HMS Kenilworth Castle (K420)
 Kenilworth Castle (K420) in November 1943
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | Kenilworth Castle |
| Namesake | Kenilworth Castle |
| Builder | Smiths Dock Company |
| Launched | 17 August 1943 |
| Commissioned | 14 November 1943 |
| Identification | Pennant number: K420 |
| Fate | Scrapped June 1956 |
| General characteristics (as built) | |
| Class and type | Castle-class corvette |
| Displacement | 1,010 long tons (1,030 t) (standard) |
| Length | 252 ft (76.8 m) |
| Beam | 33 ft (10.1 m) |
| Draught | 13 ft 9 in (4.2 m) (deep load) |
| Installed power |
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| Propulsion | 1 shaft, 1 triple-expansion engine |
| Speed | 16.5 knots (30.6 km/h; 19.0 mph) |
| Range | 6,500 nmi (12,000 km; 7,500 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) |
| Complement | 99 |
| Sensors and processing systems |
|
| Armament |
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HMS Kenilworth Castle was a Castle-class corvette built for the Royal Navy during the Second World War.
History
[edit]She was built by Smiths Dock Company at South Bank, North Yorkshire, launched on 17 August 1943, and commissioned on 14 November 1943.
In World War II, she served as a convoy escort and took part in the sinking of two U-boats:
- U-744 was sunk by HMS Icarus, HMCS St. Catharines, HMCS Fennel, HMCS Chilliwack, HMCS Chaudiere, HMCS Gatineau and Kenilworth Castle on 6 March 1944
- U-1200 was sunk south of Ireland by HMS Pevensey Castle, HMS Launceston Castle, HMS Portchester Castle and Kenilworth Castle on 11 November 1944 – all in the 30th Escort Group under Commander Denys Rayner.
Kenilworth Castle was scrapped at Llanelli in June 1956.[1] Her bell was given to The Bugle Inn, Yarmouth, Isle of Wight.[citation needed]
In media
[edit]Lt. Cmdr. James Joseph Allon (1 May 1910 – 31 May 2004) commanded Kenilworth Castle in the Second World War. Shortly before he died, he wrote some reminiscences of his Merchant Navy and Royal Navy career which are included in the BBC's online archive WW2 People's War here:
- Allon, Bill (29 June 2004). "Corvette commander on North Atlantic anti submarine duty (Part One)". WW2 People's War. BBC.
- Allon, Bill (29 June 2004). "Corvette commander on North Atlantic anti submarine duty (Part Two)". WW2 People's War. BBC.
- Allon, Bill (29 June 2004). "Corvette commander on North Atlantic anti submarine duty (Part Three)". WW2 People's War. BBC.
- Allon, Bill (29 June 2004). "Corvette commander on North Atlantic anti submarine duty (Part Four)". WW2 People's War. BBC.
References
[edit]- ^ "Kenilworth Castle". Tees Built Ships. Shipping and Shipbuilding Research Trust. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (August 2008) |
Bibliography
[edit]- Campbell, N. J. M. (1980). "Great Britain (including Empire Forces)". In Chesneau, Roger (ed.). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. Greenwich, UK: Conway Maritime Press. pp. 2–85. ISBN 0-85177-146-7.
- 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.
- Goodwin, Norman; compiled by (2007). Castle Class Corvettes: An Account of the Service of the Ships and of Their Ships' Companies. Liskeard, UK: Maritime Books. ISBN 978-1-904459-27-9.
- Lenton, H. T. (1998). British & Empire Warships of the Second World War. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-048-7.
