HMCS Preserver

Badge

Description

Azure a life preserver Argent cabled Or charged on the centre chief point with a maple leaf slipped Gules and within the ring a starburst also Argent.

Significance

The life preserver is a rebus on the ship's name and with the red maple leaf gains Canadian identification. The starburst in the centre symbolizes the flare that is automatically ignited when the life preserver touches the water.

Motto

LE COEUR DE LA FLOTTE (The heart of the fleet)

Colours

Blue and White

Affiliation

HMCS Preserver has been granted an affiliation with the 1st Canadian Division. This affiliation cannot be transferred to new construction.

Battle Honours

SOUTH-WEST ASIA

ARABIAN SEA

Lineage

First of Name

• Base Supply Ship.
• Commissioned 11 July 1942.^{Footnote 1}
• Paid off 6 November 1945.^{Footnote 2}

Second of Name

• Operational support ship, Protecteur Class.
• Commissioned 7 August 1970.^{Footnote 3}
• Paid off 21 October 2016. ^{Footnote 4}

Operational history

The Second World War

Preserver (1st) served as a Fairmile motor launch base supply ship off of the East Coast with 'Newfoundland Force'.^{Footnote 5}

South-West Asia

Preserver (2nd) arrived with the first Task Group under Commodore Robertson in Mid-October 2002. Tasks performed included supporting the opening phase of Operation Enduring Freedom and then transitioned to Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO) and Leadership Interdiction Operations (LIO) in the region. Preserver also provided logistics and replenishment functions for multi-national coalition forces.^{Footnote 6}