Name HMS Hurst Castle Commissioned 9 June 1944 Construction started 6 August 1943 Length 77 m | Laid down 6 August 1943 Type Corvette Launched 23 February 1944 Draft 3 m | |
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Builder Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Company Dundee Fate Sunk by U-482 on 1 September 1944 | ||
HMS Hurst Castle (K416) was a Castle-class corvette of the United Kingdom's Royal Navy. She was named after Hurst Castle at the western end of the Solent in Southern England.
Built by the Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Company in Dundee and launched on 23 February 1944, she served as a convoy escort during the Second World War. She was sunk by the German submarine U-482 on 1 September 1944 northwest of Ireland whilst part of the escort for convoy CU-36. The submarine fired a single G7es torpedo. Sixteen of the ship's company were killed, the youngest, Donald Bennett, being only sixteen.
Only one other Castle-class corvette was sunk by U-boats, HMS Denbigh Castle (K696) on 13 February 1945.
In January 2007 there were still five crew members living around the UK.
The wreck of HMS Hurst Castle was discovered at a depth of 85 metres, and on 23 October 2011 Barry McGill became the first person to dive the wreck, operating from MV Rosguill. Rosguill Charters