Name HMS Launceston Castle Laid down 27 May 1943 Decommissioned 1947 Construction started 27 May 1943 | Namesake Launceston Castle Commissioned 20 June 1944 Identification pennant number K397 Launched 27 November 1943 | |
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Builder Blyth Shipbuilding Company | ||
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.
Contents
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 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.
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. OCLC 67375475.