 HMCSBarrie | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Canada | |
| Name | Barrie |
| Namesake | Barrie, Ontario |
| Ordered | 1 February 1940 |
| Builder | Collingwood Shipyards Ltd.,Collingwood |
| Laid down | 4 April 1940 |
| Launched | 23 November 1940 |
| Commissioned | 12 May 1941 |
| Decommissioned | 26 June 1945 |
| Identification | Pennant number: K138 |
| Honours & awards | Atlantic 1941–45, English Channel 1942 |
| Fate | Sold for mercantile use 1947; purchased by Argentine Navy 1957 |
 Argentina | |
| Name | ARACapitán Cánepa |
| Acquired | taken over from mercantile interests |
| Commissioned | 1957 |
| Out of service | 1972 |
| Fate | Broken up 1972 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Flower-classcorvette (original) |
| Displacement | 950long tons (970 t) |
| Length | 205 ft 1 in (62.51 m)o/a |
| Beam | 33 ft 1 in (10.08 m) |
| Draught | 13 ft 5 in (4.09 m) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 16knots (30 km/h; 18 mph) |
| Range | 3,450 nmi (6,390 km; 3,970 mi) at 12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph) |
| Complement | 47 |
| Sensors & processing systems |
|
| Armament |
|
HMCSBarrie was aFlower-classcorvette that served with theRoyal Canadian Navy during theSecond World War. The ship was constructed byCollingwood Shipyards Ltd. atCollingwood, Ontario,laid down on 4 April 1940. The ship waslaunched on 23 November 1940 andcommissioned on 12 May 1941. The corvette was named for the city ofBarrie, Ontario.Barrie served primarily in theBattle of the Atlantic as aconvoy escort. Following the war,Barrie was sold to Argentinian commercial interests which converted the corvette to a cargo ship and renamed the vesselGasestado. In 1957,Gasestado was acquired by theArgentinian Navy and converted to asurvey ship and renamedARACapitán Cánepa. The Argentinian Navy discarded the ship in 1972.
Flower-classcorvettes such asBarrie serving with theRoyal Canadian Navy (RCN) in the Second World War were different from earlier and more traditional sail-driven corvettes.[1][2] The Flower-class corvettes originated from a need that arose in 1938 to expand theRoyal Navy following theMunich Crisis.[3] A design request went out for a small escort for coastalconvoys.[4] Based on a traditionalwhaler-type design, the initial Canadian ships of the Flower class had astandard displacement of 950long tons (970 t). They were 205 feet 1 inch (62.51 m)long overall with abeam of 33 feet 1 inch (10.08 m) and a maximumdraught of 13 feet 5 inches (4.09 m). The initial 1939–1940 corvettes were powered by a four-cylindervertical triple expansion engine powered by steam from twoScotch boilers turning one three-bladedpropeller rated at 2,800indicated horsepower (2,100 kW). The Scotch boilers were replaced withwater-tube boilers in later 1939–1940 and 1940–1941 Programme ships. The corvettes had a maximum speed of 16knots (30 km/h; 18 mph). This gave them a range of 3,450nautical miles (6,390 km; 3,970 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph).[5] The vessels were extremely wet.[6]
The Canadian Flower-class vessels were initially armed with aMk IX BL 4-inch (102 mm) gun forward on a CP 1 mounting and carried 100 rounds per gun. The corvettes were also armed with aQF Vickers 2-pounder (40 mm, 1.6 in) gun on a bandstand aft, two single-mounted.303 Vickers machine guns orBrowning 0.5-calibre machine guns foranti-aircraft defence and two twin-mounted.303 Lewis machine guns, usually sited on bridge wings.[3][5][7] Foranti-submarine warfare, they mounted twodepth charge throwers and initially carried 25 depth charges. The corvettes were designed with aType 123ASDIC sonar set installed. The Flower-class ships had a complement of 47 officers andratings.[3] The Royal Canadian Navy initially ordered 54 corvettes in 1940 and these were fitted with Mark II Oropesaminesweeping gear used for destroyingcontact mines.[8] Part of the depth charge rails were made portable so the minesweeping gear could be utilised.[9]
