View source for HMCS Sioux (R64)

{{short description|Destroyer of the Royal Canadian Navy}}
{{other ships|HMS Vixen}}

{{Use Canadian English|date=August 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=HMCS Sioux AWM P05890.046.jpeg
|Ship caption=HMCS ''Sioux'' circa. August 1951 – February 1952, probably in Korean waters
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
|Ship country= United Kingdom
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|United Kingdom|naval}}
|Ship name=''Vixen''
|Ship namesake=
|Ship ordered=1 September 1941
|Ship builder=[[J. Samuel White]], [[Cowes]]
|Ship laid down=31 October 1942
|Ship launched= 14 September 1943
|Ship fate=Transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy 1944
|Ship notes=
|Ship badge=
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=title
|Ship country= Canada
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|Canada|naval-1911}}
|Ship name=''Sioux''
|Ship namesake=[[Sioux]] people
|Ship acquired= 
|Ship commissioned= 21 February 1944
|Ship decommissioned= 27 February 1946
|Ship in service=
|Ship out of service=
|Ship reclassified=
|Ship refit=
|Ship struck=
|Ship reinstated=
|Ship homeport=
|Ship identification=[[Pennant number]]: R64 Later DDE 225
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=yes
|Ship recommissioned= 1950
|Ship decommissioned= 30 October 1963
|Ship in service=
|Ship out of service=
|Ship reclassified=
|Ship refit=
|Ship struck=
|Ship reinstated=
|Ship homeport=
|Ship motto=''Then I will fight''<ref name=a1>Arbuckle, p. 115</ref>
|Ship nickname=
|Ship honours=*Normandy, 1944
*Arctic, 1944–1945
*Atlantic, 1945
*Korea, 1950–1952<ref name=a1/>
|Ship fate=Scrapped at La Spezia, Italy, August 1965
|Ship notes=Colours: White and vermilion<ref name=a1/>
|Ship badge=Argent, a Sioux Indian head proper facing the dexter and wearing an appropriate feather head-dress of a Sioux Chief<ref name=a1/>
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Ship class=[[U and V-class destroyer|V-class]] [[destroyer]]
|Ship displacement={{convert|1710|t|LT|0}}
|Ship length={{convert|362|ft|10|in|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam={{convert|35|ft|8|in|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship height= 
|Ship draught={{convert|11|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship depth=
|Ship propulsion=*2 × Admiralty 3-drum [[water-tube boiler]]s
*Geared steam turbines, {{convert|40000|shp|0|abbr=on}}
*2 shafts
|Ship speed={{convert|36|kn|mph km/h|lk=in}}
|Ship range={{convert|4860|nmi|km|abbr=on}} at {{convert|29|kn|km/h|abbr=on}}
|Ship complement= 230 (14 officers)
|Ship sensors=
|Ship EW=
|Ship armament=*4 × [[4.7 inch QF Mark IX|QF 4.7-inch (120-mm) Mk IX]] guns (2×2)
*6 × [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon|QF 20 mm Oerlikon]] guns (2×2, 2×1)
*4 × [[British 21 inch torpedo|21 inch (533 mm)]] torpedo tubes
*2 × [[Squid (weapon)|Squid triple ASW mortars]]
|Ship armour=
|Ship notes=
}}
|}

'''HMCS ''Sioux''''' was a [[U and V-class destroyer|V-class]] [[destroyer]] of the [[Royal Canadian Navy]] which fought in the [[Second World War]] and the [[Korean War]]. She was launched as '''HMS ''Vixen''''' for the [[United Kingdom|British]] [[Royal Navy]] before being transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy. She was then named for the [[Sioux]] people of Canada's western provinces.

