HMCS Pictou (K146)

HMCS Pictou, likely escorting a convoy, circa 1944-1945. Note the merchant ships in the distance.
Career (Canada)	Royal Canadian Navy
Namesake:	Pictou, Nova Scotia
Builder:	George T. Davie & Sons Ltd., Lauzon
Laid down:	12 July 1940
Launched:	5 October 1940
Commissioned:	29 April 1941
Decommissioned:	12 July 1945
Refit:	Fo'c's'le extended at New York Navy Yard, New York on 31 March 1944.
Identification:	Pennant number: K146
Honours and awards:	Atlantic 1941-45
Fate:	Sold in 1950 as mercantile Olympic Chaser. Resold in 1956 as mercantile Otori Maru No. 7. Converted in 1963 to a barge.
General characteristics
Class and type:	Flower-class corvette
Displacement:	925 long tons (940 t; 1,036 ST)
Length:	205 ft (62.48 m)o/a
Beam:	33 ft (10.06 m)
Draught:	11.5 ft (3.51 m)
Propulsion:	single shaft 2 x fire tube Scotch boilers 1 x 4-cycle triple-expansion reciprocating steam engine 2,750 ihp (2,050 kW)
Speed:	16 knots (29.6 km/h)
Range:	3,500 nautical miles (6,482 km) at 12 knots (22.2 km/h)
Complement:	85
Sensors and processing systems:	1 x SW1C or 2C radar 1 x Type 123A or Type 127DV sonar
Armament:	1 x BL 4-inch (101.6 mm) Mk.IX gun 2 x .50 cal machine gun (twin) 2 x Lewis .303 cal machine gun (twin) 2 x Mk.II depth charge throwers 2 x depth charge rails with 40 depth charges

HMCS Pictou was a Royal Canadian Navy Flower-class corvette which took part in convoy escort duties during World War II.

Pictou was laid down at George T. Davie & Sons Ltd., Lauzon on 12 July 1940 and launched on 5 October 1940. She was commissioned into the RCN on 29 April 1941.

Pictou was decommissioned from the RCN on 12 July 1945. She was sold in 1950 as mercantile Olympic Chaser. Resold in 1956 as mercantile Otori Maru No. 7. Converted in 1963 to a barge.

References

• Entry in Uboat.net
• An eight-episode record of life aboard HMCS Pictou, 'A Naval Officer's War'
• Additional information, including an audio recording in which former captain, Anthony Griffin, describes life at sea aboard HMCS Pictou
• HMCS Pictou on the Arnold Hague database at convoyweb.org.uk.
• Canadian Navy Heritage Project: Ship Technical Information
• Canadian Navy Heritage Project: Photo Archive