Flower-class corvettes like Sorel serving with the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War were different from earlier and more traditional sail-driven corvettes.[4][5][6] The "corvette" designation was created by the French for classes of small warships; the Royal Navy borrowed the term for a period but discontinued its use in 1877.[7] 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.[8] The generic name "flower" was used to designate the class of these ships, which – in the Royal Navy – were named after flowering plants.[9]
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.[10]
Constructionedit
Sorel was ordered on 22 January 1940 as part of the 1939–1940 Flower-class building program. She was laid down by Marine Industries Ltd. at Sorel, Quebec on 24 August 1940 and launched 16 November later that year.[11] She was commissioned at Sorel on 19 August 1941.[12]
Sorel had three major refits during her career. Her first took place after developing mechanical defects while on escort duty. She spent ten weeks beginning in January 1942 at Leith repairing. The second major overhaul took place between October 1942 and February 1943. It began at Liverpool, Nova Scotia but she was eventually transferred to Pictou and Halifax for completion.[12] The final refit began in November 1943 and took until 31 March 1944 to complete.[11] During this refit, begun at Halifax and completed at Dartmouth, Sorel had her fo'c'sle extended.[12]
Service historyedit
After arriving at Halifax for deployment, Sorel joined Sydney Force initially. In November 1941 she transferred to Newfoundland Command and became an ocean escort, protecting convoys between St. John's and Iceland. On her second convoy she developed mechanical problems and continued on to the United Kingdom for repairs in January 1942. She returned to service briefly as an ocean escort in April 1942.[12]
In May 1942, Sorel joined the Western Local Escort Force (WLEF). She left the force in October 1942 after departing for a major refit. After workups, she became a training ship in February 1943. She was posted at Digby, St. Margaret's and Pictou for training purposes. In September 1943, she was temporarily assigned to Mid-Ocean Escort Force escort group C-3 before undergoing another refit beginning in November 1943.[12]
After returning to service in mid-1944 she was posted to the Western Escort Force escort group W-4. She remained with this unit for the rest of the war.[12]
Paid off on 22 Jun 1945, she was sold to the Yugoslav Navy on 16 Nov 1945. While manned by a Yugoslav crew, she ran aground on the southern point of Henry Island on 13 Dec 1945.
Notesedit
^"Battle Honours". Britain's Navy. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
^Lenton, H.T.; Colledge, J.J (1968). British and Dominion Warships of World War II. Doubleday & Company. pp. 201, 212.
^When Sorel was built, Sorel was an independent town and was not associated yet with Tracy.
^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 Sorel (K 153)". Uboat.net. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
^ abcdefMacpherson, Ken; Burgess, John (1981). The ships of Canada's naval forces 1910–1981 : a complete pictorial history of Canadian warships. Toronto: Collins. pp. 86, 231–232. ISBN0-00216-856-1.
External linksedit
Hazegray. "Flower Class". Canadian Navy of Yesterday and Today. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
Ready, Aye, Ready. "HMCS Sorel". Retrieved 24 August 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
December 14, 2023
hmcs, sorel, flower, class, corvette, that, served, with, royal, canadian, navy, during, second, world, served, primarily, battle, atlantic, ocean, escort, named, sorel, quebec, historycanadanamesorelnamesakesorel, quebecordered22, january, 1940buildermarine, . HMCS Sorel 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 as an ocean escort She is named for Sorel Quebec 3 HMCS SorelHistoryCanadaNameSorelNamesakeSorel QuebecOrdered22 January 1940BuilderMarine Industries Ltd SorelLaid down24 August 1940Launched16 November 1940Commissioned19 August 1941Decommissioned22 June 1945IdentificationPennant number K153Honours andawardsAtlantic 1941 45 North Sea 1942 1 FateSold to the Yugoslav NavyGeneral characteristicsClass and typeFlower class corvette original 2 Displacement950 long tons 970 t 1 060 short tons Length205 ft 62 48 m Beam33 ft 10 06 m Draught11 5 ft 3 51 m PropulsionSingle shaft 2 water tube boilers 1 4 cyl triple expansion steam engine 2 750 hp 2 050 kW Speed16 knots 29 6 km h Range3 450 nmi 6 390 km 3 970 mi at 12 kn 22 km h 14 mph Complement6 officers 79 enlistedSensors and processing systemsRadar SW1C or 2C later Sonar Type 123A later Type 127DVArmament1 BL 4 in 102 mm Mk IX single gun 2 50 cal machine gun twin 2 Lewis 303 cal mg 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 3 Service history 4 Notes 5 External linksBackground editMain article Flower class corvette Flower class corvettes like Sorel serving with the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War were different from earlier and more traditional sail driven corvettes 4 5 6 The corvette designation was created by the French for classes of small warships the Royal Navy borrowed the term for a period but discontinued its use in 1877 7 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 8 The generic name flower was used to designate the class of these ships which in the Royal Navy were named after flowering plants 9 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 10 Construction editSorel was ordered on 22 January 1940 as part of the 1939 1940 Flower class building program She was laid down by Marine Industries Ltd at Sorel Quebec on 24 August 1940 and launched 16 November later that year 11 She was commissioned at Sorel on 19 August 1941 12 Sorel had three major refits during her career Her first took place after developing mechanical defects while on escort duty She spent ten weeks beginning in January 1942 at Leith repairing The second major overhaul took place between October 1942 and February 1943 It began at Liverpool Nova Scotia but she was eventually transferred to Pictou and Halifax for completion 12 The final refit began in November 1943 and took until 31 March 1944 to complete 11 During this refit begun at Halifax and completed at Dartmouth Sorel had her fo c sle extended 12 Service history editAfter arriving at Halifax for deployment Sorel joined Sydney Force initially In November 1941 she transferred to Newfoundland Command and became an ocean escort protecting convoys between St John s and Iceland On her second convoy she developed mechanical problems and continued on to the United Kingdom for repairs in January 1942 She returned to service briefly as an ocean escort in April 1942 12 In May 1942 Sorel joined the Western Local Escort Force WLEF She left the force in October 1942 after departing for a major refit After workups she became a training ship in February 1943 She was posted at Digby St Margaret s and Pictou for training purposes In September 1943 she was temporarily assigned to Mid Ocean Escort Force escort group C 3 before undergoing another refit beginning in November 1943 12 After returning to service in mid 1944 she was posted to the Western Escort Force escort group W 4 She remained with this unit for the rest of the war 12 Paid off on 22 Jun 1945 she was sold to the Yugoslav Navy on 16 Nov 1945 While manned by a Yugoslav crew she ran aground on the southern point of Henry Island on 13 Dec 1945 Notes edit Battle Honours Britain s Navy Retrieved 24 August 2013 Lenton H T Colledge J J 1968 British and Dominion Warships of World War II Doubleday amp Company pp 201 212 When Sorel was built Sorel was an independent town and was not associated yet with Tracy 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 Sorel K 153 Uboat net Retrieved 24 August 2013 a b c d e f Macpherson Ken Burgess John 1981 The ships of Canada s naval forces 1910 1981 a complete pictorial history of Canadian warships Toronto Collins pp 86 231 232 ISBN 0 00216 856 1 External links editHazegray Flower Class Canadian Navy of Yesterday and Today Retrieved 24 August 2013 Ready Aye Ready HMCS Sorel Retrieved 24 August 2013 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title HMCS Sorel amp oldid 1158127267, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