==Construction and career==
''Vixen'' was ordered on 1 September 1941 as part of the 1941 shipbuilding programme.<ref name=u1>{{cite web|url=http://www.uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/3367.html |work=uboat.net |title=HMCS Sioux (R64) |accessdate=7 June 2014}}</ref> The destroyer's [[keel]] was laid down on 31 October 1942 by [[J. Samuel White]] at [[Cowes]]. The ship was [[Ship naming and launching|launched]] on 14 September 1943.<ref name=m64>Macpherson and Barrie (2002), p. 64</ref><ref name=nh1>{{cite web|url=http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-10DD-61V-Vixen.htm |title=HMCS Sioux, destroyer |work=naval-history.net |last=Mason |first=Geoffrey B. |year=2004 |accessdate=7 June 2014}}</ref> As part of the [[Warship Week]] in January 1942 ''Vixen'' was adopted by the town of [[Kirkcaldy]], [[Fife]].<ref name=nh1/> The destroyer was transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy, into which she was then [[Ship commissioning|commissioned]] and renamed on 21 February 1944 while fitting out at Cowes, and was completed on 5 March 1944.<ref name=m64/>

After commissioning ''Sioux'' joined the [[26th Destroyer Flotilla]] of the British [[Home Fleet]] at [[Scapa Flow]]. The Home Fleet deployed on 29 March 1944 as part of the covering force for [[Arctic convoys of World War II|convoy JW 58]] sailing to Russia. On 3 April, ''Sioux'' escorted the [[aircraft carrier]]s that attacked the {{ship|German battleship|Tirpitz||2|up=yes}}, which was anchored at [[Altenfjord]], Norway, and German shipping along the Norwegian coast as part of [[Operation Tungsten]].<ref>Rohwer, p. 314</ref> On 26 April, the destroyer was part of the screening force for strikes on German shipping off the coast of Norway and returned again in early May for more screening duties.<ref name=schull232>Schull, p. 232</ref>

===Invasion of Normandy===
On 15 May, the 26th Destroyer Flotilla began training exercises in anticipation for its participation in [[Operation Neptune]]. On 28 May ''Sioux'' sailed to [[Portsmouth]] as part of Canada's contribution to the [[Invasion of Normandy]]. During the assault on [[Juno Beach]], ''Sioux'' bombarded shore batteries for forty minutes during the initial landing and provided fire support afterwards.<ref name=g1>Gimblett, p. 72</ref> On 10–11 June, ''Sioux'' and the Polish destroyer {{ORP|Krakowiak|L115|2}} were sent to intercept a German flotilla of [[E-boat|''schnellboot''s]] laying [[naval mine|mines]] off [[Le Havre]]. The two destroyers failed to intercept the Germans.<ref>Rohwer, p. 332</ref> On 23 June, the ship bombarded enemy troop concentrations near the mouth of the [[River Orne]] and a battery of field guns. The following day, ''Sioux'' and [[sister ship]] {{HMCS|Algonquin|R17|2}} attacked a German battery near [[Franceville]], which was to be their last mission off the coast of Normandy.<ref>Schull, p. 314</ref> She remained with the invasion force until July when she returned to Scapa Flow.<ref name=m64/>

===Northern operations===
After returning from operations in the Normandy area, ''Sioux'' rejoined the Home Fleet.<ref>Schull, p. 371</ref> In August 1944, ''Algonquin'' and ''Sioux'' were among the escorts for a carrier force sent to attack German airfields at [[Gossa (island)|Gossen]], Norway and to carry out attacks on ''Tirpitz''.<ref>Rohwer, pp. 349–50</ref> In September, ''Sioux'' escorted a force that performed attacks on German shipping off Norway. Upon returning from that, ''Sioux'' sailed with a convoy sailing for Russia. On the return trip two merchant vessels were torpedoed.<ref>Schull, p. 375</ref> On 14–15 October, ''Sioux'' escorted a force that was sent to perform air-mining and attacks on [[Axis powers|Axis]] shipping routes along the coast of Norway near Frohavet.<ref>Rohwer, p. 352</ref> The destroyer returned to Norwegian waters from 26–28 October, escorting the aircraft carrier {{HMS|Implacable|R86|2}} which attacked targets in Norway as part of Operation Athletic.<ref>Rohwer, p. 369</ref> In early November the destroyer was laid up undergoing a boiler cleaning.<ref>Schull, p. 377</ref> ''Sioux'' returned with ''Implacable'' for more attacks along the coast of Norway in late November.<ref>Rohwer, p. 371</ref>

