HMS Torrington (K577)

Summary

The fourth HMS Torrington (K577) was a British Captain-class frigate of the Royal Navy in commission during World War II. Originally constructed as a United States Navy Buckley class destroyer escort, she served in the Royal Navy from 1944 to 1946.

HMS Torrington off Dunoon, Scotland, in February 1944.[1]
History
United States
Nameunnamed (DE-568)
BuilderBethlehem-Hingham Shipyard, Hingham, Massachusetts
Laid down22 September 1943
Launched27 November 1943
Completed18 January 1944
Commissionednever
FateTransferred to United Kingdom 18 January 1944
AcquiredReturned by United Kingdom 11 June 1946
Stricken15 October 1946
FateSold 26 September 1947 for scrapping
Royal Navy EnsignUnited Kingdom
NameHMS Torrington (K577)
NamesakeAdmiral of the Fleet George Byng, 1st Viscount Torrington (1663–1733), commander of the British fleet at the Battle of Cape Passaro in 1718
Acquired18 January 1944
Commissioned18 January 1944
FateReturned to United States 11 June 1946
General characteristics
Displacement1,400 long tons (1,422 t)
Length306 ft (93 m)
Beam36.75 ft (11.2 m)
Draught9 ft (2.7 m)
Propulsion
  • Two Foster-Wheeler Express "D"-type water-tube boilers
  • GE 13,500 shp (10,070 kW) steam turbines and generators (9,200 kW)
  • Electric motors for 12,000 shp (8,900 kW)
  • Two shafts
Speed24 knots (44 km/h)
Range5,500 nautical miles (10,200 km) at 15 knots (28 km/h)
Complement186
Sensors and
processing systems
Armament
NotesPennant number K562

Construction and transfer edit

The ship was laid down as the unnamed U.S. Navy destroyer escort DE-568 by Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard, Inc., in Hingham, Massachusetts, on 22 September 1943 and launched on 27 November 1943. She was transferred to the United Kingdom upon completion on 18 January 1944.

Service history edit

The ship was commissioned into service in the Royal Navy [2] as the frigate HMS Torrington (K577) on 18 January 1944 simultaneously with her transfer. After shakedown in Casco Bay, Maine, and off Bermuda, she steamed to St. John's and Naval Station Argentia in the Dominion of Newfoundland before proceeding to England. Arriving there on 20 April 1944, she began patrol and escort duty in the English Channel, North Sea, and North Atlantic Ocean.

On 21 July 1944, Torrington saw her first combat, joining the escort destroyer HMS Melbreak (L73) in action against a German destroyer and four German S-boat – known to the Allies as "E-boat" – motor torpedo boats off Cap d'Antifer, France, preventing them from interfering with the flow of Allied supplies supporting the invasion of Normandy. On 11 March 1945, she sank a German Seehund ("Seal") Type XXVII midget submarine off Ramsgate, England. On 13 March 1945, she sank a second Seehund off Dunkirk, France, in a determined depth charge attack.

The Royal Navy returned Torrington to the U.S. Navy on 11 June 1946.

Disposal edit

The U.S. Navy struck Torrington from its Naval Vessel Register on 15 October 1946. She was sold on 26 September 1947 for scrapping.

Citations edit

  1. ^ Navsource Online: Destroyer Escort Photo Archive Torrington (DE-568) HMS Torrington (K-577)
  2. ^ uboat.net HMS Torrington (K 577)

References edit

  • This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
  • Navsource Online: Destroyer Escort Photo Archive Torrington (DE-568) HMS Torrington (K-577)
  • uboat.net HMS Torrington (K 577)
  • Destroyer Escort Sailors Association DEs for UK
  • Captain Class Frigate Association HMS Torrington K577 (DE 568)

External links edit

  • Photo gallery of HMS Torrington (K577)