Stork 1942
| Name | No | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Comp | Fate |
| Bittern | L07 - U07 | White, Cowes | 8/1936 | 14/7/1937 | 3/1938 | sunk 30/4/1940 |
| Enchantress (ex-Bittern) | L56 - U56 | John Brown, Clydebank | 3/1934 | 21/12/1934 | 4/1935 | sold 1946 |
| Stork | L81 - U81 - F81 | Denny, Dumbarton | 6/1935 | 21/4/1936 | 9/1936 | BU 6/1958 |
|
Displacement standard, t |
1190 Enchantress: 1085 |
|
Displacement full, t |
1790 Enchantress: 1650 |
|
Length, m |
86.0 |
|
Breadth, m |
11.3 |
|
Draught, m |
3.48 deep load Enchantress: 3.30 deep load |
|
No of shafts |
2 |
|
Machinery |
Parsons geared steam turbines, 2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers Enchantress: Brown-Curtis geared steam turbines, 2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers |
|
Power, h. p. |
3300 |
|
Max speed, kn |
18.75 |
|
Fuel, t |
oil 393 |
|
Armament |
Stork, Bittern: 3 x 2 - 102/45 QF Mk XVI HA, 2 x 1 - 47/40 Hotchkiss, 1 x 4 - 12.7/62, 2 DCT, 1 DCR (15) Enchantress: 2 x 1 - 120/45 QF Mk IX, 4 x 1 - 47/40 Hotchkiss, 1 x 4 - 12.7/62, 2 DCR, 1 DCT (15) |
| Sensors | sonar |
|
Complement |
156 Enchantress: 128 |
Ship project history: These ships were larger, better armed and high-speed in comparison with Grimsby class sloops. They were designed under 1933-1935 programs. Under the original design Bittern class sloops should carry 4 120mm guns, having caught up British destroyers, however any of them has not received these guns. Enchantress was completed as an admiral's yacht with increased aft superstructure and only two main guns (the third was installed in May, 1936 but soon removed). She was commissioned as a rescue ship and first time did not carry arms. Bittern instead of regular 120mm guns received 6 102mm guns in twin mounts. Occurrence of Denny-Brown stabilizers became the important innovation. This ship has appeared very successful and served as a prototype for several series of AA sloops, designed throughout war.
Modernizations: Bittern was commissioned as survey ship without armament and armed in 1939.
5/1936, Enchantress: + 1 x 1 - 120/45 QF Mk IX
1937, Enchantress: - 1 x 1 - 120/45
autumn 1939, all: - (2 - 4) x 1 - 47/40
12/1940, Enchantress: + 1 x 1 - 76/45 QF Mk I HA, 1 x 4 - 12.7/62
1942, Enchantress: - 2 x 4 - 12.7/62; + 4 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon, 2 DCT, 1 DCR, DC stowage increased up to 60.
1942 - 1943, Stork: - 1 x 2 - 102/45, 1 x 4 - 12.7/62; + 4 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon, 1 x 24 - 178 Hedgehog DCT, 2 DCT, 1 DCR, DC stowage rose up to 90.
Naval service: Bittern was sunk by German aircraft 30/4/1940 at Namsos, Norway. Stork was laid up in 1946.
Enchantress 1936
© Ivan Gogin, 2008-10