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HMCS
RESTIGOUCHE 257
Restigouche
Class Destroyer
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HMCS RESTIGOUCHE 257
DND / RCN photo |
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Battle honours and awards: Atlantic
1939-45, Normandy 1944,
Mediterranean 1944, North Sea
1944, Biscay 1940
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Laid down: 15
Jul 1953
Launched: 22
Nov 1954
Commissioned: 07
Jun 1958
IRE
Refit commenced: 03 Aug 1970
IRE
Refit completed: 12 May 1972
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DELEX
Refit commenced: 03 Dec 1984
DELEX
Refit completed: 29 Nov 1985
Paid off: 31
Aug 1994
Fate:
Scuttled off Acapulco on 11 Jun 2001 in 65 meters of water |
Built by Canadian Vickers Ltd., RESTIGOUCHE
suffered portside damage in a collision with the freights Manchester
Port in Nov 1957 while still in the hands of her builder. She
was finally commissioned at Montreal on 07 Jun 1958. She was present
at the formal opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway in 1959, and at a
mini-UN naval review in Toronto the following month, immediately
afterward carrying the Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland on a tour
of that province's northeast outports. On 29 Apr 1961, RESTIGOUCHE and Columbia 260 made a port visit to Washington, D.C. She underwent her IRE
modernization in 1970-72 at Halifax Shipyards.
In Jun 1972, HMCS RESTIGOUCHE
was damaged as a result of a barge fire alongside her.(1)
LSFC Bryan Watson was Bos'n Mate at the time of the incident. "We were
at the sub jetty across from Fleet Maintenance Facility with the wheeler
barge on our starboard side. I was the Bosn’s mate and at approx. 1230 I
observed two dockyard workers go into the barge. About 5 minutes later there
was a loud whoosh and the barge erupted in flames. I was about 20 feet from
the flames so I closed the Bosn’s mate shack and activated the action
alarm, making the pipe fire, fire, fire on the wheeler barge, this not an
exercise! The Fire Department was called and the fire tug along with two pup
tugs to tow the bar into the middle of the harbour were
dispatched."
In 1973 she was
transferred to the west coast, arriving at Esquimalt on 02 Aug 1973.
Between 03 Dec 1984 and 29 Nov 1985 she completed her DELEX
refit at SRU(P). On 08 May 1986, HMCS PROVIDER
508, HMCS RESTIGOUCHE 257, HMCS TERRA NOVA 259 and HMCS KOOTENAY
258, departed Esquimalt for Exercise RIMPAC 86 and returned on 21
Jun 1986. Upgraded (as per TERRA NOVA) for possible service
in the Persian Gulf, in Mar 1991 she instead joined SNFL, the
first west coast based unit to do so. On 24 Feb 1992, RESTIGOUCHE was dispatched to the Red Sea to assist a multinational
force convened to ensure that Iraq did not resume hostilities. She
returned to Esquimalt on 18 Aug 1992. She was paid off on 31 Aug
1994. RESTIGOUCHE was sold in December 1998 to American Dick Crawford
for $113,055.50. On 06 Nov 2000, she and her sister, Kootenay, departed
Esquimalt in tow for Mexico, where RESTIGOUCHE was sunk off Acapulco
on 11 Jun 2001.
The sinking of the RESTIGOUCHE - the RESTIGOUCHE was
about 80% prepared for sinking purposes when an approaching hurricane force
them to move the ship across the harbour so it would be in the lee of the
storm. It was done very quickly and the harbour master was cautioned against
towing the ship by the stern because of the hull cuts in preparation for
scuttling. While under tow, she listed to port, pulling the diver access
holes below the waterline which resulted in her sinking at a depth of about
60 feet.
Photos and Documents
Ship's
company photos The
Ship's Bell
Commissioning
Book - 1958 Crossing
the Line (Equator) booklet - 30 Jan 1966
20th
Anniversary Booklet
Ex Far Horizons - 1983
25th Anniversary Booklet
Re-Activation Booklet after 9-month refit
NATO 1991 Commemorative book
The
Restigouche Horn - The Crews Paper - NATO 1970 - Port visit Portland
RCN Memories:
Man
Overboard!! Rustyguts
What
if?
