List of Captain-class frigates
The Captain class was a designation given to 78 frigates of the Royal Navy, constructed in the United States, launched in 1942–1943 and delivered to the United Kingdom under the provisions of the Lend-Lease agreement (the program under which the United States supplied the United Kingdom and other Allied nations with materiel between 1941 and 1945), they were drawn from two subclasses of the American destroyer escort (originally British destroyer escort) classification; 32 from the GMT type Evarts subclass and 46 from the TE type Buckley subclass.
Naming
It was the intention of the Admiralty that these ships were to be named after captains that served with Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar but as building continued, it became necessary to delve back further into history for names of admirals and captains of reputation.[1]
Sixty-six of the 78 frigates bear names that had not previously been allocated earlier Royal Navy ships. Lawford, Louis, Manners, Moorsom, Mounsey, Narborough, Pasley and Seymour had been previously used for destroyers during World War I.[1] Rupert was the fifth of that name since 1666.[1] Torrington was the fourth of that name since 1654.[1] Holmes had been used once before in 1671[1] and Fitzroy, after Robert FitzRoy, the pioneering meteorologist, had previously been used for a survey vessel in 1919.[1]
Ships
Evarts group (diesel-electric machinery)
The Evarts subclass had diesel-electric machinery, based on an arrangement used for submarines.[2] There were two shafts.[2] Four Winton 278A 16-cylinder engines, with a combined rating of 7,040 bhp (5,250 kW), driving General Electric Company (GE) generators (4,800 kW) supplied power to two GE electric motors, with an output of 6,000 shp (4,500 kW), for 20 knots (37 km/h).[2] For this reason they were referred to as the GMT (General Motors Tandem) type. It had been intended to provide a further set of this machinery, for an output of 12,000 shp (8,900 kW) to make the design speed of 24 knots (44 km/h), but hull production greatly outstripped that of the machinery, therefore only one set of machinery was used per ship.[2] All the DE Captains were built by Boston Navy Yard. Except HMS Drury (K316) who appears to be the odd one out.
Ship | Pennant | U.S. hull no. | Namesake | Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Fate |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bayntun | K310[3] | (B)DE-1 | Henry William Bayntun[note 1] | 5 April 1942 | 27 June 1942 | 13 February 1943 | Returned to US Navy 22 August 1945,[3] sold for scrapping, 17 June 1947 |
Bazely | K311[3] | (B)DE-2 | John Bazely | 5 April 1942 | 27 June 1942 | 18 February 1943 | Returned to US Navy 20 August 1945,[3] scrapped, 1946 |
Berry | K312[3] | (B)DE-3 | Edward Berry[note 1] | 22 September 1942 | 23 November 1942 | 15 February 1943 | Returned to US Navy 15 February 1946,[3] sold for scrapping, 9 November 1946 |
Blackwood | K313[3] | (B)DE-4 | Henry Blackwood | 22 September 1942 | 23 November 1942 | 27 March 1943 | Torpedoed on 15 June 1944 and foundered the next day[3] |
Burges | K347[3] | (B)DE-12 | Richard Rundle Burges | 8 December 1942 | 26 January 1943 | 2 June 1943 | Returned to US Navy 27 February 1946,[3] sold for scrapping, 14 November 1946 |
Capel | K470[3] | DE-266 | Thomas Bladen Capel | 11 March 1943 | 22 April 1943 | 16 August 1943 | Sunk on 26 December 1944[3] |
Cooke | K471[3] | DE-267 | John Cooke[note 1] | 11 March 1943 | 22 April 1943 | 30 August 1943 | Returned to US Navy 5 March 1946,[3] sold, 1947 |
Dacres | K472[3] | DE-268 | James Richard Dacres | 7 April 1943 | 19 May 1943 | 28 August 1943 | Returned to US Navy 26 January 1946,[3] sold for scrapping, 14 December 1946 |
Domett | K473[3] | DE-269 | William Domett | 7 April 1943 | 19 May 1943 | 3 September 1943 | Returned to US Navy 5 March 1946,[3] sold, 3 June 1947 |
Drury | K316[3] | (B)DE-46 | Thomas Drury | 12 February 1942 | 24 July 1942 | 12 April 1943 | Returned to US Navy 20 August 1945,[3] scrapped, June 1946 |
Foley | K474[3] | DE-270 | Thomas Foley[note 2] | 7 April 1943 | 19 May 1943 | 8 September 1943 | Returned to US Navy 22 August 1945,[3] scrapped, June 1946 |
