Misr: The Misr (Arabic for "Egypt") is a bit of an enigma concerning her origins and demise. One source indicates that she was the former Flower Class frigate Saskatoon K158 built at Canadian Vickers Ltd., Montreal, Quebec in commissioned 09 June 1941 and serving on the Halifax and "Triangle" runs for the Canadian Navy during WWII. Paid off on 25 June 1945 at Sorel and was sold for conversion to a merchant vessel where afterwards, she began her new life as the Rio Norte, then later as the Egyptian registered Mabruk. Taken over by the Egyptian Navy sometime afterwards and renamed Misr. Reported as being sunk in a collision at Suez on 17 May 1953. However, Miramar reports that the ship was sold 16 November 1945 and broken up at Moncton the following year. Tacoma Class frigate Other references state that the Misr was actually the former HMS Papua K588, a 1,509 GRT Tacoma Class frigate which was originally laid down as the HMS Howett PF-84 at the Walsh Kaiser Yard No. 1666, Providence, Rhode Island, on 07 September 1943, launched 10 October 1943, and completed 25 July 1944. (Note: The Tacoma class was also known as the "Colony" class under the Royal Navy Lend-Lease program.) The Papua has a short life in the Canadian Navy, participating in coastal defense out of the Clyde, served with the 20th and 23rd Escort Groups based out of Londonderry, and is best remembered for participating in the sinking of the German submarine U-1014 on 04 February 1945 for which she was awarded the Battle Honour-Atlantic. On 13 May 1946 she was paid off and returned to the U.S. Authorities. Shortly afterwards in 1946, the ship was sold to Egypt and taken over by the Khedivial Mail Line and renamed Mabrouk (or Mabruk). Sometime afterwards, the Marbrouk was acquired by the Egyptian Navy, re-armed, and commissioned as the Misr. Then, on the evening of 16-17 May 1953, she was sunk after a collision in the Gulf of Suez. At last but not least, yet another source states that the ex-HMS Papua, along with the ex-HMS Tobago, were the only Tacoma Class frigates to see service after WWII and were both scuttled as block ships in the Suez Canal in 1956. So the question is: "Which ship is it and which is correct?...Scuttled or sank in a collision? References: Miramar Single Ship Reports for 6112368 (Saskatoon) and 6119809 (Papua) http://naval-history.suite101.com/article.cfm/the_post_war_life_of_the_tacomas http://www.oldships.org.uk/SHIPS/SHIP_DETAILS/PAPUA_DETAILS.htm http://www.navsource.org/archives/12/08084.htm http://www.navyhistory.org.au/his-majesty%E2%80%99s-ship-papua/ http://www.navy.gc.ca/project_pride/ships/ship_e.asp?shipNumber=133 http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/corvettesm2p.htm Wikipedia websites for the Colony Class, Flower Class, Tacoma Class, Saskatoon, and Papua.