The frigate HMS Ballinderry (K 255) of the Royal Navy.
Technical information
| Type | Frigate |
| Displacement | 1370 BRT |
| Length | 301 feet |
| Complement | 140 men |
| Armament | Original design; 2 x 4inch guns (2x1) 10 x 20m guns (2x2,6x1) |
| Max speed | 20 knots |
| Engines | 2 shaft Reciprocating (4 cyl. V.T.E.) HMS Cam, HMS Chelmer, HMS Ettrick, HMS Helmsdale and HMS Tweed 2 shaft Geared Turbines |
| Power | I.H.P. 5.500 HMS Cam, HMS Chelmer, HMS Ettrick, HMS Helmsdale and HMS Tweed S.H.P. 6.500 |
| Notes on class | Commonwealth frigates were specifically designed as anti-submarine escorts for trans-Atlantic convoys. River class frigates offered the size, speed, and endurance of escort sloops using inexpensive reciprocating machinery of corvettes. River class were designed for North Atlantic weather conditions and included the most effective anti-submarine sensors and weapons. HMS Rother and HMS Spey were launched in late 1941, and Canadian and Australian construction continued through 1944. Early River class units were available for the turning point convoy battles of the winter of 1942-43. River class frigates generally replaced the old Town and V&W class destroyers which had been assigned to ocean escort groups. Ten River class frigates were built for the United States in Canada. Two were commissioned in 1942 as USS Asheville (PF-1) and USS Natchez (PF-2), they were armed with U.S.N. pattern 3"/50 AA guns. The other eight were released under lend-lease for use by Commonwealth forces. |
Royal Navy ships of the River class
To see all River class ships click here.
| HMS Adur (K 269) (To the United States as USS Asheville) | ||
| HMS Aire (K 262) | ||
| HMS Annan (i) (K 297) (To the Royal Canadian Navy as HMCS Annan (i), later to the United States Navy as USS Natchez) | ||
| HMS Annan (ii) (K 404) (To the Royal Canadian Navy as HMCS Annan) | ||
| HMS Avon (K 97) | ||
| HMS Awe (K 526) | ||
 | HMS Ballinderry (K 255) | |
| HMS Bann (K 256) | ||
| HMS Barle (K 298) | ||
| HMS Braid (K 263) (To the Free French as L'Aventure) | ||
| HMS Cam (K 264) | ||
| HMS Chelmer (K 221) | ||
| | HMS Cuckmere (K 299) | |
| HMS Dart (K 21) | ||
| HMS Derg (K 257) | ||
| HMS Deveron (K 265) | ||
| HMS Dovey (K 523) | ||
| HMS Ettrick (K 254) (To the Royal Canadian Navy as Ettrick) | ||
| | HMS Evenlode (K 300) | |
| HMS Exe (K 92) | ||
| HMS Fal (K 266) | ||
| HMS Findhorn (K 301) | ||
| HMS Frome (K 267) (To the Free French as L'Escarmouche) | ||
| HMS Glenarm (K 258) (To the Free French as Croix de Lorraine) | ||
| HMS Halladale (K 417) | ||
| HMS Helford (K 252) | ||
| HMS Helmsdale (K 253) | ||
| HMS Inver (K 302) | ||
| HMS Itchen (K 227) | Lost on 23 Sep 1943 | |
| HMS Jed (K 235) | ||
| HMS Kale (K 241) | ||
| | HMS Lagan (K 259) | |
| HMS Lochy (K 365) | ||
| HMS Lossie (K 303) | ||
| HMS Meon (K 269) (To the Royal Canadian Navy as HMCS Meon) | ||
| HMS Monnow (K 441) (To the Royal Canadian Navy as Monnow) | ||
| | HMS Mourne (K 261) | Lost on 15 Jun 1944 |
| HMS Moyola (K 260) (To the Free French as Tonkinois) | ||
| HMS Nadder (K 392) | ||
| HMS | ||
| HMS Nene (K 270) (To the Royal Canadian Navy as HMCS Nene) | ||
| HMS Ness (K 219) | ||
| HMS Nith (K 215) | ||
| HMS Odzani (K 356) | ||
| HMS Parrett (K 304) | ||
| HMS Plym (K 271) | ||
| HMS Ribble (i) (K 251) (To the Royal Netherlands Navy as HrMs Johan Maurits van Nassau) | ||
| HMS Ribble (ii) (K 525) (To the Royal Canadian Navy as HMCS Ribble) | ||
| HMS Rother (K 224) | ||
| HMS Shiel (K 305) | ||
| HMS Spey (K 246) | ||
| HMS Swale (K 217) (To South Africa as Swale) | ||
| HMS Taff (K 637) | ||
| HMS Tavy (K 272) | ||
| HMS Tay (K 232) | ||
| HMS Tees (K 293) | ||
| HMS Teme (K 458) (To the Royal Canadian Navy as Teme) | ||
| HMS Test (K 239) | ||
| HMS Teviot (K 222) (To South Africa as Teviot) | ||
| HMS Torridge (K 292) (To the Free French as La Surprise) | ||
| HMS Towy (K 294) | ||
| HMS Trent (K 243) | ||
| HMS Tweed (K 250) | Lost on 7 Jan 1944 | |
| HMS Usk (ii) (K 295) | ||
| HMS Waveney (K 248) | ||
| HMS Wear (K 230) | ||
| HMS Windrush (K 370) (To the Free French as La Découverte) | ||
| HMS Wye (K 371) | ||
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See all Royal Navy Frigate classes.
|
River class ships hit by U-boats (9) | |||
| 4 Oct 1944 | HMCS Chebogue | Total loss | U-1227 |
| 11 Dec 1943 | HMS Cuckmere | Total loss | U-223 |
| 23 Sep 1943 | HMS Itchen | Sunk | U-666 |
| 20 Sep 1943 | HMS Lagan | Total loss | U-270 |
| 14 Oct 1944 | HMCS Magog | Total loss | U-1223 |
| 15 Jun 1944 | HMS Mourne | Sunk | U-767 |
| 29 Mar 1945 | HMCS Teme | Total loss | U-315 |
| 7 Jan 1944 | HMS Tweed | Sunk | U-305 |
| 7 May 1944 | HMCS Valleyfield | Sunk | U-548 |
 HMCS Swansea McKee, Fraser M. |
Books dealing with this subject include:
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