HMS Bullen

Summary

HMS Bullen (K 469) was a Captain-class frigate of the Royal Navy during World War II. She was named after Charles Bullen who was captain of HMS Britannia at the Battle of Trafalgar. Originally laid down as DE-78, a turbo-electric (TE) type Buckley-class destroyer escort, she was diverted to the Royal Navy and named HMS Bullen before the launch.

History
United Kingdom
NameBullen
BuilderBethlehem-Hingham Shipyard Inc
Laid down17 May 1943
Launched7 August 1943
Commissioned25 October 1943
FateSunk on 6 December 1944
General characteristics
Displacement1,800 long tons (1,829 t) fully loaded
Length306 ft (93 m) overall
Beam36 ft 6 in (11.13 m)
Draught11 ft (3.4 m) fully loaded
Speed24 kn (44 km/h)
Endurance5,500 nmi (10,200 km) at 15 kn (28 km/h)
Complement168

Sinking edit

While part of the 19th Escort Group, Bullen was torpedoed by the German submarine U-775 northwest of Strathy Point, Sutherland, Scotland on 6 December 1944, striking her midships. Of the crew of HMS Bullen, 71 died and 97 survived. The wrecksite is designated as a 'protected place' under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986.

References edit

  • Donald Collingwood The Captain Class Frigates in the Second World War Leo Cooper (1998), ISBN 0-85052-615-9.
  • Bruce Hampton Franklin The Buckley-Class Destroyer Escorts Chatham Publishing (1999), ISBN 1-86176-118-X.
  • Niestle, Axel (1998). German U-Boat Losses During World War II. United States Naval Institute. ISBN 1-55750-641-8.

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.

External links edit

  • uboat.net page for HMS Bullen
  • uboat.net page for U-775
  • captainclassfrigates.co.uk
  • SI 2008/950 Designation under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986