Canadian ship 'Frances'

[Dennis McGuckin]

I am looking for a photograph of the Royal Canadian war ship 'Frances'
I believe it was a Corvette, and did mainly convoy duty during WW2.
Met an old timer who sailed on her. He would love to get a photo.
Any help would be much appreciated.
Den.

[Mike Newell]

www.naval-museum.mb.ca

Hi Den, you could try the above website. It lists a Minesweeper called" Fort Frances "and has a photograph and short history. Doesn't seem to be a ship called "Frances" listed. Regards to Vancouver Island, lovely part of the world. Cheers,
Mike

[Dennis McGuckin]

www.naval-museum.mb.ca

Hi Den, you could try the above website. It lists a Minesweeper called" Fort Frances "and has a photograph and short history. Doesn't seem to be a ship called "Frances" listed. Regards to Vancouver Island, lovely part of the world. Cheers,
Mike

Thanks a lot Mike. I have contacted the site to see if they can help.
Yes VI is a beautiful place to live. We are lucky.
Thanks again.
Den.

[Doc Vernon]

Hi Den
Know this is an old post but just wondering if that could also have been called St Francis!

HMCS St Francis (ex USS Bancroft) Between 1917 & 1920 Transferred to Canada in 1940. Broken up in 1945

There is of course as mentioned the Fort Frances!

The Story of HMCS FORT FRANCES

HMCS FORT FRANCES, March 28th, 1945 - Algerine Class Minesweeper

Commissioned at Port Arthur on October 28, 1944, she arrived at Halifax on November 26, and sailed for Bermuda in January, 1945 to work up. Returning to Halifax, Fort Frances served briefly with escort groups W-8 and W-9 of Western Escort Force before being paid off into maintenance reserve on August 3, 1945. She was again in commission from October 23, 1945 to April 5, 1946, and in 1948 was handed over to the Department of Mines and Technical Surveys as a hydrographic survey ship. In 1958 she reverted to naval service as a civilian-manned oceanographic research vessel. She was sold for breaking-up in 1974.

Cheers

Also initiation of the Ship date not known!


HMCS Fort Frances (J 396)
Minesweeper of the Algerine class

Navy The Royal Canadian Navy
Type Minesweeper
Class Algerine
Pennant J 396
Built by Port Arthur Shipbuilding Co. (Port Arthur, Ontario, Canada)
Ordered
Laid down 11 May 1943
Launched 30 Oct 1943
Commissioned 28 Oct 1944
End service 1974
Loss position

History Decommissioned 3 August 1945.
recommissioned in 1948 as hydrographic survey ship with penant number 170.
Classified as an oceanographic survey ship from 1958.
Sold for scrap in 1974.


http://www.canfoh.org/Ships/fort_frances.htm

[Dennis McGuckin]

Vernon,
Just checked and you are correct [again]
It was indeed the St Farancis.
I will pass all that info to the old Vet.
Many thanks.
Den.