HMCS Reo II


HMCS Reo II was a former rum-running vessel turned military vessel from Meteghan, Nova Scotia. Built in 1931, the ship was used for rum running for five years until Prohibition ended, and was turned into a coastal freighter. She was commissioned during World War II by the Royal Canadian Navy as an auxiliary minesweeper. Declared surplus in 1945, she was sold off in 1946. Reo II ended up in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia under the care of the Lunenburg Marine Museum Society. In 1984 Reo II was deemed unfit for repair, and was scuttled off Halifax in 1985.

Design

Reo II was designed specifically with rum running in mind. The ship was built with a low silhouette and was painted grey in order to avoid detection from the US and Canadian Coast Guard. The ship was long, and could hold 129 tonnes of cargo.

Rum running

During Prohibition, Reo II was used for five years as a supply vessel for illegal liquor and spirits. Under direction of its captain, Aubrey Backman, the ship made countless trips along the North Atlantic Coast. The usual trip saw Reo II leave Nova Scotia for St. Pierre, where she would load up on goods. She then travelled down the United States to various drop off points, and returned to Nova Scotia. Reo II often visited other ports in Nova Scotia, such as Halifax and Lunenburg. After Prohibition ended, Reo II was used as a coastal freighter.

War

Reo II was chartered by the Royal Canadian Navy on 30 July 1940, but was not commissioned until 23 January 1941. Identified under the pennant number A33, she served the Navy mainly as an auxiliary minesweeper in Shelburne, Nova Scotia, but also as an examination vessel and coil skid towing vessel. She ended her Naval duties on 19 October 1945, when she was declared surplus and was then sold in 1946.

Post war

In 1970, Reo II was purchased by the Lunenburg Marine Museum Society, who placed her on display at the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. She remained there until 1984, when marine architects determined that the boat was not fit for repair. Reo II was taken from her mooring at the museum on 24 February 1985, and was towed out to sea roughly northeast of Halifax where the ship was scuttled at an explosive dumping ground.