HMCS Victoriaville was a River-class frigate constructed for the Royal Canadian Navy during World War II. Ordered on 1 February 1943, she was laid down on 2 December 1943 by George T. Davie Shipbuilding Ltd. at Lauzon, Quebec, and launched on 23 June 1944. She was commissioned into service on 11 November 1944 in Quebec City. The River-class design, conceived by William Reed of Smith's Dock Company, aimed to improve convoy escort capabilities over previous classes like the Flower-class corvette. These frigates, initially called twin-screw corvettes, featured enhanced accommodations, extended range of 7,200 nautical miles at 12 knots, and better armament suited for anti-submarine warfare, including a twin 4-inch gun mount (later upgraded from single mounts), Hedgehog mortar, depth charge rails, and side throwers. They were also the first Canadian warships equipped with the 147B Sword sonar transmitter, along with improved radar and DF equipment. Victoriaville's primary wartime role was as a trans-Atlantic convoy escort, joining the Mid-Ocean Escort Force’s group C-9 in February 1945. She operated in the European theater until the end of the war, during which she notably escorted the German submarine U-190 into Bay Bulls on 12 May 1945. Following hostilities, she underwent a tropicalization refit in Saint John, intended for Pacific service, but this was halted in August 1945. She was paid off in November 1945 at Sydney and laid up at Shelburne. Post-war, Victoriaville was sold to Marine Industries Ltd., then reacquired by the Royal Canadian Navy to be converted into a Prestonian-class frigate in 1959. This refit enhanced her hull, added Squid anti-submarine mortars, and updated her superstructure, rearming her for Cold War anti-submarine duties. Recommissioned on 25 September 1959 with pennant number 320, she served in the Seventh Canadian Escort Squadron. In 1966, she was renamed Granby and reclassified as a diving tender, continuing operations until her decommissioning on 31 December 1973. She was sold for scrap in 1974. Notably, HMCS Granby participated in the 1967 Shag Harbour UFO incident search, conducting underwater investigations near Nova Scotia.

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