CASTLE-Class Frigate
ordered from Blyth Shipbuilders on 19th January 1943
and laid down on 27th May that year. The ship was launched on 27th November
1944 and was the 1st RN ship
to bear this name. Build of this new design Corvette was completed on 20th June 1944. She was not adopted by a civil community in UK in 1941-42 following a National Savings WARSHIP WEEK
campaign.
B a t t l e H o n o u r s
ATLANTIC 1944
H e r a l d i c D a t a
Badge: On a Field Blue, a Lion’s head erased Gold,
issuing
from a
mural crown and between two feathers White.
S u m m a r y o f
W a r S e r v i c e
(for more ship information,
go
to
Naval History Homepage
and type name in Site Search
1 9 4 4
June Commissioned for
service in Western Approaches Command.
20th Build completion and commenced
Acceptance Trials.
(Note: For
details of new SQUID Anti-submarine weapon
see SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann.).
July On completion of
trials and storing took passage to Tobermory
to work-up for operational service.
August Joined 30th Escort Group
for Atlantic convoy defence.
(Note: Other
escorts in this Group were sister ships:
HMS PEVENSEY CASTLE (SO) (completed June 1944)
HMS PORTCHESTER CASTLE (completed August 1943)
HMS KENILWORTH CASTLE (completed November
1943))
September Deployed with Group for defence
of Atlantic convoys.
(For details
of weapons and tactics used by U-Boats and by
Escort and
Support Groups see the THE BATTLE OF THE
ATLANTIC by D Macintyre and BUSINESS IN GREAT
WATERS by J Terraine.)
November Group deployment in SW
Approaches for anti-submarine search
operations to intercept U-Boats attempting to attack convoys
entering and leaving English Channel.
11th Took part in anti-submarine
operations with Group when submarine
was contacted by sonar after radar detection..
Submarine
identified later as SCHNORKEL-fitted U1200 was sunk by
SQUID projectiles in series of attacks by Group.
(For details
see HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair and U-BOATS
DESTROYED by P Kemp.)
December Atlantic convoy defence and
anti-submarine search duties in Western
Approaches.
1 9 4 5
January Deployed with Group for
anti-submarine patrol and convoy defence
to of coastal
convoys around UK.
April
(Note: German submarines fitted with Schnorkel-equipment were
being extensively deployed to attack coastal traffic which
included Atlantic traffic re-routed through English Channel
following
removal of air threat from French bases.
For details of German submarine activities in UK coastal waters
see HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair, U-BOAT WAR IN
THE ATLANTIC (HMSO) and The Naval Staff
History.)
May After VE Day deployed
with Home Fleet to take part in transfer of
surrendered U-Boats in Norway.
25th Deployed with HM Cruiser
BERWICK, HM Canadian Destroyers
HAIDA, HURON and ships of 30th Escort Group at Trondheim.
June Deployed for escort
of captured submarines and support of re-occupation
to forces.
August Visited Home ports as
part of Victory celebrations.
P o s t W a
r N o t e s
HMS LAUNCESTON CASTLE
remained in service after VJ Day and was used for anti-submarine sea training
until Paid-off. Six of the Class were still in Commission in 1956. As part of
the reduction in the Reserve Fleet in 1957-8 all the ships in RN service and
those in Reserve were placed on the Disposal List. Three of the Class were sold
to the Air Ministry for use as Weather Reporting Ships in the Atlantic. This ship was sold to BISCO in 1959 and arrived at the breaker’s yard
at St David's in tow for demolition by JAS White, on 3rd August 1959.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of
HMS
LAUNCESTON CASTLE
by Don Kindell
These convoy lists have not been
cross-checked with the text above
|
|
|
|
|
Date convoy sailed
|
Joined convoy as escort
|
Convoy No.
|
Left convoy
|
Date convoy arrived
|
|
|
|
|
|
21/07/44
|
24/07/44
|
OS 084KM
|
01/08/44
|
01/08/44
|
01/08/44
|
01/08/44
|
KMS 058G
|
02/08/44
|
02/08/44
|
08/08/44
|
08/08/44
|
MKS 057G
|
09/08/44
|
09/08/44
|
09/08/44
|
09/08/44
|
SL 166MK
|
18/08/44
|
20/08/44
|
13/09/44
|
14/09/44
|
ON 253
|
15/09/44
|
28/09/44
|
14/10/44
|
15/10/44
|
ONS 034
|
17/10/44
|
01/11/44
|
29/10/44
|
30/10/44
|
ONS 035
|
01/11/44
|
15/11/44
|
27/02/45
|
28/02/45
|
ONS 043
|
28/02/45
|
16/03/45
|
02/03/45
|
03/03/45
|
ON 288
|
05/03/45
|
19/03/45
|
25/02/45
|
12/03/45
|
SC 168
|
12/03/45
|
13/03/45
|
12/04/45
|
14/04/45
|
WN 685
|
15/04/45
|
16/04/45
|
17/04/45
|
17/04/45
|
EN 487
|
18/04/45
|
19/04/45
|
28/04/45
|
12/05/45
|
SC 174
|
13/05/45
|
14/05/45
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note on Convoys)