The River-class frigate Stormont was commissioned Nov. 27, 1943 and served until 1945. Its length was 283 feet, had a 36.5 foot beam and crew of 157. It did convoy duty in the Battle of the Atlantic.
It was also one of 57 Canadian ships that participated in Operation Neptune, the crossing of the English Channel that was part of D-Day on June 6, 1944. One of the ship's extended wartime cruises took it from Gibraltar to Murmansk and to Halifax, a total of 63 days at sea, the longest of any Canadian ship during the war. It was decommissioned Nov. 9, 1945.
In 1954, it was sold to Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis who gave it a $4 million makeover and named it after his daughter Christina. Featuring a full-sized swimming pool and 19 lavishly decorated staterooms, it was regarded as the fanciest luxury yacht ever built.
In 1956, Prince Ranier of Monaco and film star Grace Kelly had their wedding reception there.
For roughly $23.50 Canadian, you too can tour this historical vessel.
Kind of Puts My 19-foot Bayliner to Shame. --RoadDog
The USS North Carolina (BB-55) My all-time favorite warship. As an elementary school student in North Carolina, I donated nickels and dimes to save this ship back in the early sixties.
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