Gardiner | K478[3] | DE-274 | Arthur Gardiner[4] | 20 May 1943 | 8 July 1943 | 28 September 1943 | Returned to US Navy 12 February 1946,[3] scrapped, June 1947 |
Garlies | K475[3] | DE-271 | George Stewart, Viscount Garlies | 7 April 1943 | 19 May 1943 | 13 September 1943 | Returned to US Navy 20 August 1945, sold for scrapping, 18 July 1947 |
Goodall | K479[3] | DE-275 | Samuel Goodall | 20 May 1943 | 8 July 1943 | 4 October 1943 | Torpedoed on 29 April 1945;[3] sunk by gunfire from HMS Anguilla (K500) 30 April 1945[5] |
Goodson | K480[6] | DE-276 | William Goodsonn | 20 May 1943 | 8 July 1943 | 9 October 1943 | Damaged on 26 June 1944[6] and declared a Constructive Total Loss,[6] returned to US Navy in January 1947[6] |
Gore | K481[6] | DE-277 | John Gore | 20 May 1943 | 8 July 1943 | 14 October 1943 | Returned to US Navy 2 May 1946,[6] sold for scrapping, 10 June 1947 |
Gould | K476[3] | DE-272 | Davidge Gould[note 2] | 23 April 1942 | 4 June 1943 | 18 September 1943 | Sunk on 1 March 1944[3] |
Grindall | K477[3] | DE-273 | Richard Grindall[note 1] | 23 April 1942 | 4 June 1943 | 23 September 1943 | Returned to US Navy 20 August 1945,[3] sold for scrapping, May 1946 |
Hoste | K566[6] | DE-521 | William Hoste | 14 August 1943 | 24 September 1943 | 3 December 1943 | Returned to US Navy 22 August 1945,[6] sold for scrapping, May 1946 |
Inglis | K570[6] | DE-525 | Charles Inglis | 25 September 1943 | 2 November 1943 | 12 January 1944 | Returned to US Navy 20 March 1946,[6] sold for scrapping, September 1947 |
Inman | K571[6] | DE-526 | Henry Inman | 25 September 1943 | 2 November 1943 | 13 January 1944 | Returned to US Navy 1 March 1946,[6] sold for scrapping |
Keats | K482[6] | DE-278 | Richard Goodwin Keats | 5 June 1943 | 17 July 1943 | 19 October 1943 | Returned to US Navy 27 February 1946,[6] sold for scrapping, 19 November 1946 |
Kempthorne | K483[6] | DE-279 | John Kempthorne | 5 June 1943 | 17 July 1943 | 23 October 1943 | Returned to US Navy 20 August 1945,[6] sold for scrapping, May 1946 |
Kingsmill | K484[6] | DE-280 | Robert Kingsmill | 9 July 1943 | 13 August 1943 | 23 October 1943 | Returned to US Navy 22 August 1945,[6] sold for scrapping, 17 February 1947 |
Lawford | K514[6] | DE-516 | John Lawford | 9 July 1943 | 13 August 1943 | 3 November 1943 | Sunk on 8 June 1944[6] |
Lawson | K516[6] | DE-518 | John Lawson | 15 July 1943 | 13 August 1943 | 25 November 1943 | Returned to US Navy 20 March 1946,[6] sold for scrapping, 31 January 1947 |
Loring | K565[6] | DE-520 | John Wentworth Loring | 18 July 1943 | 13 August 1943 | 15 November 1943 | Returned to US Navy 7 January 1947,[6] sold for scrapping, 25 March 1947 |
Louis | K515[6] | DE-517 | Thomas Louis | 9 July 1943 | 13 August 1943 | 9 November 1943 | Returned to US Navy 20 March 1946,[6] sold to Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 17 June 1946 |
Manners | K568[6] | DE-523 | Robert Manners | 14 August 1943 | 24 September 1943 | 16 December 1943 | Damaged on 26 January 1945,[6] declared a Constructive Total Loss[6] and returned to US Navy 8 November 1945,[6] scrapped 1947 |
Moorsom | K567[6] | DE-522 | Robert Moorsom | 14 August 1943 | 24 September 1943 | 10 December 1943 | Returned to US Navy 25 October 1945,[6] sold for scrapping, July 1946 |
Mounsey | K569[6] | DE-524 | William Mounsey | 14 August 1943 | 24 September 1943 | 23 December 1943 | Returned to US Navy 27 February 1945,[6] sold for scrapping, 8 November 1946 |
Pasley | K564[6] | DE-519 | Thomas Pasley | 18 July 1943 | 30 August 1943 | 15 November 1943 | Returned to US Navy 20 August 1945,[6] sold for scrapping, 8 November 1946 |
Buckley group (turbo-electric machinery)
The Buckley subclass had turbo-electric machinery.[2] Because of this they were referred to as the TE type. Two Foster Wheeler[7] Express "D"-type water-tube boilers supplied steam to GE 13,500 shp (10,070 kW) steam turbines and generators (9,200 kW). Electric motors for 12,000 shp (8,900 kW)[7] drove the two shafts each fitted with a three-bladed propeller of solid manganese-bronze that was 8.5 feet (2.6 m) in diameter.[8] This all electric drive-train was considered particularly innovative at the time (although the Catherine-class minesweepers had a similar arrangement).
