HMS Launceston Castle (K397) was a Castle-class

Castle class corvette

The Castle-class corvettes were an updated version of the much more numerous Flower-class corvettes of the Royal Navy, and started appearing during late 1943...

 corvette

Corvette

A corvette is a small, maneuverable, lightly armed warship, originally smaller than a frigate and larger than a coastal patrol craft or fast attack craft , although many recent designs resemble frigates in size and role...

 of the United Kingdom

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

's Royal Navy

Royal Navy

The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...

, named after Launceston Castle

Launceston Castle

Launceston Castle is located in the town of Launceston, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. .-Early history:The castle is a Norman motte and bailey earthwork castle raised by Robert, Count of Mortain, half-brother of William the Conqueror shortly after the Norman conquest, possibly as early as 1067...

 in Cornwall.

She was launched by Blyth Shipbuilding and Drydock Company at Blyth

Blyth, Northumberland

Blyth is a town and civil parish in southeast Northumberland, England. It lies on the coast, to the south of the River Blyth and is approximately 21 kilometres  northeast of Newcastle upon Tyne...

 in Northumberland

Northumberland

Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...

 on 27 November 1943.

In World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

 she served as a convoy

Convoy

A convoy is a group of vehicles, typically motor vehicles or ships, traveling together for mutual support and protection. Often, a convoy is organized with armed defensive support, though it may also be used in a non-military sense, for example when driving through remote areas.-Age of Sail:Naval...

 escort. In World War II she served in 30th Escort Group commanded by Denys Rayner

Denys Rayner

Denys Arthur Rayner DSC & Bar, VRD, RNVR fought throughout the Battle of the Atlantic. After intensive war service at sea, Rayner became a writer, a farmer, and a successful designer and builder of small sailing craft - his first being the Westcoaster; his most successful being the glass fibre...

 RNVR carrying his flag on board HMS Pevensey Castle. HMS Launceston Castle under the command of Lieut. R.M.Roberts, DSC, RNVR, she was the escort member who actually sunk U-1200 http://uboat.net/boats/u1200.htm south of Ireland on 11 November 1944, supported by her sister ships Pevensey Castle

HMS Pevensey Castle (K449)

HMS Pevensey Castle was a Castle-class corvette of the United Kingdom's Royal Navy.-Construction:She was built by Harland and Wolff in Belfast, launched on 11 January 1944 and commissioned in June 1944.-World War II:...

, Kenilworth Castle

HMS Kenilworth Castle (K420)

HMS Kenilworth Castle was a Castle-class corvette of Britain's Royal Navy.She was built by Smiths Dock Company at South Bank-on-Tees, launched on 17 August 1943 and commissioned on 14 November 1943....

 and Portchester Castle

HMS Portchester Castle (K362)

HMS Portchester Castle was a Castle-class corvette built in 1943 and scrapped in 1958. She was the only ship of the Royal Navy to be named after Portchester Castle in Hampshire, and was used for the 1952 film The Cruel Sea, in which she played Saltash Castle.-Construction:She was launched on 21...

.