Commanding Officers
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Cdr John William McDowall,
RCN - 07 Jun 1958 - 04 Aug 1960
Cdr William Wyness MacColl,
RCN - 04 Aug 1960 - 08 Aug 1962
Cdr Bernard.Charles Thillaye,
RCN - 08 Aug 1962 - 19 May 1965
Cdr Henry William Vondette,
RCN - 19 May 1965 - 10 Aug 1966
Cdr R.A. Evans,
RCN - 10 Aug 1966 - 03 Jan 1968
Cdr Paul Lancelot
S. McCulloch, RCN - 03 Jan 1968 - 03 Aug 1970
Cdr Richmond Hill Kirby - 12 May
1972 - 07 Sep 1972
LCdr R.C. Burnip - 07 Sep 1972 - 02 Apr
1973
Cdr Robert James Deluca - 02 Apr
1973 - 15 Jul 1973
Cdr Clifford James Crowe - 15 Jul 1975 - 27 Jan
1977
Cdr Robert Gordon Balfour - 27 Jan
1977 - 27 Mar 1977
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Cdr Clifford James Crowe - 27 Mar
1977 - 29 Apr 1977
Cdr Henry Timothy Porter - 29 Apr
1977 - 29 Jul 1978
Cdr John Roger Anderson - 29 Jul 1978 - 29 Sep
1980
Cdr
Douglas A.
Henderson - 29 Sep 1980 - 10 Jan 1983 Cdr
S.J. Jessen
- 10 Jan 1983 - 06 Jul 1984 Cdr H.C.
Silvester
- 06 Jul 1984 - 07 Jul 1987
Cdr Ronald (Ron) Douglas Buck - 07 Jul 1987 - 09 Mar
1989 Cdr B.E. Mathews - 09 Mar 1989 - 19 Jun
1989
Cdr G.C. Oakley - 19 Jun 1989 - 23 Aug
1991 Cdr D. Baltes
- 23 Aug 1991 - 04 Jan 1993
Cdr Richard K. Taylor - 04 Jun 1993 - 31 Aug
1994 |
In memory of those who have crossed the bar 
They shall not be
forgotten
A
B
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Bacon,
Dennis
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Badiuk, Al
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Baillargeon,
Raymond G.
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Bell,
Richard
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Birch-Jones,
Peter M.
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Boswell,
Robert R.
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Briand,
Daniel R. A.
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Brooks,
Robert E.
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Broster, G.
Arnold
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Burnett,
Gerald C.
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Bush,
Charles L.
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C
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Campbell,
Beverley G.
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Carroll,
James D.
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Cassidy,
William J.
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Chaboyer,
Wayne
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Chupick,
Michael L.
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Clarke,
Robert
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Conrad,
Donald E.
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Cormier,
Clarence N.
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Cote,
Joseph J. P.
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Couckuyt,
Brian D.
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Crew, Dale
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Currie,
Alexander J.
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Curry,
Donald G.
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E
F
G
H
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J
K
L
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Labelle, John H. |
Lahey, Murray
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Lambert,
Ronald G. P.
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Larabie,
David E. P.
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Large, J.
Donald
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Larking, Thomas P. |
Lawrence,
Raymond
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Leeming,
Matthew R.
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Legaarden,
John T.
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Lemon,
Denis E.
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Lerhe, Eric J.
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Lesperance
John E.
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Lindstrom,
Ray R.
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Logan,
John W.
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Luke,
Robert J.
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Lynch,
Grant E.
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M
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MacArthur,
Archie
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McBridge,
Charles R.
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MacDonald,
Leo I.
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Mace,
Ronald T.
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MacEachern,
Allister J.
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Mallory,
John E.
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Maskell,
Thomas B.
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Mason,
Stanley L. F.