All the electric drive Captains were built by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation.
Ship | Pennant | U.S. hull no. | Namesake | Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Fate |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Affleck | K462[9] | DE-71[10] | Edmund Affleck | 5 April 1943[10] | 30 June 1943[10] | 29 September 1943[10] | Torpedoed on 26 December 1944 remained inactive until returned to US Navy 1 September 1946,[9] sold for scrapping on 24 January 1947.[10] |
Aylmer | K463[9] | DE-72[11] | Matthew Aylmer | 12 April 1943[11] | 10 July 1943[11] | 30 September 1943[11] | Returned to US Navy 5 November 1945,[9] sold for scrap, 9 June 1947[11] |
Balfour | K464[9] | DE-73[12] | George Balfour | 19 April 1943[12] | 10 July 1943[12] | 7 October 1943[12] | Returned to US Navy 25 October 1945,[9] sold to the State of New York for use by the New York Maritime Academy[12] |
Bentinck | K314[9] | DE-52[13] | John Bentinck | 29 June 1942[13] | 3 February 1943[13] | 19 May 1943[13] | Returned to US Navy 5 January 1946,[9] sold to the Northern Metals Co., of Philadelphia, Pa., in June 1946, and scrapped[13] |
Bentley | K465[9] | DE-74[14] | John Bentley | 26 April 1943[14] | 17 July 1943[14] | 14 October 1943[14] | Returned to US Navy 5 November 1945,[9] sold for scrap, 17 June 1947[14] |
Bickerton | K466[9] | DE-75[15] | Richard Bickerton[note 3] | 3 May 1943[15] | 24 July 1943[15] | 17 October 1943[15] | Torpedoed by U-354 on 22 August 1944; scuttled with torpedoes by the destroyer Vigilant[16] |
Bligh | K467[9] | DE-76[17] | William Bligh | 10 May 1943[17] | 31 July 1943[17] | 22 October 1943[17] | Returned to US Navy 12 November 1945,[9] sold for scrap, 13 June 1946[17] |
Braithwaite | K468[9] | DE-77[18] | Samuel Braithwaite | 10 May 1943[18] | 31 July 1943[18] | 13 November 1943[18] | Returned to US Navy 13 November 1945,[9] sold for scrap in June 1946[18] |
Bullen | K469[9] | DE-78 | Charles Bullen[note 1] | 17 May 1943 | 7 August 1943 | 25 October 1943 | Sunk on 6 December 1944 by U-775[9] |
Byard | K315[9] | DE-55 | Thomas Byard | 15 October 1942 | 6 March 1943 | 18 June 1943 | Returned to US Navy 12 February 1945,[9] sold for scrap, 1946 |
Byron | K508[9] | DE-79 | John Byron | 24 May 1943 | 14 August 1943 | 30 October 1943 | Returned to US Navy 24 November 1945,[9] sold for scrap, 25 October 1947 |
Calder | K349[9] | DE-58 | Robert Calder | 11 December 1942 | 27 March 1943 | 15 July 1943 | Returned to US Navy 19 October 1945,[9] sold for scrap, 15 January 1948 |
Conn | K509[9] | DE-80 | John Conn[note 1] | 2 June 1943 | 21 August 1943 | 31 October 1943 | Returned to US Navy 26 November 1945,[9] sold for scrap, 21 January 1948 |
Cosby | K559[19] | DE-94 | Phillips Cosby | 11 August 1943 | 20 October 1943 | 20 December 1943 | Returned to US Navy 4 March 1946,[19] sold for scrap, 5 November 1946 |
Cotton | K510[9] | DE-81 | Charles Cotton | 2 June 1943 | 21 August 1943 | 8 November 1943 | Returned to US Navy 5 November 1956,[9] sold for scrap |
Cranstoun | K511[9] | DE-82 | James Cranstoun | 9 June 1943 | 28 August 1943 | 13 November 1943 | Returned to US Navy 3 December 1945,[9] sold for scrap |
Cubitt | K512[9] | DE-83 | J Cubitt | 9 June 1943 | 11 September 1943 | 17 November 1943 | Returned to US Navy 4 March 1946,[9] sold for scrap, 4 March 1947 |
Curzon | K513[9] | DE-84 | Henry Curzon or Edward Curzon | 23 June 1943 | 18 September 1943 | 20 November 1943 | Returned to US Navy 27 March 1946,[9] sold for scrap, 4 November 1946 |
Dakins | K550[9] | DE-85 | George Dakins | 23 June 1943 | 18 September 1943 | 23 November 1943 | Damaged by mine, 25 December 1944 and declared total loss, returned to US Navy in September 1946[9] and sold for scrap on 9 January 1947 |
