Flower-class corvettes like Orillia serving with the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War were different from earlier and more traditional sail-driven corvettes.[3][4][5] 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.[6] 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.[7] The generic name "flower" was used to designate the class of these ships, which – in the Royal Navy – were named after flowering plants.[8]
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.[9]
Construction and careeredit
Ordered 1 February 1940 as part of the 1939–1940 Flower-class building program, Orillia was laid down by Collingwood Shipyards on 4 March 1940. Launched 1 September she was commissioned later that year on 25 November at Collingwood, Ontario.[10] She was sent to Halifax to join the convoys.
HMCS Orillia, in right background, with C4 Escort Group off the coast of Northern Ireland
Orillia was first assigned to Halifax Local Defence Force upon arrival. She served with them until 23 May 1941 when she was assigned as an original member of Newfoundland Escort Force operating out of St. John's, Newfoundland.[11] During this time she was assigned to convoy SC 42, a slow convoy. Orillia was part of an escort group that included the destroyer HMCS Skeena, and corvettes HMCS Alberni and Kenogami. The convoy sailed directly into the path of a U-boat wolfpack of 14 u-boats. During the running battle the Orillia dropped back to pick up survivors and eventually stood by the damaged tanker Tahchee and towed her to Iceland. However the commander, Lieutenant Commander Ted Briggs, RNCR, failed to notify his senior officer that he was doing so for some time, depriving the convoy of one of her few escorts. Though a great humanitarian gesture this added to the mayhem within the convoy. Sixteen ships were sunk during the battle.[12]
On 24 December 1941 she was sent for a refit at Halifax. Upon completion of the refit she joined Escort Group (EG) C-1 and was sent to work up at Tobermory for three weeks. Orillia spent until January 1944 escorting convoys on the Newfy-Derry run. She joined Escort Group C-2 in November 1942 and worked with them until her next refit in March 1944.[11]
Orillia was sent to Liverpool for a lengthy refit, where they lengthened her fo'c'sle. After completing the refit she spent the rest of the war as part of EG W-2.
^"Battle Honours". Britain's Navy. Retrieved 22 August 2013.
^Lenton, H.T.; Colledge, J.J (1968). British and Dominion Warships of World War II. Doubleday & Company. pp. 201, 212.
^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.
^"HMCS Orillia (K 119)". Uboat.net. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
^ abcMacpherson, Ken; Burgess, John (1981). The ships of Canada's naval forces 1910–1981 : a complete pictorial history of Canadian warships. Toronto: Collins. p. 82. ISBN0-00216-856-1.
^German, Tony (1990). The Sea is at our Gates : The History of the Canadian Navy. Toronto: McClelland and Stewart Inc. pp. 106. ISBN0-7710-3269-2.
Hazegray. "Flower Class". Canadian Navy of Yesterday and Today. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
Ready, Aye, Ready. "HMCS Orillia". Retrieved 30 July 2013.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
March 15, 2024
hmcs, orillia, flower, class, corvette, that, served, with, royal, canadian, navy, during, second, world, fought, primarily, battle, atlantic, named, orillia, ontario, historycanadanameorillianamesakeorillia, ontarioordered1, february, 1940buildercollingwood, . HMCS Orillia was a Flower class corvette that served with the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War She fought primarily in the Battle of the Atlantic She was named for Orillia Ontario HMCS OrilliaHistoryCanadaNameOrilliaNamesakeOrillia OntarioOrdered1 February 1940BuilderCollingwood Shipyards Ltd CollingwoodLaid down4 March 1940Launched15 September 1940Commissioned25 November 1940Out of servicepaid off 2 July 1945IdentificationPennant number K119Honours andawardsAtlantic 1941 45 1 FateScrapped 1951General characteristicsClass and typeFlower class corvette original 2 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 PropulsionSingle shaft 2 fire tube Scotch boilers 1 4 cycle 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 single 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 Originally fitted with minesweeping gear later removed Contents 1 Background 2 Construction and career 3 Notes 4 External linksBackground editMain article Flower class corvette Flower class corvettes like Orillia serving with the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War were different from earlier and more traditional sail driven corvettes 3 4 5 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 6 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 7 The generic name flower was used to designate the class of these ships which in the Royal Navy were named after flowering plants 8 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 9 Construction and career editOrdered 1 February 1940 as part of the 1939 1940 Flower class building program Orillia was laid down by Collingwood Shipyards on 4 March 1940 Launched 1 September she was commissioned later that year on 25 November at Collingwood Ontario 10 She was sent to Halifax to join the convoys nbsp HMCS Orillia in right background with C4 Escort Group off the coast of Northern IrelandOrillia was first assigned to Halifax Local Defence Force upon arrival She served with them until 23 May 1941 when she was assigned as an original member of Newfoundland Escort Force operating out of St John s Newfoundland 11 During this time she was assigned to convoy SC 42 a slow convoy Orillia was part of an escort group that included the destroyer HMCS Skeena and corvettes HMCS Alberni and Kenogami The convoy sailed directly into the path of a U boat wolfpack of 14 u boats During the running battle the Orillia dropped back to pick up survivors and eventually stood by the damaged tanker Tahchee and towed her to Iceland However the commander Lieutenant Commander Ted Briggs RNCR failed to notify his senior officer that he was doing so for some time depriving the convoy of one of her few escorts Though a great humanitarian gesture this added to the mayhem within the convoy Sixteen ships were sunk during the battle 12 On 24 December 1941 she was sent for a refit at Halifax Upon completion of the refit she joined Escort Group EG C 1 and was sent to work up at Tobermory for three weeks Orillia spent until January 1944 escorting convoys on the Newfy Derry run She joined Escort Group C 2 in November 1942 and worked with them until her next refit in March 1944 11 Orillia was sent to Liverpool for a lengthy refit where they lengthened her fo c sle After completing the refit she spent the rest of the war as part of EG W 2 She was paid off on 2 July 1945 at Sorel The ship was sold for scrapping in January 1951 and broken up in Hamilton Ontario 11 13 Notes edit Battle Honours Britain s Navy Retrieved 22 August 2013 Lenton H T Colledge J J 1968 British and Dominion Warships of World War II Doubleday amp Company pp 201 212 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 HMCS Orillia K 119 Uboat net Retrieved 30 July 2013 a b c Macpherson Ken Burgess John 1981 The ships of Canada s naval forces 1910 1981 a complete pictorial history of Canadian warships Toronto Collins p 82 ISBN 0 00216 856 1 German Tony 1990 The Sea is at our Gates The History of the Canadian Navy Toronto McClelland and Stewart Inc pp 106 ISBN 0 7710 3269 2 Orillia 6112189 Miramar Ship Index Retrieved 14 July 2016 External links editHazegray Flower Class Canadian Navy of Yesterday and Today Retrieved 30 July 2013 Ready Aye Ready HMCS Orillia Retrieved 30 July 2013 a href Template Cite news html title Template Cite news cite news a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title HMCS Orillia amp oldid 1193751741, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
