Commissioned on 23 Oct 1936 as HMS HERO, she saw extensive service in the Second World War, including the second Battle of Narvik, Apr 1940; the evacuation of Greece and Crete, Apr and May 1941; and the Syrian invasion, Jun 1941. As a unit of the Mediterranean Fleet, she also took part in the Second Battle of Sirte in Mar 1942, and, in May 1942 and October 1942, shared in the sinking of two U-boats. In Apr 1943, she returned to the U.K. for a major refit at Portsmouth, and there was transferred to the RCN on 15 Nov 1943, becoming HMCS CHAUDIERE. In Jan 1944, she became a member of EG C-2, MOEF, and on 06 Mar 1944, shared in the destruction of U 744. In May she was assigned to EG 11, Western Approaches Command, for invasion support duty, and was present on D-Day. On 20 and 28 Aug 1944, she assisted in the sinking of U 984, west of Brest, and of U 621 off La Rochelle. During the next three months she was employed in patrol and support duties in the North Atlantic, Bay of Biscay, and English Channel. She returned to Halifax at the end of Nov 1944 for repairs, and a major refit begun at Sydney two months later was still incomplete on VE-Day. CHAUDIERE was paid off 17 Aug 1945 to reserve at Sydney, and broken up by Dominion Steel at Sydney in 1950.
U-Boats Sunk
(1) U-744 (Oblt Heinz Blischke) a type VIIC U-boat, sunk on 06 Mar 1944 by HMCS ST CATHARINES K325, HMCS CHILLIWACK K131, HMCS GATINEAU H61, HMCS Fennel K194, HMCS CHAUDIERE H99, HMS ICARUS and HMS KENIWORTH CASTLE in position 52-01 N, 22-37 W. Of her crew of 51, there were 40 survivors
(2) U-621 sunk on 18 Aug 1944 by HMCS OTTAWA H31, HMCS KOOTENAY H75 and HMCS CHAUDIERE H99 in position 45-52N, 02-36 W
(3) U-984 sunk on 20 Aug 1944 by HMCS OTTAWA H31, HMCS KOOTENAY H75 and HMCS CHAUDIERE H99 in position 42-20 N, 51-39 W