After returning to Scapa Flow, ''Sioux'' escorted four convoys to the Soviet Union and back.<ref name=ha1>{{cite web|url=http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/hague/index.html |title=Convoy web |work=Arnold Hague Convoy Database |accessdate=7 June 2014}}</ref> From 7–14 December, the destroyer was among the escorts for a carrier force that sortied in support of the convoy RA 62.<ref>Rohwer, p. 376</ref> On 30 December, the destroyer departed [[Loch Ewe]] as one of the escorts for convoy JW 63, arriving at [[Kola Inlet]] on 8 January 1945.<ref>Rohwer, p. 380</ref> ''Sioux'' returned to Loch Ewe on 21 January escorting convoy RA 63.<ref>Rohwer, p. 386</ref> During transit the convoy passed through a storm whose gales reached {{convert|85|kn}}. The convoy fell apart and ''Sioux'' was sent to round up any straggling merchantmen. ''Sioux'' helped rescue crew from one disabled merchant and was then sent to search for three more disabled merchant vessels. The destroyer recovered the ships and brought all of them into the [[Faroes]].<ref>Schull, p. 378</ref> On 6 February, she left Loch Ewe with convoy JW 64. The convoy came under combined [[U-boat]] and air attack after being spotted by reconnaissance aircraft. The convoy arrived at its destination on 13 February, losing one [[corvette]] in exchange for 13 German aircraft.<ref>Rohwer, p. 392</ref>

After escorting convoy JW 64 to [[Polyarny, Murmansk Oblast|Polyarnoe]], ''Sioux'' departed on 14 February as part of a relief expedition to convey 500 inhabitants of the Norwegian island of [[Sørøya]], left without food or fishing boats by the Germans, to safety. The expedition also involved  {{HMS|Zambesi|R66|6}}, {{HMS|Zest|R02|6}} and {{HMS|Zealous|R39|6}}.<ref>{{cite web |last=Langran |first=Mike |website=BBC History: WW2 Peoples' War |title=Winter's Rages |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/11/a4508011.shtml |accessdate=2 March 2020}}</ref> The inhabitants were dispersed among the ships of the next convoy, RA 64 for transit to the United Kingdom. ''Sioux'' joined the escort of the convoy on 17 February. RA 64 came under combined U-boat and air attack during its passage. Two freighters and one escort were sunk, another escort was severely damaged in exchange for six German aircraft shot down. ''Sioux'' left the escort on 27 February.<ref>Rohwer, pp. 393–94</ref>

On 12 March, ''Sioux'' joined the escort of convoy JW 65, which came under combined attack by U-boats and aircraft on 20 March. The convoy lost one freighter and one escort sunk and one merchant vessel severely damaged.<ref>Rohwer, p. 399</ref> The destroyer returned to the United Kingdom with convoy RA 65 on 31 March.<ref>Rohwer, p. 403</ref>

===End of war===
''Sioux'' sailed to [[Halifax, Nova Scotia|Halifax]] on 6 April, to prepare for transfer to the [[British Pacific Fleet]] and operations against Japan.<ref name=la1>{{cite book|last=Lawrence |first=Hal |title=A Bloody War; One Man's Memories of the Canadian Navy, 1939–1945 |publisher=Signet Books |year=1980 |isbn=0771047347}}</ref> The vessel underwent a major refit at Halifax and in November 1945 transferred to the west coast, being [[Ship decommissioning|paid off]] on 27 February 1946 at [[Esquimalt, British Columbia|Esquimalt]].<ref name=m64/>

''Sioux'' emerged, fully modernized, in 1950.<ref name=m64/> As part of the modernization, she lost turrets 'X' and 'Y', which were replaced by two [[Squid (weapon)|Squid]] anti-submarine mortars. She was also the first Canadian warship to be fitted with bunks instead of hammocks.<ref name=bo1>Boutiller, p. 322</ref> In March 1950, with the [[cruiser]] {{HMCS|Ontario|C53|2}} and destroyer {{HMCS|Cayuga|R04|2}}, ''Sioux'' participated in a training cruise to Mexico, making several port visits.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Pacific Training Cruise |magazine=The Crowsnest |publisher=King's Printer |date=March 1950 |volume=2 |number=5 |pages=2}}</ref>

