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FIGHTING SHIPS OF THE WORLD
UNITED KINGDOM
ESCORTS
"CASTLE" corvettes (HADLEIGH CASTLE) (38(58), 1943 - 1945)


Photo



Flint Castle 1951

Ships


Name No Yard No Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate
Allington Castle (ex-Amaryllis) K689 - F89 598 Fleming & Ferguson, Paisley 7/1943 29.2.1944 6/1944 BU 12.1958
Alnwick Castle K405 - F105 229 George Brown, Greenock 6/1943 23.5.1944 11/1944 BU 12.1958
Alton Castle     Fleming & Ferguson, Paisley --- --- --- cancelled 10.1943
Amberley Castle K386 - F286 377 Austin, Sunderland 5/1943 27.11.1943 11/1944 meteorological vessel 1960
Appleby Castle   379 Austin, Sunderland 1943 --- --- cancelled 10.1943
Arnprior (ex-Rising Castle) (RCN) K494 1240 Harland & Wolff, Belfast 6.1943 8.2.1944 6.1944 to Uruguay 1948 (Montevideo)
Avedon Castle   33 Kingston, Canada --- --- --- cancelled 12.1943
Bamborough Castle K412 - F12 177 Lewis, Aberdeen 7.1943 11.1.1944 5.1944 BU 5.1959
Barnard Castle K594 230 George Brown, Greenock 1943 3.10.1944 1945 // --- completed as convoy rescue ship Empire Shelter
Barnwell Castle   34 Kingston, Canada --- --- --- cancelled 12.1943
Beeston Castle   35 Kingston, Canada --- --- --- cancelled 12.1943
Bere Castle     George Brown, Greenock --- --- --- cancelled 10.1943
Berkeley Castle K387 - F387 699 Barclay Curle, Glasgow 3.1943 19.8.1943 11.1943 technical accident 2.1953, never repaired, BU 2.1956
Bodiam Castle   116 Collingwood, Canada --- --- --- cancelled 12.1943
Bolton Castle   117 Collingwood, Canada --- --- --- cancelled 12.1943
Bowes Castle   36 Kingston, Canada --- --- --- cancelled 12.1943
Bowmanville (ex-Nunnery Castle) (RCN) K493 263 Pickersgill, Sunderland 8.1943 26.1.1944 9.1944 sold 1947
Bramber Castle   118 Collingwood, Canada --- --- --- cancelled 12.1943
Bridgenorth Castle   119 Collingwood, Canada --- --- --- cancelled 12.1943
Brough Castle   120 Collingwood, Canada --- --- --- cancelled 12.1943
Caistor Castle K690 - F690 178 Lewis, Aberdeen 8.1943 22.5.1944 9.1944 BU 1956
Caldecot Castle     George Brown, Greenock --- --- --- cancelled 10.1943
Calshot Castle     Inglis, Glasgow --- --- --- cancelled 10.1943
Canterbury Castle   19 Midland, Canada --- --- --- cancelled 12.1943
Carew Castle   20 Midland, Canada --- --- --- cancelled 12.1943
Carisbrooke Castle K379 - F379 414 Caledon, Dundee 3.1943 31.7.1943 11.1943 BU 6.1958
Chepstow Castle   121 Collingwood, Canada --- --- --- cancelled 12.1943
Chester Castle   122 Collingwood, Canada --- --- --- cancelled 12.1943
Christchurch Castle   21 Midland, Canada --- --- --- cancelled 12.1943
Clare Castle     Collingwood, Canada --- --- --- cancelled 12.1943
Clavering Castle     Collingwood, Canada --- --- --- cancelled 12.1943
Clitheroe Castle     Collingwood, Canada --- --- --- cancelled 12.1943
Clun Castle   22 Midland, Canada --- --- --- cancelled 12.1943
Colchester Castle   23 Midland, Canada --- --- --- cancelled 12.1943
Copper Cliff (ex-Hever Castle) (RCN) K495   Blyth 6.1943 24.2.1944 7.1944 sold 1947
Corfe Castle     Collingwood, Canada --- --- --- cancelled 12.1943
Cornet Castle     Collingwood, Canada --- --- --- cancelled 12.1943
Cowes Castle     Collingwood, Canada --- --- --- cancelled 12.1943
Cowling Castle   24 Midland, Canada --- --- --- cancelled 12.1943
Criccieth Castle   53 Morton, Quebec City, Canada --- --- --- cancelled 12.1943
Cromer Castle   25 Midland, Canada --- --- --- cancelled 12.1943
Denbigh Castle K696 179 Lewis, Aberdeen 9.1943 5.8.1944 12.1944 sunk 13.2.1945
Divizes Castle   37 Kingston, Canada --- --- --- cancelled 12.1943
Dhyfe Castle     Collingwood, Canada --- --- --- cancelled 12.1943
Dover Castle     Inglis, Glasgow --- --- --- cancelled 10.1943
Dudley Castle     Inglis, Glasgow --- --- --- cancelled 10.1943
Dumbarton Castle K388 - F388 415 Caledon, Dundee 5.1943 28.9.1943 2.1944 BU 3.1961
Dunster Castle   26 Midland, Canada --- --- --- cancelled 12.1943
Egremont Castle   38 Kingston, Canada --- --- --- cancelled 12.1943
Farnham Castle K413 - F413 212 Crown, Sunderland 6.1943 25.4.1944 1.1945 BU 10.1964
