Whaler
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- For other uses see whalers.
A whaler (or whale catcher) is a specialized kind of ship, designed for catching whales. Early 20th century whalers displaced approximately 200 tons, and mounted a harpoon firing cannon on the forecastle. A catwalk allowed the gunner fast access to gun.
Early 20th century whalers would tow their whales to a nearby, shore-based, whaling station, like Grytviken, South Georgia. Later in the 20th century the whalers in a whaling fleet would tow their kills to a large factory ship for processing.
The very successful World War II Flower Class corvettes were based on the design of the whaler Southern Pride.
