Bittern-class sloop

HMS Bittern ablaze in Namsos Fjord after having suffered a direct hit in the stern by a bomb.
Class overview
Builders	William Denny & Brothers, Dumbarton, United Kingdom John Brown Shipbuilding & Engineering Company Limited, Clyde, UK J S White & Company, Cowes, UK
Operators	Royal Navy
Lost	One, HMS Bittern
Retired	Two
General characteristics
Type	Sloop-of-war
Displacement	1190 Tons
Length	266 ft (81 m)
Beam	37 ft (11 m)
Propulsion	Geared steam turbines on two shafts 3,300 hp
Speed	18.75 kt
Complement	125
Armament	Six 4" AA guns (3x2) Four .5" AA guns (1x4) Enchantress (as designed): Four 4.7" guns (4x1) Four .5" AA guns (1x4) Depth charges

The Bittern class sloop was a three ship class of long-range escort vessels used in the Second World War by the Royal Navy.

Design

They were built as light, long-range escort ships with little anti-air capability. Three were built: HMS Enchantress, HMS Bittern and HMS Stork. HMS Enchantress, originally built as HMS Bittern but renamed before being launched in 1934, was the first in the class, and was built as an unarmed Admiral's yacht. Armament was restored at the outbreak of war, however the aft turret was originally replaced with accommodation and the armament was never replaced. The under-construction Enchantress was then renamed Bittern.

Career

HMS Stork was completed as an unarmed survey vessel, and was only armed after the outbreak of war. The third ship in the class was launched as HMS Bittern, and completed as designed, but was lost to air attacks in the Norwegian campaign in 1940. HMS Enchantress survived the war and was sold into civilian service in 1946, being renamed Lady Enchantress. She was broken up in 1952. HMS Stork remained in service until being broken up in 1958.

References

• Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8.