Bittern-class sloop

TheBittern-class sloopwas a three-ship classof long-range escort vessels used in theSecond World Warby theRoyal Navy.

Storkin July 1943
Class overview
Name	Bitternclass
Builders	William Denny & Brothers,Dumbarton,United Kingdom John Brown Shipbuilding & Engineering Company Limited,Clyde,UK J S White & Company,Cowes,UK
Operators	Royal Navy
Preceded by	Kingfisherclass
Succeeded by	Egretclass
Built	3
Lost	1
Retired	2
General characteristics
Type	Sloop-of-war
Displacement	1190 Tons
Length	266 ft (81 m)
Beam	37 ft (11 m)
Propulsion	Gearedsteam turbineson two shafts 3,300 hp
Speed	18.75-knot (34.73 km/h)
Complement	125
Armament	Stork,Bittern Six4-inch (102 mm)AA guns (3 × 2) Four0.5-inch (13 mm)AA guns (1 × 4) Depth charges90 Enchantress(as designed): Four4.7 inchguns (4 × 1) Four 0.5-inch AA guns (1 × 4) Depth charges60

Design

TheBitternclass were built as light, long-range escort ships with limited anti-air capability. They were fitted with Denny-Brown fin stabilisers and aHACSfire control system.

Three ships were built:HMSEnchantress(originally calledBittern,but renamed before launching in 1934),HMSStorkandHMSBittern.Enchantresswas the first in the class, and was built as an armedAdmiral's yacht. The as-completed armament was two single 4.7-inch guns forward and four 3-pounder saluting guns. Anti-aircraft armament and a third, aft, 4.7-inch gun was installed at the outbreak of war.

Storkwas unarmed on completion, but with provision for six 4-inch guns, plusAAandASWweaponry; she served as a survey vessel in the Far East. Her main armament was added at the outbreak of war.

Bitterncompleted as designed, with the same armament asStork

The design served as the basis for theEgretandBlack Swan-class sloops.

Ships in class

Ship	Builder	Laid Down	Launched	Fate
Enchantress	John Brown Shipbuilding & Engineering Company Limited,Clydebank	9 March 1934	21 December 1934	Sold 1946
Stork	William Denny & Brothers,Dumbarton	19 June 1935	21 April 1936	Broken up 1958
Bittern	J S White & Company,Cowes	27 August 1936	14 July 1937	Sunk by bombing off Namsos, Norway, 30 April 1940

Service history

Enchantressserved as convoy escort throughout the war, and was credited with the destruction of an Italian submarine. She survived the war and was sold into civilian service in 1946, being renamedLady Enchantress.She was broken up in 1952. Storkwas completed as an unarmedsurvey vessel,and was only armed after the outbreak of war. She also served as a convoy escort, and was senior ship in36th Escort Groupunder Cdr.FJ Walker.She was credited with the destruction of four U-boats.Storkremained in service until being broken up in 1958. The third ship in the class was launched asBittern,and completed as designed. She was involved in theNorwegian campaign,but was lost to air attacks atNamsosin 1940.

References

• Brown, David K. (2000).NelsontoVanguard.Chatham Publishing.
• Campbell, N. J. M. (1980). "Great Britain (including Empire Forces)". In Chesneau, Roger (ed.).Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946.Greenwich, UK: Conway Maritime Press. pp. 2–85.ISBN0-85177-146-7.
• Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben & Bush, Steve (2020).Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy from the 15th Century to the Present(5th revised and updated ed.). Barnsley, UK: Seaforth Publishing.ISBN978-1-5267-9327-0.
• Friedman, Norman(2008).British Destroyers & Frigates: The Second World War and After.Barnsley, UK: Seaforth Publishing.ISBN978-1-84832-015-4.
• Hague, Arnold (1993).Sloops: A History of the 71 Sloops Built in Britain and Australia for the British, Australian and Indian Navies 1926–1946.Kendal, UK: World Ship Society.ISBN0-905617-67-3.
• Lenton, H. T.(1998).British & Empire Warships of the Second World War.Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press.ISBN1-55750-048-7.
• Rohwer, Jürgen(2005).Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two(Third Revised ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press.ISBN1-59114-119-2.