H. M.
S. H A D L E I G H C AS T L E
( K 3 5 5 )
"CASTLE" Class Frigate ordered on 9th December 1942 from
Smiths Dock SB, Middlesbrough and laid down on 4th April 1943 as Job Number
4702 (Yard Number 1124). The ship was launched on 21st June 1943 as the
1st
RN ship to carry the name. Build was completed on 18th September 1943.
B a t t
l e H o n o u r s
ATLANTIC 1943
S u m m
a r y o f W a r
S e r v i c e
1 9 4
3
September Contractors trails and
commissioned for service.
18th Build completion and commenced
Acceptance Trials
On completion of
trials and storing took passage to Tobermory to
work-up for operational
service
October Worked-up at Tobermory
On completion
took passage to join Western Approaches Command.
November Deployed for Atlantic convoy
defence
to
December
1 9 4 4
January Deployed with 5th (British)
Escort Group for
convoy escort in NW Approaches.
to (Note: Ships in Group
included
December HM Corvettes CARISBROOKE
CASTLE, DUMBARTION CASTLE,
BERKELEY CASTLE and BAMBOROUGH CASTLE.
1 9 4 5
January
Deployed for convoy defence in Home waters following the increasing
threat posed by
to new design and
‘SCHNORKEL' fitted types of U-Boat which were being used to carry
May attacks
on shipping in UK coastal waters..
June Remained
in Home waters until reduced to Reserve status after VE-Day
to
August
Po s t W a r N o t e s
HMS HADLEIGH CASTLE remained
laid-up in Reserve until 1958 when placed on the Disposal List as part
of the reduction of the number of
ships in Reserve under a Defence Review. Sold to BISCO for demolition by
C W Dorkin
the ship arrived in tow at the breaker’s yard at Gateshead in January 1959.
