TIKEGH MAMOOK SOLLEKS

READY TO FIGHT

HMCS NOOTKA R96 - prior to 1949

From the collection of Gordon Arnold (Art) Broster

Courtesy of Cathy Robinson

Click on the above photo to view a larger image

Battle honours and awards:  Korea  1951-52

Laid down: 20 Apr 1942

Launched: 26 Apr 1944

Commissioned: 09 Aug 1946

Paid off: 15 Aug 1949

Re-Commissioned: 20 Aug 1950

Paid off: 16 Jan 1953

Re-commissioned: 15 Dec 1954

Paid off: 06 Feb 1964

Fate: Broken up in 1965

Cdr Herbert Sharples Rayner, RCN - 07 Aug 1946 - 17 Jun 1947

LCdr Michael Grote Stirling, RCN - 18 Jun 1947 - 05 Sep 1947

Capt Hugh Francis Pullen, RCN - 06 Sep 1947 - 16 Aug 1948

Cdr A.H. G. Storrs, RCN - 17 Aug 1948 - 15 Aug 1949

Cdr Alexander B. Fraser-Harris, RCN - 29 Aug 1950 - 16 Sep 1951

LCdr Charles Edward Richardson, RCN - 17 Sep 1951 - 14 Oct 1951

Lt F.P.R. Saunders, RCN - 15 Oct 1951 - 28 Oct 1951

Cdr Richard Miles Steele, RCN - 29 Oct 1951 - 16 Jan 1953

LCdr E.M. Chadwick, RCN - 15 Dec 1954 - 04 Nov 1956

Cdr T.S.R. Peacock, RCN - 05 Nov 1956 - 31 Jul 1957

LCdr C.E. Coles, RCN - 01 Aug 1957 - 16 Aug 1957

Cdr I.A. McPhee, RCN - 17 Aug 1957 - 06 Jan 1959

Cdr Raymond A. B. Creery, RCN - 07 Jan 1959 - 09 Sep 1961

Cdr S.M. King, RCN - 10 Sep 1961 - 08 Nov 1962

Cdr V.J. Murphy, RCN - 09 Nov 1962 - 09 Apr 1963

Cdr D.S. Bethune, RCN - 10 Apr 1963 - 06 Feb 1964

GAUTHIER, Leon A.

OS, RCN

MPK - 11 Jan 1951

STEEVES, Francis R.

Writer, RCN

died - 12 Jun 1947

The launching of HMCS NOOTKA at Halifax on 26 Apr 1944

Photographer: L/Photographer J. Ryan, RCN

Courtesy of Phil Charlton

Click here to read the newspaper article on NOOTKA's launching in the Crow's Nest newspaper - May 1944

Jacket patch for HMCS NOOTKA R96

From the collection of Harold Stevens

Courtesy of Rob Stevens

This patch was originally designed for the minesweeper HMCS NOOTKA  J35 whose name was changed to HMCS Nanoose to allow to the name NOOTKA to be used for the destroyer.  This patch design was used as the ship's badge until the ship received its official badge in 1949. (Source: Designs of Distinction - Unofficial Insignia of the RCN by David W. Freeman)

HMCS NOOTKA R96 - prior to 1949

From the collection of Gordon Arnold (Art) Broster

Courtesy of Cathy Robinson

HMCS NOOTKA

From the collection of Jim Silvester

Courtesy of Jim Silvester

Engine Room of HMCS NOOTKA - 08 Dec 1950.  Standing by the throttles are (left) C2ERA John Lehman, of Windsor, ON and P1ER4 Noel Steinburg, of Edmonton, AB and Halifax, NS. RCN photo neg # NK374

From the collection of C2ER4 Noel Steinburg

Courtesy of Doug Steinburg

HMCS NOOTKA firing at a railway bridge circa 1951

Source: Canada. Dept. of national Defence /Library and Archives of Canada / MIKAN no. 3599841

HMCS NOOTKA conducting Naval Fire Support – Korea, 1951

Source: Canada. Dept. of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada / PA-142437

(RM24) Christmas Menu - HMCS NOOTKA - 1950

(RM25-RM28) Messages and Press Release on the discussion of an Armistice between North and South Korea - Jun and Jul 1951

(RM30-RM31) Script from a play "Hiro Knights"

From the collection of Russell Matthews, LSCR1, RCN

(FR02-FR07) Photos taken ashore during NOOTKA'S Korean War Tour

From the collection of C1WR Fred Randall, RCN

Courtesy of Carol Randall

Newspaper article on HMCS NOOTKA returning to Halifax after her 1st Korean War tour