Flint Castle K383 - F383 343 Robb, Leith 4.1943 1.9.1943 12.1943 BU 7.1958
Fotheringay Castle   54 Morton, Quebec City, Canada --- --- --- cancelled 12.1943
Hadleigh Castle K355 - F355 124 Smiths Dock, South Bank 4.1943 21.6.1943 9.1943 BU 1.1959
Hedingham Castle (ex-Gorey Castle) K529 - F386 213 Crown, Sunderland 11.1943 30.10.1944 5.1945 BU 4.1958
Helmsley Castle   55 Morton, Quebec City, Canada --- --- --- cancelled 12.1943
Hespeler (ex-Guilford Castle) (RCN) K489 344 Robb, Leith 5.1943 13.11.1943 2.1944 sold 1947
Humberstone (ex-Norham Castle, ex-Totnes Castle) (RCN) K497 1235 Inglis, Glasgow 8.1943 12.4.1944 9.1944 sold 1947
Huntsville (ex-Wolvesey Castle) (RCN) K499 451 Ailsa, Troon 6.1943 24.2.1944 6.1944 sold 1947
Hurst Castle K416 416 Caledon, Dundee 8.1943 23.2.1944 6.1944 sunk 1.9.1944
Kenilworth Castle K420 - F420 1125 Smiths Dock, South Bank 5.1943 17.8.1943 11.1943 BU 6.1959
Kincardine (ex-Tamworth Castle) (RCN) K490 1127 Smiths Dock, South Bank 8.1943 26.1.1944 6.1944 sold 1947
Knaresborough Castle K389 - F389   Blyth 4.1943 28.9.1943 4.1944 BU 3.1956
Lancaster Castle K691 - F691 653 Fleming & Ferguson, Paisley 9.1943 14.4.1944 9.1944 BU 9.1960
Launceston Castle K397 - F397   Blyth 5.1943 27.11.1943 6.1944 BU 8.1959
Leaside (ex-Walmer Castle) (RCN) K492 1128 Smiths Dock, South Bank 9.1943 10.3.1944 8.1944 sold 11.1946
Leeds Castle K384 - F384 261 Pickersgill, Sunderland 4.1943 12.10.1943 2.1944 BU 6.1958
Maiden Castle K443 654 Fleming & Ferguson, Paisley 1943 8.6.1944 11.1944 // --- completed as convoy rescue ship  Empire Lifeguard
Malling Castle   56 Morton, Quebec City, Canada --- --- --- cancelled 12.1943
Malmesbury Castle   57 Morton, Quebec City, Canada --- --- --- cancelled 12.1943
Monmouth Castle     Lewis, Aberdeen --- --- --- cancelled 10.1943
Morpeth Castle K693 - F693 262 Pickersgill, Sunderland 6.1943 26.11.1943 7.1944 BU 8.1960
Norwich Castle     George Brown, Greenock --- --- --- cancelled 10.1943
Oakham Castle K530 - F530 1236 Inglis, Glasgow 11.1943 20.7.1944 12.1944 meteorological vessel 1957
Orangeville (ex-Hedingham Castle) (RCN) K491 345 Robb, Leith 7.1943 26.1.1944 4.1944 sold 1947
Oswestry Castle     Crown, Sunderland --- --- --- cancelled 10.1943
Oxford Castle K692 - F692 1238 Harland & Wolff, Belfast 6.1943 11.12.1943 3.1944 BU 9.1960
Pendennis Castle     Crown, Sunderland --- --- --- cancelled 10.1943
Petrolia (ex-Sherborne Castle) (RCN) K498 1241 Harland & Wolff, Belfast 6.1943 24.2.1944 6.1944 BU 1946
Pevensey Castle K449 - F449 1239 Harland & Wolff, Belfast 6.1943 11.1.1944 6.1944 meteorological vessel 1959
Portchester Castle K362 - F362 1778 Swan Hunter, Wallsend 3.1943 21.6.1943 11.1943 BU 5.1958
Raby Castle   58 Morton, Quebec City, Canada --- --- --- cancelled 12.1943
Rayleigh Castle K695 371 Ferguson, Glasgow 1943 19.6.1944 10.1944 // --- completed as convoy rescue ship Empire Rest
Rhuddlan Castle     Crown, Sunderland --- --- --- cancelled 10.1943
Rushen Castle K372 - F372 1780 Swan Hunter, Wallsend 4.1943 16.7.1943 2.1944 meteorological vessel 1960
St. Thomas (ex-Sandgate Castle) (RCN) K488 1126 Smiths Dock, South Bank 6.1943 28.12.1943 5.1944 sold 1946
Scarborough Castle K536 665 Fleming & Ferguson, Paisley 1944 8.9.1944 1.1945 // --- completed as convoy rescue ship Empire Peacemaker
Shrewsbury Castle   1782 Swan Hunter, Wallsend 5.1943 16.8.1943 4.1944 // --- to Norway at completion (Tunsberg Castle)
Thornbury Castle     Ferguson, Glasgow --- --- --- cancelled 10.1943
Tillsonburg (ex-Pembroke Castle) (RCN) K496 370 Ferguson, Glasgow 6.1943 12.2.1944 6.1944 sold 1947
Tintagel Castle K399 - F399 450 Ailsa, Troon 4.1943 13.12.1943 4.1944 BU 6.1958
Trematon Castle   59 Morton, Quebec City, Canada --- --- --- cancelled 12.1943
Tonbridge Castle   378 Austin, Sunderland --- --- --- cancelled 10.1943
Tutbury Castle   60 Morton, Quebec City, Canada --- --- --- cancelled 12.1943
Warkworth Castle     Fleming & Ferguson, Paisley --- --- --- cancelled 10.1943
Wigmore Castle   27 Midland, Canada --- --- --- cancelled 12.1943
York Castle K537 372 Ferguson, Glasgow 1944 20.9.1944 2.1945 // --- completed as convoy rescue ship Empire Comfort