Deane | K551[9] | DE-86 | Joseph Deane | 30 June 1943 | 29 September 1943 | 26 November 1943 | Returned to US Navy 4 March 1946,[9] sold for scrap, 7 November 1946 |
Duckworth | K351[9] | DE-61 | John Duckworth | 16 January 1943 | 1 May 1943 | 4 August 1943 | Returned to US Navy 17 December 1945,[9] sold for scrap, 29 May 1946 |
Duff | K352[9] | DE-64 | George Duff[note 1] | 22 February 1943 | 22 May 1943 | 23 August 1943 | Constructive Total Loss afteer hitting a mine off the Dutch coast on 30 November 1944, returned to US Navy 1 November 1946,[9] sold for scrap |
Ekins | K552[9] | DE-87 | Charles Ekins | 5 July 1943 | 2 October 1943 | 29 November 1943 | Damaged by mine, 16 April 1945, declared total loss, returned to US Navy in July 1945[9] sold for scrap, March 1947 |
Essington | K353[9] | DE-67 | William Essington | 15 March 1943 | 19 June 1943 | 7 September 1943 | Returned to US Navy 19 October 1946,[9] sold for scrap, 22 December 1947 |
Fitzroy | K553[9] | DE-88 | Robert FitzRoy | 24 August 1943 | 1 September 1943 | 16 October 1943 | Returned to US Navy 5 January 1946,[9] sold for scrap, 23 May 1946 |
Halsted | K556[19] | DE-91 | Lawrence Halsted | 28 July 1943 | 14 October 1943 | 3 November 1943 | Damaged on 11 June 1944, declared a total loss, returned to US Navy September 1946[19] and scrapped from 28 March 1947 |
Hargood | K582[19] | DE-573 | William Hargood | 27 October 1943 | 19 December 1943 | 7 February 1944 | Returned to US Navy 23 February 1946,[19] sold for scrap, March 1947 |
Holmes | K581[19] | DE-572 | Robert Holmes | 27 October 1943 | 19 December 1943 | 31 January 1944 | Returned to US Navy 3 December 1945,[19] sold for scrap, October 1947 |
Hotham | K583[19] | DE-574[20] | William Hotham | 5 November 1943 | 21 December 1943[20] | 8 February 1944[20] | Hotham was returned on 25 April 1952 to the US Navy and simultaneously transferred back to the United Kingdom under the Mutual Defence Assistance Program.[20] The partially stripped vessel[20] was later returned to United States custody on 13 March 1956.[19] |
Narborough | K578[19] | DE-569 | John Narborough | 6 October 1943 | 27 November 1943 | 21 January 1944 | Returned to US Navy 4 February 1946,[19] sold for scrap, 14 December 1946 |
Redmill | K554[9] | DE-89 | Robert Redmill | 14 July 1943 | 2 October 1943 | 30 November 1943 | Damaged on 27 April 1945, returned to US Navy on 20 January 1947[9] and scrapped |
Retalick | K555[9] | DE-90 | Richard Retalick | 21 July 1943 | 9 October 1943 | 8 December 1943 | Returned to US Navy 25 October 1945,[9] sold for scrap, 7 May 1946 |
Riou | K557[19] | DE-92 | Edward Riou | 4 August 1943 | 23 October 1943 | 14 December 1943 | Returned to US Navy 25 February 1946,[19] sold for scrap, 21 April 1947 |
Rowley | K560[19] | DE-95 | Joshua Rowley | 18 August 1943 | 30 October 1943 | 22 December 1943 | Returned to US Navy 12 November 1945,[19] sold for scrap, 14 June 1946 |
Rupert | K561[19] | DE-96 | Prince Rupert | 25 August 1943 | 31 October 1943 | 24 December 1943 | Returned to US Navy 20 March 1946,[19] sold for scrap, 17 June 1946 |
Rutherford | K558[19] | DE-93 | William Gordon Rutherfurd | 4 August 1943 | 23 October 1943 | 16 December 1943 | Returned to US Navy 25 October 1945,[19] sold for scrap, May 1946 |
Seymour | K563[19] | DE-98 | Lord Hugh Seymour | 1 September 1943 | 1 November 1943 | 23 December 1943 | Returned to US Navy 5 January 1946,[19] sold for scrap, 10 December 1946 |
Spragge | K572[19] | DE-563 | Edward Spragge | 15 September 1943 | 16 October 1943 | 14 January 1944 | Returned to US Navy 28 February 1946,[19] sold for scrap, 16 November 1947 |
Stayner | K573[19] | DE-564 | Richard Stayner | 22 September 1943 | 6 November 1943 | 30 January 1944 | Returned to US Navy 24 November 1945,[19] sold for scrap, 14 November 1947 |
