HMCS Ambler

HMCS Ambler was an armed yacht that acquired by the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War as a patrol and training vessel. Constructed in 1922, Ambler was under private ownership until 1940 when the vessel was requisitioned for service in the Royal Canadian Navy. Initially used as a patrol vessel, Ambler was used as a training vessel until 1945. Following the war, Ambler was sold to private interests.

Description
As an armed yacht, Ambler displaced 273 LT and was 130 ft long overall with a beam of 23 ft and a draught of 10 ft. The vessel had a maximum speed of 9 kn and was armed with three .303 British machine guns. The ship had a complement of 4 officers and 17 crew.

Service history
Ambler was constructed by Tebo Yacht Basin Co. of Brooklyn, New York and was launched in 1922. At the onset of the Second World War, the Royal Canadian Navy was empowered to requisition any British, Canadian or Commonwealth ship from private owners that were in Canada at the time for use as auxiliary vessels. Ambler was the only vessel taken from a Canadian owner and found to be acceptable for use by the navy.

Ambler was requisitioned in 1940 and commissioned on 6 May 1940 at Midland, Ontario. initially carrying the pennant number Q11 and later Z32. The vessel was sent to Quebec City where she converted to an armed yacht and had her armament installed. Ambler's initial posting was as a patrol ship in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and St. Lawrence River. She remained there until October 1941 when the ship was transferred to Halifax and used as a tender ship to HMCS Stadacona. In 1942 she was transferred to HMCS Cornwallis as a training ship and remained there for the rest of the war. Ambler was paid off on 20 July 1945 and placed in reserve at Sydney, Nova Scotia. The vessel was put up for disposal on 31 January 1946 and in 1947, Ambler was sold to Greek interests.