Flower-class corvettes like Calgary serving with the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War were different from earlier and more traditional sail-driven corvettes.[2][3][4] The "corvette" designation was created by the French as a class of small warships; the Royal Navy borrowed the term for a period but discontinued its use in 1877.[5] During the hurried preparations for war in the late 1930s, Winston Churchill reactivated the corvette class, needing a name for smaller ships used in an escort capacity, in this case based on a whaling ship design.[6] The generic name "flower" was used to designate the class of these ships, which – in the Royal Navy – were named after flowering plants.[7]
Corvettes commissioned by the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War were named after communities for the most part, to better represent the people who took part in building them. This idea was put forth by Admiral Percy W. Nelles. Sponsors were commonly associated with the community for which the ship was named. Royal Navy corvettes were designed as open sea escorts, while Canadian corvettes were developed for coastal auxiliary roles which was exemplified by their minesweeping gear. Eventually the Canadian corvettes would be modified to allow them to perform better on the open seas.[8]
Constructionedit
Calgary was ordered 20 February 1941 as part of the Revised 1940-41 Flower class building program.[9] This revised program radically changed the look of the Flower-class corvette. The ships of this program kept the water-tube boilers of the initial 1940-41 program, but now they were housed in separate compartments for safety. The fo'c'sle was extended, which allowed more space for berths for the crew, leading to an expansion of the crew. The bow had increased flare for better control in heavy seas. The revised Flowers of the RCN received an additional two depth charge throwers fitted amidships and more depth charges. They also came with heavier secondary armament with 20-mm anti-aircraft guns carried on the extended bridge wings. All this led to an increase in displacement, draught and length.[8]
Calgary was laid down by Marine Industries Ltd. at Sorel on 22 March 1941 and launched on 23 August of that year. She was commissioned into the RCN on 16 December 1941 at Sorel.[9] During her career she had two significant refits. The first began in December 1942 after Calgary developed severe mechanical problems. She was forced to undergo a three-month refit at Cardiff which was only completed in March 1943. The second major overhaul took place between January and March 1944 at Liverpool, Nova Scotia.[10]
Wartime serviceedit
Four-inch gun on Calgary
After arriving at Halifax 28 December 1941, she was initially assigned to the Western Local Escort Force (WLEF). She remained with that force until November 1942.[10] During that period, on 30 July 1942 Calgary rescued 71 survivors from the crew of the British merchant ship Pacific Pioneer that was sunk by U-132 southwest of Sable Island.[9]
In November 1942 Calgary was deployed to assist in Operation Torch, the amphibious invasion of French North Africa as part of the North African campaign. However, after arrival in the United Kingdom she developed severe mechanical problems which led to an extensive refit. She only returned to service in April 1943, having never taken part in any duties connected to Operation Torch.[10]
Upon resumption of her duties she sailed back to Canada and rejoined WLEF in April 1943. In June 1943 she transferred to escort group 5, also known as the 5th Support Group, under Western Approaches Command.[10] On 23 August 1943 Calgary, as part of the 5th Support Group, was deployed to relieve the 40th Escort Group which was undertaking a U-boat hunt off Cape Ortegal. The warships of both groups were attacked by 14 Dornier Do 217s and 7 Junkers Ju 87s that were carrying a new weapon, the Henschel Hs 293 anti-ship guided missile. Several sailors were killed and injured on HMS Bideford (40th EG) but Calgary escaped damage. Two days later, the 5th SG was relieved by the 1st Support Group and the warships of both groups were again attacked by 18 Dornier Do 217s also carrying Hs 293s. Athabaskan was heavily damaged and HMS Egret was sunk but Calgary again escaped damage.[9]
After the cessation of hostilities Calgary returned to Canada in May 1945 and was paid off from the RCN on 19 June 1945 at Sorel. She was sold for scrapping on 30 August 1946 and broken up in 1951 at Hamilton.[9][10]
Notesedit
^"Battle Honours". Britain's Navy. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
^Ossian, Robert. "Complete List of Sailing Vessels". The Pirate King. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
^Fitzsimons, Bernard, ed. (1978). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of 20th Century Weapons & Warfare. Vol. 11. London: Phoebus. pp. 1137–1142. ISBN9780906704004.
^Jane's Fighting Ships of World War II. New Jersey: Random House. 1996. p. 68. ISBN9780517679630.
^Blake, Nicholas; Lawrence, Richard (2005). The Illustrated Companion to Nelson's Navy. Stackpole Books. pp. 39–63. ISBN9780811732758.
