Dates: 1942 - 1945
H.M.S. Bann (K256)
Built by: Charles Hill & Sons Ltd., Bristol
Laid Down: 18th June 1942
Launched: 29th December 1942
Commissioned: 7 May 1943
Paid Off: 5th December 1945
Fate: Transferred to India as HMIS Tir (K256). Broken up 1979
Displacement: 1,375 Tons
Notes on River Class Frigates
The River class frigate was a class of 151 frigates launched between 1941 and 1944 for use as anti-sub Marine convoy escorts in the North Atlantic.
The majority served with the Royal Navy and Royal Canadian Navy, with some serving in the other Allied navies; the Royal Australian Navy, the Free French Navy, the Royal Netherlands Navy and, post-war, the South African Navy. Ten ships built in Canada were assigned to the United States Navy to cover for a shortage of suitable convoy escorts until American built ships became available. In the event, only two were commissioned in the UNITED STATES NAVY, the remaining eight were commissioned in the RN and RCN.
After World War II they found employment in many other navies the world over; several RCN ships were sunk as breakwaters.
River class ships were designed by naval engineer William Reed to have the endurance and anti-submarine capabilities of the Black Swan class sloops, while being quick and cheap to build in civil dockyards using the machinery (eg reciprocating steam engines instead of turbines) and construction techniques pioneered in the building of the Flower-class corvettes.
The River class design was used as the basis for the United States Navy’s Tacoma class (known to the Royal navy as the Colony class frigate), and the hull design was later elaborated into the Loch class frigate, and subsequently the Bay class frigate.
Other River Class Frigates and their fates.
Royal Navy (Group I)
H.M.S. Ballinderry (K255)
Built by: Blyth Shipbuilding & Drydock, Blyth.
Laid Down: 6th November 1941.
Launched: 7th December 1942
Commissioned: 2nd September 1943
Paid Off: 1945
Fate: Transferred to Norway as Glomma 1946, scrapped 7 July 1961 by Ward Barrow.
Displacement: 1,375 Tons
H.M.S. Chelmer (K221)
Built by George Brown & Co., Greenock
Laid Down: 29th December 1941
Launched: 27th March 1943
Commissioned: 29th September 1943
Fate: Scrapped in August 1957
H.M.S. Dart (K21)
Built by Blyth Shipbuilding & Drydock, Blyth
Laid Down: 8th September 1941
Launched: 10th October 1942
Commissioned: 13th May 1943
Paid Off: Sold for scrap in November 1956
Fate: Scrapped in 1957
H.M.S. Derg (K257)
Built by Henry Robb Ltd., Leith
Laid Down: 16th April 1942
Launched: 7th January 1943
Commissioned: 10th June 1943
Paid Off: Transferred in 1951 to RNVR as drill ship Wessex, later Cambria
Fate: Scrapped in September 1960 at Cashmore
H.M.S. Ettrick (K254)
Built by John Crown & Sons Ltd., Sunderland
Laid Down: 31st December 1941
Launched: 22nd February 1943
Commissioned: 11th July 1943
Paid Off: Transferred to RCN on 29 January 1944 as HMCS Ettrick (K254). Returned to RN on 30 May 1945
Fate: Scrapped June 1953
H.M.S. Exe (K92)
Built by Fleming & Ferguson Ltd., Paisley
Laid Down: 11th February 1941
Launched: 16th May 1941
Commissioned: 19 March 1942
Paid Off: 6th August 1942 Placed in reserve 1946-1955
Fate: Sold for scrap on 20th September 1956. Scrapped at Preston
H.M.S. Itchen (K227)
Built by Fleming & Ferguson Ltd., Paisley
Laid Down: 14th July 1941
Launched: 29th July 1942
Commissioned: 28th December 1942
Paid Off: 23rd September 1943
Fate: Torpedoed and sunk by U-666 on 23rd September 1943 at 53-25N, 39-42W. Unfortunately 227 crew were killed, including survivors from other ships rescued by Itchen. 3 survivors were rescued by HMCS St. Croix
H.M.S. Jed (K235)
Built by Charles Hill & Sons Ltd., Bristol
Laid Down: 27th September 1941
Launched: 30th July 1942
Commissioned: 30th November 1942
Paid Off: Placed in reserve in 1946
Fate: Scrapped on 25th May 1957 at Milford Haven
H.M.S. Kale (K241)
Built by A. & J. Inglis L
