List of Captain class frigates

The Captain class was a designation given to 78 frigates of the Royal Navy, constructed in the United States of America, 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 of America 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 Evarts subclass and 46 from the 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 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] 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]

Ship	Pennant	U.S. Hull No.	Namesake	Builder	Laid Down	Launched	Commissioned	Fate	Image
Bayntun	K3104[3]	(B)DE-1	Henry William Bayntun	Boston Navy Yard	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	Boston Navy Yard	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	Boston Navy Yard	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	Boston Navy Yard	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	Boston Navy Yard	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	Boston Navy Yard	11 March 1943	22 April 1943	16 August 1943	Sunk on 26 December 1944[3]
Cooke	K471[3]	DE-267	John Cooke	Boston Navy Yard	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	Boston Navy Yard	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	Boston Navy Yard	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	Philadelphia Navy Yard	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	Boston Navy Yard	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][5]	Boston Navy Yard	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	Boston Navy Yard	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	Boston Navy Yard	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[6]
Goodson	K480[7]	DE-276	William Goodson	Boston Navy Yard	20 May 1943	8 July 1943	9 October 1943	Damaged on 26 June 1944[7] and declared a Constructive Total Loss,[7] returned to US Navy in January 1947[7]
Gore	K481[7]	DE-277	John Gore	Boston Navy Yard	20 May 1943	8 July 1943	14 October 1943	Returned to US Navy 2 May 1946,[7] sold for scrapping, 10 June 1947
Gould	K476[3]	DE-272	Davidge Gould	Boston Navy Yard	23 April 1942	4 June 1943	18 September 1943	Sunk on 1 March 1944[3]
Grindall	K477[3]	DE-273	Richard Grindall	Boston Navy Yard	23 April 1942	4 June 1943	23 September 1943	Returned to US Navy 20 August 1945,[3] sold for scrapping, May 1946
Hoste	K566[7]	DE-521	William Hoste	Boston Navy Yard	14 August 1943	24 September 1943	3 December 1943	Returned to US Navy 22 August 1945,[7] sold for scrapping, May 1946
Inglis	K570[7]	DE-525	Charles Inglis	Boston Navy Yard	25 September 1943	2 November 1943	12 January 1944	Returned to US Navy 20 March 1946,[7] sold for scrapping, September 1947
Inman	K571[7]	DE-526	Henry Inman	Boston Navy Yard	25 September 1943	2 November 1943	13 January 1944	Returned to US Navy 1 March 1946,[7] sold for scrapping
Keats	K482[7]	DE-278	Richard Goodwin Keats	Boston Navy Yard	5 June 1943	17 July 1943	19 October 1943	Returned to US Navy 27 February 1946,[7] sold for scrapping, 19 November 1946
Kempthorne	K483[7]	DE-279	John Kempthorne	Boston Navy Yard	5 June 1943	17 July 1943	23 October 1943	Returned to US Navy 20 August 1945,[7] sold for scrapping, May 1946
Kingsmill	K484[7]	DE-280	Robert Kingsmill	Boston Navy Yard	9 July 1943	13 August 1943	23 October 1943	Returned to US Navy 22 August 1945,[7] sold for scrapping, 17 February 1947
Lawford	K514[7]	DE-516	John Lawford	Boston Navy Yard	9 July 1943	13 August 1943	3 November 1943	Sunk on 8 June 1944[7]
Lawson	K516[7]	DE-518	John Lawson	Boston Navy Yard	15 July 1943	13 August 1943	25 November 1943	Returned to US Navy 20 March 1946,[7] sold for scrapping, 31 January 1947
Loring	K565[7]	DE-520	John Wentworth Loring	Boston Navy Yard	18 July 1943	13 August 1943	15 November 1943	Returned to US Navy 7 January 1947,[7] sold for scrapping, 25 March 1947
Louis	K515[7]	DE-517	Thomas Louis	Boston Navy Yard	9 July 1943	13 August 1943	9 November 1943	Returned to US Navy 20 March 1946,[7] sold to Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 17 June 1946
Manners	K568[7]	DE-523	Robert Manners	Boston Navy Yard	14 August 1943	24 September 1943	16 December 1943	Damaged on 26 January 1945,[7] declared a Constructive Total Loss[7] and returned to US Navy 8 November 1945,[7] scrapped 1947
Moorsom	K567[7]	DE-522	Robert Moorsom	Boston Navy Yard	14 August 1943	24 September 1943	10 December 1943	Returned to US Navy 25 October 1945,[7] sold for scrapping, July 1946
Mounsey	K569[7]	DE-524	William Mounsey	Boston Navy Yard	14 August 1943	24 September 1943	23 December 1943	Returned to US Navy 27 February 1945,[7] sold for scrapping, 8 November 1946
Pasley	K564[7]	DE-519	Thomas Pasley	Boston Navy Yard	18 July 1943	30 August 1943	15 November 1943	Returned to US Navy 20 August 1945,[7] sold for scrapping, 8 November 1946

Buckley group (turbo-electric machinery)

The Buckley subclass had turbo-electric machinery.^[2] Two Foster-Wheeler^[8] 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)^[8] 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.^[9] This all electric drive-train was considered particularly innovative at the time (although the Catherine class minesweepers had a similar arrangement).

