NAVYPEDIA

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Enchantress 1936

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
Bittern	L07 - U07	1820	White, Cowes	8.1936	14.7.1937	3.1938	sunk 30.4.1940
Enchantress (ex-Bittern)	L56 - U56	540	John Brown, Clydebank	3/1934	21.12.1934	4.1935	sold 1946
Stork	L81 - U81, 1948- F81	1282	Denny, Dumbarton	6.1935	21.4.1936	9.1936	BU 6.1958

Technical data

Max speed, kts, kn	18.75
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	2 sets Parsons geared steam turbines, 2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers Enchantress: 2 sets Brown-Curtis geared steam turbines, 2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers
Power, h. p.	3300
Fuel, t	oil 393
Endurance, nm(kts)
Armament	Stork, Bittern: 3 x 2 - 102/45 QF Mk XVI, 2 x 1 - 47/40 3pdr Hotchkiss Mk I, 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 3pdr Hotchkiss Mk I, 2 DCT, 1 DCR (15)
Electronic equipment	type 124 sonar Enchantress: type 121 sonar
Complement	156 Enchantress: 128

Standard scale images

Graphics

Project history

These ships were larger, better armed and faster in comparison with Grimsby class sloops. They were designed under 1933-1935 Programmes. Under the original design Bittern class sloops should carry 4 120mm guns, as destroyers but were completed with lighter armament. 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 armament. Bittern instead of regular 120mm guns received 6 102mm guns in twin mounts. Occurrence of Denny-Brown stabilizers became the important innovation. These ships appeared very successful and served as prototypes 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

1939, Stork: + 1 x 4 - 12.7/62

12/1940, Enchantress: + 1 x 1 - 76/45 20cwt QF Mk I/II/III/IV, 2 x 4 - 12.7/62, type 286M radar

1941, Enchantress: - type 286M radar; + type 286P radar

1941, Stork: + 2 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, type 286 radar

1942, Enchantress: - type 121 sonar; + 1 x 24 - 178 Hedgehog ASWRL, type 144 sonar

1942, Stork: - type 124 sonar; + 1 x 24 - 178 Hedgehog ASWRL, type 272, type 285 radars, type 144 sonar

1943, Enchantress: - 2 x 4 - 12.7/62, type 286P radar; + 4 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, 2 DCT, 1 DCR, DC stowage increased up to 60, type 271, type 291 radars

1943, Stork: - 2 x 4 - 12.7/62, type 286 radar; + 2 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, type 291 radar, 2 DCT, 1 DCR, DC stowage rose up to 90

1945, Stork: - 4 x 1 - 20/70; + 3 x 1 - 40/56 Bofors Mk III

1/1946, Enchantress: 2 x 1 - 120/45 CP Mk XIV, 1 x 1 - 76/45 Mk II, 4 x 1 - 20/70 Mk III, 1 x 24 - 178 Hedgehog ASWRL, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (60), type 271, type 291 radars, type 144 sonar

1/1946, Stork: 3 x 2 - 102/45 Mk XIX, 3 x 1 - 40/60 Mk VII, 1 x 24 - 178 Hedgehog ASWRL, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (90), type 272, type 285, type 291 radars, type 144 sonar

1946, Stork: - 1 x 2 - 102/45 ('B')

Naval service

Bittern was sunk by German aircraft 30.4.1940 at Namsos, Norway. Stork was laid up in 1946.

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