| Navy | The Royal Canadian Navy |
| Type | Minesweeper |
| Class | Algerine |
| Pennant | J 334 |
| Mod | Reciprocating engined |
| Built by | Port Arthur Shipbuilding Co. (Port Arthur, Ontario, Canada) |
| Ordered | 12 Dec 1941 |
| Laid down | 27 Jan 1942 |
| Launched | 5 Aug 1942 |
| Commissioned | 24 Jun 1943 |
| End service | 1950 |
| History | Decommissioned 1 December 1946. |
Commands listed for HMCS Sault Ste. Marie (J 334)
Please note that we're still working on this section
and that we only list Commanding Officers for the duration of the Second World War.
| Commander | From | To | |
| 1 | Lt.Cdr. Reginald Jackson, RCNVR | 24 Jun 1943 | 11 Feb 1944 |
| 2 | T/A/Lt.Cdr. Arthur Moorhouse, RCNR | 12 Feb 1944 | 5 Jul 1945 |
| 3 | T/Lt. Donald Davis, RCNVR | 6 Jul 1945 | 28 Jul 1945 |
You can help improve our commands section
Click here to Submit events/comments/updates for this vessel.
Please use this if you spot mistakes or want to improve this ships page.
Notable events involving Sault Ste. Marie include:
5 Feb 1944
Convoy HX 278.
This convoy departed New York on 5 February 1944.
It was made up of the following merchant vessels; A Frank Lever (American, 7198 GRT, built 1943), Alan-A-Dale (Panamanian, 4646 GRT, built 1938), Andrea Gritti (Italian, 6404 GRT, built 1943), Andrew A. Humphreys (American, 7218 GRT, built 1943), Athelduke (British (tanker), 8966 GRT, built 1929), Avristan (British, 7266 GRT, built 1942), Belgian Gulf (Panamanian (tanker), 8237 GRT, 1929), Brimanger (Norwegian, 4883 GRT, built 1929), Cornwall (British, 10605 GRT, built 1920), Cymbula (British (tanker), 8082 GRT, built 1938), Edward D. White (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943), El Oceano (Panamanian, 6767 GRT, built 1925), Empire Strength (British, 7355 GRT, built 1942), Fernwood (Norwegian, 4695 GRT, built 1930), Fjordass (Norwegian (tanker), 7361 GRT, built 1931), Florence Crittenton (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943), Fort St.Croix (British, 7160 GRT, built 1943), George G. Crawford (American, 7198 GRT, built 1944), George T. Angell (American, 7176 GRT, built 1944), Grant Wood (American, 7240 GRT, built 1943), Harvey Cushing (American, 7240 GRT, built 1943), Henry S. Lane (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943), Henry Watterson (American, 7225 GRT, built 1943), Irwin Russell (American, 7218 GRT, built 1943), James J. Maguire (British (tanker), 10525 GRT, built 1939), John Davenport (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942), John Merrick (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943), John N. Maffitt (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943), Joseph Jefferson (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942), Julius Rosenwald (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943), Longwood (British (tanker), 9463 GRT, built 1930), Mataroa (British, 12390 GRT, built 1922), Mobile City (American, 6157 GRT, built 1920), Omar E. Chapman (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943), Orari (British, 10350 GRT, built 1931), Ovula (Dutch (tanker), 6256 GRT, built 1938), Robert Toombs (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943), Samuel Colt (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942), San Vito (British (tanker), 8163 GRT, built 1943), Socony-Vacuum (American (tanker), 9511 GRT, built 1935), Sovac (British (tanker), 6724 GRT, 1938), Trojan Star (British, 9037 GRT, built 1936), Vacport (British (tanker), 6774 GRT, built 1930), W.R. Keever (American, 5350 GRT, built 1920), William McKinley (American, 7200 GRT, built 1920) and William Pepperell (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943).
On departure from New York the convoy was escorted by the corvettes HMCS Cobalt (T/A/Lt.Cdr. R.A. Judges, RCNVR), HMCS Timmins (T/A/Lt.Cdr. H.S. Maxwell, RCNVR), HMCS Trail (T/Lt. G.M. Hope, RCNVR) and the minesweeper HMCS Winnipeg (T/A/Lt.Cdr. W.D.F. Johnston, RCNR).