In Canadian service the vessels were altered due to experience with the design's deficiencies. Thegalley was moved further back in the ship and the mess and sleeping quarters combined. A wirelessdirection finding set was installed, and enlargedbilge keels were installed to reduce rolling.[10] After the first 35–40 corvettes had been constructed, the foremast was shifted aft of thebridge and the mainmast was eliminated. Corvettes were first fitted with basicSW-1 and SW-2 CQ surface warningradar, notable for their fishbone-like antenna and reputation for failure in poor weather or in the dark. The compass house was moved further aft and the open-type bridge was situated in front of it. The ASDIC hut was moved in front and to a lower position on the bridge. The improvedType 271 radar was placed aft, with some units receivingType 291 radar for air search. The minesweeping gear, a feature of the first 54 corvettes, was removed.[11] Most Canadian Flower-class corvettes had theirforecastles extended which improved crew accommodation and seakeeping. Furthermore, the sheer and flare of thebow was increased, which led to an enlarged bridge. This allowed for the installation ofOerlikon 20 mm (0.8 in) cannon, replacing the Browning and Vickers machine guns.[12] Some of the corvettes were rearmed withHedgehog anti-submarinemortars.[13] The complements of the ships grew throughout the war rising from the initial 47 to as many as 104.[12]
Ordered as part of the 1939–1940 Flower-class building program,Barrie waslaid down byCollingwood Shipyards Ltd. atCollingwood, Ontario on 4 April 1940. The corvette waslaunched on 23 November 1940 andcommissioned on 12 May 1941 atMontreal, Quebec. Named for thecommunity in Ontario, the ship was given thepennant number K138.[14] After commissioningBarrie was assigned to Sydney Force, operating as a local anti-submarine escort out ofSydney, Nova Scotia in theBattle of the Atlantic. The corvette left Sydney Force in September and joined the transatlanticconvoySC 43 en route to Iceland. However, the ship left the convoy early due to defects and sailed forBelfast, Northern Ireland, for repairs.[14] While alongside in Belfast,Barrie was the first Canadian corvette to have a Type 271 radar installed.[15] After returning to operations,Barrie was assigned to the escort group 6 and escorted the convoysONS 50 and SC 51 across the Atlantic without incident between December 1941 and January 1942.[16] In February 1942, with the withdrawal of American ships from convoy escort duties,Barrie was re-assigned to escort group A2.[17] On 9 February 1942, the corvette rescued 38 survivors from the British merchant shipEmpire Fusilier which had beentorpedoed and sunk south east ofSt John's, Newfoundland byU-85.[18]
In May 1942Barrie was assigned to theWestern Local Escort Force (WLEF), escorting convoys along the coast of North America. The corvette remained with the WLEF until near the end of the war. In June 1943 she was assigned to escort group W-1.Barrie stayed with W-1 for much of the war except for a short period in late 1944 where she was temporarily assigned to escort group W-8.Barrie's second refit began in mid-March 1944 atThompson Brothers inLiverpool, Nova Scotia where her forecastle was extended. After trials offBermuda, the corvette joinedHX 357 for the ship's last convoy mission, leavingNew York City for Europe on 19 May 1945. UponBarrie's return to Canada, the ship waspaid off on 26 June 1945 atSorel, Quebec.[14] For the vessel's service during the Second World War,Barrie was awarded thebattle honours "Atlantic 1941–45" and "English Channel 1942".[19][20]
The corvette was sold toArgentine mercantile interests in 1947. The ship was renamedGasestado. In 1957Gasestado was taken over by theArgentine Navy and renamedCapitán Cánepa.Capitán Cánepa was used as asurvey vessel until beingbroken up in 1972.[14][21]
