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fighting ships of the world

ROYAL NAVY (UNITED KINGDOM)

ESCORTS

"RIVER" (British- and early Canadian-built) frigates (1942 - 1944)

Fal 1943

Jed 1944

Meon 1963

Project history: Design of "River" class frigate was developed in 1941 when it became clear, that for service in Atlantic escorts larger than "Flower" class corvettes are required. Significantly increased dimensions have allowed to improve seaworthiness and habitability, to place additional armament and to fit twin-shaft machinery (actually doubled machinery of "Flower" class corvettes) and to increase speed to 20kts. 5 ships received more powerful turbine machinery. Originally known as "twin-screw corvettes", "River" class ships, as well as their predecessors, were created under merchant standards, but their hulls had lines more habitual for a warship, L/B ratio was 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 naval shipbuilding. First 24 British-built ships, besides ASW armament, were equipped with the minesweeps. On the subsequent ships it was absent, and fuel stowage has been increased from 440 to 646ts of oil due to rejection of anti-roll tanks.

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 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) were transferred to Royal Navy by lend-lease. The remaining 25 Canadian-built ships became 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)

1943-1944, many earlier ships: - type 286PU radar; + type 291 radar

1944, Helmsdale: - 1 x 24 - 178 Hedgehog; - type 144 sonar; + 1 x 3 - 305 Squid ASWRL, DC stowage decreased to 54, type 147 sonar

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

1944 - 1945, Inver: - 4 x 2 - 20/70, 2 x 1 - 20/70; + 2 x 2 - 40/56 Bofors Mk VIII/IX/XI, 2 x 1 - 40/56 Bofors Mk I/III

1944 - 1945, Meon, Usk: - 3 x 2 - 20/70; + 3 x 1 - 40/56 Bofors Mk I/III

1944 - 1945, Awe, Bann, Halladale, Helford, Jed, Kale, Ness, Nith, Tay, Teviot: - 2 x 2 - 20/70; + 2 x 1 - 40/56 Bofors Mk I/III

1944 - 1945, Barle, Taff: - 2 x 1 - 20/70; + 1 x 1 - 40/56 Bofors Mk I/III

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

1/1946, Aire, Avon, Dovey, Fal, Lochy, Nene, Odzani, Plym, Tavy, Tees, Wye, Evenlode, Findhorn, Lossie, Parret, Shiel: 2 x 1 - 102/40 CP Mk XXIII, 4 x 2 - 20/70 Mk V, 2 x 1 - 20/70 Mk III, 1 x 24 - 178 Hedgehog ASWRL, 8 DCT, 2 DCR (150), type 271 or type 272, type 291 or type 277 radars, type 144 sonar

1/1946, Barle, Taff: 2 x 1 - 102/40 CP Mk XXIII, 1 x 1 - 40/60 Mk III, 4 x 2 - 20/70 Mk V, 1 x 24 - 178 Hedgehog ASWRL, 8 DCT, 2 DCR (150), type 271 or type 272, type 291 or type 277 radars, type 144 sonar

1/1946, Awe, Halladale, Helford: 2 x 1 - 102/40 CP Mk XXIII, 2 x 1 - 40/60 Mk III, 2 x 2 - 20/70 Mk V, 2 x 1 - 20/70 Mk III, 1 x 24 - 178 Hedgehog ASWRL, 8 DCT, 2 DCR (150), type 271 or type 272, type 291 or type 277 radars, type 144 sonar

1/1946, Meon, Usk: 2 x 1 - 102/40 CP Mk XXIII, 3 x 1 - 40/60 Mk III, 1 x 2 - 20/70 Mk V, 2 x 1 - 20/70 Mk III, 1 x 24 - 178 Hedgehog ASWRL, 8 DCT, 2 DCR (150), type 271 or type 272, type 291 or type 277 radars, type 144 sonar

1/1946, Inver: 2 x 1 - 102/40 CP Mk XXIII, 2 x 2 - 40/60 Mk IV Hazemeyer, 2 x 1 - 40/60 Mk III, 1 x 24 - 178 Hedgehog ASWRL, 8 DCT, 2 DCR (150), type 271 or type 272, type 291 or type 277 radars, type 144 sonar

