At the time these ships represented the most advanced naval architecture, marine propulsion and weaponry of their time.

The HMCS Haida is the last remaining survivor of the original 27 destroyers built during World War II. In 1943, the ship operated out of Scapa Flow, Scotland with the Royal Navy in convoy escort duties to North Russia. She also participated in the Battle of the North Cape where the German cruiser Scharnhorst was sunk on 26 December, 1943.

In early 1944, the Haida joined the 10th Destroyer Flotilla to help clear out enemy shipping prior to the D-Day landings, and during this period, she achieved great fame by destroying more enemy vessels than any other ship in the Royal Canadian Navy.