Reef Society to Sink Cape Breton

The Artificial Reef Society, in conjunction with other groups, is planning on sinking the majority of former HMCS Cape Breton as the Canadian Merchant Navy Memorial Artificial Reef. HMCS Cape Breton was launched in 1944 at the Burrard Drydock facility in North Vancouver, B.C., as HMS Flamborough Head. Flamborough Head was one of a series of ships intended to operate with the British Pacific Fleet in the war against Japan and for the recolonization of Asian territories. While these ships were under construction, the Royal Navy was experiencing a severe manpower shortage. To this end, Sir Winston Churchill attempted to get Canadian Prime Minister Mackenzie King to provide Canadian crews. This offer was refused by the wartime Canadian leader for political reasons. Ultimately the war ended before the whole class was completed and several were completed as merchant ships. HMS Flamborough Head commissioned into service of the Royal Navy in North Vancouver in 1945. It sailed from Vancouver and remained in active service with that service until 1952 when purchased by the Royal Canadian Navy. The ship commissioned as HMCS Cape Breton at Halifax on January 31, 1953.