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Image Memories of HMCS Uganda (later HMCS Quebec)

by John MacFarlane 2016

HMCS Uganda

HMCS Uganda (Photo from the Nauticapedia collection. )

The Light Cruiser HMCS Uganda was completed as HMS Uganda at Vickers–Armstrong Ltd. at Newcastle–on–Tyne UK in January 1943. She was armed with 9–6" (3 x III); 8–4" (5 x II); 6–21" torpedo tubes (2 x III)

In 1943, as HMS Ugandashe served with the Royal Navy Home Fleet and in the Bay of Biscay and the English Channel. In July 1943 she joined the 15th Cruiser Squadron (part of Force K) in the Mediterranean). On September 11, 1943 she was badly damaged by a German glider bomb during the Allied landings at Salerno, Italy. She traveled to Charleston SC for a long refit. Presented to the RCN she was renamed as HMCS Uganda on October 21, 1944. In November she returned from Charleston SC to the UK for further modifications. In January 1945 she departed to the Pacific via the Suez Canal.

In 1943 she was was badly damaged while serving with Force K by a German glider bomb during the Allied landings at Salerno Italy. She spent a year being repaired in Charleston SC USA. In 1942 she was serving with the 15th Cruiser Squadron in Mediterranean. In 1944 she was transferred to the RCN as HMCS Uganda at Charleston SC and transited to the UK for modifications.

In 1945 she transited the Suez Canal to the Pacific Theatre and joined the 4th RN Cruiser Squadron in the British Pacific Fleet. In 04/1945 she joined Task Force 57 at Okinawa for screening aircraft carriers operating against Japanese airfields in the Ryukyu Islands. In July 1945 her crew voted to refuse service against Japan. Canadian policy was to only employ volunteers in the Pacific Theatre so she was withdrawn.

She was the only Canadian ship known to have positively engaged Japanese forces during the Second World War. From the April 8th to July 27, 1945 (Captain E.R. Mainguy RCN in command) she she was part of the British Pacific Fleet Carrier Force which conformed to the movements of the US Third (Fifth) Fleet’s Fast Carrier Force. She had four periods of action in the Pacific: (details drawn from http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhh-dhp/his/rep-rap/doc/cfhq/cfhq005.pdf)

HMCS Uganda

HMCS Uganda in action against Japanese forces in the Pacific (Photo from unknown source (probably an RCN photo).)

April 12–20, 1945 she was in the screen for RN carriers as they launched strikes against air facilities on Formosa, and the islands of Ishigaki and Miyako. The aim was to help cover Okinawa during Operation Iceberg. During this period the Uganda saw one enemy plane.

May 4–25, 1945 On several occasions during this phase Uganda fired her armament at enemy planes, but claimed no individual successes. On May 4th she was detached with HM Ships King George V, Howe and others to crater the Miayako airfields with gunfire. They were successful. HM Ships Indomitable, Formidable (twice) and Victorious (twice), were hit with Japanese kamikaze planes during this series of strikes. After about May 10th Uganda was placed on a picket station 12 miles southwest of the fleet’s centre where she could give early warning of Japanese approaches and begin to break up hostile formations, if they attacked.

Operation Inmate, June 12–17, 1945, was a bombardment of the island of Truk under Rear–Admiral E.J.P. Brind RN by HM Ships Implacable, Swiftsure, Newfoundland, HMCS Uganda, HMNZS Achilles, and a flotilla of destroyers. "It was neither very necessary nor very successful". No opposition was met.

July 17–25, 1945 she was a screen or picket as the carriers' planes attacked Tokyo, Nagoya, Kure, and Kobe. Slight resistence, and Uganda did not fire her weapons.

She was transferred to Esquimalt BC for refit in July. She was converted to a training ship renamed as H.M.C.S Quebec in 1952. She was paid off in 1956. She was sold and towed in 1961 to Osaka Japan to be broken up.

HMCS Uganda

HMCS Uganda entering Esquimalt Harbour 1946. (Photo from the Nauticapedia collection. )

HMCS Uganda

The Wardroom of HMCS Uganda 1946. (Photo from the Nauticapedia collection. )

HMCS Uganda

Menu from a mess dinner in HMCS Uganda (Photo from the John MacFarlane collection. )

HMCS Uganda

Autographs of Attendees on a Menu from a mess dinner (Photo from the John MacFarlane collection. )

HMCS Uganda

The Junior Officers of (HMCS Uganda) operated this car in Victoria 1946. (Photo from the Nauticapedia collection. )


To quote from this article please cite:

MacFarlane, John M. (2016) Image Memories of HMCS Uganda (later HMCS Quebec). Nauticapedia.ca 2016. http://nauticapedia.ca/Articles/Uganda_HMCS.php

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