HMCS Comox was a Bay-class minesweeper constructed for the Royal Canadian Navy during the Cold War era, serving from 1954 to 1957. Named after Comox Harbour in British Columbia, this vessel was part of a class designed to replace older minesweepers from World War II. The Bay-class ships shared a construction style similar to the Ton-class minesweepers, featuring wooden planking and aluminum framing to reduce magnetic signatures, which was advantageous for minesweeping operations. The vessel displaced approximately 390 long tons (400 tonnes) and measured 152 feet (46 meters) in length, with a beam of 28 feet (8.5 meters) and a draught of 8 feet (2.4 meters). It had a crew complement of 38 officers and ratings. Propulsion was provided by two General Motors 12-cylinder diesel engines driving two shafts, collectively producing 2,400 brake horsepower, enabling the Comox to reach a maximum speed of 16 knots (30 km/h). Armament consisted of a single Bofors 40 mm gun, complemented by minesweeping gear tailored for clearing naval mines. The vessel’s construction began at Victoria Machinery Depot in Victoria, with her keel laid on 8 June 1951, and she was launched on 24 April 1952. She was officially commissioned into the Royal Canadian Navy on 2 April 1954, with the hull number 146. HMCS Comox served actively for just over three years before being paid off on 11 September 1957. Subsequently, she was transferred to the Turkish Navy on 31 March 1958, where she was renamed TCG Tirebolu and assigned the identification number M-352. The vessel remained in service until she was sold in 1996, marking a notable career spanning two navies and illustrating the Cold War efforts to maintain effective minesweeping capabilities.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.