HMS Launceston Castle (K397)

History
United Kingdom
NameHMS Launceston Castle
NamesakeLaunceston Castle
BuilderBlyth Shipbuilding and Drydock Company
Laid down27 May 1943
Launched27 November 1943
Commissioned20 June 1944
Decommissioned1947
Identificationpennant number K397
FateScrapped 3 August 1959
General characteristics
Class and typeCastle-class corvette

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.

Service history

Launceston 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. Launceston Castle served in the 30th Escort Group commanded by Denys Rayner RNVR carrying his flag on board HMS Pevensey Castle. She 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. ^ "The Type VIIC U-boat U-1200 - German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net".
  2. ^ 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.