HMCS KOOTENAY H75

D - Class Destroyer (RN)

River Class Destroyer (RCN)

Built at Southampton, England, she was commissioned on 04 Apr 1933 as HMS DECOY, and at the outbreak of the war was with the 21st Destroyer Flotilla, East Indies Fleet. The flotilla was transferred later that month to the Mediterranean and in Jan 1940, to the South Atlantic. Decoy was reassigned in May 1940, to the Mediterranean Fleet, and on 13 Nov 1940 was damaged by bombs at Alexandra, requiring ten weeks' repairs at Malta. While in the Mediterranean she took part in the evacuation of Greece and Crete, and in the supply run to Tobruk. Then assigned to the Eastern Fleet in Jan 1942, she returned to Britain in Sep 1942 for a major refit at Jarrow-on-Tyne. There, on 12 Apr 1943, she was transferred to the RCN as KOOTENAY, and after working up at Tobermory, was assigned to EG C-5, MOEF. In May 1944, she became a member of EG 11 and was present on D-Day. In succeeding months she carried out patrols in the Channel and the Bay of Biscay, and while thus engaged took part in the sinking of U 678, 06 Jul 1944, south of Brighton; U 621, 18 Aug 1944, off La Rochelle; and U 984, 20 Aug 1944, west of Brest. She sailed for Shelburne, N.S., in mid-Sep 1944, for a major refit, returning to the U.K. in the spring of 1945. Following workups at Tobermory she operated out of Plymouth until the end of May, then returned to Canada, where she made six round trips as a troop transport between Newfoundland and Quebec City. She was paid off into reserve at Sydney on 26 Oct 1945, and in 1946 sold for scrapping.

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

A/LCdr Kenneth Lloyd Dryer, DSC, RCN - 12 Apr 1943 - 28 Mar 1944

A/LCdr William Herbert Willson, DSC, RCN - 29 Mar 1944 - 26 Oct 1945

     In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice    

     Lest We Forget     

     In memory of those who have crossed the bar    

They shall not be forgotten

Former Crew Members

Photos and Documents

(KTN001) HMCS KOOTENAY H75  //  Source: MOD Foxhill - FL 11211

(KTN002) View from HMCS KOOTENAY, which has fired Hedgehog charges during the action in which Escort Group 11 sank the German submarine U-621, 18 Aug 1944. HMCS Ottawa is visible in the background.  //  Source: Lt Richard Graham Arless / Canada. DND / Library and Archives Canada / PA-190084  //  Webmaster's note: The photo caption states that the photo was taken during action against a U-boat and its of HMCS KOOTENAY firing her hedgehog, however, the photo itself seem to show perhaps an exercise, but not action stations.  The people on the bridge are dressed a little too casual for action stations, and I doubt that during action stations two ratings would be relaxing on B-gun deck leaning against the barrel

(KTN003) HMCS KOOTENAY H75, date unknown  //  Courtesy of Steve Rowland

(KTN004) HMCS KOOTENAY H75  //  From the collection of HJ Simmons  //  Courtesy of RCSCC Bowmanville

(KTN005) "KOOTENAY in Newfie"  //  HMCS KOOTENAY H75 at St. John's, Nfld  //  From the collection of Jim Silvester  //  Courtesy of Jim Silvester