 HMCSMimico | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Canada | |
| Name | HMCSMimico |
| Namesake | Mimico, Ontario |
| Ordered | 15 May 1942 |
| Builder | John Crown & Sons Ltd.Sunderland |
| Laid down | 22 February 1943 |
| Launched | 11 October 1943 |
| Commissioned | 8 February 1944 |
| Decommissioned | 18 July 1945 |
| Identification | Pennant number: K485 |
| Honours and awards | Atlantic 1945, English Channel 1945[1] |
| Fate | Sold for commercial use |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Flower-classcorvette (modified) |
| Displacement | 1,015long tons (1,031 t; 1,137 short tons) |
| Length | 208 ft (63.40 m)o/a |
| Beam | 33 ft (10.06 m) |
| Draught | 11 ft (3.35 m) |
| Propulsion | single shaft, 2 × oil fired water tube boilers, 1 triple-expansion reciprocating steam engine, 2,750 ihp (2,050 kW) |
| Speed | 16 knots (29.6 km/h) |
| Range | 3,500 nautical miles (6,482 km) at 12 knots (22.2 km/h) |
| Complement | 90 |
| Sensors and processing systems |
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| Armament |
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HMCSMimico was a modifiedFlower-classcorvette that served with theRoyal Canadian Navy during theSecond World War. She served primarily as a convoy escort in theBattle of the Atlantic. She was originally laid down by theRoyal Navy asHMSBullrush but was never commissioned into the RN, being transferred to the RCN before completion. She is named forMimico, Ontario, a town that was eventually amalgamated into the larger cityToronto, Ontario.[2]
Flower-class corvettes likeMimico serving with the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War were different from earlier and more traditional sail-driven corvettes.[3][4][5] The "corvette" designation was created by the French as a class of small warships; the Royal Navy borrowed the term for a period but discontinued its use in 1877.[6] During the hurried preparations for war in the late 1930s,Winston Churchill reactivated the corvette class, needing a name for smaller ships used in an escort capacity, in this case based on awhaling ship design.[7] The generic name "flower" was used to designate the class of these ships, which – in the Royal Navy – were named after flowering plants.[8]
Corvettes commissioned by the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War were named after communities for the most part, to better represent the people who took part in building them. This idea was put forth by AdmiralPercy W. Nelles. Sponsors were commonly associated with the community for which the ship was named. Royal Navy corvettes were designed as open sea escorts, while Canadian corvettes were developed for coastal auxiliary roles which was exemplified by their minesweeping gear. Eventually the Canadian corvettes would be modified to allow them to perform better on the open seas.[9]
Bullrush was ordered 15 May 1942 as part of the Royal Navy 1942–43 Increased Endurance Flower-class building program. She was laid down 22 February 1943 byJohn Crown & Sons Ltd. atSunderland and launched 11 October 1943 .[10] As part of an exchange forAlgerine-class minesweepers that the RCN intended to use as convoy escorts, the Royal Navy transferred four Flower-class corvettes and twelveCastle-class corvettes to Canada in order to acquire them.Bullrush was transferred on 8 February 1944 and commissioned as HMCSMimico into the RCN at Aberdeen.[11] The only significant differences between the RCN and RN 1942–43 Flower classes was a shortened mainmast and varying anti-aircraft armament.[9]
After working up atStornoway,Mimico was assigned toWestern Approaches Command out ofOban. She participated inOperation Neptune, the naval aspect of theinvasion of Normandy. She arrived off the beaches one day after the invasion with the convoy she was escorting. She remained as a convoy escort in the English Channel after the invasion, transferring to Portsmouth Command in September 1944 and Nore Command in October.[11]
Mimico departed for a two-month refit in February 1945 atChatham. After working up she returned to service with Nore Command and continued as such until May 1945, when she departed for Canada.[11]
Mimico waspaid off atSorel, Quebec 18 July 1945. She was transferred to the War Assets Corporation and sold for conversion to awhale-catcher. She reappeared in 1950 as the 702 GRTOlympic Victor.[11][12] In 1956 she was sold and renamedOtori Maru No.12.[11] She was renamed one more time,Kyo Maru No.25 in 1962 and last appeared onLloyd's Register in 1977.[10][13] The ship wasbroken up in Japan in 1976.[12]
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