Source: Halifax Mail Star, Thursday, 16 Aug 1951 - Page 12

Researched by / Courtesy of George Newbury

LCdr C.E. Richardson, RCN dressed as on Ordinary Seaman on HMCS NOOTKA R213

LCdr Richardson was Commanding Officer of HMCS NOOTKA from 17 Sep 1951 to 14 Oct 1951

Courtesy of Christopher Richardson

North Korean P.O.W.s on HMCS NOOTKA during her first Korean War Tour

From the collection of Joseph C. Lees

Courtesy of Richard Lees

CPO Joe Leary on the bridge of HMCS NOOTKA off the coast of Korea 05 Jun 1952

From the collection of Joe Leary

Courtesy of Jim Leary

HMCS NOOTKA, 1952

Marsh Brothers Birthday - cook on their left baked a cake

Courtesy of Gerald Sullivan

Sunday divisions on HMCS Nookta in the Yellow Sea - 1952

Courtesy of Gerald Sullivan

NOOTKA Communicators having a wet, Japan 1952

L-R: Marsh twins 1st & 2nd, Gord (Lucky) Lusk (R.I.P.) 3rd, remainder unknown

 "I sailed with Lusk in Magnificent 1951. In March 1955, three weeks after my release from Navy, I was member of North York Police. After completing a two week intro course and still in plain clothes, I hopped into the right hand seat of a cruiser. Guess who was the uniformed driver?? Gord Lusk."

Courtesy of Gerald Sullivan

AB Thomas Galley injured while taking a photo

The Windsor Star 18 Dec 1952

Courtesy of Bob Manzer

HMCS NOOTKA Korea

The Naval Historical Section DND

Submitted by William Anderson

Courtesy of David Bakody

The patrol carried out by NOOTKA from 28 May to 9 June was the most noteworthy of the period, NOOTKA arrived off Yang-do north east of Songjin, on the 28 May to relieve HMAS Warramuga with TE 95.22, which at time consisted of the Australian destroyer and the U.S. Ships Endicott (CTU), Fowler , John W. Thomason and Swallow. The interdiction campaign against the coastal railway was still the most important of the task element's duties, but it's ships were at this time also conducting a vigorous offensive agai9nst North Korea junks and sampans, an offensive which aimed not only at stopping fishing and sneak mine laying but also at preventing a repetition of the recent (19 February) amphibious raid on the Yang-do group. The ships on the east coast were not having it all their own way in the interdiction and anti-junk campaign however for the enemy coastal batteries were becoming increasingly aggressive and accurate. In March 1952 only two U.S. had been hit by these shore batteries in April the figure jumped to six and when NOOTKA arrived in may another seven ships had already suffered hits (24) NOOTKA was soon to learn that these statistics at least did not lie and that the tales told around Sasebo of the deadly accuracy of the east coast shore batteries were not much exaggerated.

NOOTKA's first encounter with these guns came on the morning of 30 May when she sailed with Thomason to bombard targets near Kyongsong below Chongjin. NOOTKA had been shelling gun positions in the Kyong-song area for about half an hour and had just shifted fire to a large junk pulled up on the beach when eight guns sited along the coast opened fire simultaneously. The fire was fast and frighteningly accurate; the third salvo was on its way towards NOOTKA immediately following the explosions of the first rounds, some of which landed within ten yards of the ship. The second salvo was even closer, and several shells landed under the flare of the port bow, abreast the bridge, so close that those on the bridge could not see the points of impact. The blast blew the steel helmet off the lookout in the sponson dazing the man temporarily, and threw columns of water upon the bridge and into the director.

The moment the enemy opened up NOOTKA went full speed ahead, turning and twisting to avoid the fall of shot while she made smoke to cover the withdrawal of Tomason who was also under fire. Now occurred a very fortunate accident and one which may well have saved NOOTKA from being hit. For as soon as the destroyer began to belch smoke the after funnel caught fire and whenever the ships guns let off a salvo, great gusts of smoke .flame and sparks burst from the funnel. The unseemly display served a good purpose, for the enemy was almost certainly deceived into thinking the shells were striking home with marvellous regularity. At any rate his salvoes marched along beside the ship, keeping perfect step with her movements, and NOOTKA steadied on a straight course being "very loath to upset so amicable an arrangement" All this time the range and at 9000 yards the enemy's salvoes began to trop astern. At 12,000 yards the ship was apparently out of danger, but NOOTKA steamed on into the fog bank increasing the range to 14,000 yards before reversing course and steaming back to have the last word. Though the ship decreased range to 11,000 yards to pound the offending batteries with everything she had they did not open fire again and NOOTKA was able to return with dignity. En route to Yong-do the members of the ship's company amused themselves by collecting enemy shell fragments as souvenirs, there were shell fragments everywhere on the upper decks and it is said even some were found in the galley.