Ship	Pennant	U.S. Hull No.	Namesake	Builder	Laid Down	Launched	Commissioned	Fate	Image
Affleck	K462[10]	DE-71[11]	Edmund Affleck	Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation[11]	5 April 1943[11]	30 June 1943[11]	29 September 1943 [11]	Hit by torpedo on 26 December 1944,[11] remained inactive through the spring of 1945[11] when it was earmarked for conversion to a fast transport[11] for use in the Pacific war, returned to US Navy 1 September 1946,[10] sold to the Lisbon-based Transcontinental Victory Commercial Corporation, Ltd., on 24 January 1947.[11] Scrapped 1970
Aylmer	K463[10]	DE-72[12]	Matthew Aylmer	Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation[12]	12 April 1943[12]	10 July 1943[12]	30 September 1943[12]	Returned to US Navy 5 November 1945,[10] sold for scrap, 9 June 1947[12]
Balfour	K464[10]	DE-73[13]	George Balfour	Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation[13]	19 April 1943[13]	10 July 1943[13]	7 October 1943[13]	Returned to US Navy 25 October 1945,[10] sold for $1.00 to the State of New York for use by the New York Maritime Academy[13]
Bentinck	K314[10]	DE-52[14]	John Bentinck	Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation[14]	29 June 1942[14]	3 February 1943[14]	19 May 1943[14]	Returned to US Navy 5 January 1946,[10] sold to the Northern Metals Co., of Philadelphia, Pa., in June 1946, she was subsequently scrapped[14]
Bentley	K465[10]	DE-74[15]	John Bentley	Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation[15]	26 April 1943[15]	17 July 1943[15]	14 October 1943[15]	Returned to US Navy 5 November 1945,[10] sold for scrap, 17 June 1947[15]
Bickerton	K466[10]	DE-75[16]	Richard Bickerton	Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation[16]	3 May 1943[16]	24 July 1943[16]	17 October 1943[16]	Suffered a torpedo on 22 August 1944[16] and was scuttled on 28 August 1944 by the destroyer Vigilant [10]
Bligh	K467[10]	DE-76[17]	William Bligh	Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation[17]	10 May 1943[17]	31 July 1943[17]	22 October 1943 [17]	Returned to US Navy 12 November 1945,[10] sold for scrap, 13 June 1946[17]
Braithwaite	K468[10]	DE-77[18]	Samuel Braithwaite	Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation[18]	10 May 1943[18]	31 July 1943[18]	13 November 1943[18]	Returned to US Navy 13 November 1945,[10] sold for scrap in June 1946[18]
Bullen	K469[10]	DE-78	Charles Bullen	Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation	17 May 1943	7 August 1943	25 October 1943	Sunk on 6 December 1944[10]
Byard	K315[10]	DE-55	Thomas Byard	Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation	15 October 1942	6 March 1943	18 June 1943	Returned to US Navy 12 February 1945,[10] sold for scrap, 1946
Byron	K508[10]	DE-79	John Byron	Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation	24 May 1943	14 August 1943	30 October 1943	Returned to US Navy 24 November 1945,[10] sold for scrap, 25 October 1947
Calder	K349[10]	DE-58	Robert Calder	Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation	11 December 1942	27 March 1943	15 July 1943	Returned to US Navy 19 October 1945,[10] sold for scrap, 15 January 1948
Conn	K509[10]	DE-80	John Conn	Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation	2 June 1943	21 August 1943	31 October 1943	Returned to US Navy 26 November 1945,[10] sold for scrap, 21 January 1948
Cosby	K559[19]	DE-94	Phillips Cosby	Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation	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[10]	DE-81	Charles Cotton	Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation	2 June 1943	21 August 1943	8 November 1943	Returned to US Navy 5 November 1956,[10] sold for scrap
Cranstoun	K511[10]	DE-82	James Cranstoun	Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation	9 June 1943	28 August 1943	13 November 1943	Returned to US Navy 3 December 1945,[10] sold for scrap
Cubitt	K512[10]	DE-83	J Cubitt	Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation	9 June 1943	11 September 1943	17 November 1943	Returned to US Navy 4 March 1946,[10] sold for scrap, 4 March 1947
Curzon	K513[10]	DE-84	Henry Curzon or Edward Curzon	Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation	23 June 1943	18 September 1943	20 November 1943	Returned to US Navy 27 March 1946,[10] sold for scrap, 4 November 1946
Dakins	K550[10]	DE-85	George Dakins	Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation	23 June 1943	18 September 1943	23 November 1943	Damaged by mine, 25 December 1944.[10] Declared total loss,[10] returned to US Navy in September 1946[10] and sold for scrap on 9 January 1947
Deane	K551[10]	DE-86	Joseph Deane	Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation	30 June 1943	29 September 1943	26 November 1943	Returned to US Navy 4 March 1946,[10] sold for scrap, 7 November 1946
Duckworth	K351[10]	DE-61	John Duckworth	Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation	16 January 1943	1 May 1943	4 August 1943	Returned to US Navy 17 December 1945,[10] sold for scrap, 29 May 1946
Duff	K352[10]	DE-64	George Duff	Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation	22 February 1943	22 May 1943	23 August 1943	Constructive Total Loss afteer hitting a mine off the Dutch coast on 30 November 1944,[10] returned to US Navy 1 November 1946,[10] sold for scrap
Ekins	K552[10]	DE-87	Charles Ekins	Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation	5 July 1943	2 October 1943	29 November 1943	Damaged by mine, 16 April 1945,[10] declared total loss, returned to US Navy in July 1945[10] sold for scrap, March 1947
Essington	K353[10]	DE-67	William Essington	Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation	15 March 1943	19 June 1943	7 September 1943	Returned to US Navy 19 October 1946,[10] sold for scrap, 22 December 1947
Fitzroy	K553[10]	DE-88	Robert FitzRoy	Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation	24 August 1943	1 September 1943	16 October 1943	Returned to US Navy 5 January 1946,[10] sold for scrap, 23 May 1946
Halsted	K556[19]	DE-91	Lawrence Halsted	Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation	28 July 1943	14 October 1943	3 November 1943	Damaged on 11 June 1944,[19] declared a total loss, returned to US Navy September 1946[19] and scrapped from 28 March 1947
Hargood	K582[19]	DE-573	William Hargood	Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation	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	Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation	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	Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation[20]	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	Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation	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[10]	DE-89	Robert Redmill	Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation	14 July 1943	2 October 1943	30 November 1943	Damaged on 27 April 1945,[10] returned to US Navy on 20 January 1947[10] and scrapped
Retalick	K555[10]	DE-90	Richard Retalick	Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation	21 July 1943	9 October 1943	8 December 1943	Returned to US Navy 25 October 1945,[10] sold for scrap, 7 May 1946
Riou	K557[19]	DE-92	Edward Riou	Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation	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	Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation	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	Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation	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	Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation	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	Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation	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	Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation	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	Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation	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	Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation	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	Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation	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	Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation	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	Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation	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	Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation	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	Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation	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	Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation	20 October 1943	12 December 1943	28 January 1944	Damaged, 1 November 1944,[19] declared total loss, sold for scrap

