NAVYPEDIA

Support the project with paypal


HOME
FIGHTING SHIPS OF THE WORLD
CANADA
ESCORTS
Castle corvettes (HESPELER) (1944)


Ships


Name No Yard No Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate
Arnprior (ex-Rising Castle) K494   Harland & Wolff, Belfast, UK 6.1943 8.2.1944 6.1944 to Uruguay 1948 (Montevideo)
Bowmanville (ex-Nunnery Castle) K493   Pickersgill, Sunderland, UK 8.1943 26.1.1944 9.1944 sold 1947
Copper Cliff (ex-Hever Castle) K495   Blyth, UK 6.1943 24.2.1944 7.1944 sold 1947
Hespeler (ex-Guilford Castle) K489   Robb, Leith, UK 5.1943 13.11.1943 2.1944 sold 1947
Humberstone (ex-Norham Castle, ex-Totnes Castle) K497   Inglis, Glasgow, UK 8.1943 12.4.1944 9.1944 sold 1947
Huntsville (ex-Wolvesey Castle) K499   Ailsa, Troon, UK 6.1943 24.2.1944 6.1944 sold 1947
Kincardine (ex-Tamworth Castle) K490   Smiths Dock, South Bank, UK 8.1943 26.1.1944 6.1944 sold 1947
Leaside (ex-Walmer Castle) K492   Smiths Dock, South Bank, UK 9.1943 10.3.1944 8.1944 sold 11.1946
Orangeville (ex-Hedingham Castle) K491   Robb, Leith, UK 7.1943 26.1.1944 4.1944 sold 1947
Petrolia (ex-Sherborne Castle) K498   Harland & Wolff, Belfast, UK 6.1943 24.2.1944 6.1944 BU 1946
St. Thomas (ex-Sandgate Castle) K488   Smiths Dock, South Bank, UK 6.1943 28.12.1943 5.1944 sold 1946
Tillsonburg (ex-Pembroke Castle) K496   Ferguson, Glasgow, UK 6.1943 12.2.1944 6.1944 sold 1947


Technical data


Displacement standard, t

1010 - 1060

Displacement full, t

1590 - 1630

Length, m

68.6 pp 76.8 oa

Breadth, m

11.2

Draught, m

4.11 - 4.19 deep load

No of shafts

1

Machinery

1 VTE, 2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers

Power, h. p.

2750

Max speed, kts

16.5

Fuel, t

oil 480

Endurance, nm(kts)

6200(15)

Armament

1 x 1 - 102/40 QF Mk XIX, 2 x 2 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, (2 - 6) x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, 1 x 3 - 305 Squid Mk 4 ASWRL, 2 DCT, 1 DCR (15)

Electronic equipment

type 271 or type 272 radar, type 144, type 147 sonars

Complement

120



Project history

The further development of successful "Flower" class. The dimensions of the hull have been increased for elimination of the basic lacks of a prototype: bad habitability and a small fuel stowage. Though machinery practically without changes copied previous class at the expense of increase in the L/B relation, maximal speed remained practically same. Larger dimensions have allowed to place more powerful anti-submarine weapon: "Castle" class corvettes became the first British ships carrying newest Squid. In total under 1942 and 1943 programs it was planed to built 59 ships, however only 39 entered service on an original design. 5 More (Empire Shelter, Empire Rest, Empire Lifeguard, Empire Peacemaker and Empire Comfort) have been completed as convoy rescue ships and carried a merchant flag, formally not being a part of the Royal Navy. Instead of regular armament they had 2 х 1 76mm/40 guns and 4 х 1 20mm Oerlikons. The order for the remaining have cancelled, as well as on 36, planed to a building in Canada.

Modernizations

None.

Naval service

No significant events.

© Ivan Gogin, 2015