On 1 June NOOTKA again came under fire from batteries just south of Chongjin , but this was a mild affair compared with the previous action. During the daylight hours of her patrol she cruised up and down along the coast from Hungnam in the south to Chongjin in the north, pounding away at the coastal railroad shore battery positions, beached junks and sampan and other suitable targets. At night she operated even closer to shore watching for fishing craft, delivering her nightly quota of harassing fire on the various Packages and Derails and occasionally engaging targets of opportunity such as truck convoys using the coastal road. It was certainly a very busy patrol especially for the Gunnery Department, as she fired well over 2,000 rounds from the main armament alone.

HMCS NOOTKA 213 CIRCA 1953

Courtesy of the CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum, Image # VR1992.3A.

HMCS NOOTKA R96

From the photo collection of Lt VS Curry, CD, RCN (Ret'd)

Courtesy of Gerry Curry

Christening of William H. Cummins on HMCS NOOTKA

(2) Ldg. Seaman John "Jack" Cummins, William. H. Cummins and Shirley H. Cummins (nee Dowling) - 25 Sep 1955   (3) Shirley H. Cummins and William H. Cummins  (4) Ship's bell of HMCS NOOTKA showing the inscription William Herbert Cummins 25 Sep 1955  (5) Jason Finkbeiner, CO of the cadet corps in Holden Alberta shipped NOOTKA's bell to the Royal Canadian Legion in Sturgeon Falls Ontario so John Cummins (L) could pose with the bell along with his son. Together, they are holding Bill's christening photos - August 2011

From the collection of John Cummins

Courtesy of Bill Cummins

Burial at sea on HMCS NOOTKA - 1960

It is believed these photos are of the burial at sea of CPO Sutherland, who was a Cox'n on HMCS NOOTKA

Photo descriptions provided by Eric Ruff

HS 62155 - six Petty Officers / Chief Petty Officers carrying white ensign draped coffin with a Chief Petty Officer walking behind. All are in No. 1 uniforms, with medals. Coffin is being piped aboard by a Petty Officer and two ratings. Others on deck are saluting - they include a Commander (likely the NOOTKA's C.O.), a Lieutenant (likely the Officer of the Day) and two others. They are arriving from an inboard ship which, from the deck layout (torpedo tubes, cranes for loading torpedoes), is likely another Tribal Class destroyer. Someone standing near the brow of the inboard ship is in a khaki uniform - indicating summer time. A man in civilian clothes is carrying two floral wreaths. A hearse is parked on the jetty

HS 62153 - Four sentries standing in "Rest on Arms" position around the casket. Ship in harbour. There is a petty officer's hat on the flag-draped coffin. Floral wreath has a ribbon which partly reads "Shipmates" and "HMCS NOOTKA".

HS 62156 - four sailors standing in "Rest on arms" position around the coffin on the stern of the ship. HMCS NOOTKA cap tally shows on one of them.  The sailor on the front left is Jean-Claude Boislard.

HS 62157 - Four different sentries around coffin on stern. Shows White Ensign at half-mast.

HS 62152 - This shot shows the Quarterdeck with assembled crew and civilians as well as a Chaplain. Eight POs / CPOs are beside the coffin. Behind the chaplain is a woman and four men in civilian clothes. On the port side are four officers with No. 1 uniforms and medals. Behind them are other crew members. All have their hats off except for the man standing closest to the White Ensign at half-mast - he is likely the signalman who will raise the ensign once the coffin has been 'committed to the deep'.

HS 62154 - Roughly the same as HS 62152 but including a Guard of 12 men with rifles about to fire a salute, commanded by a Chief Petty Officer on the left and another man on the right.

Courtesy of Eric Ruff

HMCS NOOTKA 213 circa 1960-63

From the collection of J.R. Terry Walter

Courtesy of Bruce Walter

HMCS NOOTKA 213 circa 1963 - Great Lakes deployment

From the collection of J.R. Terry Walter

Courtesy of Bruce Walter

HMCS NOOTKA 213 c1960-63

HMCS NOOTKA 213 steaming back to Halifax at 3 knots escorted by HMCS Buckingham.  NOOTKA was damaged when she hit the sea wall in Bermuda - summer 1963

From the collection of John Cummins

Courtesy of Bill Cummins

HMCS NOOTKA after hitting the sea wall in Bermuda - summer 1963

Courtesy of Bruce Walter

The Key to the City of Baltimore

Presented to Cdr V.J. Murphy, RCN, HMCS NOOTKA DDE 213 on 26 May 1963

Courtesy of Paul Swank

Crossing the Line Certificate, AB Joseph Lees, HMCS NOOTKA

From the collection of Joseph C. Lees

Courtesy of Richard Lees

Guard on HMCS NOOTKA 213 being inspected - photo undated

RCN photo # NK-1773

Courtesy of Hugh Muir