The following synopsis of the history of HMS Rushen Castle has been kindly provided by Mr Norman Goodwin, Archivist of the Castle Class Corvette (Frigate) Association. For anyone interested in the history of this class of corvette, the Association's website is a "must" to visit.
"HMS RUSHEN CASTLE K 372, F 372
"BATTLE HONOURS - ATLANTIC 44-45
"After completing working up at Tobermory RUSHEN CASTLE was allocated to the B-2 Escort Group engaged on escorting the Gibraltar convoys. In September 1944 the B-2 Escort Group was disbanded and RUSHEN CASTLE became the Senior Officer of the newly constituted B-21 Escort Group. This group too was disbanded in late December 1945* and RUSHEN CASTLE was allocated to the Liverpool Escort Pool. She continued in the role of Senior Officer of the much reduced escort size of the convoys between the UK and Gibraltar until the end of the war in Europe. She was then allocated to the Plymouth Command for Air Sea Rescue duties.
"From October 1945 to January 1946 she was under repair at Devonport, prior to being reduced to reserve Category B. In February 1948 it was proposed to transfer her with other Castle Class ships to the Royal New Zealand Navy. However they opted for the larger Loch Class frigates. RUSHEN CASTLE was accordingly reduced to Category B2 reserve at Devonport.
"In September 1956 the ship was offered to the Air Ministry for conversion to a weather ship and finally sold for this purpose on 23 September 1960. She was converted at Blyth and started operating as a weather ship in November 1961 under the name WEATHER SURVEYOR. The WEATHER SURVEYOR continued in service as a weather ship until the middle of 1970. In July 1977 she was sold for use as a salvage ship at Portsmouth From 1980 to 1983 she was registered under the ownership of Pounds Marine Shipping Co. In 1983 her entry was stamped 'Delete Class' with the remark 'Broken up 1982'.
"HISTORY
06:02:43 Ordered
08:04:43 Laid down: Builder; Hull and Engine, Swan Hunter and Wigham Richardson (Wallsend)
16:07:43 Launched
24:02:44 Completed
13:07:46 Reserve at Devonport category B
24:09:47 Taken in hand for docking; completing 02:10:47
28:07:48 Reduced to reserve Category B2
23:09:60 Sold to Air ministry for conversion to a weather ship and left Cardiff under tow the same day for Blyth
??:11:61 Conversion completed and re-named WEATHER SURVEYOR
??:07:77 Sold for use as a salvage vessel at Portsmouth
??:??:82 Scrapped
"RUSHEN CASTLE escorted 18 convoys, all on the UK – Gibraltar – UK run comprising 536 ships. No ships were lost to enemy action. Her largest convoy was SL178MKS69 ** of 61 ships (Gib-UK) 5 - 12 December 1944. The smallest was MKS98 (UK - Gib) of 15 ships, 5 - 7 May 1945. The convoy was dispersed soon after leaving UK waters.
"On one occasion the ship carried 40 boxes of bullion from Gib to the UK. The bullion was said to have originated from the Bank of Poland."
With reference to a brief Times article I have found we now know that Rushen Castle was commissioned as an Ocean Weather ship for the Air Ministry on 21 December 1961.
Mr Goodwin believes that on completion of her convoy duties Rushen Castle may have been involved, as were many of her consorts, in air sea rescue details whilst the American troops were being conveyed home by air - we now know this to be the case - click here.
* Should this be December 1944?
** See Convoy Web - SL.178/MKS.69 only comprised 38 merchant ships.
