HMCS Battleford

Last updated

HMCS Battleford 1943 MC-2096C.jpg
HMCS Battleford off the East Coast of the United States, 5 October 1943.
History
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svgCanada
NameBattleford
Namesake Battleford, Saskatchewan
Ordered1 February 1940
Builder Collingwood Shipyards, Collingwood
Laid down30 September 1940
Launched15 April 1941
Commissioned31 July 1941
Decommissioned18 July 1945
Identification Pennant number: K165
Honours and
awards		Atlantic 1941–1945
FateSold to Venezuelan Navy
Flag of Venezuela (state).svgVenezuela
NameLibertad
Acquiredpurchased from Royal Canadian Navy
Commissioned1946
Out of service12 April 1949
FateWrecked 12 April 1949
General characteristics
Class and type Flower-class corvette (original)
Displacement950 long tons (970  t)
Length205 ft 1 in (62.51 m) o/a
Beam33 ft 1 in (10.08 m)
Draught13 ft 5 in (4.09 m)
Propulsion
  • single shaft
  • 2 × Scotch boilers
  • 1 × 4-cylinder triple-expansion reciprocating steam engine
  • 2,750 ihp (2,050 kW)
Speed16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Range3,450  nmi (6,390 km; 3,970 mi) at 12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Complement47
Sensors and
processing systems
  • 1 × SW1C or 2C radar
  • 1 × Type 123A or Type 127DV sonar
Armament

HMCS Battleford was a Flower-class corvette of the Royal Canadian Navy launched on 15 April 1940 and commissioned on 31 July 1941 during the Second World War. The corvette served primarily in the Battle of the Atlantic, escorting convoys of merchant ships. After the war she was sold to the Venezuelan Navy and renamed Libertad. Libertad was wrecked on 12 April 1949.

Contents

Design and description

Flower-class corvettes like Battleford serving with the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War were different from earlier and more traditional sail-driven corvettes. [1] [2] The Flower-class corvettes originated from a need that arose in 1938 to expand the Royal Navy following the Munich Crisis. [3] A design request went out for a small escort for coastal convoys. [4] Based on a traditional whaler-type design, the initial Canadian ships of the Flower class had a standard displacement of 950 long tons (970  t ). They were 205 feet 1 inch (62.51 m) long overall with a beam of 33 feet 1 inch (10.08 m) and a maximum draught of 13 feet 5 inches (4.09 m). The initial 1939–1940 corvettes were powered by a four-cylinder vertical triple expansion engine powered by steam from two Scotch boilers turning one three-bladed propeller rated at 2,800 indicated horsepower (2,100  kW ). The Scotch boilers were replaced with water-tube boilers in later 1939–1940 and 1940–1941 Programme ships. The corvettes had a maximum speed of 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph). This gave them a range of 3,450 nautical miles (6,390 km; 3,970 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph). [5] The vessels were extremely wet. [6]

The Canadian Flower-class vessels were initially armed with a Mk IX BL 4-inch (102 mm) gun forward on a CP 1 mounting and carried 100 rounds per gun. The corvettes were also armed with a QF Vickers 2-pounder (40 mm, 1.6 in) gun on a bandstand aft, two single-mounted .303 Vickers machine guns or Browning 0.5-calibre machine guns for anti-aircraft defence and two twin-mounted .303 Lewis machine guns, usually sited on bridge wings. [3] [5] [7] For anti-submarine warfare, they mounted two depth charge throwers and initially carried 25 depth charges. The corvettes were designed with a Type 123 ASDIC sonar set installed. The Flower-class ships had a complement of 47 officers and ratings. [3] The Royal Canadian Navy initially ordered 54 corvettes in 1940 and these were fitted with Mark II Oropesa minesweeping gear used for destroying contact mines. [8] Part of the depth charge rails were made portable so the minesweeping gear could be utilised. [9]

