HMCS Algoma was a Flower-class corvette that served with the Royal Canadian Navy in the Second World War.

The ship took part in three major convoy battles and Operation Torch escort duties and was decommissioned in 1945.

[1][2] The Flower-class corvettes originated from a need that arose in 1938 to expand the Royal Navy following the Munich Crisis.

[4] Based on a traditional whaler-type design, the initial Canadian ships of the Flower class had a standard displacement of 950 long tons (970 t).

[3] The Royal Canadian Navy initially ordered 54 corvettes in 1940 and these were fitted with Mark II Oropesa minesweeping gear used for destroying contact mines.

[8] Part of the depth charge rails were made portable so the minesweeping gear could be utilised.

Corvettes were first fitted with basic SW-1 and SW-2 CQ surface warning radar, notable for their fishbone-like antenna and reputation for failure in poor weather or in the dark.

[11] Most Canadian Flower-class corvettes had their forecastles extended which improved crew accommodation and seakeeping.

This allowed for the installation of Oerlikon 20 mm (0.8 in) cannon, replacing the Browning and Vickers machine guns.

Upon returning to active service, the corvette joined the Western Local Escort Force.

She was then assigned to Operation Torch duties in October and left for the United Kingdom with convoy SC 107.

Algoma did one quick tour with MOEF group C4 before arriving at Liverpool, Nova Scotia, for a major refit.