^Chesneau, Roger; Gardiner, Robert (June 1980). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922-1946. Naval Institute Press. p. 62. ISBN9780870219139.
^Milner, Marc (1985). North Atlantic Run. Naval Institute Press. pp. 117–119, 142–145, 158, 175–176, 226, 235, 285–291. ISBN9781551251080.
^ abMacpherson, Ken; Milner, Marc (1993). Corvettes of the Royal Canadian Navy, 1939 - 1945. St. Catharines: Vanwell Pub. ISBN978-0-920277-83-6.
^ abcdefg"HMCS Calgary (K 231)". Uboat.net. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
^ abcdefgMacpherson, Ken; Burgess, John (1981). The ships of Canada's naval forces 1910-1981 : a complete pictorial history of Canadian warships. Toronto: Collins. p. 91. ISBN9780002168564.
External linksedit
Hazegray. "Flower Class". Canadian Navy of Yesterday and Today. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
"HMCS Calgary". Ready, Aye, Ready. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
December 05, 2023
hmcs, calgary, k231, other, ships, with, same, name, hmcs, calgary, hmcs, calgary, royal, canadian, navy, revised, flower, class, corvette, which, took, part, convoy, escort, duties, during, second, world, fought, primarily, battle, atlantic, named, calgary, a. For other ships with the same name see HMCS Calgary HMCS Calgary was a Royal Canadian Navy revised Flower class corvette which took part in convoy escort duties during the Second World War She fought primarily in the Battle of the Atlantic She was named for Calgary Alberta HMCS CalgaryHistoryCanadaNameCalgaryNamesakeCalgary AlbertaOrdered20 February 1941BuilderMarine Industries Ltd SorelLaid down22 March 1941Launched23 August 1941Commissioned16 December 1941Decommissioned19 June 1945IdentificationPennant number K231Honours andawardsAtlantic 1942 1945 Biscay 1943 Normandy 1944 English Channel 1944 1945 North Sea 1945 1 FateSold 30 August 1946 Scrapped 1951 at Hamilton General characteristicsClass and typeFlower class corvette Revised Displacement925 long tons 940 t 1 036 short tons Length205 ft 62 48 m o aBeam33 ft 10 06 m Draught11 5 ft 3 51 m Propulsion1940 1941 program single shaft 2 water tube boilers 1 double acting triple expansion reciprocating steam engine 2 750 ihp 2 050 kW Speed16 knots 29 6 km h Range3 500 nautical miles 6 482 km at 12 knots 22 2 km h Complement85Sensors and processing systems1 SW1C or 2C radar 1 Type 123A or Type 127DV sonarArmament1 BL 4 in 102 mm Mk IX gun 2 50 cal machine gun twin 2 Lewis 303 cal machine gun twin 2 Mk II depth charge throwers 2 depth charge rails with 40 depth charges Contents 1 Background 2 Construction 3 Wartime service 4 Post war service 5 Notes 6 External linksBackground editMain article Flower class corvette Flower class corvettes like Calgary serving with the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War were different from earlier and more traditional sail driven corvettes 2 3 4 The corvette designation was created by the French as a class of small warships the Royal Navy borrowed the term for a period but discontinued its use in 1877 5 During the hurried preparations for war in the late 1930s Winston Churchill reactivated the corvette class needing a name for smaller ships used in an escort capacity in this case based on a whaling ship design 6 The generic name flower was used to designate the class of these ships which in the Royal Navy were named after flowering plants 7 Corvettes commissioned by the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War were named after communities for the most part to better represent the people who took part in building them This idea was put forth by Admiral Percy W Nelles Sponsors were commonly associated with the community for which the ship was named Royal Navy corvettes were designed as open sea escorts while Canadian corvettes were developed for coastal auxiliary roles which was exemplified by their minesweeping gear Eventually the Canadian corvettes would be modified to allow them to perform better on the open seas 8 Construction editCalgary was ordered 20 February 1941 as part of the Revised 1940 41 Flower class building program 9 This revised program radically changed the look of the Flower class corvette The ships of this program kept the water tube boilers of the initial 1940 41 program but now they were housed in separate compartments for safety The fo c sle was extended which allowed more space for berths for the crew leading to an expansion of the crew The bow had increased flare for better control in heavy seas The revised Flowers of the RCN received an additional two depth charge throwers fitted amidships and more depth charges They also came with heavier secondary armament with 20 mm anti aircraft