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Enemy Merchantmen Taken In Prize by Ships of the Royal Canadian Navy

Weser

MV Weser captured in the Pacific by HMCS Prince Robert. (Photo courtesy of MMBC.)

List of Vessel Captured as Prizes in the First World War

  • 23/04/1916 Oregon 707 tons, intercepted and boarded by HMCS Rainbow off La Paz, Mexico.

  • 02/05/1916 Leonor intercepted and boarded by HMCS Rainbow off Cape Corrientes, Mexico.

List of Vessel Captured as Prizes in the Second World War

  • 10/06/1940 Capo Noli 3921 intercepted and boarded in the St. Lawrence River by HMCS Bras D’Or.

  • 26/09/1940 Weser 9179 tons intercepted and boarded off Manzanillo Mexico by HMCS Prince Robert.

  • 05/02/1941 Christian Holm 9119 tons and Scandia 8571 tons were intercepted off North–West Trinidad and taken together with the clandestine connivance of their owners. Standard Oil of New Jersey arranged for their Marine Superintendent, Captain Ryan, to be aboard one of the tankers. Initially he was to protest the Allied seizure, then he was to influence the master and crew to offer no resistance. The two vessels were stopped by HMC Armed Yachts Husky and Vison and HMCS Husky sent an armed party on board each tanker. Those parties were superseded after ten or fifteen minutes by Dutch prize crews from HMNS Van Kinsbergen. Senior Officer of the the patrol. There was more more friction between the Allies than with the vessels being captured, which were perfectly agreeable. The misunderstanding caused some ill feelings, and a messaged flurry of recriminations and explanations. The two prizes were sailed to Port–of–Spain flying the Netherlands colours (under Canadian protest) were operated under their own names by the British Ministry of War Transport for the duration of the war, and were returned to their former owners at the end.)

  • 03/06/1941 Cancalais 369 tons intercepted on the Grand Banks and boarded by HMCS St. Croix.

  • 04/06/1941 Madiana 354 tons intercepted on the Grand Banks and boarded by HMCS St. Croix.

  • 31/08/1941 Angelus 338 tons intercepted in the mid–Atlantic and boarded by HMCS Prescott. After being taken, this vessel never reached port again. With a prize crew of nine Canadians on board and making for Sydney NS, she was torpedoed about September 5, 1941. The Canadian sailors drifted in lifeboats for over a week, several perished, and the survivors reached Newfoundland about September 14th, 1941.

Editor’s Note: This list is derived from the appendix in a type–written manuscript dated July 1986 titled The Prince Ships 1940–1945 (online reference http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhh-dhp/his/rep-rap/doc/cfhq/cfhq005.pdf)) (Canadian Forces Directorate of Heritage and History author unknown).

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