HMCS Louisburg (K143)

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Coordinates: 36°15′N 00°15′E / 36.250°N 0.250°E / 36.250; 0.250
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For other ships with the same name, see HMCS Louisburg.

HMCS Louisburg
History
Canada
NameLouisburg
Namesake
Louisburg, Nova Scotia
Ordered23 January 1940
BuilderMorton Engineering and Dry Dock Co. Quebec City
Laid down4 October 1940
Launched27 May 1941
Commissioned2 October 1941
Out of service6 February 1943
IdentificationPennant number: K143
Honours and
awards		Atlantic 1941–42[1]
FateSunk 6 February 1943
General characteristics
Class and typeFlower-class corvette[2]
Displacement925 long tons (940 t; 1,036 short tons)
Length205 ft (62.48 m)o/a
Beam33 ft (10.06 m)
Draught11.5 ft (3.51 m)
Installed power
  • 2 × fire tube Scotch boilers
  • 1 × 4-cycle triple-expansion reciprocating steam engine
  • 2,750 ihp (2,050 kW)
PropulsionSingle shaft
Speed16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Range3,500 nmi (6,482 km) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Complement85
Sensors and
processing systems
  • 1 × SW1C or 2C radar
  • 1 × Type 123A or Type 127DV sonar
Armament

HMCS Louisburg was a

Louisburg, Nova Scotia
.

Background

Main article: Flower-class corvette

Flower-class corvettes like Louisburg serving with the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War were different from earlier and more traditional sail-driven corvettes.

whaling ship design.[7] The generic name "flower" was used to designate the class of these ships, which – in the Royal Navy – were named after flowering plants.[8]

Corvettes commissioned by the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War were named after communities for the most part, to better represent the people who took part in building them. This idea was put forth by Admiral Percy W. Nelles. Sponsors were commonly associated with the community for which the ship was named. Royal Navy corvettes were designed as open sea escorts, while Canadian corvettes were developed for coastal auxiliary roles which was exemplified by their minesweeping gear. Eventually the Canadian corvettes would be modified to allow them to perform better on the open seas.[9]

Construction

Louisburg was ordered 23 January 1940 as part of the 1939–1940 Flower-class building program. She was laid down by

Quebec City and launched 27 May 1941. She was commissioned 2 October 1941 at Quebec City.[10][11]

During her brief career, Louisburg underwent two significant refits. The first took place at Halifax from the end of March 1942 until June of that year. The second took place on the

AA fittings added in preparation for her escort duties related to Operation Torch.[11]

War service

After arriving at

St. John's and Derry.[11]

In September 1942 Louisburg was sent to the United Kingdom as part of the Canadian contribution to Operation Torch. On 9 December 1942 she was rammed by HMS Bideford while anchored at Derry. She spent five weeks in repair yards at Belfast recovering from the damage. Upon her return to service, she was assigned to escort Torch-related convoys.[11]

Sinking

While escorting a convoy, KMF 8, from

Bone, Algeria, the Louisburg was among those hit by bombs and torpedoes from two formations of enemy aircraft. The first formation was made up of seven Ju 88 bombers and the second seven He 111 armed with torpedoes operating out of Italy. 38 crew were lost when she sank near Oran.[10][11]

Notes

  1. ^ "Battle Honours". Britain's Navy. Retrieved 18 August 2013.
  2. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8
    .
  3. ^ Ossian, Robert. "Complete List of Sailing Vessels". The Pirate King. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
  4. ^ Fitzsimons, Bernard, ed. (1978). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of 20th Century Weapons & Warfare. Vol. 11. London: Phoebus. pp. 1137–1142.
  5. ISBN 0-517-67963-9
    .
  6. ISBN 0-8117-3275-4
    .
  7. ISBN 0-87021-913-8
    .
  8. ISBN 0-87021-450-0
    .
  9. ISBN 1-55125-052-7
    .
  10. ^ a b "HMCS Louisburg (i) (K 143)". Uboat.net. Retrieved 18 August 2013.
  11. ^
    ISBN 0-00216-856-1
    .

External links

36°15′N 00°15′E / 36.250°N 0.250°E / 36.250; 0.250

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