The HMCS Saskatchewan challenge coin - Designed in honour of HMCS Saskatchewan (DDE 262).
This steam powered MacKenzie class destroyer was built by Victoria Machinery Depot, and completed by Yarrows at Esquimalt, BC. HMCS Saskatchewan was commissioned into the Royal Canadian Navy on February 16th, 1963.
She worked on the west coast until 1970 when she sailed to Halifax to relieve HMCS Nipogon as flagship of Standing Naval Force Atlantic for 3 years. In 1973 she returned to CFB Esquimalt. In 1986 she was part of a Canadian squadron that visited Australia for the Royal Australian Navy’s 75th Anniversary celebrations.
Her final years are spent as a member of the Training Group Pacific used to instruct junior naval officers in ship handling, navigation and marine engineering.
She was decommissioned in 1994 and her hull purchased by the Artificial Reef Society of British Columbia. She was sunk on June 14, 1997 off Snake Island near Nanaimo, BC where she has become a world class dive destination.
Fun Facts:
“The HMCS Saskatchewan is British Columbia's most successful artificial reef. The popularity of the Saskatchewan is apparent when you consider that well over 100,000 dives have been completed since she was sunk on June 14, 1997; more than all other B.C. artificial reefs put together!” The Buccaneer Inn
This 45mm diameter coin was produced in dual toned polished gold and satin nickel finish, with the ship's colours proudly displayed in soft enamel paint.
Other MacKenzie class ships were the Yukon, Qu’Appelle, and MacKenzie… also available as a set of four here.
*This coin is non-trackable