Modifications

In Canadian service the vessels were altered due to experience with the design's deficiencies. The galley was moved further back in the ship and the mess and sleeping quarters combined. A direction-finding set was installed and enlarged bilge keels were installed to reduce rolling. [10] After the first 35–40 corvettes had been constructed, the foremast was shifted aft of the bridge and the mainmast was eliminated. Corvettes were first fitted with basic SW-1 and SW-2 CQ surface warning radar, notable for their fishbone-like antenna and reputation for failure in poor weather or in the dark. The compass house was moved further aft and the open-type bridge was situated in front of it. The ASDIC hut was moved in front and to a lower position on the bridge. The improved Type 271 radar was placed aft, with some units receiving Type 291 radar for air search. The minesweeping gear, a feature of the first 54 corvettes, was removed. [11] Most Canadian Flower-class corvettes had their forecastles extended which improved crew accommodation and seakeeping. Furthermore, the sheer and flare of the bow was increased, which led to an enlarged bridge. This allowed for the installation of Oerlikon 20 mm (0.8 in) cannon, replacing the Browning and Vickers machine guns. [12] Some of the corvettes were rearmed with Hedgehog anti-submarine mortars. [13] The complements of the ships grew throughout the war rising from the initial 47 to as many as 104. [12]

Construction and career

The vessel was ordered as part of the 1939–1940 Progamme in January 1940, [14] from Collingwood Shipyards at Collingwood, Ontario. She was laid down on 30 September 1940, launched on 15 April 1941 at Collingwood, named for the town in Saskatchewan. The corvette was commissioned on 31 July 1941 at Montreal, Quebec. [15]

Battleford escorted trade convoys between Halifax Harbour and the Western Approaches through the Battle of the Atlantic. After commissioning she was briefly part of Sydney Force before transferring to the Newfoundland Escort Force (NEF). [15] From 23 November to 28 December 1941 Battleford was a part of the task unit (TU) 4.1.11 of the NEF. [16] On 28 November, Battleford joined the escort of convoy SC 57. Upon the vessel's return to Canada while escorting ONS 46, [16] Battleford began her first refit on 7 January 1942. [15] While Battleford was refitting, the escort groups were re-organised under United States' command and Battleford was reassigned to TU 4.1.12. [17] Battleford returned to active service in March and sailed east with a convoy in May. After departing the convoy, Battleford underwent repairs at Cardiff, Wales and then the ship and her crew underwent training at the British escort training centre in Tobermory. [15] [18] After training, the corvette was assigned to the Mid-Ocean Escort Force (MOEF) escort group C1 in July 1942. [15] On 13 September 1942, convoy SC 99, escorted by C1, was spotted by a German U-boat and the convoy was attacked. However, the U-boats were driven off by C1 and one of the German submarines was severely damaged in the battle. [19] With group C1, she shared credit for sinking the German submarine U-356 during the battle for convoy ON 154, which was attacked by two U-boat wolfpacks on 27 December. Fifteen merchants ships were sunk in the battle, which ended on 31 December. [20] In January 1943, the escort groups were re-organized, but Battleford remained with C1. [21] In 1943, Battleford took part in three more convoy battles, engaging with U-boats. C1 lost one merchant ship during the battle for convoy HX 222 in January and in late February–early March, convoy KMS 10 lost one ship and another damaged in an engagement with U-boats. Again in April, convoy ONS 2 was attacked with the loss of three ships before the escort could drive off the submarines. [22]

After leaving group C1 which she had been a part of up to May 1943, Battleford underwent another refit, this time at Liverpool, Nova Scotia. Battleford escorted North American coastal convoys with the Western Local Escort Force for the last two years of the war as part of escort group W-3. [15] However, for a brief period, Battleford was among the Canadian vessels ordered to England in preparation for Operation Overlord and the corvette took part in the invasion of Normandy on 6 June 1944. [23]

