Dubai issued a set of four stamps for World Meteorological Day, March 23, 1970, the 60 dirhams value showing the O.W.S. Weather Reporter, the stamp being based on an actual photograph of the ship after the naming ceremony by Lord Hiercomb on March 16, 1958.
The reconnaissance aircraft, a Hastings, depicted on this value, no longer flies over the Atlantic but it used to do regular weather observation flights.
Great Britain had four weather ships, based at Greenock. They were all former Royal Navy corvettes of the "Castle" class. The Weather Reporter was formerly H.M.S. Oakham Castle, 1,010 tons, length 225 ft., beam 36.4 ft., armed with one 4‑in, and ten 20 mm. guns.
They were ordered in 1943‑44. The Oakham Castle was built by A. and I. Inglis in July 1944. She was transferred to the Air Ministry in August, and renamed Weather Reporter in 1958.
Sold in 1978 to Pounds Maritime Shipping Ltd., Portsmouth.
Broken up 1978 at Middlesborough.
NOTE: Log Book says that Weather Reporter used to be HMS GARHAM CASTLE. I don’t know which is correct.
Sea Breezes July 1970. Log BookJune 1989.
Dubai SG349
Weather Reporter.
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aukepalmhof
- Posts: 8005
- Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2009 1:28 am
Re: Weather Reporter.
Built as corvette under yard No 1236p by A&J Inglis at Pointhouse, Glasgow for the Royal Navy.
30 November 1943 keel laid down.
20 July 1944 launched as the OAKHAM CASTLE (K530) one of the Castle class.
Displacement 1,110 ton standard, 1,590 ton full load. Dim. 76.81 x 11.31 x 4.11m. (draught). Length bpp. 68.6m.
Powered by one 4-cyl triple expansion steam engine, 2,980 ihp, one shaft, speed 16.5 knots.
Bunker capacity 480 tons.
Armament 1 – 4 inch gun, 2 – 40mm Oerlikons AA, 2 – 20mm Oerlikons AA guns. 15 Depth charges, two depth charge throwers and 1 depth charge rail.
Crew 96.
10 December 1944 commissioned.
After a working up at Tobermore in which she suffered a minor grounding she joined on 10 January 1945 the Liverpool Escort Pool.
She completed three escort voyages to Gibraltar but was also used for escort in the British Western Approaches.
30 May 1945 she sailed from Gibraltar to escort the submarine HMS SPIRIT to Portsmouth.
After her return in the U.K she sailed to Stavanger, Norway from where she escorted a ship with German POW’s to via the Kiel Canal to Hamburg, a other escort voyage from Christiansand with POW’s to Germany, after that she sailed to Rosyth where she arrived on 12 August 1945.
Then used in anti submarine training first at Campbeltown later at Portland.
From early 1946 until June 1950 she underwent on various dockyards modifications repairs and refits.
June 1950 in reserve.
July 1957 transferred to Air Ministry and converted in a weather ship by James Lamont & Co., Glasgow.
03 April 1958 conversion completed.
16May 1958 renamed in WEATHER REPORTER by Lord Hurcomb.
22 May she sailed for her first voyage stationed at Station Alpha in the North Atlantic.
Her last voyage her 145th in 1977she was stationed on Station Lima.
September 1977 out of service and sold to Tees Marine.
27 November 1977 arrived at Middlesbrough and was scrapped by Teesside Shipbreakers Ltd there which commenced scrapping on 13 February 1978.
Dubai 1970 60d sg349, scott121.
Source: Castle Class Corvettes by Norman Goodwin and Steve Bush. http://www.miramarshipindex.org.nz and various other web-sites..
30 November 1943 keel laid down.
20 July 1944 launched as the OAKHAM CASTLE (K530) one of the Castle class.
Displacement 1,110 ton standard, 1,590 ton full load. Dim. 76.81 x 11.31 x 4.11m. (draught). Length bpp. 68.6m.
Powered by one 4-cyl triple expansion steam engine, 2,980 ihp, one shaft, speed 16.5 knots.
Bunker capacity 480 tons.
Armament 1 – 4 inch gun, 2 – 40mm Oerlikons AA, 2 – 20mm Oerlikons AA guns. 15 Depth charges, two depth charge throwers and 1 depth charge rail.
Crew 96.
10 December 1944 commissioned.
After a working up at Tobermore in which she suffered a minor grounding she joined on 10 January 1945 the Liverpool Escort Pool.
She completed three escort voyages to Gibraltar but was also used for escort in the British Western Approaches.
30 May 1945 she sailed from Gibraltar to escort the submarine HMS SPIRIT to Portsmouth.
After her return in the U.K she sailed to Stavanger, Norway from where she escorted a ship with German POW’s to via the Kiel Canal to Hamburg, a other escort voyage from Christiansand with POW’s to Germany, after that she sailed to Rosyth where she arrived on 12 August 1945.
Then used in anti submarine training first at Campbeltown later at Portland.
From early 1946 until June 1950 she underwent on various dockyards modifications repairs and refits.
June 1950 in reserve.
July 1957 transferred to Air Ministry and converted in a weather ship by James Lamont & Co., Glasgow.
03 April 1958 conversion completed.
16May 1958 renamed in WEATHER REPORTER by Lord Hurcomb.
22 May she sailed for her first voyage stationed at Station Alpha in the North Atlantic.
Her last voyage her 145th in 1977she was stationed on Station Lima.
September 1977 out of service and sold to Tees Marine.
27 November 1977 arrived at Middlesbrough and was scrapped by Teesside Shipbreakers Ltd there which commenced scrapping on 13 February 1978.
Dubai 1970 60d sg349, scott121.
Source: Castle Class Corvettes by Norman Goodwin and Steve Bush. http://www.miramarshipindex.org.nz and various other web-sites..
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