my old man and the sea

[sapper740]

Originally posted by Bruce MacMillan



Esquimalt is the name of a base in Victoria as well as an area of the city. HMCS Esquimalt is what is called a "Stone Frigate", a land base. There is also HMCS Naden as well.

Small correction: The Navy base at Esquimalt is known as C.F.B. Esquimalt, only the barracks and shore facility at Naden are called H.M.C.S. Naden. The original H.M.C.S. Naden was a small wooden schooner used for hydrographic survey and cadet training.
There is also a Canadian Forces station at Patricia Bay, more commonly known as Pat Bay which is now the site of Victoria International airport. The R.C.A.F. had a WW II air base there from which Hampdens carried out torpedo training in the still waters of the bay and Bolingbrokes carried out anti-submarine patrols. One Bolingbroke crew actually carried out an attack on a Japanese sub. I don't remember the result of the attack. The Hampden currently on display in Langley, B.C. was retrieved from the waters of Pat Bay. The Navy currently has a helicopter maintenace facility at Pat Bay. I enjoyed seeing the daily comings and goings of the helos while I and many C.M.E.s from across Canada built two storage facilities for the Navy in the late '90's. There is a long history of Engineer support for the Navy, I remember seeing a picture from the 19th century showing Sappers clearing trees from the land for the soon to be built Navy base there.

CHIMO! Derek.