FRIGATES AND CORVETTES

And again, the war hit the British fleet, as snow on the head. Again, as in the First world, the main problem was the German submarines. Small sloops and patrol boats could not cover all the sea routes in the waters of the great Empire. In addition, for mass production they did not fit. The sloops were too expensive, and 102-mm twin anti-aircraft guns lacked for other, larger ships. “Kingfisher” was too small for ocean service, and turbine mechanisms for it demanded well-equipped factories and highly skilled workers. And again, the situation a quarter century ago was repeated almost exactly. On stage again was a universal escort ships bearing the names of colors and therefore again referred to as “Flows”.

 

However, over the past 25 years the possibility of Britain declined markedly. Quickly start mass construction of anti-submarine ships with a little bit of modern characteristics have already failed. Had to reduce ambitions and to use as the basis for the project, a modest whaling “southern pride”, built by “Smith, Doc.” Sturdy but clumsy hull (length-width ratio only slightly exceeded 5:1) lengthened by 10 m, extended in the stern and forecastle expanded bridges and cuttings, providing them with a light anti-bullet armor. To the sailors could keep the strength to fight, the interior was supplied with artificial ventilation and a normal electric lights, which were deprived of their civilian counterparts. That creature became the progenitor of a new class of ships, nostalgically called corvettes by analogy with auxiliary sailing vessels, “the masters of all trades” in the time of Nelson, Jervis, and Hood.

 

Despite all attempts to make civil ship warship, his whaling pedigree shone in huge for such a small hull lees, which made the “flower” vulnerable target for torpedoes (no wonder almost all the dead during the war were victims of this weapon). In case of accident or damage to the only steam engine hunter turned into a helpless target that was tough even for artillery submarine. Short wide case predetermined low speed Corvette, which he is ill suited for chasing submarines, especially in the open Atlantic.

 

 

However, the “flowers” had such obvious advantages as low cost, ease of manufacturing, good maneuverability and adequate supply of depth charges. However, the space for extra weapons is clearly lacking. The most that has been done since 1942 installing one 40-mm “POM-POM” and a pair or two light 20-mm “zlichov” and “Hedgehog”— the first jet ASW mortars. The last was not too effective, but in the early and mid-war was considered a very promising weapon.

 

Meanwhile, it was becoming obvious that a purely “whaling” project has exhausted its possibilities. And then the chief engineer of the same company “Doc Smith” William Reid has developed a new project. Proposed extended another 13 m (while maintaining the width) hull with extended forecastle and significantly raised the bow is much better suited for action in heavy seas. Corvettes of the series “castle” have received the names of English, Scottish and Irish castles, which looked more like warships than their predecessors. The main advantage was the installation of the latest anti-submarine weapons — reactive mortars “Squid”.

 

A salvo of three heavy depth charges exploding at different depths when covering would leave the submarine much of a chance, unlike the scattering of small bombs “Hedgehog”, besides sabatinovka only in direct contact. No wonder “Squid” remained the main anti-submarine weapon for quite a long time after the war. And superficially “castle” had a much more solid feel — mostly due to the impressive lattice masts, carrying search radar and direction finder.

 

But for all its positive qualities, the corvettes had only limited application. To accompany transatlantic convoys lacked range, and long service in the open ocean greatly exhausted command. No wonder almost simultaneously with the creation of the “flower” series, the Admiralty ordered the project to larger escort vessel.

 

The main conditions become the maximum cheapness and unification with the corvettes. The latter was achieved through the use of the same steam engines triple expansion, but in twice the number. Also doubled the number 102-millimetrovogo. As the main anti-submarine weapons installed best that there was in 1941 — the “Hedgehog”. Significantly increased the supply of conventional depth charges reached a hundred.

 

So there is another class of escort ships, whose name was also returning from the era of sailing ships, — frigates. The first series was designated “the river” (“River”): all units bear the names of rivers of great Britain — the country in General, rivers are not rich. Since the number of ships was approaching the hundred, “embodied” in the metal was even quite a small river.

 

A very successful first frigates nevertheless not fully satisfy the requirements of sailors. The fuel supply was insufficient, and designers had to abandon the Central equipment, and to redesign the cabin and the pantry. The result has been to increase the capacity of oil tanks in 1.5 times— up to 650 tons, which allowed not only to cross the Atlantic without refueling, but also to the active search and pursuit of submarines at high speed.

 

To the British “rivers” were soon added the canadian. Easy to manufacture, dozens of ships were laid at the shipyards of the dominion overseas. Canadians are not only faithfully reproduced the project, but stepped up weapons, replacing a single-chetyrehmetrovy on the two-gun installation, in addition to which some of the frigates were mounted and 76-mm antiaircraft guns. Until the end of the war in Canada was built the same “Reavers” as in the UK, and order another 20 had to be cancelled in connection with the termination of hostilities. All in all, the dominion was able to put almost half of the escort ships produced for the war in the British Empire, often with stronger weapons and better equipment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I must say that Canadians are not too strictly followed the English tradition of naming, giving its ships names and rivers and mountains and towns, and bays. But in Australia, a country almost devoid of large rivers, there were still a dozen proper names. The Australian “Gascoigne”, and his sistership also wore a pair of 102-mm guns, but unlike the canadian frigates, not a Sparky, and two single units on bow and stern.

 

Quite satisfactory design “Rivera” still lacked the most important thing — more powerful anti-submarine weapons. At that time it simply was not. But by the end of 1943 arrived, promising “Squid”, and the designers had to rework the drawings.