Prestonian-class frigate

During the Korean War, Canada committed to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). It was believed at the time that there was a strategic threat to the shipping lanes supplying the European continent by the Soviet Union. This belief originated due to Soviet submarines becoming increasingly difficult to detect and identify, as a result of their updated technology.{{cite book |last=German |first=Tony |title=The Sea is at Our Gates: A History of the Canadian Navy |publisher=McClelland & Stewart Limited |year=1990 |place=Toronto |page=[https://archive.org/details/seaisatourgatesh00germ/page/233 233] |isbn=0771032692 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/seaisatourgatesh00germ/page/233 }}

Vice-Admiral H.T.W. Grant, Chief of the Naval Staff of Canada, promised that Canada would contribute anti-submarine escort forces to combat the threat. Originally that meant updating only the existing fleet, however this policy was expanded when 21 decommissioned River-class frigates were converted to ocean escorts and recommissioned into the Royal Canadian Navy.

The concept of anti-submarine warfare performed from a helicopter operating from the decks of escorts had been first proposed during the Second World War. Canada was the first nation to test a fully capable anti-submarine warfare helicopter flying from an escort. {{HMCS|Buckingham|K685|6}} had a helicopter flight deck attached to her stern and performed sea trials from October to December 1956. These trials preceded the design of the destroyer helicopter carriers of the Royal Canadian Navy.{{cite book |last=Macpherson |first=Ken |last2=Burgess |first2=John |year=1981 |title=The ships of Canada's naval forces 1910–1981 : a complete pictorial history of Canadian warships |publisher=Collins |location=Toronto|isbn=0-00216-856-1}}

In 1956, three frigates, {{HMCS|Prestonian|FFE 307|6}}, {{HMCS|Penetang|FFE 316|6}} and {{HMCS|Toronto|FFE 319|6}} were loaned to the Royal Norwegian Navy and renamed Troll, Draug and Garm respectively.{{cite book|title=Jane's Fighting Ships 1958–59 |editor=Raymond V.B. Blackman |publisher= McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc. |place=New York |year=1958 |page=77}} They were purchased outright in 1959 and were the only export of the class.

Three further River-class frigates, {{HMCS|Stone Town|K531|6}}, {{HMCS|St. Catharines|K325|6}} and {{HMCS|St. Stephen|K454|6}}, were disarmed and transferred to the Department of Transport of Canada for use as weather ships, but were given Royal Canadian Navy pennant numbers and were subsequently considered as part of the class.{{cite book|title=Jane's Fighting Ships, 1963–1964 |editor=R.v.b. Blackman |date=1963 |publisher=Sampson Low| place=London |isbn= 0-070-32161-2 |pages=37}}

File:Toronto k538.jpg

The River-class frigate was a successful Canadian-built escort design from the Second World War, However, there was a requirement to update this design to meet the needs of the post-war Canadian Navy and to match the threat of the Soviet submarine force.

The fo'c'sle deck was extended aft and was wall-sided. This extra space was primarily devoted to improved habitability. All accommodation throughout the ship was improved. Each crew member was given their own bunk.{{cite magazine|title=First Converted Frigate Ready |magazine=The Crowsnest |publisher=Queen's Printer |date=September 1953 |volume=5 |number=11 |pages=2}} The space was also used for generating machinery required by for anti-submarine warfare. This machinery was changed from three steam and one diesel to two steam and two diesel generators. The quarterdeck was enclosed to house two Squid anti-submarine mortars.

File:63-13 (13) HMCS Lauzon and HMCS Buckingham.jpg

A much larger bridge structure was installed that was almost entirely enclosed. The upper works were constructed of aluminum instead of steel to save weight. This necessitated a heightened funnel to clear the new structure, which in turn required a larger mast. This mast remained a tripod. The propelling machinery was overhauled and the hull forward was strengthened forward to protect against ice.

One ship, Buckingham, had a flight deck attached aft for helicopter landing and takeoff sea trials, but the structure was removed once the trials were completed.

{{reflist}}

{{Commons category|Prestonian class frigate}}

• [http://www.hazegray.org/navhist/canada/postwar/preston/ Prestonian-class frigates – hazegray.org]

{{Prestonian class frigate}}

Category:Frigate classes

Category:Frigates of the Royal Canadian Navy

Category:River-class frigates

Category:River-class frigates of the Royal Canadian Navy