===Korean War first tour===
After the declaration of [[Korean War|war in Korea]], Canada ordered three destroyers of the Pacific Division based at [[CFB Esquimalt]] to begin preparations for deployment to the Korean theatre. ''Sioux'' was in dry dock and not expected to leave it until 30 June 1950. However, after a massive effort by the dockside crews, ''Sioux'' departed with ''Cayuga'' and {{HMCS|Athabaskan|R79|2}} on 5 July 1950. The three vessels arrived at [[Sasebo, Nagasaki|Sasebo]] on 30 July 1950.<ref name=korea1>Thorgrimsson and Russell, pp. 3–4</ref> After arriving, the destroyer was assigned to Task Force 96.5 with ''Athabaskan'' escorting convoys of ships from Japan to [[Busan|Pusan]]. Initially retained at Sasebo for rescue missions, on 12 August 1950, the ship transferred to Task Unit 96.53.3 assigned to the west coast of Korea.<ref name=korea2>Thorgrimsson and Russell, p. 12</ref>

After transiting, ''Sioux'' was ordered to bombard Popusompu (now a part of Beopseong-Myeon) on 20 August. At the end of the month the destroyer bombarded the island of Te bu Somu with {{HMS|Kenya|14|6}} and ''Cayuga''.<ref name=Korea3>Thorgrimsson and Russell, p. 17</ref> She helped provide naval support for the troops that landed at [[Invasion of Inchon|Inchon]] in September 1950 as part of Task Force 91.2, charged with escorting the logistic support group and enforcing the naval blockade. Along with several US and British cruisers and destroyers, ''Sioux'', along with ''Cayuga'' and ''Athabaskan'', bombarded the amphibious landing area at [[Battle of Inchon#Bombardments of Wolmido and Incheon|Wolmido]] Island just prior to the landing of troops.<ref name=m64/><ref name=Korea3/>

On 20 October 1950, ''Sioux'' joined Task Group 95.1 under the new command setup. She remained as part of the unit until her departure later in the year.<ref name=korea4>Thorgrimsson and Russell, p. 20</ref> The destroyer worked as part of the blockade force on the west coast until the end of the month before returning to Sasebo. She left Sasebo on 5 November 1950 for a visit to Hong Kong. However, en route the vessel encountered [[Typhoon Clara (1950)|Typhoon Clara]] and suffered slight damage that required repairs upon her arrival.<ref name=korea5>Thorgrimsson and Russell, pp. 24–6</ref> Upon the destroyer's return from Hong Kong she began blockade duties in coastal waters around Inchon and the mouth of the [[Yalu River]], as part of Task Element 95.12 alongside the other Canadian vessels.<ref name=korea6>Thorgrimsson and Russell, p. 29</ref>

With the absence of the British cruisers, the destroyers of Task Element 95.12 were ordered on 3 December 1950 to cover the withdrawal of units from Chinnampo by escorting the transports into the harbour and providing gunfire support during their withdrawal. Reports claiming an emergency arrived from the harbour and the destroyers were forced to sail down the swept channel at night. While making her way up the channel, ''Sioux'' ran aground. Able to get herself clear, the destroyer then fouled her starboard screw, forcing her to retire. She and {{HMAS|Warramunga|I44|6}} provided a covering force for the withdrawal the next day.<ref name=korea7>Thorgrimsson and Russell, pp. 31–3</ref>

''Sioux'' then spent the rest of her time in theatre screening the aircraft carrier, {{HMS|Theseus|R64|6}}, escorting shipping, blockade patrol and providing general support for the forces evacuating Inchon. The destroyer returned to Sasebo on 2 January 1951 and spent two weeks preparing before returning home,<ref name=korea8>Thorgrimsson and Russell, p. 36</ref> departing 15 January 1951. She was replaced on station by {{HMCS|Nootka|R96|6}}.<ref name=korea7/>

''Sioux'' performed two more tours of duty in the Korean War and was the last Canadian ship to depart Korean waters.<ref name=m64/>

