HMCS Snowberry (K166)
Encyclopedia
HMCS Snowberry was a Royal Canadian Navy
which took part in convoy escort duties during World War II
.
Snowberry was laid down at George T. Davie & Sons Ltd.
, Lauzon
on 24 February 1940 and launched on 8 August 1940. She was ordered by the Royal Navy
(RN) but was transferred to the RCN prior to completion. She was commissioned into the RCN on 26 November 1940
She had her forecastle
extended on 14 May 1943 at Charleston
.
On 23 August 1943 Snowberry as part of the 5th Support Group, was deployed to relieve the 40th Escort Group which was undertaking a U-boat hunt off Cape Ortegal. The warships of both groups were attacked by 14 Dornier Do 217
s and 7 Junkers Ju 87
s that were carrying a new weapon the Henschel Hs 293
anti-ship guided missile. Several sailors were injured and killed on (40th EG) but Snowberry escaped damage. Two days later, the 5th SG was relieved by the 1st Support Group and the warships of both groups were again attacked by 18 Dornier Do 217
s also carrying Hs 293 weapons. was heavily damaged and was sunk but Snowberry again escaped damage.
On 20 November 1943 Snowberry, along with and , depth charged and sank U-536 northeast of the Azores
at 43° 50N, 19° 39W.
Snowberry was decommissioned from the RCN on 8 June 1945 when she was returned to the Royal Navy
, becoming . She was scrapped in August 1947 at Middlesbrough
.
Royal Canadian Navy
The history of the Royal Canadian Navy goes back to 1910, when the naval force was created as the Naval Service of Canada and renamed a year later by King George V. The Royal Canadian Navy is one of the three environmental commands of the Canadian Forces...
which took part in convoy escort duties during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Snowberry was laid down at George T. Davie & Sons Ltd.
Davie Shipbuilding
Davie Shipbuilding is a historic shipbuilding company located in Lauzon, Quebec. The facility has undergone restructuring and is currently operating as Davie Yards Incorporated.-History:...
, Lauzon
Lauzon, Quebec
Lauzon is a former city in southern Quebec, Canada, located on the St. Lawrence River northeast of Lévis. Founded in 1910, Lauzon had a population of about 14,500 when it merged with Lévis in 1989...
on 24 February 1940 and launched on 8 August 1940. She was ordered by the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
(RN) but was transferred to the RCN prior to completion. She was commissioned into the RCN on 26 November 1940
She had her forecastle
Forecastle
Forecastle refers to the upper deck of a sailing ship forward of the foremast, or the forward part of a ship with the sailors' living quarters...
extended on 14 May 1943 at Charleston
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
.
On 23 August 1943 Snowberry as part of the 5th Support Group, was deployed to relieve the 40th Escort Group which was undertaking a U-boat hunt off Cape Ortegal. The warships of both groups were attacked by 14 Dornier Do 217
Dornier Do 217
The Dornier Do 217 was a bomber used by German Luftwaffe during World War II as a more powerful version of the Dornier Do 17, known as the Fliegender Bleistift . Designed in 1937 and 1938 as a heavy bomber, its design was refined during 1939 and production began in late 1940...
s and 7 Junkers Ju 87
Junkers Ju 87
The Junkers Ju 87 or Stuka was a two-man German ground-attack aircraft...
s that were carrying a new weapon the Henschel Hs 293
Henschel Hs 293
The Henschel Hs 293 was a World War II German anti-ship guided missile: a radio-controlled glide bomb with a rocket engine slung underneath it. It was designed by Herbert A. Wagner.- History :...
anti-ship guided missile. Several sailors were injured and killed on (40th EG) but Snowberry escaped damage. Two days later, the 5th SG was relieved by the 1st Support Group and the warships of both groups were again attacked by 18 Dornier Do 217
Dornier Do 217
The Dornier Do 217 was a bomber used by German Luftwaffe during World War II as a more powerful version of the Dornier Do 17, known as the Fliegender Bleistift . Designed in 1937 and 1938 as a heavy bomber, its design was refined during 1939 and production began in late 1940...
s also carrying Hs 293 weapons. was heavily damaged and was sunk but Snowberry again escaped damage.
On 20 November 1943 Snowberry, along with and , depth charged and sank U-536 northeast of the Azores
Azores
The Archipelago of the Azores is composed of nine volcanic islands situated in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, and is located about west from Lisbon and about east from the east coast of North America. The islands, and their economic exclusion zone, form the Autonomous Region of the...
at 43° 50N, 19° 39W.
Snowberry was decommissioned from the RCN on 8 June 1945 when she was returned to the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
, becoming . She was scrapped in August 1947 at Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough is a large town situated on the south bank of the River Tees in north east England, that sits within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire...
.