HMS Knaresborough Castle
Robert James

Bob James lives in Australia but is a blow-in from Scotland since 1964. He is an ex-seaman of more years than he cares to remember, mainly merchant shipping. However in 1954 H.R.H. decided that he should defend her person by joining her navy for two years (?). After many lumps and bruises he ended up on H.M.S. Knaresborough Castle (the longest name in the navy) - to read his cap tally people would spin him round as he only had a size 6 cap. "This ship is heaven" he thought: "it does not go far as it is in the home Fleet and my time in the R.N. is about up, it's got a small crew,and I've got myself a nice easy job steering her at sea.". Not to be - as they were steaming along one day in the North Sea she blew her engine, and they were towed home to Plymouth,and it was decided to scrap her.

Bob is building a model of the Knaresborough Castle: the model is 5 foot 3 inches long, 9 inches wide the scale is 1-48; the hull is made from fiberglass and the upperworks from 2mm plastic card; she will have a smoke making machine fitted, a sound machine for her guns, and all lights; she will have electric motor and speed controller to give a 16 Knot scale speed; she will carry radio control for turning, and engine forward or reverse; she will have all the guns in small scale as the original had

The HMS Knaresborough Castle, a Castle Class Frigate, was built by Blyth SB & DD Co.Ltd. She was built in 11 months and 13 days and was completed April 1944. Her Pennant No. was F389. She was broken up for scrap at Port Glasgow 16 March 1956. The Ship's Crest was the same as the Town Crest above.