to the British escort group B7. From 17 January to 28 January the group escorted convoy ONS 56. From 6–15 February the group escorted convoy SC 68. In September the ship was ordered to join the Western Local Escort Force (WLEF), the command charged with escorting convoys along the coast of Canada and into the United States. In early 1942, the ship's main fans were sabotaged during repairs at St. John's. The resulting investigation was faulty and was closed quietly. This was one of the first recorded attempts of crew sabotage in Royal Canadian Navy history. In January 1943, Cowichan was assigned to a WLEF escort group 24.18.7 with destroyer and corvettes and . In June 1943, WLEF divided its escorts into new groups, with Cowichan becoming a part of escort group W-6. She remained with the group until February 1944. That month she traveled to the United Kingdom as one of the Canadian escorts assigned to the naval component of the invasion of Normandy. She arrived in March and was assigned to the all-Canadian 31st Minesweeping Flotilla. Immediately preceding the D-Day invasions of 6 June 1944, the 31st Minesweeping Flotilla was tasked with mine clearance in the American sector. On 5 June, the 31st Minesweeping Flotilla arrived off Point Barfleur and began minesweeping activities at 1900. Unmolested by German shore positions, the minesweepers finished their work by 0515 on 6 June. Cowichan remained in British waters until returning to Canada in February 1945. She underwent a refit that kept her out of action until June, when she returned to the United Kingdom. She returned home for the final time in September 1945 and was paid off on 9 October 1945 and placed in reserve at Shelburne. Mercantile service Following the war, Cowichan was sold in 1946 to a buyer from New York who had her converted for mercantile purposes. Acquired by Cia Naviera Icaria SA, she kept her name but was registered in Panama. In 1948, the vessel was sold to C. Moraitis. Cowichan was converted to a trawler with a gross register tonnage of 663 tons. The ship was broken up in 1950 but was kept listed until 2008. Her Greek registry was closed in 1973. See also List of ships of the Canadian Navy References Notes Citations Sources External links Haze Gray and Underway ReadyAyeReady.com Bangor-class minesweepers of the Royal Canadian Navy Ships built in British Columbia