HMCS Mackenzie (DDE 261)

HMCS Mackenzie (DDE 261) was a Mackenzie-class destroyer that served in the Royal Canadian Navy and later the Canadian Forces.

She was the lead ship of her class and is the first Canadian naval unit to carry this name.

Mackenzie was laid down on 15 December 1958 at Canadian Vickers Ltd., Montreal and launched on 25 May 1961. She was commissioned into the RCN on 6 October 1962.

She was assigned to the Pacific Fleet and served largely as a training ship with the RCN and later in the CF under Maritime Forces Pacific (MARPAC). She underwent the Destroyer Life Extension Project (DELEX) in 1985.

She was decommissioned from Maritime Command on 3 August 1993.

Mackenzie's hulk was purchased by the Artificial Reef Society of British Columbia in March 1995. She was stripped in spring/summer 1995 of environmental contaminants and scuttled on 16 September 1995 near Isle-de-Lis and Gooch Island, in the Georgia Strait off Sidney, British Columbia. She rests on clay and rock with a 20 degree list to port.

As a dive site, the location of Mackenzie experiences strong currents during large ebbs. Diving during these conditions is not recommended by the ARSBC. The average visibility in the area is 25 ft and there is a multitude of sea life in and around the ship. Above 60 ft, divers can explore the bow and deck guns, superstructure, radar mast, and exhaust stacks. Below 60 ft, divers can explore 5 decks with access portals cut into the ship at various levels. The sea floor meets the bow at 90–100 feet and the stern at 95–105 feet.

Ship's Bell
The Christening Bells Project at Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum includes information from the ship's bell of HMCS Mackenzie 1962 - 1993, which was used for baptism of babies onboard ship 1963 - 1980. The bell is currently held by the CFB Esquimalt Naval & Military Museum, Esquimalt, BC.

Affiliation
The HMCS Mackenzie had affiliated ties to the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada, a primary reserve regiment in Vancouver BC. The Seaforth's being a highland infantry unit wear the Mackenzie tartan, dating back to their mother regiment the 78th Rosshire Buffs of Scotland.