HMCS Cowichan was a Bangor-class minesweeper operated by the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War. Constructed to a British design, the vessel measured 180 feet (54.9 meters) in overall length, with a beam of 28 feet 6 inches (8.7 meters) and a draught of 9 feet 9 inches (3.0 meters). Displacing approximately 672 long tons (683 metric tons), she was powered by two vertical triple-expansion steam engines, each driving a shaft and supplied steam by two Admiralty three-drum boilers. These engines produced a total of 2,400 indicated horsepower, enabling a maximum speed of 16.5 knots (30.6 km/h). The ship's fuel capacity was up to 150 long tons (152 metric tons) of fuel oil. Armament on HMCS Cowichan initially included a single QF 4-inch/40 caliber Mk IV gun mounted forward, later replaced by a 12-pounder (3-inch) 12 cwt HA gun. For anti-aircraft defense, she was fitted with a QF 2-pounder Mark VIII gun and two single-mounted QF 20 mm Oerlikon guns, which was later upgraded to a powered twin 20 mm Oerlikon mount. She was also equipped with depth charges—up to 40—fired from two throwers and four chutes, facilitating her role in convoy escort and minesweeping. Commissioned in April 1941, Cowichan initially transferred to the east coast of Canada, working in local patrols and minesweeping duties. She participated in convoy escort missions, including SC 62, ONS 56, and SC 68, operating with groups such as the Halifax Local Defence Force and Newfoundland Force. Notably, she was part of the all-Canadian 31st Minesweeping Flotilla during the Normandy invasion, where she cleared mines off Point Barfleur just before D-Day on June 6, 1944. After the war, Cowichan was sold in 1946 for mercantile use, becoming a cargo and later a trawler under Greek registry. She was converted into a trawler with a gross register tonnage of 663 tons and remained in service until her dismantling in 1950. Despite her scrapping, her name persisted on shipping registers until 2008, marking her as a vessel of notable wartime contribution and post-war maritime history.

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