Castle-class corvette

The Castle class was a group of ocean-going convoy escort corvettes developed in Britain during the Second World War, entering service from late 1943. It followed the Flower class and was meant for the shipyards that had been building Flowers: a stretched, improved corvette, about 135 tons heavier and 47 feet longer, with a better hull form that made it faster on the same engine. Its main changes were the Squid anti-submarine mortar and a new dual-purpose 4-inch gun. Ninety-six were ordered from British and Canadian yards, but fifteen British and all 37 Canadian orders were cancelled, Canada took twelve British-built ships, and four became weather ships after the war. A. & J. Inglis of Glasgow built some of the class, including Oakham Castle and Norham Castle, while its orders for Dover Castle and Dudley Castle were cancelled.