Trans-Atlantic convoys escorted

ConvoyEscort GroupDatesNotes
SC 5728 November–9 December 1941 [24] Newfoundland to Iceland; 3 ships torpedoed and sunk
ON 4824–31 December 1941 [25] 49 ships escorted without loss from Iceland to Newfoundland
SC 8022 April–3 May 1942 [26] 29 ships escorted without loss from Newfoundland to Northern Ireland
ON 112 MOEF group C1 14–25 July 1942 [25] 36 ships escorted without loss from Northern Ireland to Newfoundland
SC 94 MOEF group C12–12 August 1942 [26] Newfoundland to Northern Ireland; 10 ships torpedoed and sunk
ON 123MOEF group C122–31 August 1942 [25] 39 ships escorted without loss from Northern Ireland to Newfoundland
SC 99MOEF group C19–19 September 1942 [24] 59 ships escorted without loss from Newfoundland to Northern Ireland
ON 133MOEF group C126 September–5 October 1942 [25] 35 ships escorted without loss from Northern Ireland to Newfoundland
HX 211MOEF group C113–20 October 1942 [26] 29 ships escorted without loss from Newfoundland to Northern Ireland
ON 143MOEF group C12–11 November 1942 [25] 26 ships escorted without loss from Northern Ireland to Newfoundland
SC 110MOEF group C124 November–5 December 1942 [24] 33 ships escorted without loss from Halifax to Newfoundland
ON 154 MOEF group C119–30 December 1942 [25] Northern Ireland to Newfoundland; 14 ships torpedoed (13 sunk)
HX 222MOEF group C111–22 January 1943 [26] Newfoundland to Northern Ireland; 1 ship torpedoed and sunk
KMS 10GMOEF group C128 February–8 March 1943 [27] Liverpool to Mediterranean Sea; 4 ships torpedoed (1 sunk)
MKS 9MOEF group C18–18 March 1943 [28] 55 ships escorted without loss from Mediterranean to Liverpool
ONS 2MOEF group C129 March–14 April 1943 [25] 31 ships escorted without loss from Northern Ireland to Newfoundland

Post war service

Battleford was paid off at Sorel, Quebec on 18 July 1945. [15] For her participation in the Battle of the Atlantic, Battleford earned the battle honour "Atlantic 1939–45". [29] After the war she was one of seven corvettes of the RCN that were sold to the Venezuelan Navy. In 1946 Battleford was renamed Libertad. Libertad was lost on 12 April 1949. [15]

Citations

  1. ↑ Fitzsimons 1978, pp. 1137–1142.
  2. ↑ Jane's Fighting Ships of World War II, p.  68.
  3. 1 2 3 Preston & Raven 1973, p. 1.
  4. ↑ McKay & Harland 1993, p. 8.
  5. 1 2 Lynch 1981, p. 66.
  6. ↑ McKay & Harland 1993, p. 11.
  7. ↑ McKay & Harland 1993, p. 14.
  8. ↑ McKay & Harland 1993, p. 12.
  9. ↑ Preston & Raven 1973, pp. 3–4.
  10. ↑ Preston & Raven 1973, p. 4.
  11. ↑ Lynch 1981, p. 12.
  12. 1 2 Lynch 1981, pp. 10, 12.
  13. ↑ Macpherson & Barrie 2002, p. 103.
  14. ↑ Brown 2007, p. 52.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Macpherson & Barrie 2002, p. 110.
  16. 1 2 Rohwer 2005, p. 117.
  17. ↑ Rohwer 2005, pp. 131–132.
  18. ↑ Douglas, Sarty & Whitby 2002, p. 163.
  19. ↑ Rohwer 2005, p. 196.
  20. ↑ Rohwer 2005, p. 220.
  21. ↑ Rohwer 2005, p. 222.
  22. ↑ Rohwer 2005, pp. 225, 235, 244.
  23. ↑ Rohwer 2005, p. 331.
  24. 1 2 3 "SC convoys". Andrew Hague Convoy Database. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
  25. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "ON convoys". Andrew Hague Convoy Database. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
  26. 1 2 3 4 "HX convoys". Andrew Hague Convoy Database. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
  27. ↑ "KMS convoys". Andrew Hague Convoy Database. Retrieved 7 July 2011.
  28. ↑ "MKS convoys". Andrew Hague Convoy Database. Retrieved 7 July 2011.
  29. ↑ Thomas 1998, p. 33.

Related Research Articles

Flower-class corvette World War II British corvette class

The Flower-class corvette was a British class of 294 corvettes used during World War II by the Allied navies particularly as anti-submarine convoy escorts in the Battle of the Atlantic. Royal Navy ships of this class were named after flowers.