See also

• List of frigates
  • List of frigate classes of the Royal Navy

References

Citations

1. Collingwood 1998, p. 203
2. Lenton 1998, pp. 198–199
3. Lenton 1974, p. 12
4. FRIGATES IN MIXED ESCORT GROUPS
5. Sotheby's Catalogue Notes and Provenance
6. uboat.net Ships hit by U-boats HMS Goodall (K 479)
7. Lenton 1974, p. 13
8. Lenton 1974, p. 14
9. Franklin 1999, p. 17
10. Lenton 1974, p. 15
11. "Affleck". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The Naval Historical Foundation. Retrieved 26 April 2012.
12. "Aylmer". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The Naval Historical Foundation. Retrieved 26 April 2012.
13. "Balfour". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The Naval Historical Foundation. Retrieved 26 April 2012.
14. "Bentinck". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The Naval Historical Foundation. Retrieved 26 April 2012.
15. "Bentley". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The Naval Historical Foundation. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
16. "Bickerton". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The Naval Historical Foundation. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
17. "Bligh". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The Naval Historical Foundation. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
18. "Braithwaite". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The Naval Historical Foundation. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
19. Lenton 1974, p. 16
20. "Hotham". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The Naval Historical Foundation. Retrieved 26 April 2012.

Sources

• Franklin, Bruce Hampton. The Buckley-Class Destroyer Escorts Chatham Publishing, (1999). ISBN 1-86176-118-X.
• Collingwood, Donald. The Captain Class Frigates in the Second World War Leo Cooper, (1998). 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. British Escort Ships Macdonald and Jane's, (1974). ISBN 0-356-08062-5.
• Lenton, H T. British and Empire Warships of the Second World War Greenhill Books / Naval Institute Press, (1998). ISBN 1-85367-277-7.

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.