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McAdam,
Robert B.
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McComb, G.
E.
Chris
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McCulley,
Stanley J.
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McCulloch,
Paul L. S.
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McLeod, Cathel
J.
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McDowell,
John W.
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McGregor,
Douglas B.
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McKay,
Gordon E.
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McNair,
Richard M.
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McNamara, Kevin
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Melanson,
Laurie S.
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Metcalfe,
Samuel L.
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Moffat,
Glen E.
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Molloy,
John P.
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Morgan,
Roger S.
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Murray,
Douglas
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N
O
P
R
S
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Sears,
George E.
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Sheplawy,
Eugene J.
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Slade,
John C.
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Smith,
Richard L.
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Smith, Ronald L.
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Somers,
George H.
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Spears,
Laurie B.
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Spiesz,
John-Henry
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Steinburg,
Noel
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Stewart, Donald R.
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Struthers, Cuthbert
T.
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W
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Wainwright,
Ronald
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Watts, M.
Keith
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Webb,
Frederick L.
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Weir,
James N.
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Whittaker,
James A.
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Whyte,
Donald G.
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Wilkins,
Bradley L.
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Williams, Reginald K.
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Willson, Robert A.
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Wilson,
Joseph F.
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Wolfe, Henry
H.
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Woychuk,
Wilfred F.
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Former Crew Members
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Abraham,
John M. 
Adamthwaite, Dave V., Slt, DeckO 1966-1969
Addams,
William Darrell
Barclay, Jim, P2FC - 1973
Beaumier,
Francois
Berbeck, Robert - Jan 1981 - Jun 1983
Biccum,
Terry
Bouvet, B., LS - 1978
Bradshaw, W., Sgt. - 1978
Brown, MS - 1978
Dallin, R., PO - 1978
Davis, E., MS - 1978
Dingman, Douglas
Earl, Bill, LS - Mar 1976 - Jul 1979
Falk, R., PO - 1978
Finlayson, Moody, ABBN - 1966
Flack, PO2 - 1978
Flavelle, AB - 1978
Foldesi, LCdr - 1978
Francis, PO2 - 1978
Gagne, Alain, LS, Mar Eng Mech - 1978 - 1982
Gale, MS - 1978
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Gjesdale, L., MS - 1978
Griffiths, PO2 - 1978
Harkness, W., PO - 1978
Holstead,
Gordon Ramsey
Hopkins,
Ted
Hoskins, Andy AB-LSBN / P2-P1BN
Johnston, G., MS -
1978 Johnston, R.J., AB-LSWS
/ MSNWT - Dec 1977 - Jan 1982 Kaye,
Steve Kimber,
Norman, LSWU - 1969 Klughart,
Alvin (Al), ABSN1 - late 1963
La Fave, John 33169-H, Cox'n - 1982-1985 LaChance,
Yvon, Stoker - 1970
Lee,
E., PO - 1978
Malcomson,
Al, LSFC - 1973
McCoy, D., PO - 1978
McFarland, Doug - 1975-1976
Mitchell, Mike
Olsen, Darren Mark
Osbourne, J., LS - 1978
Parker, PO2 - 1978
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Peachy, P., LS - 1978
Peacock, Robert (Bob)
Ritchie, Eric, ET, early 1960s
Roberts, Jim, LSFC - 1973
Rourke, Les, LSWS - 1973
Schwartz, Morley Graham, RP - 1959
Seymour, Doug, PO2 - Apr 1973 - Sep 1977
Shipalesky, D., AB - 1978
Spooner, Brent, LSWS - 1973
Stewart, Lt - 1978,
Stuart, Bob - 1977-1980
Sutherland, PO2 - 1978
Sutherland, David, P2WU - 1973
Taylor, LS - 1978
Tiffin, Rick - 1978-1980 / 1992-1992
Towes, Gary
Vermette, Dennis, ABBN - 1966
Watson, Bryan, LS, FC - 1971-1973 (Halifax), 1975-1977 (Esquimalt)
Watts, Randall John
Wierenga, M., PO - 1978
Zimmer, LS - 1978 |
Photos
and Documents
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Article on the construction of HMCS RESTIGOUCHE using
KODAK Industrial X-rays
Courtesy of Yvon Lachance
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Article on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE from the March 1959 issue
of Popular Mechanics Magazine (pdf file)
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ET Eric Ritchie (left) and ET Dave Rushton holding up
the leaning tower of Pisa - early 1960
From the collection of Dave Rushton
Courtesy of Brian Lapierre
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HMCS RESTIGOUCHE 257
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Painted by Rick Beresford circa 1959-60
Armourer's Mate on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE 257
Courtesy of Tony Beresford |
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HMCS RESTIGOUCHE 257 arriving in Halifax
harbour
Photo prior to Feb 1965 as she is still flying
the White Ensign |
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HMCS RESTIGOUCHE 257 doing 20 plus knots in the Inner
Leads in north Norway and pointing at land!