HMCS <i>Sackville</i> Flower-class corvette

HMCS Sackville is a Flower-class corvette that served in the Royal Canadian Navy and later served as a civilian research vessel. She is now a museum ship located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and the last surviving Flower-class corvette.

HMCS <i>Alberni</i> Flower-class corvette

HMCS Alberni was a Flower-class corvette that served in the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) during the Second World War. The Flower-class corvettes were warships designed for anti-submarine warfare. The ship was constructed by Yarrows Ltd. in Esquimalt, British Columbia, laid down on 19 April 1940, launched on 22 August and commissioned on 4 February 1941. The corvette sailed east to join the RCN's fleet in the Atlantic via the Panama Canal, where upon arrival, the vessel began escorting trans-atlantic convoys in the Battle of the Atlantic. Alberni took part in the key convoy battle of Convoy SC 42. In 1942, the corvette was transferred to Allied convoy assignments associated with Operation Torch in the Mediterranean Sea. In 1944, Alberni was among the Canadian naval vessels assigned to Operation Neptune, the naval component of the invasion of Normandy and escorted support ships to and from the United Kingdom on D-day.

HMS <i>Mallow</i> (K81) Flower class corvette

HMS Mallow was a Flower-class corvette commissioned into the Royal Navy that served as a convoy escort during World War II; with the Royal Navy in 1940–1944, and with the Royal Yugoslav Navy-in-exile in 1944–1945. In Yugoslav service she was renamed Nada. Her main armament was a single 4-inch (102 mm) Mk IX naval gun, although a significant number of secondary and anti-aircraft guns were added towards the end of the war. During the war she escorted a total of 80 convoys whilst in British service, sinking one German U-boat, and escorted another 18 convoys whilst in Yugoslav service. After the war she served in the fledgling Yugoslav Navy as Nada then Partizanka, before being returned to the Royal Navy in 1949. Later that year she was transferred to the Egyptian Navy in which she served as El Sudan until she was decommissioned in 1975.

HMCS <i>Galt</i> Flower-class corvette

HMCS Galt was a Flower-class corvette of the Royal Canadian Navy that served during the Second World War. She saw action primarily in the Battle of the Atlantic. She was named after the city of Galt, Ontario.

HMCS <i>Agassiz</i> Flower-class corvette

HMCS Agassiz was a Flower-class corvette of the Royal Canadian Navy. Named after the community of Agassiz, British Columbia, the ship was constructed by Burrard Dry Dock Co. Ltd. in North Vancouver, British Columbia and was launched on 15 August 1940. The corvette was commissioned on 23 January 1941 in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Flower class were initially designed for coastal service during the Second World War, but due to the demands of the Battle of the Atlantic, Agassiz was used primarily as an ocean escort for convoys crossing the Atlantic Ocean in engagements with German submarines. Following the war, the corvette was sold for scrap.

HMCS <i>Eyebright</i> Flower-class corvette

HMCS Eyebright was a Flower-class corvette that served mainly with the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War in the Battle of the Atlantic. She was named after the medicinal flowering plant genus Euphrasia.

HMCS <i>Chilliwack</i> Flower-class corvette

HMCS Chilliwack was a Flower-class corvette who served with the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War. She saw action primarily in the Battle of the Atlantic as a convoy escort. She was named for Chilliwack, British Columbia.

HMCS <i>Napanee</i> Flower-class corvette

HMCS Napanee was a Flower-class corvette of the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War. She saw service primarily in the Battle of the Atlantic as a convoy escort. She is named after Napanee, Ontario.

HMCS <i>Shediac</i> Flower-class corvette

HMCS Shediac was a Flower-class corvette of the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War. She served primarily in the Battle of the Atlantic as a convoy escort. She was named after the town of Shediac, New Brunswick.

HMCS <i>Chambly</i> Flower-class corvette

HMCS Chambly was a Flower-class corvette serving in the Royal Canadian Navy. She was ordered from Canadian Vickers Ltd. in Montreal, laid down on 20 February 1940, launched on 29 July, and commissioned on 18 December 1940, named after the city of Chambly, Quebec. Chambly escorted trade convoys between Halifax Harbour and the Western Approaches through the battle of the Atlantic and, together with HMCS Moose Jaw, achieved the RCN's first U-boat kill of the war.

