HMCS Long Branch ( K487 ) HMCS " Long Branch was a modified Flower - class corvette that served in the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War . She was used primarily as a convoy escort in the Battle of the Atlantic . She was laid down as HMS " Candytuft but was transferred to the RCN on 5 January 1944 before completion . She was named for Long Branch , Ontario , a village that was eventually amalgamated into Toronto , Ontario . Background . Flower - class corvettes like " Long Branch " serving with the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War were different to earlier and more traditional sail - driven corvettes . The " corvette " designation was created by the French as a class of small warships ; the Royal Navy borrowed the term for a period but discontinued its use in 1877 . During the hurried preparations for war in the late 1930s , Winston Churchill reactivated the corvette class , needing a name for smaller ships used in an escort capacity , in this case based on a whaling ship design . The generic name " flower " was used to designate the class of these ships , which – in the Royal Navy – were named after flowering plants . Corvettes commissioned by the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War were named after communities for the most part , to better represent the people who took part in building them . This idea was put forth by Admiral Percy W . Nelles . Sponsors were commonly associated with the community for which the ship was named . Royal Navy corvettes were designed as open sea escorts , while Canadian corvettes were developed for coastal auxiliary roles which was exemplified by their minesweeping gear . Eventually the Canadian corvettes would be modified to allow them to perform better on the open seas . Construction . " Candytuft " was ordered 25 July 1942 as part of the Royal Navy 1942 - 43 Increased Endurance Flower - class building program . She was laid down 27 February 1943 by A . & J . Inglis Ltd . at Glasgow , Scotland and launched 28 September 1943 . As part of a exchange for Algerine - class minesweeper s that the RCN intended to use as convoy escorts , the Royal Navy transferred four Flower - class corvettes and twelve Castle - class corvette s to Canada in order to acquire them . " Candytuft " was transferred on 5 January 1943 and commissioned as HMCS " Long Branch " into the RCN at Tobermory , Mull . The only significant differences between the RCN and RN 1942 - 43 Flower classes was a shortened mainmast and varying anti - aircraft armament . Wartime service . Upon commissioning to the RCN she was tasked to join Mid - Ocean Escort Force escort group C - 5 at Londonderry Port in April 1944 following a one month work up period at Tobermory . C - 5 sailed with the convoy ONS 233 . " Long Branch " developed mechanical problems during the crossing and underwent a six week repair at the Newfoundland Drydock upon her arrival at St . John ' s . She departed St . John ' s on 14 June to resume duties but returned for further repairs with the assistance of HM Tug " Tenacity " . Once repaired , she left St . John ' s a week later to join convoy HXS 300 , the largest convoy of the war . She continued as an ocean escort until her final departure from Londonderry on 27 January 1945 . She arrived at Halifax under the command of A / Lt . Cdr . J . B . O ' Brien , RCNVR on 11 February and commenced a refit . In April she was assigned to Halifax for local duties . Post - war service . " Long Branch " was paid off from the RCN on 17 June 1945 at Sorel , Quebec . She was transferred to the War Assets Corporation and sold for commercial use in 1947 . She emerged from the conversion as " Rexton Kent II " , later renamed " Rexton Kent " . She was scuttled off Nova Scotia in 1966 .