Castlemaine's six command appointments were held by five officers: three from the naval reserve, one from the volunteer reserve, and one from the regular Navy. The seagoing reserve designation, marked by an S, generally identified officers with merchant-service experience. Philip Sullivan commanded for much of the ship's wartime service, although two command chronologies disagree on whether he handed over in March or June 1944. These experienced seafarers already knew how to run ships. Naval training could concentrate on gunnery and anti-submarine procedures instead of trying to create that maritime experience from scratch.
Chapter · 36:05-43:23
Merchant mariners supplied experienced corvette commanders
Castlemaine's command appointments show how reserve officers with merchant-service experience supplied much of the leadership needed for wartime escorts.