HMCS ASSINIBOINE I18

C - Class Destroyer (RN)

River Class Destroyer (RCN)

Completed in 1932 as HMS KEMPENFELT. She was transferred to the RCN at Devonport on 19 Oct 1939 and commissioned as HMCS ASSINIBOINE I18. She arrived in Halifax on 19 Nov 1939. Assigned to the America and West Indies Station, she left for Jamaica on 05 Dec 1939 to carry out Caribbean patrols. While so employed ASSINIBOINE assisted in the capture of the German freighter Hannover in the Mona Passage and towed her into Kingston, Jamaica. She returned to Halifax on 31 Mar 1940, and was employed there as a local escort until 15 Jan 1941, when she sailed for the U.K. to join EG 10, Greenock. With the formation of Newfoundland Command in Jun 1941, "Bones" was allocated to it for mid-ocean escort service. While thus employed with convoy SC.94, on 06 Aug 1942, she rammed and sank U 210, necessitating repairs at Halifax from 29 Aug to 20 Dec 1942. Not long after her return to service, while on passage to Londonderry on 02 Mar 1943, she attacked a U-boat with depth charges set too shallow, causing serious damage to her stern. Repairs were effected at Liverpool from 07 Mar to 13 Jul 1943, when she joined EG C-1 of MOEF. In Apr 1944, she returned to Canada for refit at Shelburne, N.S., and on 01 Aug 1944 arrived at Londonderry to become a member of EG 12 and, a few weeks later, EG 11. In Dec 1944 she was loaned to EG 14, Liverpool, and remained with it until VE-Day. She returned to Canada in Jun 1945, and, after brief employment as a troop transport, was paid off 08 Aug 1945. On 10 Nov 1945, en route for scrapping at Baltimore, ASSINIBOINE broke her tow and was wrecked near East Point, P.E.I. Her remains were broken up on the wreck site in 1952.

U-Boats Sunk:  U-210 sunk on 06 Aug 1942 by HMCS ASSINIBOINE I18 in position 54-25 N, 39-37 W

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

P

R

S

T

V

W

Photos and Documents

(ASN000) HMCS ASSINIBOINE I18

From the collection of Robert Webster, PO, RCNVR

(ASN0001) HMS Kempenfelt (prior to transfer to RCN and renamed HMCS ASSINIBOINE I18)  //  From the collection of John James Ashworth Clarke  //  Courtesy of Eric Clarke

(ASN0002) HMCS ASSINIBOINE I18  //  From the collection of Doug Lester, Lt, RCNVR / RCN  //  Courtesy of Matt D'Entremont

(ASN0003) HMCS ASSINIBOINE I18  //  From the collection of Joseph Henri Lionel Forget  //  Courtesy of Johnny Forget

(ASN0004) HMCS ASSINIBOINE I18  //  Courtesy of Mike O'Keefe

(ASN0005) HMCS ASSINIBOINE I18  //  DND / RCN Photo

(ASN0006) HMCS ASSINIBOINE I18  //  Courtesy of Ken Cox

(ASN0007) HMCS ASSINIBOINE I18 alongside in Halifax  //  From the collection of Ivan Chamberlain  //  Courtesy of Dave Chamberlain

(ASN0008) Cooks M.B. McLean and Patterson mixing rum into a Christmas pudding aboard the destroyer HMCS ASSINIBOINE, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, Dec 1940  //  Source: Credit: Canada. Dept. of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada / PA-1044

(ASN0009) HMCS ASSINIBOINE laying smoke in the English Channel  //  Courtesy of Lou Ranahan

(ASN0010) The officers of HMCS ASSINIBOINE pictured with their wartime mascot. The man holding the dog is the late, Lieutenant-Commander John Stubbs, who was just 28 when he received command of of HMCS ASSINIBOINE in January 1941. For the next two years he commanded the ship on the treacherous North Atlantic run.  //  Courtesy of the CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum

(ASN0011) HMCS ASSINIBOINE I18  //  From the collection of François Messier, AB, RCNVR  //  Courtesy of Denis Messier

(ASN0012) Donald Portree (right) and unknown sailor on HMCS ASSINIBOINE I18  //  From the collection of Donald Portree  //  Courtesy of Donna Portree

(ASN0013) Article on two HMCS ASSINIBOINE sailors from Montreal in Hospital after the battle with U-210  //  Sailors named:  Able Seaman Henry M. Sharo and Ordinary Seaman Herbert F. Taylor, RCNVR  //  Researched by / Courtesy of George Newbury

(ASN0014) Sailors on the fo'c's'le of HMCS ASSINIBOINE I18 circa Nov 1941 - Oct 1942  //  Ken Sharp 2nd from left  //  From the collection of Ken Sharp  //  Courtesy of Phil Sharp

