HMCS Loon (PCS 780)

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:	1 × 20 mm gun Hedgehog anti-submarine mortar

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.

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 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 was laid down by Taylor Boat Works at Toronto and 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. 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.

External links

• Bird Class - Radio Fit - Radio Research Paper