HMCS <i>Fredericton</i> (K245) British Flower-class corvette

HMCS Fredericton was a Flower-class corvette of the Royal Canadian Navy. She was ordered from Marine Industries Ltd. in Sorel, Quebec and laid down on 22 March 1941. She was launched on 2 September 1941 and commissioned on 8 December 1941. She was named after the community of Fredericton, New Brunswick.

HMCS <i>Amherst</i> Flower-class corvette

HMCS Amherst was a Flower-class corvette of the Royal Canadian Navy. She served primarily in the Battle of the Atlantic on convoy protection duty during the Second World War. She was named for Amherst, Nova Scotia. The ship was laid down at Saint John Dry Dock and Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. in Saint John, New Brunswick, on 23 May 1940 and launched on 3 December later that year. Amherst was commissioned on 5 August 1941 and served in the Battle of the Atlantic and Battle of the St. Lawrence, earning battle honours for both actions. After the war, the ship was decommissioned and sold to Venezuelan Navy in 1945 and renamed Carabobo. However, while en route to Venezuela, the ship was wrecked in the Gulf of St. Lawrence that same year.

HMCS <i>Algoma</i> Flower-class corvette

HMCS Algoma was a Flower-class corvette that served with the Royal Canadian Navy in the Second World War. Named for the Algoma District of Ontario, it served primarily in the Battle of the Atlantic. After the war it was sold to the Venezuelan Navy and renamed Constitución.

HMCS <i>Arrowhead</i> Flower-class corvette

HMCS Arrowhead was a Flower-class corvette that was originally commissioned by the Royal Navy but served primarily with the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) during the Second World War. She fought primarily in the Battle of the Atlantic as a convoy escort. She was named for sagittaria, which is an aquatic water plant that is sometimes known as arrowhead.

HMCS <i>Arvida</i> Flower-class corvette

HMCS Arvida was a Flower-class corvette that served with the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War. She served primarily in the Battle of the Atlantic from 1941 to 1945 as a convoy escort. She was named for Arvida, Quebec. The vessel took part in three significant convoy battles ONS 92 in May 1942, ON 127 in September 1942 and SC 107 in November 1942, the last of which saw the removal of Canadian escorts from convoy duty for retraining. Following the war, the vessel was converted into a cargo ship and renamed La Ceiba and then Rio Samo. The ship was last registered in 1954 and was sold for scrap in 1987 in Spain.

HMCS <i>New Waterford</i>

HMCS New Waterford was a River-class frigate that served with the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War and then again from 1958–1966 as a Prestonian-class frigate. She served primarily in the waters around the United Kingdom as a convoy support escort. She was named for New Waterford, Nova Scotia.

HMCS <i>Waskesiu</i> River-class frigate of the Royal Canadian Navy

HMCS Waskesiu was a River-class frigate of the Royal Canadian Navy. The frigate served as a convoy escort in the Battle of the Atlantic during the Second World War. It was the first frigate constructed and commissioned into the Royal Canadian Navy. Following the war, the vessel was sold to India where it was renamed Hooghly. Named after the town of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, there was already a warship named "Prince Albert". The Royal Canadian Navy then named the ship after the town closest to Prince Albert National Park.

HMCS Truro was a Bangor-class minesweeper that served with the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War. The minesweeper entered service in 1942 and took part in the Battle of the Atlantic and the Battle of the St. Lawrence. Following the war, the vessel was transferred to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and renamed Herchmer. In 1946, Herchmer was sold for mercantile conversion and reappeared as Gulf Mariner. The ship was abandoned in 1964 on the Fraser River shore after plans for conversion to a suction dredger failed. The abandoned hulk was broken up.

HMS <i>Petunia</i> (K79) Flower-class corvette

HMS Petunia (K79) was a Flower-class corvette that served in the Royal Navy and was built by Henry Robb in 1940. She was named after Petunia. Commissioned in 1940, rammed and sold to the Chinese Nationalist Government and renamed ROCS Fu Bo.

References

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.