This photo gives an idea of how confining these waters
can be.
Courtesy of Michael Young
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HMCS RESTIGOUCHE 257 in drydock inside a mountain at
Haakonsvern, Bergen, Norway
RESTIGOUCHE
in drydock inside the mountain in the Norwegian Naval Base at Haakonsvern,
Bergen. It was taken at Easter 1970 when we went in to paint ship over a 36
hour period on the weekend. The water was not drained from the dock. The
crew worked around the clock to paint and the result is obvious! The reason
we were there was that Commodore Boyle RCN, COMSTANAVFORLANT, was not happy
with the appearance of his flagship! We had come out of refit in the fall of
1969. We worked up in January then sailed across the Atlantic in nasty
weather to join the Squadron. There was little chance to really get the ship
looking good again. The RNoN offered us that weekend in "the cave"
and we took it. The Commodore seemed pleased with the results!
Courtesy
of Michael Young
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Damage to RESTIGOUCHE as a result of the fire aboard
the Wheeler Bar that was alongside her - 1972
Courtesy of Hugh Muir
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Banyan on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE off Bermuda,
July 1973
Left
to right: P2WU Dave Sutherland (back to camera), P2FC Jim Barclay, LSWS Herb
Theriauf, LSFC Jim Roberts, LSWS Brent Spooner
Courtesy
of Al Malcomson
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Banyan on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE off Bermuda,
July 1973
Left
to right: LSWS Les Rourke on top of chaff launcher, Dave Sutherland,
Jim Barclay, Herb Theriauf, LSFC Al Malcomson, Brent Spooner
Courtesy
of Al Malcomson |
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MS Don Little giving Engineroom
tours during a dependants day cruise - 25 Mar 1974
Courtesy of Don Little |
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1978 cruise of HMCS RESTIGOUCHE - Crossing the
Line Ceremony (Equator) - List of Shellbacks and Tadpoles
Courtesy of Jim Johnston
Page
1 Page
2 Page
3 |
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HMCS RESTIGOUCHE 257 - undated |
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HMCS KOOTENAY and HMCS RESTIGOUCHE, Pearl Harbor,
Spring 1978 during Ex RIMPAC '78
Courtesy of Hugh Muir
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HMCS RESTIGOUCHE opens fire on the gun range in
the Hawaiian islands in 1983. Photos taken from the starboard bridge
wing
Photographer / © Colin Mackie - 1983
Courtesy of Colin Mackie |
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HMCS RESTIGOUCHE 257 firing an ASROC
(Anti-Submarine Rocket) - Apr 1983
Courtesy of
Robert Berbeck |
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HMCS RESTIGOUCHE hosts children's party in Japan
Article 1 - Master Seaman Kent Wilkins presented a
British Columbia Indian print on behalf of RESTIGOUCHE, to the Senior
teacher of the Jinpu-En Home.
Article 2 - The children laugh as Ordinary Seaman
Mike Walker tries his best sign language to explain the mementos presented
to the children.
