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USS MacKenzie (DD-175)
Encyclopedia
USS MacKenzie (DD–175) was a Wickes class
destroyer
in the United States Navy
following World War I
, later transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy
as HMCS Annapolis (I-04).
, she was laid down by the Union Iron Works
, San Francisco, California
, 4 July 1918; launched 29 September 1919; sponsored by Mrs. Percy J. Cotton, and commissioned 25 July 1919, Lieutenant Commander E. T. Oates in command. On 17 July 1920, she was designated DD-175.
Following commissioning and shakedown, MacKenzie became a unit of the Pacific Fleet and operated with Destroyer Squadrons 2 and 4 until decommissioned at Mare Island
27 May 1922. MacKenzie remained in reserve until she recommissioned at San Diego, 6 November 1939.
In 1940, the ship was one of 50 destroyers exchanged, under the terms of the Destroyers for Bases Agreement
, for strategic bases off the North American coast. She arrived at Halifax, Nova Scotia
, 20 September 1940. There, on the 24th, she decommissioned, was turned over to the Royal Canadian Navy
and recommissioned HMCS Annapolis (I-04). MacKenzie was struck from the US Navy list
8 January 1941.
of Nova Scotia
; and, with deference to the U.S. origin, sharing a name of significance to the United States Naval Academy
. Until 1944, Annapolis sailed with the Halifax and Western Local Escort Force
s escorting convoys from east of St. Johns, Newfoundland, to New York. In April 1944, she was attached to HMCS Cornwallis, near Annapolis, Nova Scotia
, where she remained as a training ship until the end of the war. On 4 June 1945, she was turned over to the War Assets Corporation and sold to Frankel Brothers, Ltd., of Toronto
for scrapping.
The ship's bell of HMCS Annapolis is currently held by the town of Annapolis Royal in Nova Scotia
. The Christening Bells Project at Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum includes includes information from the ship's bell of HMCS Annapolis, which was used for baptism
of babies onboard ship.
Wickes class destroyer
The Wickes-class destroyers were a group of 111 destroyers built by the United States Navy in 1917-1919. Along with the 6 preceding Caldwell class and 155 subsequent Clemson-class destroyers, they formed the "flush-deck" or "four-stack" class. Only a few were completed in time to serve in World...
destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
following World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, later transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy
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...
as HMCS Annapolis (I-04).
History
The second Navy ship to be named for Alexander Slidell MacKenzieAlexander Slidell Mackenzie
Alexander Slidell Mackenzie Born in New York City, Mackenzie was a U.S. Navy officer who served during the first half of the 19th century. He was an accomplished author and writer who wrote several contemporary essays and biographies of notable US naval figures of the early 19th century. He was...
, she was laid down by the Union Iron Works
Union Iron Works
Union Iron Works, located in San Francisco, California, on the southeast waterfront, was a central business within the large industrial zone of Potrero Point, for four decades at the end of the nineteenth and beginning of the twentieth centuries.-History:...
, San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
, 4 July 1918; launched 29 September 1919; sponsored by Mrs. Percy J. Cotton, and commissioned 25 July 1919, Lieutenant Commander E. T. Oates in command. On 17 July 1920, she was designated DD-175.
Following commissioning and shakedown, MacKenzie became a unit of the Pacific Fleet and operated with Destroyer Squadrons 2 and 4 until decommissioned at Mare Island
Mare Island Naval Shipyard
The Mare Island Naval Shipyard was the first United States Navy base established on the Pacific Ocean. It is located 25 miles northeast of San Francisco in Vallejo, California. The Napa River goes through the Mare Island Strait and separates the peninsula shipyard from the main portion of the...
27 May 1922. MacKenzie remained in reserve until she recommissioned at San Diego, 6 November 1939.
In 1940, the ship was one of 50 destroyers exchanged, under the terms of the Destroyers for Bases Agreement
Destroyers for Bases Agreement
The Destroyers for Bases Agreement between the United States and the United Kingdom, September 2, 1940, transferred fifty mothballed destroyers from the United States Navy in exchange for land rights on British possessions...
, for strategic bases off the North American coast. She arrived at Halifax, Nova Scotia
City of Halifax
Halifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...
, 20 September 1940. There, on the 24th, she decommissioned, was turned over to the Royal Canadian Navy
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...
and recommissioned HMCS Annapolis (I-04). MacKenzie was struck from the US Navy list
Naval Vessel Register
The Naval Vessel Register is the official inventory of ships and service craft in custody of or titled by the United States Navy. It contains information on ships and service craft that make up the official inventory of the Navy from the time a vessel is authorized through its life cycle and...
8 January 1941.
HMCS Annapolis (I-04)
Following the Canadian practice of naming destroyers after Canadian rivers, Annapolis was named after the Annapolis RiverAnnapolis River
The Annapolis River is a Canadian river located in Nova Scotia's Annapolis Valley.-Geography:Measuring 120 kilometres in length, the river flows southwest through the western part of the valley from its source in Caribou Bog near the villages of Aylesford and Berwick in western Kings County, to...
of Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
; and, with deference to the U.S. origin, sharing a name of significance to the United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
. Until 1944, Annapolis sailed with the Halifax and Western Local Escort Force
Western Local Escort Force
Western Local Escort Force referred to the organization of anti-submarine escorts for World War II trade convoys from North American port cities to the Western Ocean Meeting Point near Newfoundland where ships of the Mid-Ocean Escort Force assumed responsibility for safely delivering the convoys...
s escorting convoys from east of St. Johns, Newfoundland, to New York. In April 1944, she was attached to HMCS Cornwallis, near Annapolis, Nova Scotia
Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia
Annapolis Royal is a town located in the western part of Annapolis County, Nova Scotia. Known as Port Royal until the Conquest of Acadia in 1710 by Britain, the town is the oldest continuous European settlement in North America, north of St...
, where she remained as a training ship until the end of the war. On 4 June 1945, she was turned over to the War Assets Corporation and sold to Frankel Brothers, Ltd., of Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
for scrapping.
The ship's bell of HMCS Annapolis is currently held by the town of Annapolis Royal in Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
. The Christening Bells Project at Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum includes includes information from the ship's bell of HMCS Annapolis, which was used for baptism
Baptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
of babies onboard ship.