HMCS Mic Mac

[larryl]

my grandfather was on the hmcs mic mac in 1956,we would like to hear from anyone else who was also on the ship.

[Batstiger]

Hi Larry,

I am sure you must have come across this site but if not it's a start:-

http://www.jproc.ca/micmac/

Bob.

[dpoidy]

My father was on her at the time

[greatbigseas]

my father was on Micmac in 1951 after her collision with the Yarmouth County off Halifax approaches. He joined after the new bow was added as an Able Seaman "not qualified" (ABNQ), and then went on to his gunnery course. The skipper was Commander Fewer. Dad was married during this posting and sailed away as plane guard for HMCS Magnificent and her Mediterranean Cruise. They visited Naples and Malta, and at the latter port they had a month long prolonged stay as Maggie was quarantined for a polio outbreak on board.

They went to Monte Casino at one point to lay a wreath to the losses of World War II Italian campaign at a Canadian cemetery. They also visited Pompei, Sorrento and Capri.

Micmac almost ran out of fuel on the return transit to Halifax because of failed attempts to conduct and underway, stern refuelling from the Maggie. They were met by tugs off Halifax running on fuel vapours.

Later at anchor in St Margaret's Bay with the Maggie, Micmac's skipper was insulted when he arrived aboard Maggie for a meeting and had to cross the brow, stepping over an oily rag. This was a naval insult perpetrated by Captain Adams, the skipper of the Maggie.

Commander Fewer was intent to pay back the insult, and sent a raiding party over later that night, the commander himself driving the launch. My father was in the raiding party and participating in lobbing paint balls onto the deck, painting graffiti along the waterline, and they also lashed smoke canisters to the anchor cable and ignited them. Apparently the two ships were always at each other.

[maccdale]

My father served in Micmac several times during his career. This page may interest you as well. Some damage shots from the collision and some nice at speed pics of her.

Best,
Mac
http://macsnavylinks.ca/Micmac.html