Stork 1942
| Name | No | Yard No | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Comp | Fate |
| Bittern | L07 - U07 | 1820 | White, Cowes | 8.1936 | 14.7.1937 | 3.1938 | sunk 30.4.1940 |
| Enchantress (ex-Bittern) | L56 - U56 | 540 | John Brown, Clydebank | 3/1934 | 21.12.1934 | 4.1935 | sold 1946 |
| Stork | L81 - U81, 1948- F81 | 1282 | Denny, Dumbarton | 6.1935 | 21.4.1936 | 9.1936 | BU 6.1958 |
|
Displacement standard, t |
1190 Enchantress: 1085 |
|
Displacement full, t |
1790 Enchantress: 1650 |
|
Length, m |
86.0 |
|
Breadth, m |
11.3 |
|
Draught, m |
3.48 deep load Enchantress: 3.30 deep load |
|
No of shafts |
2 |
|
Machinery |
2 sets Parsons geared steam turbines, 2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers Enchantress: 2 sets Brown-Curtis geared steam turbines, 2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers |
|
Power, h. p. |
3300 |
|
Max speed, kn |
18.75 |
|
Fuel, t |
oil 393 |
| Endurance, nm(kts) | |
|
Armament |
Stork, Bittern: 3 x 2 - 102/45 QF Mk XVI, 2 x 1 - 47/40 3pdr Hotchkiss Mk I, 1 x 4 - 12.7/62, 2 DCT, 1 DCR (15) Enchantress: 2 x 1 - 120/45 QF Mk IX, 4 x 1 - 47/40 3pdr Hotchkiss Mk I, 2 DCT, 1 DCR (15) |
|
Sensors |
type 124 sonar Enchantress: type 121 sonar |
|
Complement |
156 Enchantress: 128 |
Project history: These ships were larger, better armed and faster in comparison with Grimsby class sloops. They were designed under 1933-1935 Programmes. Under the original design Bittern class sloops should carry 4 120mm guns, as destroyers but were completed with lighter armament. Enchantress was completed as an admiral's yacht with increased aft superstructure and only two main guns (the third was installed in May, 1936 but soon removed). She was commissioned as a rescue ship and first time did not carry armament. Bittern instead of regular 120mm guns received 6 102mm guns in twin mounts. Occurrence of Denny-Brown stabilizers became the important innovation. These ships appeared very successful and served as prototypes for several series of AA sloops, designed throughout war.
Modernizations: Bittern was commissioned as survey ship without armament and armed in 1939.
5/1936, Enchantress: + 1 x 1 - 120/45 QF Mk IX
1937, Enchantress: - 1 x 1 - 120/45
autumn 1939, all: - (2 - 4) x 1 - 47/40
1939, Stork: + 1 x 4 - 12.7/62
12/1940, Enchantress: + 1 x 1 - 76/45 20cwt QF Mk I/II/III/IV, 2 x 4 - 12.7/62, type 286M radar
1941, Enchantress: - type 286M radar; + type 286P radar
1941, Stork: + 2 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, type 286 radar
1942, Enchantress: - type 121 sonar; + 1 x 24 - 178 Hedgehog ASWRL, type 144 sonar
1942, Stork: - type 124 sonar; + 1 x 24 - 178 Hedgehog ASWRL, type 272, type 285 radars, type 144 sonar
1943, Enchantress: - 2 x 4 - 12.7/62, type 286P radar; + 4 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, 2 DCT, 1 DCR, DC stowage increased up to 60, type 271, type 291 radars
1943, Stork: - 2 x 4 - 12.7/62, type 286 radar; + 2 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, type 291 radar, 2 DCT, 1 DCR, DC stowage rose up to 90
1945, Stork: - 4 x 1 - 20/70; + 3 x 1 - 40/56 Bofors Mk III
1/1946, Enchantress: 2 x 1 - 120/45 CP Mk XIV, 1 x 1 - 76/45 Mk II, 4 x 1 - 20/70 Mk III, 1 x 24 - 178 Hedgehog ASWRL, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (60), type 271, type 291 radars, type 144 sonar
1/1946, Stork: 3 x 2 - 102/45 Mk XIX, 3 x 1 - 40/60 Mk VII, 1 x 24 - 178 Hedgehog ASWRL, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (90), type 272, type 285, type 291 radars, type 144 sonar
1946, Stork: - 1 x 2 - 102/45 ('B')
Naval service: Bittern was sunk by German aircraft 30.4.1940 at Namsos, Norway. Stork was laid up in 1946.
Many thanks to Wolfgang Stöhr for additional information on this page.
Enchantress 1936
© Ivan Gogin, 2008-15