hlasny
Courtesy of Steve Hlasny, CPO2LT
(GD01-GD03) Boiler room consol of HMCS MACKENZIE 261 Courtesy of Garth Davies
(BR01) Burma Road on HMCS MACKENZIE 261 (BR02) 4 MESS on HMCS MACKENZIE 261 (BR03) Burma Road just outside Sickbay on HMCS MACKENZIE 261 (BR04) Portside view of the bridge on HMCS MACKENZIE 261
(BR05) HMCS MACKENZIE'S Tadpole Breakfast for Crossing the Equator during Ex SOPLOY '82 (BR06) OSBN Bruce Roper enjoying his tadpole breakfast prior to the Crossing the Line Ceremony during Ex SOPLOY '82
Courtesy of Bruce Roper
(PM01) Crossing the Line ceremony on board HMCS MACKENZIE during exercise SOPLOY 82
(PM02-PM05) Crossing the Line ceremony on board HMCS MACKENZIE during exercise SAMPLOY 83
(PM06-PM07) HMCS MACKENZIE flying her paying off pennant, 03 Aug 1993 Courtesy of Peter Manninen
The End
RB025 (RB025) Tug Seaspan scout towing the former HMCS MACKENZIE to be turned over to the Artificial Reef Society of BC for preparations to become an artificial reef - Courtesy of Robert Berbeck
(GB-MAC-001) Two newspaper articles on the scuttling of the former HMCS MACKENZIE as an artificial reef (GM-MAC-002) Schedule of events for the scuttling of the former HMCS MACKENZIE as an artificial reef From the collection of Gordon A. Broster, RCN Courtesy of Cathy Robinson
(MKZ100) Former HMCS MACKENZIE just prior to the scuttling charges being detonated. Source: Canadian Naval Alumni page on Facebook (MKZ101) Scuttling charges being detonated - the former HMCS MACKENZIE being sunk as an artificial reef. Source: Canadian Naval Alumni page on Facebook
(MAC004) The bridge of the former HMCS MACKENZIE - 10 Mar 2015. Source: Canadian Naval Alumni page on Facebook (MAC005) Side scan sonar image of the former HMCS MACKENZIE taken on 22 May 2020. Courtesy of Len Burton
|
In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice
Lest We Forget
