View source for HMCS Nonsuch

{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name = HMCS ''Nonsuch''
| image = Nonsuchships crest.jpg
| image_size = 250
| caption = 
| dates = 1927–present
| country = Canada
| branch = [[Royal Canadian Navy]]
| type = [[Stone frigate]]
| role = Reserve unit
| command_structure = [[Canadian Forces Naval Reserve]]
| garrison = [[Edmonton]], Alberta
| motto = {{langnf|la|A campis ad maria|From the prairies to the sea}}
| colours = Gold and scarlet
| battle_honours = {{Tree list}}
* [[First Anglo-Dutch War]]
**[[Battle of the Kentish Knock|Kentish Knock, 1652]]
**[[Battle of Portland|Portland, 1653]]
**[[Battle of the Gabbard|Gabbard, 1653]]
* [[Franco-Dutch War]]
**[[Battle of Texel|Texel, 1673]]
* [[American Revolutionary War]]
**[[Battle of St. Lucia|St. Lucia, 1778]]
**[[Battle of the Saintes|The Saints, 1782]]
* [[Great War]]
**[[Battle of Jutland|Jutland, 1916]]
{{Tree list/end}}
}}{{italic title prefixed|4}}
'''HMCS ''Nonsuch''''' is a naval reserve division (NRD) in [[Edmonton]], Alberta. Dubbed a [[stone frigate]], HMCS ''Nonsuch'' is a land-based naval establishment for part-time sailors as well as a local recruitment centre for the [[Canadian Forces Naval Reserve]]. It is one of [[List of Canadian Forces Naval Reserve divisions|24 naval reserve divisions]] located in major cities across Canada.<ref>{{Citation|date=2018-01-11|title=Naval reserves of the RCN|url=http://www.navy-marine.forces.gc.ca/en/fleet-units/reserve-divisions.page|website=navy-marine.forces.gc.ca}}</ref>

== Operations ==
''Nonsuch'' is properly referred to as a ship, being commissioned into the [[Royal Canadian Navy]]. She is part of the [[Primary Reserve|Reserves]], and therefore operations are usually held on weekdays and certain weekends. However, her sailors may participate in any operation run by the [[Canadian Armed Forces]] year round, if they so choose.

== History ==
His Majesty's Canadian Ship (HMCS) ''Nonsuch'' was founded on 9 April 1923, as a Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve half-company. On 1 November 1941 she was commissioned as a tender to {{HMCS|Naden}}, now part of [[CFB Esquimalt]]. She was commissioned as the independent unit, HMCS ''Nonsuch'', on 1 September 1942. During World War 2, over 3500 sailors, and 114 officers were enlisted at ''Nonsuch''. After the war she transitioned into a peacetime force, and was paid off on 30 November 1964.  She was recommissioned on September 26, 1975.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.forposterityssake.ca/Navy/NONSUCH-NR.htm|title=HMCS NONSUCH - For Posterity's Sake|website=www.forposterityssake.ca|access-date=2018-03-26}}</ref>

''Nonsuch'' has two historic naval weapons outside of the building. One is a mark 12 [[5"/38 calibre gun]], from the United States. It was originally to be used on a US Navy destroyer; however, the Second World War ended before the ship was built. The gun comes from a pair handed over to Canada for testing. The two guns were used to fire various ammunition in [[CFB Suffield]], in southern Alberta. When they were deemed to have completed their jobs, they were turned over to HMCS ''Nonsuch'' and {{HMCS|Tecumseh}}, located in Calgary.

The second weapon ''Nonsuch'' has is a [[Bliss-Leavitt Mark 9 torpedo]] from the Second World War, as would have been launched from Canadian destroyers.

== Battle honours ==
HMCS ''Nonsuch'' carries on the [[battle honour]]s of [[HMS Nonsuch|11 Royal Navy ships bearing her name]] in the past.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhh-dhp/his/ol-lo/vol-tom-2/par1/nonsuch-eng.asp|title=HMCS Nonsuch|last=Personnel|first=Government of Canada, National Defence, Chief Military|website=www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca|language=en|access-date=2018-10-18}}</ref>

=== Pre-First World War ===

* [[Battle of the Kentish Knock|Kentish Knock]], 1652,   
* [[Battle of Portland|Portland]], 1653   
* [[Battle of the Gabbard|Gabbard]], 1653
* [[Battle of Texel|Texel]], 1673 
* [[Battle of St. Lucia|St Lucia]], 1778
* [[Battle of the Saintes|The Saints]], 1782

=== First World War ===

* [[Battle of Jutland|Jutland]], 1916

[[File:HMCS Nonsuch, Edmonton, Alberta.jpg|thumb|HMCS Nonsuch in Edmonton, Alberta]]

== Badge ==

=== Description ===
''Or a beaver rampant proper gorged with a collar Gules edged Or upon which a roundel displaying the device of St. George.''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dhh-dhp/his/ol-lo/vol-tom-2/par1/nonsuch-eng.asp|title=HMCS Nonsuch|last=Personnel|first=Government of Canada, National Defence, Chief Military|website=www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca|language=en|access-date=2018-10-18}}</ref>

== Etymology ==
''Nonsuch''{{'s}} name comes from the French phrase {{lang|fr|non pareil}} meaning "of no equal". Besides being used as a name for many former RN warships, ''Nonsuch'' was also the first overseas ship into [[Hudson Bay]], in 1688.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.forposterityssake.ca/Navy/NONSUCH-NR.htm|title=HMCS NONSUCH - For Posterity's Sake|website=www.forposterityssake.ca|access-date=2018-03-26}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Royal Canadian Navy}}

[[Category:Canadian Forces Naval Reserve]]
[[Category:Organizations based in Edmonton]]