USS Canon (PG-90)

• Namesake: USS Canon (PG-90) was named in honor of John Canon, a U.S. Navy officer killed during World War II at the Battle of Savo Island in 1942. • Class and Type: USS Canon was an Asheville-class gunboat, designed for fast, versatile coastal patrol and interdiction missions during the Cold War. • Laid Down and Launched: Canon was laid down on 6 January 1967 at Tacoma Boatbuilding Company, Tacoma, Washington, and launched on 8 July 1967. • Commissioning: The ship was commissioned into service on 24 June 1968. • Vietnam War Service: USS Canon saw significant action during the Vietnam War, where she conducted riverine patrols, interdiction, and fire support missions. • Engagements and Damage: On 11 August 1970, USS Canon was hit by enemy fire during operations on the Cua Lon River, suffering casualties and damage but continuing her mission. • Decorations: The ship and her crew earned several awards, including the Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Unit Commendation, and campaign medals for Vietnam service. • Transfer to South Vietnam: After U.S. involvement in Vietnam wound down, Canon was transferred to the Republic of Vietnam Navy on 21 December 1970, becoming RVNS Ngọc Hồi (HQ-12). • Fate After the Fall of Saigon: Following the collapse of South Vietnam in 1975, RVNS Ngọc Hồi fled to the Philippines, where she was eventually incorporated into the Philippine Navy as BRP Sultan Kudarat (PS-22). • Final Status: BRP Sultan Kudarat served for decades in the Philippine Navy before being decommissioned, marking a long and eventful career spanning three navies and multiple conflicts.