===Training and conversion===
In 1953 ''Sioux'' was one of a number of Royal Canadian Navy ships which took part in the [[Fleet Review]] to celebrate the Coronation of [[Queen Elizabeth II]].<ref>Souvenir Programme, ''Coronation Review of the Fleet, Spithead, 15 June 1953'', HMSO, Gale and Polden</ref> She was primarily used for training purposes thereafter, until being paid off on 30 October 1963. The destroyer wore pennant 225 from 1949 until 1963.<ref>Macpherson and Barrie (2002), p. 317</ref> In November 1959, ''Sioux'' was converted to a [[frigate]] with two 4.7-inch guns, four torpedo tubes and two Squid launchers.<ref name=Colledge>Colledge, p. 670</ref> She was towed to [[La Spezia]], Italy and broken up there in 1965.<ref name=m64/>

==Ship's bell==
The Chatham and Area Royal Canadian Naval Association branch acquired HMCS ''Sioux''{{'}}s ship's bell, which was used for [[baptism]] of babies on board ship. The names of 48 children christened aboard the V-class destroyer are inscribed on the bell.<ref name=jp1>{{cite web|url=http://www.jproc.ca/sioux/siouxbell.html |title=Sioux's bell |last=Proc |first=Jerry |work=HMCS Sioux |date=4 August 2010 |accessdate=7 June 2014}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of ships of the Canadian Navy]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==Publications==
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book |last=Arbuckle |first=J. Graeme |date=1987 |title=Badges of the Canadian Navy |publisher=Nimbus Publishing |location=Halifax, Nova Scotia |isbn=0-920852-49-1}}
* {{cite book |editor-last=Boutiller |editor-first=James A. |date=1982 |title=RCN in Retrospect, 1910–1968 |publisher=University of British Columbia Press |location=Vancouver |isbn=0-7748-0196-4}}
* {{Cite Colledge2006}}
* {{cite book |editor-last=Gimblett |editor-first=Richard H. |date=2009 |title=The Naval Service of Canada 1910–2010: The Centennial Story |publisher=Dundurn Press |location=Toronto |isbn=978-1-55488-470-4}}
* {{cite book|title=The Ships of Canada's Naval Forces, 1910-2002 |last=Macpherson |first=Ken |last2=Barrie |first2=Ron |publisher=Vanwell Publishing Limited |year=2002 |isbn=1551250721 |place=St. Catharines, Ontario |edition=3}}
* {{cite book|last=Raven|first=Alan|last2=Roberts |first2=John |title=War Built Destroyers O to Z Classes|publisher=Bivouac Books|location=London|year=1978|isbn=0-85680-010-4}}
* {{cite book |last=Rohwer |first=Jürgen |date=2005 |title=Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two |edition=Revised & Expanded |publisher=Naval Institute Press |location=Annapolis, Maryland |isbn=1-59114-119-2}}
* {{cite book |last=Schull |first=Joseph |date=1961 |title=The Far Distant Ships: An Official Account of Canadian Naval Operations in the Second World War |publisher=Queen's Printer |location=Ottawa}}
*{{cite book|last=Thorgrimsson |first=Thor |last2=Russell |first2=E.C. |title=Canadian Naval Operations In Korean Waters 1950 – 1955 |publisher=National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces |date=1965 |place=Ottawa}}
* {{cite book|last=Whitley|first=M. J.|title=Destroyers of World War 2|publisher=Naval Institute Press|year=1988|isbn=0-87021-326-1|location=Annapolis, Maryland}}
{{refend}}

== External links==
* [http://www.hazegray.org/navhist/canada/ww2/v/ V class]
* [http://jproc.ca/sioux/ HMCS ''Sioux'']

{{U and V class destroyers}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sioux (R64)}}
[[Category:U and V-class destroyers of the Royal Navy]]
[[Category:Ships built in Barrow-in-Furness]]
[[Category:1943 ships]]
[[Category:V-class destroyers of the Royal Canadian Navy]]
[[Category:World War II destroyers of Canada]]
[[Category:Cold War destroyers of Canada]]
[[Category:Korean War destroyers of Canada]]