1/1946, Helmsdale: 2 x 1 - 102/40 CP Mk XXIII, 4 x 2 - 20/70 Mk V, 2 x 1 - 20/70 Mk III, 1 x 3 - 305 Squid ASWRL, 8 DCT, 2 DCR (54), type 271 or type 272, type 291 or type 277 radars, type 144, type 147B sonars

1/1946, Ballinderry, Chelmer, Dart, Derg, Ettrick, Exe, Ribble, Swale, Test, Trent, Waveney, Wear: 2 x 1 - 102/40 CP Mk XXIII, 4 x 2 - 20/70 Mk V, 2 x 1 - 20/70 Mk III, 1 x 24 - 178 Hedgehog ASWRL, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (150), mechanical minesweeping gear, type 271 or type 272, type 291 or type 277 radars, type 144 sonar

1/1946, Jed, Kale, Ness, Nith, Tay, Teviot: 2 x 1 - 102/40 CP Mk XXIII, 2 x 1 - 40/60 Mk III, 2 x 2 - 20/70 Mk V, 2 x 1 - 20/70 Mk III, 1 x 24 - 178 Hedgehog ASWRL, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (150), mechanical minesweeping gear, type 271 or type 272, type 291 or type 277 radars, type 144 sonar

1/1946, Rother, Spey: 2 x 1 - 102/40 CP Mk XXIII, 2 x 1 - 40/39 Mk VIII, 4 x 2 - 20/70 Mk V, 2 x 1 - 20/70 Mk III, 1 x 24 - 178 Hedgehog ASWRL, 8 DCT, 2 DCR (150), mechanical minesweeping gear, type 271 or type 272, type 291 or type 277 radars, type 144 sonar

1/1946, Towy: 2 x 1 - 102/40 CP Mk XXIII, 2 x 1 - 57/40 Mk VI, 4 x 2 - 20/70 Mk V, 2 x 1 - 20/70 Mk III, 1 x 24 - 178 Hedgehog ASWRL, 8 DCT, 2 DCR (150), type 271 or type 272, type 291 or type 277 radars, type 144 sonar

late 1940s, Avon, Ballinderry, Chelmer, Dart, Derg, Dovey, Ettrick, Exe, Fal, Lochy, Nene, Odzani, Plym, Ribble, Rother, Spey, Swale, Tavy, Tees, Test, Tovy, Wear, Wye: - (4 x 2 - 20/70, 2 x 1 - 20/70) or 6 x 2 - 20/70; + 6 x 1 - 40/60 Mk 7

late 1940s, Awe, Halladale, Helford, Jed, Kale, Ness, Nith, Tay, Teviot: - 4 x 2 - 20/70; + 4 x 1 - 40/60 Mk 7

late 1940s, Usk: - 3 x 2 - 20/70; + 3 x 1 - 40/60 Mk 7

late 1940s, Taff: - 4 x 2 - 20/70; + 5 x 1 - 40/60 Mk 7

late 1940s, Helmsdale was disarmed; 2 x 3 - 305 Squid ASWRL, type 271 or type 272 radar, type 144Q, type 147B sonars were installed.

late 1940s, Meon, Waveney were reclassified as HQ landing ships: all old armament was removed. New armament consists of 3 x 1 - 40/60 Mk 7, 4 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 7, superstructure was enlarged to provide accommodation to marines.

1954, New Glasgow; 1955, Outremont; 1957, Swansea; 1958, New Waterford, as follows:

Naval service: Tweed was sunk by German submarine U305 off Irish coast 7.1.1944; ltchen by German submarine U666 off Irish coast 22.9.1943; Mourne by German submarine U767 in La Manche 15.6.1944; Valleyfield by German submarine U548 7.5.1944.

Lagan was damaged by submarine 20.9.1943 and never repaired, Aunt also 29.3.1945, Chebogue also 4.10.1944 and Magog 14.10.1944.

Plym 3.10.1952 was lost at nuclear tests. Tir served as TS from 1948.

Many thanks to Wolfgang Stöhr for additional information on this page.

© Ivan Gogin, 2008-15