HMCS Prestonian

There has been only one vessel named HMCS Prestonian in the Royal Canadian Navy.

HMCS Prestonian (K662 / 307)

Alternatively named for Preston, Ontario, as this name was too similar to another Allied ship, the River Class frigate HMCS Prestonian was commissioned 13 September 1944 in Québec City. She arrived at Halifax, Nova Scotia, the following month in need of repairs, and it was early January 1945 before she could go to Bermuda to work up. On her return to Canada, she was assigned to Escort Group 28, based at Halifax, and employed locally until Victory-in-Europe Day. She then underwent refit in Halifax, completing 20 August, and on 9 November 1945 was paid off and sold to Marine Industries Ltd.

Later reacquired by the Royal Canadian Navy, she was rebuilt to become the name-ship of the Prestonian Class of ocean escorts. HMCS Prestonian was re-commissioned on 22 August 1953, and finally paid off on 24 April 1956, having been lent to the Norwegian Navy. Renamed Troll, she was transferred outright in 1959, and in 1965 reclassified as a submarine depot ship and renamed Horten. She was discarded in 1972.

• Builder: Davie Shipbuilding and Repairing Co. Ltd., Lauzon, Québec
• Date laid down: 20 July 1943
• Date launched: 22 June 1944
• Date commissioned: 13 September 1944
• Date paid off: 9 November 1945
• Re-commissioned as Prestonian Class: 22 August 1953
• Date paid off (final): 24 April 1956
• Displacement: 1468.2 tonnes
• Dimensions: 91.9 m x 11.1 m x 2.7 m
• Speed: 19 knots
• Crew: 141
• Armament: (River) two 4-inch (102-mm) (1 x II), one 12-pound (5.45 kg) gun, eight 20-mm guns (4 x II), one Hedgehog mortar and depth charges; (Prestonian) two 4-inch (102-mm) guns (1 x II), six 40-mm guns (1 x II, 4 x I), two Squid Mortars.