Article
3 - Able Seaman Ken O'Brien and Master
Seaman Kent Wilkins look on as the Director of the Jinpu-En Refugee Home,
Satoshi Tarumoto and three of the children cut cakes made for the party.
Courtesy of Chris Kenney
Credit: Esquimalt Lookout Newspaper June 8, 1983
Photographer MCpl Sartori |
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AM111
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AM112
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AM113
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AM114
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AM115
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(AM111)
CANCORTRON 3 - MAPLE SPRING 66 Certificate - HMCS ANNAPOLIS, HMCS
RESTIGOUCHE, HMCS SKEENA
(AM112) HMCS
RESTIGOUCHE 257 - Crossing the Line (Equator) booklet - 31 Jan 1966
(AM113) Chief MacArthur's Crossing the Line Certificate - 31 Jan 1966
(AM114) Chief MacArthur's Crossing the Line certificate - wallet size
card. Note: If a ship crossed the line and a sailor was not able to
produce his card or certificate that he had been initiated, then he would
have to go through the ceremony again as a tadpole
(AM115)
HMCS RESTIGOUCHE
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AM116
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AM117
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AM118
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AM119
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AM120
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(AM116-AM120) HMCS RESTIGOUCHE iced-up.
Webmaster's
note: I bet the crew was looking forward to a trip south for exercise
Maple Spring
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AM121
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AM122
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AM123
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AM124
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AM125
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(AM121)
HMCS RESTIGOUCHE fueling from Station 3 on HMCS PROVIDER
(AM122)
Personnel transfer by jackstay from HMCS RESTIGOUCHE to HMCS PROVIDER
(AM123-AM124) The results of a mortar firing on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE
(AM125) Unknown location
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AM126
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AM127
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AM128
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AM129
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AM130
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(AM126) USS TRITON 586 alongside submarine
tender USS FULTON 11 at the State Pier, New London Connecticut
(AM127)
Amtrak Bridge, New London, Connecticut
(AM128) HMCS PROVIDER
(AM129-AM130) unknown port
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AM131
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AM132
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AM133
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AM134
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AM135
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(AM131) USS YELLOWSTONE 27 berthed with
destroyers USS JOHN CRAIG 885, USS BARTON 722, USS JOHNSTON 821 and USS CONE
866 - location unknown
(AM132-AM135) HMCS RESTIGOUCHE departing Puerto Rico
- Castillo San Felipe del Morro coming up on the starboard side
(AM136-AM137) Unidentified cruise ship passing HMCS
RESTIGOUCHE as she departs Puerto Rico. Cruise ship seen in the
distance of photo "AM134"
(AM138)
HMCS ANNAPOLIS 265 approaching HMCS RESTIGOUCHE to conduct jackstay
(AM139) Jackstay between HMCS RESTIGOUCHE and HMCS ANNAPOLIS - you can see
the jackstay lines between the ships
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AM140
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AM141
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AM142
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AM143
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AM144
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(AM140-AM141) Jackstay complete
- HMCS ANNAPOLIS picks up speed and moves off
(AM142) HMCS ANNAPOLIS
265
(AM143-AM144) Bermuda Island
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AM145
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AM146
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AM147
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AM148
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AM149
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(AM145) Two sailors from HMCS RESTIGOUCHE, Elbow Beach,
Bermuda
