home

fighting ships of the world

CANADIAN NAVY - CANADA

ESCORTS

early River frigates (WASKESIU) (1943, 1943-1944/1944)

Annan 1944

St. Catherine's 1963

 

Data variant	as completed
Displacement standard, t	1310 - 1460
Displacement full, t	1920 - 2180
Length, m	86.3 pp 91.8 oa
Breadth, m	11.2
Draught, m	3.61 - 3.89 deep load
No of shafts	2
Machinery	2 VTE, 2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers Ettrick: 2 sets Parsons geared steam turbines, 2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers
Power, h. p.	5500 Ettrick: 6500
Max speed, kts	20 Ettrick: 21
Fuel, t	Ettrick, Ribble: oil 440 late ships: oil 646
Endurance, nm(kts)
Armament	Ettrick, Ribble: 2 x 1 - 102/40 QF Mk XIX, (4 - 6) x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, 1 x 24 - 178 Hedgehog ASWRL, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (126 - 150), mechanical minesweeping gear others: 2 x 1 - 102/40 QF Mk XIX, (4 - 6) x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, 1 x 24 - 178 Hedgehog ASWRL, 8 DCT, 2 DCR (126 - 150)
Electronic equipment	British built: type 271 or type 272, type 291 or type 277 radars, type 144 sonar Canadian built: SU radar, type 144 sonar
Complement	140

Project history: Design of "River" class frigate was developed in 1941 when it became clear, that for service in Atlantic escorts are required larger than "Flower" class corvettes. Significantly increased dimensions have allowed to improve seaworthiness and conditions of habitability of crew, to place additional armament and to fit twin-shaft machinery (actually doubled machinery of "Flower" class corvettes) and to increase speed to 20kts. An exception made 5 ships which have received more powerful turbine machinery.

Originally known as "twin-screw corvettes", "River" class ships, as well as their predecessors, were created on standards of merchant shipbuilding, but their hulls had outlines more habitual for a warship, and its slenderness has increased from 6 to 8. Thus the building technology, as well as  corvettes, as much as possible adapted for usage on the yards which do not have experience of construction of combat ships.

First 24 British-built ships, besides anti-submarine armament, were equipped with the minesweeping equipment. On the subsequent ships it was absent, and fuel stowage has been increased from 440 to 646ts of oil.

Ships of 2nd group were built in Canada under British order, 10 from them intended for transfer to US Navy which during this period felt the big requirement in escorts. However by the moment of completing of frigates intended to USN they have appeared are not necessary, as in the USA own program of building of the similar ships has been developed. Only 2 were transferred really to USN, remaining 8 (Barle, Cuckmere, Evenlode, Findhorn, Inver, Lossie, Parret and Schiel) have supplemented Royal Navy by lend-lease. The remaining 25 Canadian-built ships were a part of RCN.

Modernizations: 1943 - 1944, all survived: DC stowage increased up to 150.

1943 - 1944, all survived ships: - (4 - 6) x 1 - 20/70; + 6 x 2 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV or (4 x 2 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, 2 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV)

1944-1945, many: - type 271, type 291 radars; + type 272, type 277 radars

1945, most survived Canadian-built frigates: - 2 x 1 - 102/40; + 1 x 2 - 102/45 QF Mk XVI

1954, New Glasgow; 1955, Outremont; 1957, Swansea; 1958, New Waterford, as given in the table.

Naval service: Valleyfield by German submarine U548 7.5.1944.