Battle Honors and awards: Atlantic 1939-45, Normandy 1944
Laid down: 24 Nov 1950
Launched: 30 Nov 1951
Commissioned: 29 Oct 1955
Completed Conversion: 04 Oct 1963
Paid off: 14 Jun 1974 (along with St Croix, Chaudiere, Columbia)
Fate: Foundered 12 Jan 1980
Name ship of her trend-setting class of “Cadillacs,” ST LAURENT was built by Canadian Vickers Ltd., Montreal, and commissioned on 29 Oct 1955. In February 1956 she proceeded to the U.S. Trials Centre at Key West, Florida, for three months’ evaluation, after which she visited Washington, arriving on the Potomac River on 15 Apr 1956 at 0800 hrs. Afterwards she departed for the UK and in the course of the latter excursion escorted HMY Britannia on a state visit to Sweden. On 02 Feb 1960, ST LAURENT, by then stationed on the west coast, departed Esquimalt with two of her sisters, OTTAWA 229 and SAGUENAY 206, on a 2 1/2-month Pacific cruise, visiting Long Beach, Pearl Harbor, Yokosuka, Okinawa and Hong Kong. On 28 Mar 1960 they departed Hong Kong after a port visit and returned to Esquimalt on 29 Apr 1960. On 02 Mar 1961, ST LAURENT, in company with OTTAWA 229, and SAGUENAY 206 departed Esquimalt for Operations with US Carrier Division 17 off Hawaii; returning to Esquimalt on 04 Apr 1961. She was test-fitted with VDS prior to being converted to a DDH at Burrard Dry Dock, Vancouver. Re-commissioned on 04 Oct 1963, she departed Esquimalt on 07 Jan 1964 for a world cruise and then transfer to the Atlantic Fleet. ST LAURENT was paid off for the final time on 14 Jun 1974. She remained in Halifax as a source for spare parts for her sister ships.
On 01 Jan 1980, ST LAURENT left Halifax under tow of the tug Odin Salvator for Brownsville, Texas, to be broken up, but on 12 Jan 1980, the towline broke in a gale and she foundered off Cape Hatteras. Bravo Zulu ST LAURENT!