The Canadian “Wetaskiwin” corvette (HMCS Wetaskiwin) had the board number K175, class – Flower. It was built in Canada during World War II.
The “Wetaskiwin” corvette construction on April 11, 1940, launched on July 18, 1940, accepted into the Canadian Navy on December 17, 1940.
Main characteristics of this warship: 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.
Armament of this warship: one 102-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). Anti-submarine armament: two aft installations for dropping depth charges (40-70 bombs), 2-4 onboard installations (Mk.II depth charge throwers).
The “Wetaskiwin” corvette was used in the North Atlantic to escort the Allies sea convoys between Halifax city and Western approaches, in particular SC42, SC48, ON115, SC109, HX233, HX305. In a group of ships he participated in the sinking of the GermanU-588 the submarine of the Nazi Kriegsmarine.
The Wetaskiwin corvette was withdrawn from the Canadian Navy in 1945.
The photo source: Defense Canada.
Location: Atlantic
Photo time: April 1941