home

fighting ships of the world

ROYAL NAVY (UNITED KINGDOM)

ESCORTS   

"RIVER" class (later Canadian-built) frigates

Orkney 1944

 

Displacement standard, t	1310 - 1460
Displacement full, t	1920 - 2180
Length, m	86.3 pp 91.8 oa
Breadth, m	11.2
Draught, m	3.61 - 3.89 deep load
No of shafts	2
Machinery	VTE, 2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers
Power, h. p.	5500
Max speed, kts	20
Fuel, t	oil 646
Armament	1 x 2 - 102/45 QF Mk XVI HA, 2 x 2 - 20/70 Oerlikon, 4 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon, 1 x 24 - 178 Hedgehog DCT, 8 DCT, 2 DCR (150) Antigonish, Glace Bay, Hallowell, Joliette, Kirkland Lake, Kokanee, Lauzon, Longueuil, Orkney, Poundmaker, Sea Cliff, Thetford Mines and, may be, some others: 1 x 2 - 102/45 QF Mk XVI HA, 1 x 1 - 76/40 QF MkI HA, 2 x 2 - 20/70 Oerlikon, 2 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon, 1 x 24 - 178 Hedgehog DCT, 8 DCT, 2 DCR (150)
Sensors	type 268, 272, 275, 291 radars, sonars
Complement	140

Ship project history: Design of "River" class frigate is developed in 1941 when it became clear, that for service in Atlantic escorts are required larger than "Flower" class corvettes. Significantly increased dimensions have allowed to improve seaworthiness and conditions of habitability of crew, to place additional armament and to fit twin-shaft machinery (actually doubled machinery of "Flower" class corvettes) and to increase speed to 20kts. An exception made 5 ships which have received more powerful turbine machinery.

Originally known as "twin-screw corvettes", "River" class ships, as well as their predecessors, created on standards of merchant shipbuilding, but their hulls had outlines more habitual for a warship, and its slenderness has increased from 6 to 8. Thus the building technology, as well as  corvettes, as much as possible adapted for usage on the yards which do not have experience of construction of combat ships.

Frigates of 3rd group were built in Canada for own fleet and differed from earlier ships by replacement of two single-purpose 102mm/40 guns  by one twin 102mm/45 mount on a forecastle and 76mm gun aft (last was put not by all ships). Order for 20 more frigates of group is cancelled in December 1943 - January, 1944.

Modernizations: 1943 - 1944, all survived ships: - 2 x 1 - 20/70; + 2 x 2 - 20/70 Oerlikon

1953, Lauzon, Toronto; 1954, Buckingham, Cap de la Madeleine, Inch Arran, Jonquiere, Stettler; 1955, Ste. Therese, Sussexvale; 1956, Fort Erie, Lanark, Penetang, Prestonian; 1957, Antigonish, Beacon Hill, La Hulloise; 1959, Victoriaville, as follows:

1956, Buckingham: flight deck for HO4S Whirlwind helicopter was fitted.

Naval service: Chebogue was torpedoed by German submarine U1227 and Magog by U1223.

Beacon Hill 1950s

 

Custom Search

© Ivan Gogin, 2008-10