(ASN0015) HMCS ASSINIBOINE I18 outboard of another vessel at the US Army Dock (today Pier 17) St. John's, Newfoundland, circa May 1942  //  Photographer: Roy T. Cardy  //  Courtesy of Dennis Cardy

(ASN0016) HMCS ASSINIBOINE I18 Christmas Card - Dec 1943  //  From the collection of William O. Burrow, LS, RCNVR  //  Courtesy of William (Bill) Cottam

(ASN0017) HMCS ASSINIBOINE I18  //  From the collection of Eric Baird  //  Courtesy of Roger Clarke

Battle between HMCS ASSINIBOINE I18 and U-210 on 06 Aug 1942

(ASN0018) U-210 on the surface attempting to escape HMCS ASSINIBOINE.  Photo Credit: LAC PA 37443 - From the collection of Donald Noseworthy.  Courtesy of Steve Gemmill

(ASN0019) U-210 on the surface attempting to escape HMCS ASSINIBOINE. From the collection of Donald Noseworthy. Courtesy of Steve Gemmill

(ASN0020) Conning tower of U-210 visible between the guardrails of ASSINIBOINE.  Photo Credit: LAC PA 37444.  From the collection of John Wampler.  Courtesy of Barb Ishler

(ASN0021) U-210 just before she was rammed by HMCS ASSINIBOINE.  From the collection of John Wampler. Courtesy of Barb Ishler

(ASN0022) Fire fighting teams attack the fire on the boat deck of HMCS ASSINIBOINE caused by gunfire from U-210.  ERA 4c Donald Portee in foreground with his back to the camera. From the collection of John Wampler. Courtesy of Barb Ishler

Battle between HMCS ASSINIBOINE I18 and U-210 on 06 Aug 1942

(ASN0023) Survivors from U-210 being picked up.  From the collection of John Wampler.  Courtesy of Barb Ishler

(ASN0024) Damage to HMCS ASSINIBOINE from the battle with U-210.  From the collection of John Wampler.  Courtesy of Barb Ishler

(ASN0025) Damage to HMCS ASSINIBOINE from the battle with U-210.  RCN photo negative # NF773.  From the collection of Hamilton Skilling.  Courtesy of Chris Skilling

(ASN0026) Burial at Sea. Ordinary Seaman Kenneth Watson, youngest rating on board, killed in action in the battle against U-210, 06 Aug 1942, is buried at sea. He was hit twice while carrying ammunition to "A" gun. DND/RCN photo

(ASN0027) German prisoners being led of HMCS ASSINIBOINE to a ship alongside while the crew of HMCS ASSINIBOINE looks on. RCN Photo Negative # NF800.  From the collection of Hamilton Skilling. Courtesy of Chris Skilling

Battle between HMCS ASSINIBOINE I18 and U-210 on 06 Aug 1942

(11) German prisoners being taken ashore (blind folded). Note: they were not blindfolded when the left HMCS ASSINIBOINE, but may have been blindfolded on the inboard ship. From the collection of Donald Noseworthy. Courtesy of Steve Gemmill

(12) Crew of "A" Gun of HMCS ASSINIBOINE who took part in the sinking of U-210 on 06 Aug 1942. Photo taken St. John's Newfoundland, 10 Aug 1942  //  Source: Lt Gerald M. Moses / Canada. DND / LAC PA-115355

(13) Lt R. Hennessy, Admiral L.W. Murray, A/LCdr John Stubbs (Commanding Officer HMCS ASSINIBOINE) on the jetty with the crew of HMCS ASSINIBOINE along the rails after her battle with U-210.  Note the A/LCdr Stubbs still has his Mae West on. //  RCN Photo: Negative # HS0015  //  From the collection of Hamilton Skilling. Courtesy of Chris Skilling

(14) Crew of HMCS ASSINIBOINE and their mascot returning from sea after sinking the German submarine U-210 in August of 1942. LAC MIKAN 3576701

(15) Admiral L.W. Murray addressing the crew of HMCS ASSINIBOINE I18 on the quarterdeck. //  RCN Photo Negative # NF810  //  From the collection of Hamilton Skilling. Courtesy of Chris Skilling

Battle between HMCS ASSINIBOINE I18 and U-210 on 06 Aug 1942

(ASN0033)  Admiral L.W. Murray addressing the crew of HMCS ASSINIBOINE I18 on the quarterdeck. From the collection of Hamilton Skilling. Courtesy of Chris Skilling

(ASN0034-ASN0035) Damage to the bow of HMCS ASSINIBOINE after ramming U-210