HMCS Clayoquot (J174)

HMCS Clayoquot was a Bangor-class minesweeper that served with the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War. She saw action mainly in the Battle of the Atlantic. She was sunk in 1944.

Construction
Ordered on 23 February 1940 Clayoquot was laid down on 20 June 1940 by Prince Rupert Dry Dock and Shipyards Co. in Prince Rupert, British Columbia. She was launched on 3 October 1940 and commissioned on 22 August in Prince Rupert later that year.

Atlantic Service
She left Esquimalt, British Columbia after working up and made her way to Halifax, Nova Scotia where she arrived on 14 November 1941. Clayoquet was made part of Halifax Local Defence Force initially, though she was transferred to Western Local Escort Force (WLEF) in March 1942. In May 1942 Clayoquet was assigned to the Gulf Escort Force. During this assignment she was returning to base from escorting a convoy, with the corvette HMCS Charlottetown nearby when the Charlottetown was hit by two torpedoes. The Clayoquet was able to rescue 55 survivors. In October 1942 she joined Sydney Force.

On 29 December 1942 Clayoquet was sent for a major refit that took her from Halifax to Liverpool, Nova Scotia and Pictou. The refit was only completed in May 1943. After working up, she rejoined Sydney Force. In January 1944 she was assigned to HMCS Cornwallis as an officer training vessel for anti-submarine warfare. After ten months of training service, she was reassigned to Halifax Force.

Sinking
While mine sweeping near Sambro Light Vessel on 24 December 1944 while preparing to escort a convoy, Clayoquet was hit by a torpedo aft fired by U-806. She sank quickly and eight lives were lost. A large search force was sent out to deal with the U-boat however they were not successful in finding it.