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 ASWRL, 2 DCT, 1 DCR (15)

Electronic equipment

British-built ships: type 271 or type 272 radar, type 144, type 147 sonars

Canadian-built ships: type 271 or type 277 radar, type 144, type 147 sonars

Complement

120



Graphics


<i>Flint Castle</i> 1951
Flint Castle 1951


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 ratio, maximal speed remained practically the same. Larger dimensions allowed to place more powerful anti-submarine armament: "Castle" class corvettes became the first British ships carrying newest Squid ASWRL. In total under the 1942 and 1943 Programmes it was planned to built 59 ships, however only 39 entered service under 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. Remaining ships were cancelled, as well as on 36, planed to building in Canada.

Modernizations

None.

1/1946: 1 x 1 - 102/40 CP Mk XXIII, 2 x 2 - 20/70 Mk V, (2 - 6) x 1 - 20/70 Mk III, 1 x 3 - 305 Squid Mk III ASWRL, 2 DCT, 1 DCR (15), type 271 or type 272 or type 277 radar, type 144, type 147 sonars

Naval service

Hurst Castle 1.9.1944 was sunk by German submarine U482 W of Ireland, Denbigh Castle 13.2.1945 was sunk by U992 in Barents Sea. All were reclassified to frigates in 1947. Berkeley Castle was turned over in dock in February 1953 and never repaired. Meteorological vessels were armed by 1 40/60-mm Bofors gun and 1 Squid.

Many thanks to Wolfgang Stöhr for additional information on this page.