Built for use as auxiliary craft, Badger primarily served as an at-sea training platform for junior naval officers, boatswains, reserve personnel and Sea Cadets at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Esquimalt.

[1][2] Like other YAG 300 vessels, Badger was 75′ long overall, 18′6″ wide, had a draft of 4′6″, measured 70 tonnes, and was powered by twin 6-71 Detroit Diesel engines.

Badger was equipped with a small navigation radar, with the display located in the wheelhouse.

In 1960 she was re-designated as YFP-319 (Yard Ferry, Personnel) and in 1967 she was transferred to Vancouver to serve as a training tender with HMCS Discovery Canadian Forces Naval Reserve Division.

In the 1980s she was renamed YAG-319 (Badger) and regrouped under the control and operation of the Small Boats Unit (SBU) at HMC Dockyard Esquimalt where she was used for seamanship and navigation training until 2007.