HMS Launceston Castle (K397)

HMS Launceston Castle (K397) was a Castle-class corvette of the United Kingdom's Royal Navy, named after Launceston Castle in Cornwall. The ship was constructed during the Second World War and saw service primarily as a convoy escort.

History
United Kingdom
Name: HMS Launceston Castle
Namesake: Launceston Castle
Builder: Blyth Shipbuilding and Drydock Company
Laid down: 27 May 1943
Launched: 27 November 1943
Commissioned: 20 June 1944
Decommissioned: 1947
Identification: pennant number K397
Fate: Scrapped 3 August 1959
General characteristics
Class and type: Castle-class corvette

Service history

Launceton Castle was launched by Blyth Shipbuilding and Drydock Company at Blyth in Northumberland on 27 November 1943.

In the Second World War she served as a convoy escort. Launceton Castle served in the 30th Escort Group commanded by Denys Rayner RNVR carrying his flag on board HMS Pevensey Castle. Launceston Castle, under the command of Lieut. R.M.Roberts, DSC, RNVR, was the escort member who actually sank the German submarine U-1200[1] south of Ireland on 11 November 1944, supported by her sister ships Pevensey Castle, Kenilworth Castle and Portchester Castle.

In 1953 she took part in the Fleet Review to celebrate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.[2]

References

  1. Souvenir Programme, Coronation Review of the Fleet, Spithead, 15 June 1953, HMSO, Gale and Polden

Publications

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.

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