A Canadian Chilliwack corvette escorting the NH-202 the Allied naval convoy.
The Canadian Chilliwack corvette (HMCS Chilliwack) had the tail number K131, class – Flower, was built in Canada.
Chilliwack corvette construction commenced on 03 July 1940, launched on 03 September 1940, accepted into the Canadian Navy on 08 April 1941.
Chilliwack corvette, main characteristics: displacement – 925 tons. Length – 62.4-63.4 m, draft – 3.51-3.35 m (depending on modifications), width – 10.06 m. Power plant – two boilers, one propeller. The maximum speed is 16 knots. Cruising range at a speed of 12 knots – 3500 miles. The crew is 85-90 people.
Chilliwack corvette, armament: one 101.6 mm cannon (BL 4 inch Mk IX) at the bow, at the stern – four 12.7 mm Vickers anti-aircraft machine guns (Vickers 0.5) or one 40-mm Pom-pom anti-aircraft gun (QF 2 pounder 1,6 ″ Pom Pom AA gun), along the sides – two twin 7.7-mm anti-aircraft machine guns Lewis (Lewis 0.303) or two 20-mm automatic anti-aircraft guns “Oerlikon” (Oerlikon).
Chilliwack corvette, anti-submarine armament: two aft installations for dropping depth charges (40-70 bombs), 2-4 onboard installations (Mk.II depth charge throwers).
Chilliwack corvette was used in the North Atlantic to escort convoys between Halifax and Western approaches (convoys SC, ON, HX, ONS). Participated in the sinking of the German submarine U-356.
The Chilliwack corvette was withdrawn from the Canadian Navy in 1946.
Chilliwack corvette photo source: Defense Canada.
Location: North Atlantic
Photo time: October 29, 1942