In January 1945, after a year's discussion, the British Admiralty agreed to lend the RCN a flotilla of eight 'C' class destroyers for use against the Japanese. The war however, ended before any of the eight ships were completed. Only two were transferred, namely Crescent and Crusader . They retained their British appointed names when commissioned into the RCN. The transfer was made permanent in 1951.HMCS Crescent and Crusader were virtually identical to Algonquin and Sioux differing principally in having only one set of torpedo tubes and in being armed with 4.5 inch guns instead of 4.7 inch guns. Upon her arrival in Esquimalt in January 1946, Crescent was immediately paid off and remained in reserve for several years. Meanwhile Crescent carried out training duties until taken in hand for a major conversion.. She emerged in 1956 as a fast A/S frigate. Crusader saw two tours of duty in Korea.
| CRESCENT (R16) | CRUSADER (R20) | |
| Launched | 20/7/1944 | 5/10/1944 |
| Commissioned | 10/9/1945 | 15/11/1945 |
| Finally Paid Off | 1/4/1970 | 10/1/1960 |
The data in the tables below was extracted from BR 299, a Royal Navy publication dated 1947. Both ships are noted as being on loan for the 1947 period. Photos and specs for some of this equipment can be found in this document including the specs for all 60 series transmitters . Any numeric suffixes which appear for American made equipment, denote the procurement contract number. A TBL-4 is identical to a TBL-12 but was made under a different contract number or even a different contractor.
| HMCS CRESCENT (R16) | |
| LOCATION | EQUIPMENT |
| Main Wireless Office | TBL - HF Transmitter .
60EQR - Low power HF transmitter 60FR - Low power HF transmitter HT11 - HF Radiotelephone. Receive 550 KHz to 1700 KHz and 2000 to 3000 kHz. Transmit - 2000 to 3000 kHz. 12 watts 4 x TBS - HF Radiotelephone. 60 to 80 MHz TCS - Radio set. 1500 – 12,000 kHz range in 3 bands. Photo here. (Courtesy N6CC) 86M - British version of American SCR-522 set 3 x TA - Unipole trunking for use with medium power transmitters. TC - An 18 inch aerial trunk used with high power transmitters. TF - A 4 inch aerial trunk for use with type TV5, TCS or HT 11 transmitters. CBB - B19 receiver (part of 60 series transmitter) 5 x CDC - B28 receiver CDF - B29 receiver FM12 - MFDF Outfit 40 to 1000 KHz DTC - Motor/alternator set. 110/220VDC in. 230 VAC 50 Hz 1.75 kw out. DWB - AC supply outfit BBq - Battery outfit. 24 volts@ 220 amp/hours; 4 volts @110 amp/hours BBl - Battery outfit . 12 volts @ 144 amp/hours. EG - Aerial exchange board. GN - Wavemeter outfit GR - Wavemeter outfit KCK - Remote control for radio set. KCS - Remote control for a single TBS set |
| Second Wireless Office or
Emergency Position |
60 EQR - Low power HF transmitter
CDC - B28 receiver CDF - B29 receiver TA - An 8 inch unipole trunk for use with medium power transmitters. DWB - AC supply outfit BBr - Battery outfit. 24 volts @220 amp/hours; 4 volts @ 110 amp/hours. |
| Chart House | DAS2 - Loran 'A' receiver |
| Aerial Outfits | AOC - W/T antenna
ARD Aerial for 86M set APU - Unidentified |
| Miscellaneous | OF - Deck insulator for DAS Loran receiver |
| HMCS CRUSADER (R20) | |
| LOCATION | EQUIPMENT |
| Main Wireless Office | TBL12 - HF transmitter
4TA- Low power transmitter 60FV - Low power transmitter TV5 - Emergency transmitter 4 x TBS - VHF radiotelephone; 60 to 80 MHz 86M - VHF Radio. set. British version of American SCR-522 set. 2 x TA - An 8 inch unipole trunking for use with medium power transmitters. 3 x CDC - B28 receiver CDF - B29 receiver CSR5 - LF/MF/HF receiver FM12 - MFDF Outfit; 40 to 1000 KHz FH4/CDC - HFDF outfit using B28 receiver. DRD - Motor-alternator set. Input: 110 or 220 VDC. Output: 230 VAC 50 Hz 2.5 Kw EG- Aerial exchange board. GJ - wavemeter outfit; LF/MF/HF. |
| Second Wireless Office or
Emergency Position |
TCS - Radio set. 1500 – 12,000 kHz range in 3 bands. Photo
here. (Courtesy N6CC)
HT11 - HF radiotelephone . Receive 550 KHz to 1700 KHz and 2000 to 3000 kHz. Transmit - 2000 to 3000 kHz. 12 watts BBu - Battery Outfit. 12 volts @ 40 amp hours. |
| Chart House | DAS2 - Loran 'A' receiver |
| Aerial Outfits | AOC - W/T antenna
ARD- Aerial for 86M set APU - Unidentified. |
| Miscellaneous | OF - Deck insulator for DAS Loran receiver |
Contributors and Credits:1) Clive Kidd, Collingwood Heritage Museum <cjckidd(at)waitrose.com>
2) BR299 dated 1947, Royal Navy
3) http://www.rnmuseumradarandcommunications2006.org.uk/Transmitters%20Late%201920%20to%20Early%201950.pdf
4) Wavemeters http://www.rnmuseumradarandcommunications2006.org.uk/WAVEMETERS%20ETC%201938.pdf
5) K series http://www.rnmuseumradarandcommunications2006.org.uk/THE_KC_AND_KF_CONTROL_SYSTEMS.html
6) CDU receiver http://www.rnmuseumradarandcommunications2006.org.uk/CDU%20P104.pdf
7) TCS radio http://www.n6cc.com/tcs-radio-set
8) M651, Nomenclature of Radio Equipment September 1944 at amendment 6 3/1/49. The book was produced and distributed by Admiralty Signals Establishment
9) http://www.rnmuseumradarandcommunications2006.org.uk/B50.pdf
10) Receivers http://www.rnmuseumradarandcommunications2006.org.uk/Receivers%20Late%201920%20to%20Early%201950.pdf
11) The Ships of Canada's Naval Forces 1910 - 2002. Vanwell Publishing , St. Catharines Ont. 2002
Sept 15/16
