|
HMCS YUKON 263
Mackenzie Class Destroyer
HMCS YUKON, third of four destroyers escorts of the MACKENZIE Class, was commissioned on 25 May 1963.
Built by Burrard's, Vancouver, her keel was laid down in Oct 1959, and she was launched in Jul 1961. The design of this class of ship served a two-fold purpose. The rounded lines inhibit the formation of ice and prevent ice build-up by allowing the water to flow easily over the side. The second and more important function is to permit a free "run-ff" of water when the pre-wetting system is turned on, washing away a great percentage of nuclear, biological or chemical hazard, should one exist.
The YUKON is named after the Yukon River in the Yukon Territory. She proudly carries the motto "Only The Fit Survive", a line taken from a poem by Robert Service called "The Law of the Yukon". In addition her badge shows her ties with the Yukon Territory. It consists of a Malamute Sled Dog, derived from the coat of arms of the territory, on a background of a wavy blue and gold diagonal signifying the Yukon river and the great gold deposits that once existed there.
For her commissioning, YUKON was manned by east-coast personnel and sailed for Halifax on 27 July 1963. On 05 Jan 1965, she departed for Esquimalt and became a member of the Second Canadian Escort Squadron.
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 - she carried out exercises with units of the Australian, New Zealand, Japanese and U.S. navies, incidentally making visits to Kobe, Osaka and Sasebo.
In Dec 1971 YUKON returned to Halifax to joined the Fifth Canadian Destroyer Squadron.
In Jan 1974 YUKON joined the Standing Naval Force Atlantic and was flagship for the NATO squadron in 1974 that was alongside Lisbon when the Portuguese Rebellion started. Crew members were on the upper deck when the machine gun fire commenced and were told to "hit the deck". She was relieved of her flagship duties in Apr 1974 by HMCS ANNAPOLIS and she returned to Halifax and the Fifth Canadian Destroyer Squadron.
In Aug 1974 YUKON returned for her mid-life refit. On completion of her mid-life refit in 1975, YUKON became a member of Training Group Pacific.
Her DELEX refit was carried out by Burrard Yarrow at Esquimalt, between 28 May 1984 and 16 Jan 1985.
During her career, YUKON steamed more than 792,000 nautical miles and visited some 30 foreign ports. She was paid off on 03 Dec 1993 and eventually sold to the San Diego Oceans Foundation.
On 25 Apr 1999 she left Vancouver in tow for San Diego, where she was to be ceremoniously sunk on 15 Jul 1999 as a sport-divers' wreck, but she flooded in rough weather at the intended site and sank the day before.
RCN Memories: A Beer and a Haircut Two Bucks
Photos and Documents Ship's company photos The Ship's Bell
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.
Dale Rawson - 1979
Scott McLeod - 1991
They shall not be forgotten A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
Y
Z
Former Crew Members
(CC) = Commissioning Crew 25 May 1963
Photos and Documents
(YKN001 - YKN004) The launching of HMCS YUKON at Burrard Dry Dock Ltd 29 Jul 1961
(YKN005) HMCS YUKON 263 in Vancouver prior to commissioning. Note that she is not flying an ensign or commissioning pennant (YKN006) HMCS YUKON 263 - undated (YKN007) HMCS YUKON 263 - undated (YKN008) HMCS YUKON 263 c1966-67 // Courtesy of David Shirlaw (YKN009) HMCS YUKON 263 in Victoria Harbour for New Years 1971 // Photographer - Lt(N) J.P. Carrier
(YKN010) Officers and men of HMCS YUKON bow their heads in prayer during the ceremony that marked the lowering of the White Ensign and raising of the new Canadian Flag, February 15, 1965 // Source: CROWSNEST Magazine, Vol 17, No.3&4, March/April 1965 (YKN011) Crossing the Line (Equator) Certificate for P2BN Kellrman, HMCS YUKON - 18 Sep 1967 during the 1967 Australian Cruise // Courtesy of Bill Kellerman (YKN012) HMCS YUKON entering Sydney, Australia, 1967 // Courtesy of Don Little
