HMS WYE. Pennant No K371. Built by H Robb (Leith) Job No 11816. Completed 9 February 1944. Building time 15 months 9 days.
Launched 16 August 1943. Sold to West of Scotland Shipbreakers arriving Troon 22 February 1955 and scrapped.
An identical photograph can be found in WW2 Fact Files, British Escort Ships by H T Lenton.
The 'Flower' class Corvettes were not fast enough or big enough for the North Atlantic, so, in 1940 the Admiralty decided on speedier and larger vessels.
Orders for these vessels, first referred to as 'Twin Screw Corvettes' were quickly placed with various yards around the U.K. They were to be known as 'River' class Frigates.
Vessels completed in the U.K. were:
1940 -27. 1941 - 19. 1942 - 11. A total of 57.
The Canadian yards were also busy. 70 ships of this class were completed, including 8 vessels built for the US Navy, but transferred to the RN on completion.
Specification for British Built ships was:-
Displacement 1370 - 1445 tons. Length 283'pp. 301'6"oa Breadth 36'6". Draught 11'6"(fwd) 14'4"(aft).
Machinery was steam triple-expansion reciprocating except for HMS CAM, CHELMER,
ETTRICK, HALLADALE and HELMSDALE which had turbines. Boilers 2 Admiralty water tube. 2 screws. 55001hp. (Turbines 6500shp) 20 knots.
Complement 107 - 140.
Armament varied. Two single 4" guns. Two 2pdr or 10 Oerlikons. Two single Oerlikons or One Hedgehog. Eight DC throwers or 4 DC throwers. 100RC's or 200 DC's.
The Canadian built vessels differed from the UK built version. HMS BARLE which was built by Canadian Vickers at Montreal as P0103 for the US Navy but transferred to
the RN under Lease Lend - the first to be delivered to the RN had the following specifications:
Length 283'pp. 301'6"oa. Breadth 36'7". Draught 11'6"(fwd) 14'4"(aft) Machinery 4-cyl triple expansion. 2 Admiralty 3 drum type boilers. 2 screws. 5500ihp. Designed speed 20 knots. Armament Two single 4". Eight single Oerlikons. Two twin (electric) Oerlikons. One Hedgehog. Four DC throwers. Two DC Rails. 1500-200 DC's.
The armament on BARLE was altered in Sydney, Australia early in 1945 on joining the British Pacific Fleet. Two twin 40mm Bofors and Two single Bofors were substituted
for some of the Oerlikon guns.
Log Book ay 1992 (article by P G Longhurst)
Trinidad and Tobago SG806 (I do not have the stamp)