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)