Aleutians

The Second World War

Date

1942 - 1943

Geographical parameters

(no geographical parameters defined)

Context

Eligible to warships that saw “activity during the Allied campaign to oust the Japanese from lodgements in the Aleutians Island chain of Alaska during the Second World War.”^{Footnote 1}

Description

In June 1942 the Japanese were preparing an attack against Midway Island in the central Pacific. In an effort to draw American attention and resources away from the central Pacific, they first captured two islands in the Aleutian chain, Kiska and Attu. The battle of Midway was an American victory but in August 1942 Japanese forces were still in possession of the two north Pacific islands. As a preliminary move against the Japanese-held islands, the Americans prepared for the occupation of Tanaga Island, 150 miles east of Kiska. Upon hearing of this the Commanding Officer Pacific Coast, Commodore W.J.R Beech, RCN, offered Canadian assistance only to be told that the operation was to begin in just four days’ time. Designated as Task Force D, five Canadian ships sailed on short notice for a rendezvous with the Americans at Kodiak, Alaska. Two of the vessels were the Flower-class Corvettes HMC Ships Dawson and Vancouver. The remaining three were former luxury liners that had belonged to Canadian National Railway’s subsidiary company, Canadian National Steamships. The ships now known as HMC Ships Prince David, Prince Henry and Prince Robert, had been converted into Armed Merchant Cruisers in 1939.

The two Corvettes were used as part of the screen for the assault force which ended up landing on the island of Adak in lieu of Tanaga. They then escorted convoys to and fro as the Americans built-up their resources on Adak in preparation for the next move. The three Armed Merchant Cruisers were kept away from the battle area and tasked instead with the escort of convoys taking supplies and personnel between Kodiak and the American base at Dutch Harbour. For all ships their worst enemy was the weather which featured dense fog, high winds and rough seas. The deployment ended on 30 October 1942.

In 1943 the three Prince ships were withdrawn for refit. Two became Landing Ships Infantry (Medium) while the third, HMCS Prince Robert, became an anti-aircraft escort. The two corvettes returned to the Aleutians for three more months of convoy escort in weather every bit as foul as that found on their first deployment.

Awarded to:

Ships in commission ^{Footnote 2}

• HMCS Vancouver - 1942-43

Ships not currently in commission

• HMCS Dawson - 1942-43
• HMCS Prince David - 1942
• HMCS Prince Henry - 1942
• HMCS Prince Robert - 1942