(YKN013) "Last tot on board HMCS YUKON" // Doug Wylie, Bob "Smokey" McLean yeoman and George Harvey Walton // Courtesy of George Harvey Walton (YKN014) Stoker's table on the YUKON in the early 1980s. // Courtesy of Dale Rawson (YKN015) HMCS YUKON Sigs - SAMPLOY 1980 // Front Row (L-R) AB Jim Thom, PO2 Doug "Chopper" Ewing, PO2 Gerald "Red" or "Rooster" Macomb // Back Row (R-L) LS Tim Kyle (in hat), AB Wayne "Soupy" - the two on the left in the back are reservists and names are not known. // Courtesy of Tim Kyle (YKN016) AB NET(C) Michael Knott in front of Cooks Monument during the Australia Trip in 1982 // Courtesy of Michael Knott (YKN017) Stu Olsen and Mike Wright in the main cafeteria on HMCS YUKON circa 1983 // Courtesy of Dave Tomblin
(YKN018) HMCS YUKON crossing the Arctic Circle - circa 1972/73 // Courtesy of Pat O'Boyle (YKN019) HMCS YUKON 2634 circa 1975 // Courtesy of Brian Dobing (YKN020) Dale Rawson HMCS YUKON'S "Captain for the day" // Cdr (Ordinary Seaman) Dale Rawson with Ordinary Seaman (Commnader) Boivin, December 1979 // Courtesy of Dale Rawson
(YKN021) Newspaper article on the collision between HMCS YUKON and USS Kitty Hawk // Date and newspaper unknown (YKN022) Newspaper article on the collision between HMCS YUKON and USS Kitty Hawk // Wed., January 19, 1983 (YKN023) Cartoon about the collision between HMCS YUKON and USS Kitty Hawk
(YKN024) Invitation to HMCS YUKON's Paying Off Dinner 03 Dec 1993 // Courtesy of Dean Lang
(AM001) Newspaper article on HMCS YUKON 263's transfer from Halifax to Esquimalt dated 05 Jan 1965 // Courtesy of Art Moore (AM002)HMCS YUKON Beer / Cigarette Card // Courtesy of Art Moore (AM003) A souvenir from Italy Courtesy of Art Moore
(MCa001) Unknown and John PalframanAl Bostrom and Dave Davies // (MCa002) HMCS YUKON circa 1964-65 storing ship // HMCS YUKON circa 1964-65 (MCa003) HMCS YUKON on Gatun Lake, Panama circa 1964-65 (MCa004) Uknown, Al Bostrom, L. Solomon, George Bailey // HMCS YUKON circa 1964-65 (MCa005) G. Dingley on HMCS YUKON circa 1964-65
(MCa006) John Boyle on HMCS YUKON circa 1964-65 (MCa007) Urhig, Dingley, Kiley on HMCS YUKON circ 1964-65 (MCa008) Norm Kimber, Al Laidlaw by the Little Mermaid statue, Copenhagen, Denmark // HMCS YUKON circa 1964 (MCa009) Norm Kimber with HMCS YUKON in the background, circa 1964-65 (MCa010) Unknown, Wayne Harris and Jim Grady // HMCS YUKON circa 1964-95 Courtesy of Mike Cashaback
(TA001 - TA003) HMCS YUKON'S Weaponman Underwater (WU) crew, on the beach, Punta Arenas Costa Rica, 1969 (TA004) Mortars on HMCS YUKON 263 Courtesy of Tom Alexander, ABWU
(BJ001) HMCS YUKON - 2 Mess - Sigs and Sparkers - 1972 (BJ002) HMCS YUKON - 2 Mess - Sigs and Sparkers - 1972 // Left to right, Don "Brutus" MacMillan, Fester Boyle, Earle Corn and Kevin Greening (BJ003) Tot time in 2 Mess on HMCS YUKON - circa 1972
(BJ004 - BJ007) The christening ceremony of Dean Jones on HMCS YUKON in Halifax, 1974 Courtesy of Brian Jones
Christening of Mike McDougall on HMCS YUKON - 25 Feb 1979 (MMc001) PO2 Keith McDougall, Padre J.F. Coutts holding Mike McDougall and Betty McDougall (MMc002) Ship's bell of HMCS YUKON during the christening of Mike McDougall (MMc003) PO2 Keith McDougall on quarterdeck of HMCS YUKON while Padre J.F. Coutts pours the christening water into the harbour. Officer of the day with AB Boyd as the side is piped Courtesy of Keith McDougall
(ME001 - ME004) Ex Horizon View 81 - Crossing the line (Equator) on HMCS YUKON enroute to the Far East. (ME002) Neptune's Doctor - Harry Learning (ME003) King Neptune - CPO2 Fred Laidlaw, Combat Chief, is King Neptune. Ship's XO - LCdr Richard Harrison - is directly behind King Neptune. Neptune's Queen is Ray Fiset
(ME005) "Tanning Stations" on HMCS YUKON en route to Hawaii in 1985 (ME006) Crossing the line on HMCS YUKON - Soploy 86 en route to Australia // Mario Lebreque - "No way he was getting away" (ME007) HMCS Kootenay - Sparker / Sig Branch // Nimitz Beach Hawaii 1985 // Back Row (L-R) - Carl Milson, Unknown, Yoland Leclerc, Jeff Essex, Bob McGinley, Les Calder, Donny Gour // Middle Row (L-R) Greg Quelle, Ben Chenier, Billy Burton, Gilles Fournell, Steve Hutchings, Ron Carriere // Front Row (L-R) Guy Kostello, Jake Jakowbowski Courtesy of Mike Engeland
YUKON today. Dive photos of the former HMCS YUKON at Mission Bay in 2013
Courtesy of Photographer: Michael Kazma © 2013 Copyright Owner: Michael Kazma / Shark Chums
|
In memory of those who made the ultimate
sacrifice 
Lest We Forget 
