Bittern class sloop
Encyclopedia
The Bittern class sloop was a three ship class of long-range escort vessels used in the Second World War by the Royal Navy
.
fire control system.
Three ships were built: HMS Enchantress, HMS Bittern
and HMS Stork. HMS Enchantress, originally built as HMS Bittern but renamed before being launched in 1934, was the first in the class, and was built as an armed Admiral
's yacht. Armament was 2 single 4.7 inch guns forward and 4 3 pounder saluting guns. Anti aircraft armament was installed at the outbreak of war, however the aft turret was originally replaced with accommodation and the armament was never replaced. The under-construction Enchantress was then renamed Bittern.
The design served as the basis for the Egret class sloop
and the Black Swan class sloop
HMS Stork was completed as an unarmed survey vessel
, and was only armed after the outbreak of war. The third ship in the class was launched as HMS Bittern, and completed as designed, but was lost to air attacks in the Norwegian campaign
in 1940. HMS Enchantress survived the war and was sold into civilian service in 1946, being renamed Lady Enchantress. She was broken up in 1952. HMS Stork remained in service until being broken up in 1958.
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
.
Design
They were built as light, long-range escort ships with limited anti-air capability. They were fitted with Denny-Brown fin stabilisers and a HACSHACS
HACS, an acronym of High Angle Control System, was a British anti-aircraft fire-control system employed by the Royal Navy from 1931 onwards and used widely during World War II...
fire control system.
Three ships were built: HMS Enchantress, HMS Bittern
HMS Bittern (L07)
HMS Bittern was a Bittern class sloop of the Royal Navy. She was laid down on 27 August 1936 by J. Samuel White, of Cowes, Isle of Wight and launched on 14 July 1937.She served in Home waters and off the coast of Norway during the Second World War...
and HMS Stork. HMS Enchantress, originally built as HMS Bittern but renamed before being launched in 1934, was the first in the class, and was built as an armed Admiral
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
's yacht. Armament was 2 single 4.7 inch guns forward and 4 3 pounder saluting guns. Anti aircraft armament was installed at the outbreak of war, however the aft turret was originally replaced with accommodation and the armament was never replaced. The under-construction Enchantress was then renamed Bittern.
The design served as the basis for the Egret class sloop
Egret class sloop
The Egret class sloops were a three ship class of a long-range escort vessels used in the Second World War by the Royal Navy. They were an enlarged version of the Bittern class sloop with an extra twin 4 inch gun mounting...
and the Black Swan class sloop
Black Swan class sloop
The Black Swan class and Modified Black Swan class were two classes of sloop of the Royal Navy and Royal Indian Navy. Thirteen Black Swans were launched between 1939 and 1943, including four for the Royal Indian Navy; twenty-four Modified Black Swans were launched between 1942 and 1945, including...
Ships Careers
| Ship | Builder | Launched | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|
| HMS Bittern HMS Bittern (L07) HMS Bittern was a Bittern class sloop of the Royal Navy. She was laid down on 27 August 1936 by J. Samuel White, of Cowes, Isle of Wight and launched on 14 July 1937.She served in Home waters and off the coast of Norway during the Second World War... |
J S White & Company J. Samuel White J. Samuel White was a British shipbuilding firm based in Cowes, taking its name from John Samuel White . It came to prominence during the Victorian era... , Cowes Cowes Cowes is an English seaport town and civil parish on the Isle of Wight. Cowes is located on the west bank of the estuary of the River Medina facing the smaller town of East Cowes on the east Bank... |
14 July 1937 | Sunk by bombing off Namsos, Norway, 30 April 1940 |
| HMS Enchantress | John Brown Shipbuilding & Engineering Company Limited, Clydebank Clydebank Clydebank is a town in West Dunbartonshire, in the Central Lowlands of Scotland. Situated on the north bank of the River Clyde, Clydebank borders Dumbarton, the town with which it was combined to form West Dunbartonshire, as well as the town of Milngavie in East Dunbartonshire, and the Yoker and... |
21 December 1934 | Sold 1946 |
| HMS Stork | William Denny & Brothers, Dumbarton, | 21 April 1936 | Broken up 1958 |
HMS Stork was completed as an unarmed survey vessel
Survey vessel
A survey vessel is any type of ship or boat that is used for mapping. It is a type of research vessel.-Role:The task of survey vessels is to map the bottom, benthic zone, full water column, and surface for the purpose of:* hydrography* general oceanography...
, and was only armed after the outbreak of war. The third ship in the class was launched as HMS Bittern, and completed as designed, but was lost to air attacks in the Norwegian campaign
Norwegian Campaign
The Norwegian Campaign was a military campaign that was fought in Norway during the Second World War between the Allies and Germany, after the latter's invasion of the country. In April 1940, the United Kingdom and France came to Norway's aid with an expeditionary force...
in 1940. HMS Enchantress survived the war and was sold into civilian service in 1946, being renamed Lady Enchantress. She was broken up in 1952. HMS Stork remained in service until being broken up in 1958.