Forces With History #218--Big Days for Canadian Submariners

Canada Week, HM Dockyard Chatham

Readers of Forces With History will be forgiven if they’ve forgotten that I was a naval type, a submariner, and not a soldier. They could have been misled by the subject of many past editions of Forces With History; the last four have dealt with the Korean War’s Special Force, as have many before that. So let me get back to my roots today.

In the mid-1960s Canada had one ex-USN submarine on the West Coast, HMCS/M GRILSE. In Halifax lurked the RN’s 6th Submarine Division, WW II era A-boats there on a rental basis. That all changed with a program that climaxed on the third week of September 59 years ago—and I was lucky enough to be there for the festivities.

Canada had contracted with the British to supply three Oberon-class submarines. The first started life as HMS/M ONYX, but her career was interrupted and she became HMCS/M OJIBWA, basically an RN-design O-Boat. The second, with many design changes, was ONONDAGA. The third, HMCS/M OKANAGAN, sported even more upgrades.

In what was featured as 1965’s Canada Week in HM Dockyard Chatham the three Canadian O’s garnered their most attention ever. Four Canadian warships were in attendance, along with the Canadian High Commissioner, several Indigenous Ojibwas, naval brass, dockyard mateys, and thousands of guests. Canada’s brand-new maple leaf flag was everywhere. I was a junior officer in HMCS SAGUENAY, one of the Canadian helicopter destroyers alongside where Nelson had trod.

OJIBWA was commissioned on September 23rd, ONONDAGA was launched on the 25^th, and OKANAGAN’s construction was well underway. Bands played, flags waved, and the OJIBWAS marched aboard their boat. All in all those were heady days for the RCN’s Submarine Service. And in a twist of fate on June 22^nd, 1968, when OKANAGAN was commissioned, I was one of those who marched aboard, a qualified submariner.

I’m indebted to Julie Ferguson, whose fine book THROUGH A CANADIAN PERISCOPE reminded me of many details I had forgotten. Her book is authoritative, readable, and highly recommended.

And here’s a reminder about another readable book: THE FORGOTTEN: A NOVEL OF THE KOREAN WAR is available for preorder at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and your favourite bookstore. Our official publication date is October 15^th, although my launch celebration will be at 2 pm October 12^th in the Turnbull Gallery, South Surrey Rec Centre, 14601 20th Ave, Surrey. You’re invited!