Flower-class corvettes like Camrose 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
Camrose was ordered on 22 January 1940 as part of the 1939-1940 Flower-class building program. It was laid down by Marine Industries Ltd. at Sorel on 17 September 1940. She was launched on 16 November 1940 and commissioned 30 June 1941 at Sorel.[9]Camrose had three refits during her career, the first being at Lunenburg in February 1942 until May 1942. The second refit took place at Pictou in April 1943 and took five and a half months to complete, among the work being done was an extension to the fo'c'sle. Her final major refit took place again at Pictou in September 1944.[10]
Service historyedit
Initially assigned to Halifax Force in July 1941, she was transferred to Newfoundland Command in October of that year. She worked as an ocean escort on convoys from St. John's to Iceland until February 1942 when she was laid up for a refit. Upon her return to active service, she returned to Newfoundland Command.[10]
In June 1942 she was reassigned to the Western Local Escort Force (WLEF). In October that year she was sent to the United Kingdom to take on escort duties for convoys supplying Operation Torch. Camrose would spend five months escorting convoys from the UK to Gibraltar. In April she was sent for another refit, only returning to active service after five months. Upon completion of her workups, she was assigned to escort group EG-6 with the Royal Navy.
During this time she escorted convoys from the UK to Gibraltar or Freetown.[10] While on escort duty in the North Atlantic on 8 January 1944, Camrose was involved in the sinking of U-757 alongside HMS Bayntun.[9]
In May 1944 she was assigned to Western Approaches Command at Greenock. As part of her invasion duties, she escorted convoys to and from Normandy. In September 1944 she returned to Canada and went for another refit. Upon her resumption of duties in January 1945 she was made part of escort group EG 41 of the Royal Navy out of Plymouth. She served with that group until VE-Day. Camrose took part in the reoccupation of St. Helier in the Channel Islands.[10]
^"Battle Honours". Britain's Navy. Retrieved 4 August 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.
^Jane's Fighting Ships of World War II. New Jersey: Random House. 1996. p. 68. ISBN0-517-67963-9.
^Blake, Nicholas; Lawrence, Richard (2005). The Illustrated Companion to Nelson's Navy. Stackpole Books. pp. 39–63. ISBN0-8117-3275-4.
^Chesneau, Roger; Gardiner, Robert (June 1980). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922-1946. Naval Institute Press. p. 62. ISBN0-87021-913-8.
^Milner, Marc (1985). North Atlantic Run. Naval Institute Press. pp. 117–119, 142–145, 158, 175–176, 226, 235, 285–291. ISBN0-87021-450-0.
^Macpherson, Ken; Milner, Marc (1993). Corvettes of the Royal Canadian Navy 1939-1945. St. Catharines: Vanwell Publishing. ISBN1-55125-052-7.
^ ab"HMCS Camrose (K154)". Uboat.net. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
^ abcdeMacpherson, Ken; Burgess, John (1981). The ships of Canada's naval forces 1910-1981 : a complete pictorial history of Canadian warships. Toronto: Collins. p. 72. ISBN0-00216-856-1.
hmcs, camrose, royal, canadian, navy, flower, class, corvette, which, took, part, convoy, escort, duties, during, second, world, named, camrose, alberta, circa, november, 1943, history, canada, namecamrose, namesakecamrose, alberta, ordered22, january, 1940, b. HMCS Camrose was a Royal Canadian Navy Flower class corvette which took part in convoy escort duties during the Second World War She was named for Camrose Alberta HMCS Camrose circa November 1943 History Canada NameCamrose NamesakeCamrose Alberta Ordered22 January 1940 BuilderMarine Industries Ltd Sorel Laid down17 February 1940 Launched16 November 1940 Commissioned30 June 1941 Decommissioned22 July 1945 IdentificationPennant number K154 Honours andawardsAtlantic 1941 45 Normandy 1944 North Sea 1944 Gulf of St Lawrence 1944 English Channel 1945 1 FateScrapped in Hamilton Ontario General characteristics Class and typeFlower class corvette Displacement925 long tons 940 t 1 036 short tons Length205 ft 62 48 m o a Beam33 ft 10 06 m Draught11 5 ft 3 51 m Propulsionsingle shaft 2 fire tube Scotch boilers 1 4 cylinder 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 Complement85 Sensors and processing systems1 SW1C or 2C radar 1 Type 123A or Type 127DV sonar Armament1 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 Service history 4 ReferencesBackground editMain article Flower class corvette Flower class corvettes like Camrose 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 editCamrose was ordered on 22 January 1940 as part of the 1939 1940 Flower class building program It was laid down by Marine Industries Ltd at Sorel on 17 September 1940 She was launched on 16 November 1940 and commissioned 30 June 1941 at Sorel 9 Camrose had three refits during her career the first being at Lunenburg in February 1942 until May 1942 The second refit took place at Pictou in April 1943 and took five and a half months to complete among the work being done was an extension to the fo c sle Her final major refit took place again at Pictou in September 1944 10 Service history editInitially assigned to Halifax Force in July 1941 she was transferred to Newfoundland Command in October of that year She worked as an ocean escort on convoys from St John s to Iceland until February 1942 when she was laid up for a refit Upon her return to active service she returned to Newfoundland Command 10 In June 1942 she was reassigned to the Western Local Escort Force WLEF In October that year she was sent to the United Kingdom to take on escort duties for convoys supplying Operation Torch Camrose would spend five months escorting convoys from the UK to Gibraltar In April she was sent for another refit only returning to active service after five months Upon completion of her workups she was assigned to escort group EG 6 with the Royal Navy During this time she escorted convoys from the UK to Gibraltar or Freetown 10 While on escort duty in the North Atlantic on 8 January 1944 Camrose was involved in the sinking of U 757 alongside HMS Bayntun 9 In May 1944 she was assigned to Western Approaches Command at Greenock As part of her invasion duties she escorted convoys to and from Normandy In September 1944 she returned to Canada and went for another refit Upon her resumption of duties in January 1945 she was made part of escort group EG 41 of the Royal Navy out of Plymouth She served with that group until VE Day Camrose took part in the reoccupation of St Helier in the Channel Islands 10 In June 1945 she returned to Canada for good and on 22 July 1945 she was paid off at Sydney Nova Scotia After the war she was sold for scrapping in June 1947 and broken up at Hamilton 10 11 References edit Battle Honours Britain s Navy Retrieved 4 August 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 Jane s Fighting Ships of World War II New Jersey Random House 1996 p 68 ISBN 0 517 67963 9 Blake Nicholas Lawrence Richard 2005 The Illustrated Companion to Nelson s Navy Stackpole Books pp 39 63 ISBN 0 8117 3275 4 Chesneau Roger Gardiner Robert June 1980 Conway s All the World s Fighting Ships 1922 1946 Naval Institute Press p 62 ISBN 0 87021 913 8 Milner Marc 1985 North Atlantic Run Naval Institute Press pp 117 119 142 145 158 175 176 226 235 285 291 ISBN 0 87021 450 0 Macpherson Ken Milner Marc 1993 Corvettes of the Royal Canadian Navy 1939 1945 St Catharines Vanwell Publishing ISBN 1 55125 052 7 a b HMCS Camrose K154 Uboat net Retrieved 4 August 2013 a b c d e Macpherson Ken Burgess John 1981 The ships of Canada s naval forces 1910 1981 a complete pictorial history of Canadian warships Toronto Collins p 72 ISBN 0 00216 856 1 Camrose 6111694 Miramar Ship Index Retrieved 13 July 2016 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title HMCS Camrose amp oldid 1194718584, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
