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Technical Information |
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Castle
Class Corvette - Technical Specification
This design was prepared at the same time as the
"Loch" class frigates for builders who could not accomodate the longer frigate
hull, and also to utilise any spare, short slip that was available. Although
pre-fabricated construction was considered, it better suited the builders to
stick with traditional building methods, to bring the class "on stream" as
quickly as possible, without setting up an infrastructure for
pre-fabricating.
The design was basically a larger "Flower " class, and
although only 35' longer, this was enough to greatly improve sea-keeping and
accomodation levels. Armament was along "improved Flower " lines except that a
12" "Squid" mortar replaced the "Hedgehog" launcher, and there was provision
for four extra 20mm AA - although these were rarely fitted. The armament was
arranged as that of the "Loch" class was, with the "Squid" replacing the 4" gun
on the shelter deck, the 4" being moved ahead of this, emphasising the move
from gun to "squid" as the main armament. A lattice mast abaft the bridge
carried surface warning radar ( SW.RDF ) and HF/DF gear.
Although the
same machinery as the "Flower " class was installed, there was no loss in speed
due to longer keel and weight reduction measures.
Despite being a great
improvement over the "Flower ", they couldn't match the new Frigates that were
becoming available in large numbers, and in 1943, production was cut back to
place all emphasis on Frigates. |
| Engines |
2 x
Admirality 3-drum boilers,1 x triple-expansion reciprocating engine driving 1
shaft @ 2750 ihp |
| Speed in Knots |
16.5 |
| Fuel / Range |
480
tons Oil / 9500 miles @ 10 knots |
| Length (ft/inches) |
252
overall |
| Beam (ft/inches) |
36/8 |
| Draught (ft/inches) |
13/6-13/9 mean deep load |
| Displacements (tons) |
1060 tons standard; 1590-1630 tons deep load |
| Armament |
- Gun
- 1
x 1 x 4" LA
- 2
x 2 x 20mm Oerlikon AA
- up to 6 x 1 x 20mm Oerlikon AA ( normally 2 )
- ASW
- 1
x 3 x 12" Squid A/S mortar
- Depth-Charge lobbers and rails
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| Crew Complement |
120
(officers & ratings) |
| Notes on Ship Type |
This class was a considerable improvement on the Flowers, with
more effective ASW armaments with Light AA varying between 4-10 20mm. All ships
disposed of 1955-1961, three sunk during the war. |
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