![]() ![]() For underwater targets, the River-class frigate was equipped with a Hedgehog anti-submarine mortar and depth charge rails aft and four side-mounted throwers. 15 Canadian frigates were initially fitted with a single 4-inch gun forward but with the exception of HMCS Valleyfield, they were all eventually upgraded to the double mount. Among other lessons applied to the design was an armament package better designed to combat U-boats including a twin 4-inch mount forward and 12-pounder aft. The twin engines gave only three more knots of speed but extended the range of the ship to nearly double that of a corvette at 7,200 nautical miles (13,300 km) at 12 knots. Improvements over the corvette design included improved accommodation which was markedly better. The name "frigate" was suggested by Vice-Admiral Percy Nelles of the Royal Canadian Navy and was adopted later that year. In Canada they were named for towns and cities though they kept the same designation. The first orders were placed by the Royal Navy in 1940 and the vessels were named for rivers in the United Kingdom, giving name to the class. Originally called a "twin-screw corvette", its purpose was to improve on the convoy escort classes in service with the Royal Navy at the time, including the Flower-class corvette. The River-class frigate was designed by William Reed of Smith's Dock Company of South Bank-on-Tees. She was commissioned into the Royal Canadian Navy on 22 October 1943 at Montreal. ![]() She was laid down on 23 December 1942 by Canadian Vickers Ltd. Matane was originally ordered as Stormont in October 1941 as part of the 1942–1943 River-class building program. She served primarily as a convoy escort in the Battle of the Atlantic. HMCS Matane was a River-class frigate that served with the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War. 8 × 20 mm QF Oerlikon A/A on twin mounts Mk.V.V on mounting HA/LA Mk.IX (not all ships) ![]()
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