Editing HMCS Buctouche (section)

==Design and description==
{{main|Flower-class corvette}}
Flower-class [[corvette]]s such as ''Buctouche'' serving with the [[Royal Canadian Navy]] (RCN) in the Second World War were different from earlier and more traditional sail-driven corvettes.{{sfn|Fitzsimons|1978|pp=1137–1142}}{{sfn|''Jane's Fighting Ships of World War II''|page=[https://archive.org/details/janesfightingshi00fran/page/68 68]}} The Flower-class corvettes originated from a need that arose in 1938 to expand the [[Royal Navy]] following the [[Munich Crisis]].{{sfn|Preston|Raven|1973|p=1}} A design request went out for a small escort for coastal [[convoy]]s.{{sfn|McKay|Harland|1993|p=8}} Based on a traditional [[Whaling ship|whaler]]-type design, the initial Canadian ships of the Flower class had a [[Displacement (ship)|standard displacement]] of {{convert|950|LT|t|lk=on}}. They were {{convert|205|ft|1|in|m}} [[Length overall|long overall]] with a [[Beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|33|ft|1|in|m}} and a maximum [[Draft (hull)|draught]] of {{convert|13|ft|5|in|m}}. The initial 1939–1940 corvettes were powered by a four-cylinder [[vertical triple expansion]] engine powered by steam from two [[Scotch boiler]]s turning one three-bladed [[propeller]] rated at {{convert|2800|ihp|lk=on}}. The Scotch boilers were replaced with [[water-tube boiler]]s in later 1939–1940 and 1940–1941 Programme ships. The corvettes had a maximum speed of {{convert|16|kn|lk=in}}. This gave them a range of {{convert|3450|nmi|lk=in}} at {{convert|12|kn}}.{{sfn|Lynch|1981|p=66}} The vessels were extremely wet.{{sfn|McKay|Harland|1993|p=11}}

The Canadian Flower-class vessels were initially armed with a [[BL 4-inch Mk IX naval gun|Mk IX BL {{convert|4|in|mm|adj=on|0}} gun]] forward on a CP 1 mounting and carried 100 rounds per gun. The corvettes were also armed with a [[QF 2-pounder naval gun|QF Vickers 2-pounder ({{convert|40|mm|in|disp=comma|abbr=on|1}}) gun]] on a bandstand aft, two single-mounted [[Vickers machine gun|.303 Vickers machine guns]] or [[M2 Browning|Browning 0.5-calibre machine guns]] for [[Anti-aircraft warfare|anti-aircraft]] defence and two twin-mounted [[Lewis gun|.303 Lewis machine guns]], usually sited on bridge wings.{{sfn|Preston|Raven|1973|p=1}}{{sfn|Lynch|1981|p=66}}{{sfn|McKay|Harland|1993|p=14}} For [[anti-submarine warfare]], they mounted two [[depth charge]] throwers and initially carried 25 depth charges. The corvettes were designed with a [[Type 123 sonar|Type 123]] [[ASDIC]] sonar set installed. The Flower-class ships had a complement of 47 officers and [[Naval rating|ratings]].{{sfn|Preston|Raven|1973|p=1}} The Royal Canadian Navy initially ordered 54 corvettes in 1940 and these were fitted with Mark II Oropesa [[minesweeping]] gear used for destroying [[Naval mine|contact mines]].{{sfn|McKay|Harland|1993|p=12}} Part of the depth charge rails were made portable so the minesweeping gear could be utilised.{{sfn|Preston|Raven|1973|pp=3–4}}

===Modifications===
In Canadian service the vessels were altered due to experience with the design's deficiencies. The [[Galley (kitchen)|galley]] was moved further back in the ship and the mess and sleeping quarters combined. A wireless [[direction finding]] set was installed, and enlarged [[bilge]] keels were installed to reduce rolling.{{sfn|Preston|Raven|1973|p=4}} After the first 35–40 corvettes had been constructed, the foremast was shifted aft of the [[bridge (nautical)|bridge]] and the mainmast was eliminated. Corvettes were first fitted with basic [[Radar in World War II#Canada|SW-1 and SW-2 CQ]] surface warning [[radar]], notable for their fishbone-like antenna and reputation for failure in poor weather or in the dark. The compass house was moved further aft and the open-type bridge was situated in front of it. The ASDIC hut was moved in front and to a lower position on the bridge. The improved [[Type 271 radar]] was placed aft, with some units receiving [[Type 291 radar]] for air search. The minesweeping gear, a feature of the first 54 corvettes, was removed.{{sfn|Lynch|1981|p=12}} Most Canadian Flower-class corvettes had their [[forecastle]]s extended which improved crew accommodation and seakeeping. Furthermore, the sheer and flare of the [[Bow (ship)|bow]] was increased, which led to an enlarged bridge. This allowed for the installation of [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon|Oerlikon {{convert|20|mm|in|abbr=on|1}} cannon]], replacing the Browning and Vickers machine guns.{{sfn|Lynch|1981|pp=10, 12}} Some of the corvettes were rearmed with [[Hedgehog (weapon)|Hedgehog]] anti-submarine [[Mortar (weapon)|mortars]].{{sfn|Macpherson|Barrie|2002|p=103}} The complements of the ships grew throughout the war rising from the initial 47 to as many as 104.{{sfn|Lynch|1981|pp=10, 12}}