On 7 February 1944, the following merchant vessels departed Halifax to join the convoy; Ariguani (British, 6746 GRT, built 1926), Bayano (British, 6815 GRT, built 1917), Benjamin H. Grierson (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943), Cairnesk (British, 5007 GRT, built 1926), David F. Houston (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943), Edward Everett (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942), Egbert Benson (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942), Empire MacMahon (British (tanker and MAC ship), 8856 GRT, built 1943), Fort Amherst (British, 3489 GRT, built 1936), Henry George (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943), James I. McKay (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943), Jeremiah O'Brien (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943), John Chandler (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943), John G. Whittier (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942), Montgemery City (American, 5686 GRT, built 1920), Stephen B. Elkins (American, 7180 GRT, built 1943), Victor Herbert (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943) and Walter A. Luckenbach (American, 6024 GRT, built 1918).
The rescue ship Fastnet (British, 1415 GRT, built 1928) was also part of this group.
They were escorted by the corvettes HMCS Arrowhead (Skr.Lt. L.A. Hickey, RCNR), HMCS Port Arthur (T/Lt.Cdr. E.T. Simmons, DSO, DSC, RCNVR) and the minesweeper HMCS Sault Ste Marie (Lt.Cdr. R. Jackson, RCNVR). HMCS Arrowhead however returned the following day.
On these merchant ships joining the convoy the Harvey Cushing and Socony-Vacuum were detached to Halifax escorted by HMCS Port Arthur and HMCS Sault Ste Marie. They all arrived around Halifax on 9 February 1944.
Also on 9 February 1944, the Vacport arrived back at New York after having been forced to return.
On 10 February 1944, the original escort was replaced by a new escort made up of the frigates HMS Mourne (Lt.Cdr. R.S. Holland, RD, RNR), corvettes HMS Clematis (T/Lt. R.H. Farrands, DSC, RNR), HMS Gentian (T/A/Lt.Cdr. E.W.C. Dempster, RNVR), HMS Heather (T/Lt. W.L. Turner, RNR) and the minesweeper HMS Tattoo (T/Lt. A. Twiss, RNVR). The came from Argentia and St. Johns which they had departed between 7 and 9 February 1944.
On 11 February 1944, the Fort Amherst arrived at St. Johns after having been detached from the convoy. She was escorted by HMS Cobalt and HMCS Winnipeg.
On 13 February 1944, the Cairnesk arrived at St. Johns with defects after having been detached from the convoy. She was escorted by HMS Timmins and HMCS Trail.
On 14 February 1944, the corvette HMS Berkeley Castle (T/Lt. F.A. Darrah, RNVR) joined the convoy after having departed St. Johns on 11 February 1944.
On 14 February 1944, ships from the 2nd Escort Group joined the convoy, these were the sloops HMS Starling (Capt. F.W. Walker, CB, DSO and Bar, RN), HMS Magpie (Lt.Cdr. R.S. Abram, RN), HMS Wild Goose (Lt.Cdr. D.E.G. Wemyss, DSC, RN), HMS Woodpecker (Cdr. H.L. Pryse, RNR) and HMS Wren (Cdr.(Retd.) L.B.A. Majendie, RN). They remained with the convoy until 17 February 1944.
On 15 February 1944, the escort carriers HMS Striker (Capt. F.M. Walton, RN), HMS Fencer (A/Capt. W.W.R. Bentinck, OBE, RN) joined the convoy.
On 16 February 1944, ships from the 7th Escort Group joined the convoy, these were the sloops HMS Woodcock (Cdr.(Retd.) J.F. Blackburn, DSO, RN), HMS Whimbrel (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Moore, DSC, RNR), HMS Hart (Cdr.(Retd.) M.B. Sherwood, DSO and Bar, RN), HMS Crane (Lt.Cdr. R.G. Jenkins, RN) and from the 10th Escort Group joined the convoy, these were the frigates HMS Spey (Cdr. G.A.G. Ormsby, RN), HMS Findhorn (Lt.Cdr. J.C. Dawson, RD, RNR), HMS Lossie (Lt.Cdr. A.F. MacFie, OBE, RNR), HMS Rother (Cdr. Y.M. Cleeves, DSO, DSC, RD, RNR) and HMS Wear (Lt.Cdr. Gerald MacClelland, DSC, RN). Both the 7th and 10th Escort Group parted company with the convoy on 17 February 1944.
The convoy arrived in U.K. waters on 19 February 1944.
14 Dec 1944
HMS Upright (Lt. J.A.L. Wilkinson, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Bermuda with HMCS Lachute (T/Lt. R.G. Hatrick, DSC, RCNVR) and HMCS Sault Ste Marie (T/A/Lt.Cdr. A. Moorhouse, RCNR). (1)
18 Dec 1944
HMS Upright (Lt. J.A.L. Wilkinson, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Bermuda with HMCS Lachute (T/Lt. R.G. Hatrick, DSC, RCNVR) and HMCS Sault Ste Marie (T/A/Lt.Cdr. A. Moorhouse, RCNR). (1)
Sources
- ADM 173/19287
ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.