HMCS Loon (PCS 780)

HMCS Loon was a Bird-class patrol vessel of the Royal Canadian Navy. The ship served from 1955 to 1965 before being discarded. The class was designed for harbour patrol.

History
Canada
Name: Loon
Namesake: Loon
Builder: Taylor Boat Works, Toronto
Launched: 4 October 1954
Commissioned: 30 November 1955
Decommissioned: 30 August 1965
Identification: PCS 780
Badge: Or, a loon proper, upon a base barry wavy of six azure and or[1]
General characteristics
Class and type: Bird-class patrol vessel
Displacement: 66 long tons (67 t)
Length: 92 ft (28 m) o/a
Beam: 17 ft (5.2 m)
Draught: 5.3 ft (1.6 m)
Propulsion: 2 shaft diesel engines, 1200 bhp
Speed: 14 kn (26 km/h; 16 mph)
Complement: 2 officers, 19 ratings
Armament:

Design

Bird-class patrol vessels were designed for harbour patrol, training and anti-submarine warfare. Constructed of wood and aluminum, Loon displaced 66 long tons (67 t). She was 92 ft (28.0 m) long overall, with a beam of 17 ft (5.2 m) and a draught of 5.3 ft (1.6 m).[2]

The Bird class were powered by diesel engines creating 1,200 brake horsepower (890 kW) connected to two shafts. This gave the ships a maximum speed of 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph).[2] Loon was armed with one 20 mm gun and a Hedgehog anti-submarine mortar.[3]

Service

Loon's keel was laid down by Taylor Boat Works at their yard in Toronto and the vessel was launched on 4 October 1954. The ship was commissioned into the Royal Canadian Navy on 30 November 1955 with the pennant number PCS 780.[3] After commissioning, Loon was used for training purposes. In 1961, Loon was assigned to Atlantic Command as a harbour patrol craft.[4] She was used for air/sea rescue along the west coast of Canada. She was paid off on 30 August 1965.[3]

References

Notes
  1. Arbuckle, p. 61
  2. Gardiner and Chumbley, p. 49
  3. Macpherson and Barrie, p. 278
  4. "Composition of the Fleet". The Crowsnest. Vol. 13 no. 8. Ottawa: Queen's Printer. June 1961. p. 10.

Sources
  • Arbuckle, J. Graeme (1987). Badges of the Canadian Navy. Halifax, Nova Scotia: Nimbus Publishing. ISBN 0-920852-49-1.
  • Gardiner, Robert; Chumbley, Stephen; Budzbon, Przemysław, eds. (1995). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-132-7.
  • Macpherson, Ken; Barrie, Ron (2002). The Ships of Canada's Naval Forces 1910–2002 (Third ed.). St. Catharines, Ontario: Vanwell Publishing. ISBN 1-55125-072-1.
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