HMCS Cataraqui

Canadian Naval Reserve unit

HMCS Cataraqui
Active1939 to present
CountryCanada Canada
Branch Royal Canadian Navy
Part ofCanadian Forces Naval Reserve
Garrison/HQKingston, Ontario
Motto(s)Porta Lacuum, Portus Classis
(Gate of the lakes, port of the fleet)
ColoursAzure Blue and Gold
EquipmentVarious types of inboard and outboard rigid-hull inflatable boats
Battle honoursNone
Military unit

HMCS Cataraqui is a Canadian Forces Naval Reserve Division (NRD) located in Kingston, Ontario. Dubbed a stone frigate, HMCS Cataraqui is a land-based naval establishment for part-time sailors as well as a local recruitment centre for the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN). It is one of 24 naval reserve divisions located in major cities across Canada.[1]

History

Established on the site of the old Feed Mill at the foot of Princess Street in 1939, HMCS Cataraqui was first commissioned as a tender to HMCS Stadacona on 1 November 1941 and then recommissioned as an independent shore establishment on 1 September 1942.[2][3] From 1943 to 1959, Cataraqui occupied a former school at 47 Wellington Street that also served as the Kingston Badminton Club.[4]

After the Second World War, apart from recruiting and training naval reservists in Kingston with its "fleet" of two harbour craft and a Ville class tug, the unit also undertook training of sailors in Brockville, Gananoque, Napanee, Belleville and Picton.[5] The unit also housed a University Naval Training Division (UNTD), a program that aimed to secure recruits who will otherwise enter the army's COTC Canadian Officers Training Corps or the air force's University Air Training Plan (UATP).[6]  

In September 1953, naval air squadron VC 921 was formed under the command of Lieutenant-Commander (Pilot) Allen Burgham in Kingston. As a tender to Cataraqui, the naval air squadron maintained a facility at Norman Rogers airfield operating Harvards and one C-45D Expeditor until it was disbanded in 1959.[7][8] As a result of clocking 1,092 accident-free flying hours in its inaugural year, the squadron was the first to win the Naval Reserve Safe Flying Award presented by Commodore K.F. Adams CD, RCN, Commanding Officer Naval Reserve Divisions.[7]

In 1959, the unit moved into a new facility located across from the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC) campus until 1972 when the building was transferred to the RMC. Needing a new home, Cataraqui moved to the Kingston Armoury located at 100 Montréal Street.[4] In 1992, the unit once again moved into its new building at 24 Navy Way, where today naval reservists train towards contributing to Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) operations, including: domestic safety operations as well as security and defence missions, while at the same time supporting the Navy's efforts in connecting with Canadians.[4]

Tenders

  • HMC "PTC 721" - Fairmile B motor launch (1948-1950)[9]
  • HMCS Loganville - Ville Class Tug (1948-1956)[10]
  • PB 192 Detector - ex-RCMP patrol boat
  • YMU-116 / Crossbow 197 (1969-1995)[11]

References

  1. ^ Personnel, Government of Canada, National Defence, Chief Military. "HMCS Cataraqui". www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca. Retrieved 2018-10-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ Defence, National (2018-11-27). "HMCS Cataraqui". aem. Retrieved 2019-11-25.
  3. ^ Gimblett, Richard H.; Hadley, Michael L. (2010-11-16). Citizen Sailors: Chronicles of Canada's Naval Reserve, 1910-2010. Dundurn. ISBN 978-1-4597-0533-3.
  4. ^ a b c Kingston, The City of. "Explore Naval Historic Sites: Kingston". The City of Kingston. Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  5. ^ The Crowsnest. The Royal Canadian Navy's Magazine (PDF). Royal Canadian Navy. 1949. p. 18.
  6. ^ "A Short History of the University Naval Training Division (UNTD)". www.nauticapedia.ca. Retrieved 2019-11-25.
  7. ^ a b Kealy and Russell, J.D.F. and E.C. (1965). A History of Canadian Naval Aviation 1918-1962 (PDF). Department of National Defence. p. 61.
  8. ^ Gimblett, Richard H.; Hadley, Michael L. (2010-11-16). Citizen Sailors: Chronicles of Canada's Naval Reserve, 1910-2010. Dundurn. ISBN 978-1-4597-0533-3.
  9. ^ "Where Did the RCN Motor Launches Get To?". www.nauticapedia.ca. Retrieved 2019-11-25.
  10. ^ "HMCS Loganville". www.nauticapedia.ca. Retrieved 2019-11-25.
  11. ^ "RUSSEL BROTHERS Ltd. Steelcraft winch boat and warping tug builders from Owen Sound, Ontario". stevebriggs.netfirms.com. Retrieved 2019-11-25.
  • v
  • t
  • e
ComponentsBasesShips
Information
Halifax-class frigates
  • HMCS Halifax (FFH 330)
  • HMCS Vancouver (FFH 331)
  • HMCS Ville de Québec (FFH 332)
  • HMCS Toronto (FFH 333)
  • HMCS Regina (FFH 334)
  • HMCS Calgary (FFH 335)
  • HMCS Montréal (FFH 336)
  • HMCS Fredericton (FFH 337)
  • HMCS Winnipeg (FFH 338)
  • HMCS Charlottetown (FFH 339)
  • HMCS St. John's (FFH 340)
  • HMCS Ottawa (FFH 341)
Victoria-class submarines
  • HMCS Victoria (SSK 876)
  • HMCS Windsor (SSK 877)
  • HMCS Corner Brook (SSK 878)
  • HMCS Chicoutimi (SSK 879)
Harry DeWolf-class offshore patrol vessel
  • HMCS Harry DeWolf
  • HMCS Margaret Brooke
  • HMCS Max Bernays
  • HMCS William Hall
Kingston-class coastal defence vessels
  • HMCS Kingston (MM 700)
  • HMCS Glace Bay (MM 701)
  • HMCS Nanaimo (MM 702)
  • HMCS Edmonton (MM 703)
  • HMCS Shawinigan (MM 704)
  • HMCS Whitehorse (MM 705)
  • HMCS Yellowknife (MM 706)
  • HMCS Goose Bay (MM 707)
  • HMCS Moncton (MM 708)
  • HMCS Saskatoon (MM 709)
  • HMCS Brandon (MM 710)
  • HMCS Summerside (MM 711)
Orca-class patrol vessels
  • CFAV Orca (PCT 55)
  • CFAV Raven (PCT 56)
  • CFAV Caribou (PCT 57)
  • CFAV Renard (PCT 58)
  • CFAV Wolf (PCT 59)
  • CFAV Grizzly (PCT 60)
  • CFAV Cougar (PCT 61)
  • CFAV Moose (PCT 62)
Naval Reserve Divisions
  • HMCS Brunswicker
  • HMCS Cabot
  • HMCS Carleton
  • HMCS Cataraqui
  • HMCS Champlain
  • HMCS Chippawa
  • HMCS d'Iberville
  • HMCS Discovery
  • HMCS Donnacona
  • HMCS Griffon
  • HMCS Hunter
  • HMCS Jolliet
  • HMCS Malahat
  • HMCS Montcalm
  • HMCS Nonsuch
  • HMCS Prevost
  • HMCS Queen
  • HMCS Queen Charlotte
  • HMCS Radisson
  • HMCS Scotian
  • HMCS Star
  • HMCS Tecumseh
  • HMCS Unicorn
  • HMCS York
Project Resolve
MV Asterix
Future procurement
Aircraft (RCAF)HistoryUnits
Leadership
  • Category
  • WikiProject
  • flag Canada portal