Stockham | K562[19] | DE-97 | John Stockham | 25 August 1943 | 31 October 1943 | 28 December 1943 | Returned to US Navy 15 February 1946,[19] sold for scrap |
Thornborough | K574[19] | DE-565 | Edward Thornbrough | 22 September 1943 | 13 November 1943 | 31 December 1943 | Returned to US Navy 29 April 1947,[19] sold for scrap, 24 April 1947 |
Torrington | K577[19] | DE-568 | George Byng, 1st Viscount Torrington | 22 September 1943 | 27 November 1943 | 18 January 1944 | Returned to US Navy 11 June 1946,[19] sold for scrap, 26 September 1946 |
Trollope | K575[19] | DE-566 | Henry Trollope | 29 September 1943 | 20 November 1943 | 10 January 1944 | Damaged, 6 July 1944,[19] declared total loss, sold for scrap, 1951 |
Tyler | K576[19] | DE-567 | Charles Tyler | 6 October 1943 | 20 November 1943 | 14 January 1944 | Returned to US Navy 12 November 1945,[19] sold for scrap, 23 May 1946 |
Waldegrave | K579[19] | DE-570 | William Waldegrave | 16 October 1943 | 4 December 1943 | 28 January 1944 | Returned to US Navy 3 December 1945,[19] sold for scrap, June 1948 |
Whitaker | K580[19] | DE-571 | Edward Whitaker | 20 October 1943 | 12 December 1943 | 28 January 1944 | Damaged, 1 November 1944,[19] declared total loss, sold for scrap |
Notes
- Served at Battle of Trafalgar under Nelson
- Was one of Nelson's band of brothers at the Battle of the Nile
- Captain at Battle of Ushant
References
Citations
- Collingwood 1998, p. 203
- Lenton 1998, pp. 198–199
- Lenton 1974, p. 12
- FRIGATES IN MIXED ESCORT GROUPS
- uboat.net Ships hit by U-boats HMS Goodall (K 479)
- Lenton 1974, p. 13
- Lenton 1974, p. 14
- Franklin 1999, p. 17
- Lenton 1974, p. 15
- "Affleck". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The Naval Historical Foundation. Retrieved 26 April 2012.
- "Aylmer". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The Naval Historical Foundation. Retrieved 26 April 2012.
- "Balfour". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The Naval Historical Foundation. Retrieved 26 April 2012.
- "Bentinck". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The Naval Historical Foundation. Retrieved 26 April 2012.
- "Bentley". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The Naval Historical Foundation. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
- "Bickerton". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The Naval Historical Foundation. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
- HMS Bickerton (K 466) - Captain-class Frigate including Convoy Escort Movements
- "Bligh". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The Naval Historical Foundation. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
- "Braithwaite". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The Naval Historical Foundation. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
- Lenton 1974, p. 16
- "Hotham". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The Naval Historical Foundation. Retrieved 26 April 2012.
Sources
- Franklin, Bruce Hampton (1999). The Buckley-Class Destroyer Escorts. Chatham Publishing. ISBN 1-86176-118-X..
- Collingwood, Donald (1998). The Captain Class Frigates in the Second World War. Leo Cooper. ISBN 0-85052-615-9..
- Elliott, Peter "The Lend-Lease Captains". Warship International No.3 1972: N3/72:255. §N1/73:5.
- Lenton, H T (1974). British Escort Ships. Macdonald and Jane's. ISBN 0-356-08062-5..
- Lenton, H T (1998). British and Empire Warships of the Second World War. Greenhill Books / Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-85367-277-7..
This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.
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