guns carried on the extended bridge wings All this led to an increase in displacement draught and length 8 Calgary was laid down by Marine Industries Ltd at Sorel on 22 March 1941 and launched on 23 August of that year She was commissioned into the RCN on 16 December 1941 at Sorel 9 During her career she had two significant refits The first began in December 1942 after Calgary developed severe mechanical problems She was forced to undergo a three month refit at Cardiff which was only completed in March 1943 The second major overhaul took place between January and March 1944 at Liverpool Nova Scotia 10 Wartime service edit nbsp Four inch gun on CalgaryAfter arriving at Halifax 28 December 1941 she was initially assigned to the Western Local Escort Force WLEF She remained with that force until November 1942 10 During that period on 30 July 1942 Calgary rescued 71 survivors from the crew of the British merchant ship Pacific Pioneer that was sunk by U 132 southwest of Sable Island 9 In November 1942 Calgary was deployed to assist in Operation Torch the amphibious invasion of French North Africa as part of the North African campaign However after arrival in the United Kingdom she developed severe mechanical problems which led to an extensive refit She only returned to service in April 1943 having never taken part in any duties connected to Operation Torch 10 Upon resumption of her duties she sailed back to Canada and rejoined WLEF in April 1943 In June 1943 she transferred to escort group 5 also known as the 5th Support Group under Western Approaches Command 10 On 23 August 1943 Calgary as part of the 5th Support Group was deployed to relieve the 40th Escort Group which was undertaking a U boat hunt off Cape Ortegal The warships of both groups were attacked by 14 Dornier Do 217s and 7 Junkers Ju 87s that were carrying a new weapon the Henschel Hs 293 anti ship guided missile Several sailors were killed and injured on HMS Bideford 40th EG but Calgary escaped damage Two days later the 5th SG was relieved by the 1st Support Group and the warships of both groups were again attacked by 18 Dornier Do 217s also carrying Hs 293s Athabaskan was heavily damaged and HMS Egret was sunk but Calgary again escaped damage 9 Later that year on 20 November 1943 Calgary along with Nene and Snowberry depth charged and sank U 536 northeast of the Azores at 43 50 N 19 39 W 43 833 N 19 650 W 43 833 19 650 9 In December 1943 she transferred to the 6th Support Group before departing for refit in January 1944 10 In May 1944 Calgary after completing workups was ordered to the United Kingdom and in June 1944 was deployed to assist in Operation Neptune the amphibious invasion of Normandy France known as D Day Operation Overlord In September 1944 she was reassigned to Nore Command and remained with them for the remained of the war 10 On 29 December 1944 Calgary depth charged and sank U 322 in the English Channel south of Weymouth at 50 25 N 02 26 W 50 417 N 2 433 W 50 417 2 433 9 Post war service editAfter the cessation of hostilities Calgary returned to Canada in May 1945 and was paid off from the RCN on 19 June 1945 at Sorel She was sold for scrapping on 30 August 1946 and broken up in 1951 at Hamilton 9 10 Notes edit Battle Honours Britain s Navy Retrieved 1 September 2013 Ossian Robert Complete List of Sailing Vessels The Pirate King Retrieved 13 April 2011 Fitzsimons Bernard ed 1978 The Illustrated Encyclopedia of 20th Century Weapons amp Warfare Vol 11 London Phoebus pp 1137 1142 ISBN 9780906704004 Jane s Fighting Ships of World War II New Jersey Random House 1996 p 68 ISBN 9780517679630 Blake Nicholas Lawrence Richard 2005 The Illustrated Companion to Nelson s Navy Stackpole Books pp 39 63 ISBN 9780811732758 Chesneau Roger Gardiner Robert June 1980 Conway s All the World s Fighting Ships 1922 1946 Naval Institute Press p 62 ISBN 9780870219139 Milner Marc 1985 North Atlantic Run Naval Institute Press pp 117 119 142 145 158 175 176 226 235 285 291 ISBN 9781551251080 a b Macpherson Ken Milner Marc 1993 Corvettes of the Royal Canadian Navy 1939 1945 St Catharines Vanwell Pub ISBN 978 0 920277 83 6 a b c d e f g HMCS Calgary K 231 Uboat net Retrieved 1 September 2013 a b c d e f g Macpherson Ken Burgess John 1981 The ships of Canada s naval forces 1910 1981 a complete pictorial history of Canadian warships Toronto Collins p 91 ISBN 9780002168564 External links editHazegray Flower Class Canadian Navy of Yesterday and Today Retrieved 1 September 2013 HMCS Calgary Ready Aye Ready Retrieved 1 September 2013 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title HMCS Calgary K231 amp oldid 1173053847, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
