SHIP's CREST
Type: Destroyer Escort
Class: Restigouche
Displacement: 2,366 / 2,390 (post refit) tonnes
Length: 366 / 372 (post refit) ft.
Width: 42 ft.
Draught: 13.5 / 14.1 (post refit) ft.
Top Speed: 28
# Officers: 12
# Crew: 237
Weapons: 4 - 3" (2 x II), 2 Limbo, Homing Torpedoes. After IRE refit: 2-3" (1 x II), 1 Limbo, 1 ASROC, Homing Torpedoes.
Pendant (Hull Number): 236
Builder: Davie Shipbuilding, Lauzon Quebec
Laid Down: 30-Apr-53
Launched: 3-Jun-57
Commissioned: 17-Feb-59
Paid Off: 24-May-96
Remarks: Modified as Improved Restigouche Class 1969-1971. DELEX refit in 1983.HMCS GATINEAU SERVED 37 years with the Royal Canadian Navy. She was one of the famous RCN "Cadillac's" the first destroyer escorts to be designed and built in Canada. The RCN had a fleet of 24 with some variations in designs over the years and they served in the cold war when Russian subs patrolled off the Canadian coast. During these years the rum ration was still in effect until approx 1969 and we still had a formidable navy with an aircraft carrier. Today we have half the number of hulls and no carrier. We also no longer call our Navy the "Royal Canadian Navy" Those that lived in the old days suspect those days were better. Our sailors today are excellent people and our ships are excellent too we just don't have enough of them. In the old days we could send out the fleet. Today we can send out a single warship.
DESCRIPTION 3 1/2" wide 4 1/2" high solid aluminum on a solid mahogany plaque 6 1/2"X5 1/2" hand painted condition excellent age 1970's vintage. One only. An excellent artifact of HMCS GATINEAU. Excellent for your collection, family history or as a gift.
$65 shipping handling $15 includes insurance and tracking information by Canada Post
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Links
My Royal Canadian Navy Thomas Spowart (joined RCN at age 17 in 1952). This is an excellent site and gives the flavor of the RCN and those that served. Many consider their naval service as the best years in their lives.