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HMCS GRIFFIN / HMCS OTTAWA H31
G - Class Destroyer (RN)
River Class Destroyer (RCN)
Commissioned on 06 Jun 1936 as HMS GRIFFIN, she took part in the evacuation of Namsos, Norway, in May 1940 before transferring in August to Force 'H' at Gibraltar and in Nov 1940 to the 14th Destroyer Flotilla in the Mediterranean. She subsequently took part in the evacuation of Greece and Crete, embarking 720 troops on one trip from Suda Bay. She also escorted a relief convoy to Malta. Transferred to the Eastern Fleet in Feb 1942, she returned to the U.K. in Oct 1942 for major refit at Portsmouth and Southampton, toward the end of which, on 20 Mar 1943, she was commissioned at Southampton as HMCS GRIFFIN. On 10 Apr 1943, despite the objections of her captain, she was renamed HMCS OTTAWA. She joined EG C-5, based at St. John's as a mid-ocean escort, but was removed from this duty in May 1944, to take part in the invasion with EG 11. During post-invasion patrols in the Channel and the Bay of Biscay she took part with KOOTENAY in the destruction of three U-boats. OTTAWA returned to Canada in Oct 1944, for refit at Saint John, N.B.. On 11 Mar 1945, HMCS STRATFORD, returning from Bermuda, was involved in a collision with HMCS OTTAWA in the Halifax approaches, receiving extensive damage to her fo'c's'le. OTTAWA remained in Canadian waters for the duration of the war and was paid off 01 Nov 1945, at Sydney. She was broken up in 1946.
U-Boats Sunk: (1) U-678 (Oblt Guido Hyronimus) a VIIC Type U-Boat, sunk on 06 Jul 1944 by HMCS OTTAWA H31, HMCS KOOTENAY H75 and HMS STATICE in position 50-32 N, 00-23 W. There were no survivors of her crew of 52. (2) U-621 sunk on 18 Aug 1944 by HMCS OTTAWA H31, HMCS KOOTENAY H75 and HMCS CHAUDIERE H99 in position 45-52N, 02-36 W (3) U-984 sunk on 20 Aug 1944 by HMCS OTTAWA H31, HMCS KOOTENAY H75 and HMCS CHAUDIERE H99 in position 42-20 N, 51-39 W
Photos and Documents Ship's Company Photos
Commanding Officers
They shall not be forgotten
Former Crew Members
Photos and Documents
(OTA001) Vengeance Mission Of New Canadian Destroyer // From the collection of J. Vincent Wesley, CPO, RCNVR // Courtesy of Marilynn Taylor (OTA002) HMCS OTTAWA H31 // From the collection of A/ERA 4c, Raoul Bélanger, RCNVR // Courtesy of Pierre Bélanger (OTA003) HMCS OTTAWA H31 - 1943 // From the collection of Rex Duce, Telegraphist, RN // Courtesy of Melanie Brough (OTA004) Child of Canadian sailor on active service transported back to Canada of the child's mother was killed in by V-bomb // Crow's Nest newspaper - Jul 1945 (OTA005) Ontario crew members of HMCS OTTAWA home on leave // Toronto Evening Telegram 18 Oct 1944 // Courtesy of Cal Littlejohn
(OTA006) HMCS OTTAWA H31 // From the collection of Robert Macklem // Courtesy of Bob Macklem (OTA007) HMCS OTTAWA H31 // Photo taken from HMCS OWEN SOUND K340 // From the collection of Dan L. Dunbar, AB, RCNVR // Courtesy of Dan Dunbar (OTA008) HMCS OTTAWA H31 in drydock at the Halifax Shipyards, Spring 1945 // Source: Canadian Virtual Military Museum on Facebook
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In memory of those who have crossed the bar 
