Flower-class corvettes like Stellarton 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
Stellarton was ordered in June 1942 as part of the 1943–44 Increased Endurance Flower-class building program, which followed the main layout of the 1942–43 program. The only significant difference is that the majority of the 43–44 program replaced the 2-pounder Mk.VIII single "pom-pom" anti-aircraft gun with 2 twin 20-mm and 2 single 20-mm anti-aircraft guns.[8]Stellarton was laid down by Morton Engineering and Dry Dock Co. at Quebec City, Quebec 16 November 1943 and launched 27 April 1944.[9][10] She was commissioned into the RCN 29 September 1944 at Quebec City.[11]
Service historyedit
After working up in Bermuda, Stellarton was assigned to the Mid-Ocean Escort Force. She was allocated to escort group C-3 as a trans-Atlantic convoy escort. She escorted her first convoy in January 1945. She spent the rest of the war with the group.[11]
Stellarton was paid off 1 July 1945 at Sorel, Quebec and placed in reserve. She was transferred to the War Assets Corporation and sold to the Chilean Navy in 1946.[11]
Chilean Navyedit
She arrived in Chile 12 April 1946 and was renamed Casma. She served with the Chilean Navy until 30 December 1967 when she was decommissioned. She was sold for scrap and broken up in July 1969.[10][12]
Notesedit
^"Battle Honours". Britain's Navy. Retrieved 29 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.
^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.
^ abMacpherson, Ken; Milner, Marc (1993). Corvettes of the Royal Canadian Navy 1939–1945. St. Catharines: Vanwell Publishing. ISBN1-55125-052-7.
^"HMCS Stellarton (K 457)". Uboat.net. Retrieved 29 September 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. 102. ISBN0-00216-856-1.
^. Armada de Chile (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
External linksedit
Hazegray. "Revised Flower Class". Canadian Navy of Yesterday and Today. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
Ready, Aye, Ready. "HMCS Stellarton". Retrieved 29 September 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
January 01, 1970
hmcs, stellarton, modified, flower, class, corvette, that, served, royal, canadian, navy, during, second, world, fought, primarily, battle, atlantic, convoy, escort, named, stellarton, nova, scotia, after, sold, chilean, navy, history, canada, name, namesakest. HMCS Stellarton was a modified Flower class corvette that served in the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War She fought primarily in the Battle of the Atlantic as a convoy escort She was named for Stellarton Nova Scotia After the war she was sold to the Chilean Navy HMCS StellartonHistory Canada NameHMCS Stellarton NamesakeStellarton Nova Scotia OrderedJune 1942 BuilderMorton Engineering and Dry Dock Co Quebec City Laid down16 November 1943 Launched27 April 1944 Commissioned29 September 1944 Decommissioned1 July 1945 IdentificationPennant number K457 Honours andawardsAtlantic 1945 1 FateSold to Chilean navy Chile NameCasma Acquired18 March 1946 Commissioned12 April 1946 Decommissioned30 December 1967 FateScrapped 1969 General characteristics Class and typeModified Flower class corvette Displacement1 015 long tons 1 031 t 1 137 short tons Length208 ft 63 4 m o a Beam33 ft 10 1 m Draught11 ft 3 35 m Propulsionsingle shaft 2 water tube 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 Complement90 Sensors and processing systems1 Type 271 SW2C radar 1 Type 144 sonar Armament1 4 in 102 mm BL Mk IX single gun 1 2 pdr Mk VIII single pom pom AA gun 2 20 mm Oerlikon single 1 Hedgehog A S mortar 4 Mk II depth charge throwers 2 depth charge rails with 70 depth charges Contents 1 Background 2 Construction 3 Service history 3 1 Chilean Navy 4 Notes 5 External linksBackground editMain article Flower class corvette Flower class corvettes like Stellarton 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 editStellarton was ordered in June 1942 as part of the 1943 44 Increased Endurance Flower class building program which followed the main layout of the 1942 43 program The only significant difference is that the majority of the 43 44 program replaced the 2 pounder Mk VIII single pom pom anti aircraft gun with 2 twin 20 mm and 2 single 20 mm anti aircraft guns 8 Stellarton was laid down by Morton Engineering and Dry Dock Co at Quebec City Quebec 16 November 1943 and launched 27 April 1944 9 10 She was commissioned into the RCN 29 September 1944 at Quebec City 11 Service history editAfter working up in Bermuda Stellarton was assigned to the Mid Ocean Escort Force She was allocated to escort group C 3 as a trans Atlantic convoy escort She escorted her first convoy in January 1945 She spent the rest of the war with the group 11 Stellarton was paid off 1 July 1945 at Sorel Quebec and placed in reserve She was transferred to the War Assets Corporation and sold to the Chilean Navy in 1946 11 Chilean Navy edit She arrived in Chile 12 April 1946 and was renamed Casma She served with the Chilean Navy until 30 December 1967 when she was decommissioned She was sold for scrap and broken up in July 1969 10 12 Notes edit Battle Honours Britain s Navy Retrieved 29 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 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 a b Macpherson Ken Milner Marc 1993 Corvettes of the Royal Canadian Navy 1939 1945 St Catharines Vanwell Publishing ISBN 1 55125 052 7 HMCS Stellarton K 457 Uboat net Retrieved 29 September 2013 a b Colledge J J Warlow Ben 2006 1969 Ships of the Royal Navy The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy Rev ed London Chatham Publishing ISBN 978 1 86176 281 8 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 102 ISBN 0 00216 856 1 Casma corbeta Armada de Chile in Spanish Archived from the original on 22 February 2014 Retrieved 29 September 2013 External links editHazegray Revised Flower Class Canadian Navy of Yesterday and Today Retrieved 29 September 2013 Ready Aye Ready HMCS Stellarton Retrieved 29 September 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 Stellarton amp oldid 1158129950, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
