HMCSSomers Isles was a temporary training facility andstone frigate for theRoyal Canadian Navy (RCN) inBermuda from 1944 to 1945 during theSecond World War. Following the war, the base was closed. Beginning in mid-1944,work-up training for naval ships stationed on theEast Coast of Canada took place in Bermudian waters as it allowed for training year-round compared to the RCN's previous work-up site, St. Margaret's Bay andPictou, Nova Scotia.
During the Second World War, the RCN required an area to performwork up training for its ships in an area where operational requirements would not interfere. Traditionally, this was done near the RCN's main east coast naval base atHalifax, Nova Scotia. However, to improve overall training and specificallyasdic training, the RCN transferred its training facilities to Bermuda, a colony of the United Kingdom.[1][2] The RCN had previous experience with Bermuda, as prior to this, the RCN worked with theRoyal Navy in establishing ananti-submarine training program at Casemates Barracks starting in 1939.
The base was located atConvict Bay,St. George's Parish. It was originally built for the use of the Royal Navy, and was named for theprison hulks moored there by theAdmiralty to houseconvict labourers. After the Royal Navy relocated theRoyal Naval Dockyard andAdmiralty House toIreland Island andSpanish Point, respectively, Convict Bay was transferred to theWar Office in the 1860s and absorbed into the adjacentSt. George's Garrison. TheBermuda Militia Artillery moved out of Convict Bay in 1944 to make way for the RCN. During Royal Navy service the base also assisted with converting 50 ex-United States Navy destroyers to RN and RCN service in 1940 under theLend-Lease program.
In January 1943, the RCN sought a new place to train their warships. The existing location, in St. Margaret's Bay andPictou, Nova Scotia where the heavy weather in winter affected training. Bermuda was suggested as a location. Planning for a base in Bermuda only began in January 1944 and an agreement was reached with the United Kingdom where a base would be lent to Canada.[3] The base wascommissioned on 1 August 1944 and given and named for the alternative name for Bermuda, the Somers Islands.[4][1] The new base allowed Canadian ships to train in anti-submarine warfare before entering or re-entering service, something that Canadian warships had little chance to do during the war once activated.[4] By May 1945, 119 Canadian ships had passed through the facility.[5] Towards the end of the war, the base was used to preparefrigates for service in thePacific theatre.[1] The RCN abandoned HMCSSomers Isles at the end of the war, one of eleven facilities that was disbanded by March 1946. Prior to closure, the RCN had intended to keep fourmotor launches atSomers Isles for target practice, but this idea was abandoned when the base was shuttered and the Motor Launches were deemed obsolete.[6]