Canadian River-class frigate HMCS Jonquière (K 318) This is a photograph of the Canadian frigate Jonquière (K 318) dated 1955. This aerial view illustrates the two tone paint scheme used by the Canadian Navy at this time. The vessel was laid down on 26 Jan. 1943 and commissioned on 10 May 1944. She was originally designated as a “twin screw corvette” and was intended to work with Royal Navy ASW vessels. The term frigate was suggested by the Canadian Navy and introduced shortly thereafter.  After working up, the ship was assigned to the ASW Mid-Ocean Escort Force. Jonquière spent the balance of the war performing patrols and ASW work in the Atlantic. Jonquière escorted the last westbound convoy from Europe in June of 1945 and was paid off 4 December 1945. On 20 September the ship was re-commissioned for conversion into a Prestoniar class frigate. The pennant number was changed to (FFE 318). After conversion the ship was transferred to the Pacific Command to be used mainly for training purposes. At this point in time Jonquière was again decommissioned. She was broken up in 1967 at Victoria, BC. General Characteristics as Built Length – 301.25 feet Beam – 36.5 feet Draught – 9 feet Speed – 20 knots Complement – 157, believed to be a wartime figure Armament – 2 x QF 4 inch twin mounts, 1 x QF 3 inch, 8 x 20mm Oerlikon AA twin                          mounts, 1 Hedgehog 24 spigot A/S projector with 150 charges The photograph is from the archive and through the courtesy of our member Leo van Ginderen.