(AM146) Elbow Beach, Bermuda, with the Elbow Beach Surf
Club in the background
(AM147) Elbow Beach, Bermuda (AM148)
Looking aft from the flag deck on HMCS RESTIGOUCHE
(AM149) A choppy
day at sea
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AM150
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AM151
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AM152
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AM153
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AM153
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(AM150)
Unknown location
(AM151) Choppy seas
(AM152) HMCS RESTIGOUCHE
during river transit - Dunc Bishop on right
(AM153-AM154) Sunset at
sea
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AM154
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AM155
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AM166
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AM167
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AM168
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(AM154)
Family Day cruise - Aug 1966 - HMCS SKEENA seen from HMCS RESTIGOUCHE
(AM155) Demonstration of rescue by helo - Family Day cruise - Aug 1966
(AM166) Sea King Helo - Family Day Cruise - Aug 1966
(AM167) Invitation
to Ship's Company Dance 01 Dec 1967
(AM168) Chief MacArthur, Chief ET
on HMCS Restigouche, receives the award for the best illuminated ship,
Christmas 1967
Expo '67, Montreal
(AM169-AM171)
HMCS RESTIGOUCHE alongside Montreal for Expo '67
(AM172) Archie MacArthur
with his wife Ora, son Barry and daughter Colleen, Expo '67
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AM173
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AM174
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Expo '67, Montreal
(AM174-AM174) The Schooner Bluenose at Montreal for Expo '67
From
the collection of CPO1 Archie MacArthur,
RCN
Courtesy
of Colleen Coons
Standing Naval Force Atlantic
HMCS RESTIGOUCHE'S deployment
with the NATO Squadron - 1970
(YL01-YL05)
NATO Squadron conducting manoeuvers in choppy seas
NATO
Squadron port visit Lisbon, Portugal
(YL06-YL07)
HMCS RESTIGOUCHE
(inboard) and HMCS NIPIGON alongside Lisbon (for turnover)
(YL08)
American destroyers alongside, Lisbon, Portual
NATO
Squadron port visit Lisbon, Portugal
(YL09-YL12)
American carrier, USS ESSEX 18, anchored at Lisbon
NATO
Squadron port visit Lisbon, Portugal
RESTIGOUCHE
Crew Beach Party at the Praia do Guincho beach, Lisbon, 1970
NATO
Squadron port visit Lisbon, Portugal
RESTIGOUCHE
Crew Beach Party at the Praia do Guincho beach, Lisbon, 1970
NATO
Squadron port visit Lisbon, Portugal
RESTIGOUCHE
Crew Beach Party at the Praia do Guincho beach, Lisbon, 1970
(YL27) John
Westfall (left), Yvon Lachance (right)
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YL28 |
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NATO
Squadron port visit Lisbon, Portugal
RESTIGOUCHE
Crew Beach Party at the Praia do Guincho beach, Lisbon, 1970
(YL28) Sailor
on right in white shirt with red trunks is Tom Koritar
HMCS
RESTIGOUCHE NATO Sail Past
HMCS RESTIGOUCHE prepares for her good-bye
sail past from the NATO Squadron
HMCS
RESTIGOUCHE NATO Sail Past
(YL34)
RESTIGOUCHE takes up position
while the NATO Squadron forms up in line ahead for the sail past
(YL35-YL37)
HMCS NIPIGON, RESTIGOUCHE'S
relief, leads the sail past
HMCS
RESTIGOUCHE NATO Sail Past
HMCS
RESTIGOUCHE NATO Sail Past
Sail past complete - NATO Squadron steams on ahead
as HMCS RESTIGOUCHE departs for home
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YL47 |
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NATO
Deployment Over
Enroute
home .....
Courtesy of Yvon Lachance
The End
HMCS RESTIGOUCHE is towed to Mexico and
scuttled
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Former
destroyer escorts HMCS Kootenay (right) and HMCS RESTIGOUCHE (left) are towed out of Esquimalt Harbour
Monday to begin an 18-day journey to Acapulco. The ships will be sunk to create reefs for divers. An effort to keep the ships
as an attraction in B.C. waters fell short.
Credit: Darren Stone / Times Colonist |
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Newspaper article on the bungled artificial
reef project for the former HMCS RESTIGOUCHE 257 and the former HMCS
KOOTENAY 258
Laredo Morning Times,
Friday, June 15, 2001
Source: airwolf.lmtonline.com
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Former
HMCS RESTIGOUCHE sinking off Acapulco
Credit:
Swiss
Divers Association
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Foot
notes - (1)
The Chronicle Herald," Halifax, N.S., Tuesday, June 21 1972, p. 1.
HOME PAGE SHIP INDEX
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