HMCS Huron DDH-281, R.I.P.

(Cross-posted from The Phantom Observer.)

It's a little hard to say what, exactly, would constitute a good ending for a Navy ship. Getting turned into a museum would be nice, but impractical for ships that don't have an absolutely impressive battle record. Getting turned into a reef may be politically correct, but you should only do so much for undersea fauna. But at least both beat getting turned into razor blades.

And so does this:

If it gets environmental approval, the navy will tow the decommissioned destroyer to a firing range 100 kilometres out in the Pacific Ocean next May. There the Canadian and U.S. navies will open fire and send the 34-year-old ship to the bottom, Cmdr. Stan Bates says.

"We're currently planning a surface-to-surface missile firing, using a missile fired from one of our frigates as well as strafing runs by aircraft and possibly a submarine firing as well."

The navy says this will be the first time it has used one of its ships for target practice.

One last duty for the senior service. That's as good a way to go as any.

If you're interested in learning more about this DDH, I recommend this web page, where you can not only learn about the Huron, but her two predecessor namesakes and the men who sailed on them. You should also check out this page which gives a brief history of some of her activities since her commissioning in 1972.

And here, you'll find an article about the Huron's decommissioning ceremony last year, as remembered by the B.C. Lieutenant-Governor's office.

Bravo Zulu, old girl, and may the wind be astern of ye.