HMCS Long Branch

{{main|Flower-class corvette}}

Flower-class corvettes like Long Branch serving with the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War were different from earlier and more traditional sail-driven corvettes.{{cite web |last=Ossian |first=Robert |url=http://www.thepirateking.com/ships/ship_types.htm |title=Complete List of Sailing Vessels |website=The Pirate King |access-date=13 April 2011}}{{cite book |editor-last=Fitzsimons |editor-first=Bernard |title=The Illustrated Encyclopedia of 20th Century Weapons & Warfare |location=London |publisher=Phoebus |year=1978 |volume=11 |pages=1137–1142 }}{{cite book |title=Jane's Fighting Ships of World War II |location=New Jersey |publisher=Random House |year=1996 |isbn=0-517-67963-9 |page=[https://archive.org/details/janesfightingshi00fran/page/68 68] |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/janesfightingshi00fran/page/68 }} The "corvette" designation was created by the French as a class of small warships; the Royal Navy borrowed the term for a period but discontinued its use in 1877.{{cite book |last1=Blake |first1=Nicholas |last2=Lawrence |first2=Richard |title=The Illustrated Companion to Nelson's Navy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=I59v6rkg8egC&pg=PA39 |publisher=Stackpole Books |year=2005 |pages=39–63 |isbn=0-8117-3275-4}} During the hurried preparations for war in the late 1930s, Winston Churchill reactivated the corvette class, needing a name for smaller ships used in an escort capacity, in this case based on a whaling ship design.{{cite book |last1=Chesneau |first1=Roger |last2=Gardiner |first2=Robert |title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922-1946 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bJBMBvyQ83EC&pg=PA62 |publisher=Naval Institute Press |date=June 1980 |page=62 |isbn=0-87021-913-8}} The generic name "flower" was used to designate the class of these ships, which – in the Royal Navy – were named after flowering plants.{{cite book |title=North Atlantic Run |last=Milner |first=Marc |publisher=Naval Institute Press |year=1985 |pages=117–119, 142–145, 158, 175–176, 226, 235, 285–291 |isbn=0-87021-450-0}}

Corvettes commissioned by the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War were named after communities for the most part, to better represent the people who took part in building them. This idea was put forth by Admiral Percy W. Nelles. Sponsors were commonly associated with the community for which the ship was named. Royal Navy corvettes were designed as open sea escorts, while Canadian corvettes were developed for coastal auxiliary roles which was exemplified by their minesweeping gear. Eventually the Canadian corvettes would be modified to allow them to perform better on the open seas.{{cite book |last1=Macpherson |first1=Ken |last2=Milner |first2=Marc |year=1993 |title=Corvettes of the Royal Canadian Navy 1939-1945|publisher=Vanwell Publishing |location=St. Catharines |isbn=1-55125-052-7}}

Candytuft was ordered 25 July 1942 as part of the Royal Navy 1942-43 Increased Endurance Flower-class building program. She was laid down 27 February 1943 by A. & J. Inglis Ltd. at Glasgow, Scotland and launched 28 September 1943.{{cite web | url = http://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/783.html | work = Uboat.net | title = HMCS Long Branch (K 487) | access-date = 6 October 2013|ref=Uboat.net}} As part of an exchange for {{sclass|Algerine|minesweeper|1}}s that the RCN intended to use as convoy escorts, the Royal Navy transferred four Flower-class corvettes and twelve {{sclass2|Castle|corvette|1}}s to Canada in order to acquire them. Candytuft was transferred on 5 January 1944 and commissioned as HMCS Long Branch into the RCN at Tobermory, Mull. The only significant differences between the RCN and RN 1942-43 Flower classes was a shortened mainmast and varying anti-aircraft armament.

Upon commissioning to the RCN she was tasked to join Mid-Ocean Escort Force escort group C-5 at Londonderry Port in April 1944 following a one-month work up period at Tobermory. C-5 sailed with the convoy ONS 233. Long Branch developed mechanical problems during the crossing and underwent a six-week repair at the Newfoundland Drydock upon her arrival at St. John's.

She departed St. John's on 14 June to resume duties but returned for further repairs with the assistance of HM Tug Tenacity. Once repaired, she left St. John's a week later to join convoy HXS 300, the largest convoy of the war.

She continued as an ocean escort until her final departure from Londonderry on 27 January 1945. She arrived at Halifax under the command of A/Lt.Cdr. J.B. O'Brien, RCNVR on 11 February and commenced a refit. In April she was assigned to Halifax for local duties.

Long Branch was paid off from the RCN on 17 June 1945 at Sorel, Quebec. She was transferred to the War Assets Corporation and sold for commercial use in 1947. She emerged from the conversion as Rexton Kent II, later renamed Rexton Kent.{{Cite Colledge2006}} She was scuttled {{convert|5|nmi}} off Cape Spencer, Nova Scotia on 22 February 1966.{{Cite ship register|register=MSI|id=5293626|shipname=Longbranch|access-date=15 July 2016}}

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• {{Cite web|url=http://www.hazegray.org/navhist/canada/ww2/revflowr/ |title= Revised Flower Class|author=Hazegray |work= Canadian Navy of Yesterday and Today |access-date=5 October 2013}}
• {{Cite web|url=http://www.readyayeready.com/ships/shipview.php?id=1230&ship=LONG%20BRANCH |title=HMCS Long Branch |author=Ready, Aye, Ready |access-date=5 October 2013}}
• {{cite web |url= http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/hague/search3.php?query=Longbranch&Submit=Find+Vessel |title=HMCS Long Branch (K 487) |work=Arnold Hague database at convoyweb.org.uk |access-date=2008-06-08}}

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{{Flower class corvette|modified}}

{{Inglis ships}}

{{1966 shipwrecks}}

{{Coord unknown|Canada}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Long Branch, HMCS}}

Category:1943 ships

Category:Flower-class corvettes of the Royal Canadian Navy

Category:Shipwrecks of the Nova Scotia coast