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HMS Affleck (K462)
Encyclopedia
HMS Affleck was a Captain class frigate
which served during World War II
. The ship was named after Sir Edmund Affleck
, commander of HMS Bedford
at the Moonlight Battle
in 1780 during the American Revolutionary War
.
Originally destined for the US Navy as a Buckley-class destroyer escort
, HMS Affleck was provisionally given the name USS Oswald (later this name was reassigned to ). However, the delivery was diverted to the Royal Navy
before the launch.
Commanding Officers were Lt E I Pilditch on commissioning, then Cdr C Gwinner RN (Senior Officer 1st Escort Group).
, off Normandy
, and in the English Channel
.
On 19 February 1944, together with , HMS Affleck picked up 54 survivors from the Panamanian merchant Colin which had been torpedoed and sunk the previous day in the North Atlantic
in position 54°16′N 31°58′W by the Kriegsmarine
submarine U-859.
On 26 February 1944 in the North Atlantic at position 49°45′N 26°20′W HMS Affleck, together with and , sank the submarine U-91
by the use of depth charges and then by use of main guns. When the damaged uboat surfaced and tried to ram HMS Affleck, this action resulted in 36 dead and 16 survivors from U-91's crew.
On 1 March 1944 in the Northern Atlantic north of the Azores
at position 45°46′N 23°16′W HMS Affleck together with HMS Gore, HMS Gould and sank the submarine U-358 by the use of depth charges, resulting in 50 dead and 1 survivor from U-358's crew.
On 16 March 1944 in the Straits of Gibraltar at position 35°55′N 05°41′W HMS Affleck together with the destroyer and three US Catalina aircraft
(VP 63) sank the submarine U-392 by the use of a hedgehog
attack, resulting in 52 dead (all hands) from U-392's crew.
On 25 June 1944 HMS Affleck with attacked a submarine believed to be U-1191 by the use of depth charges, this resulted in the sinking of the submarine with the loss of all hands. This action took place 25 miles (40 km) south of Start Point
. The Kriegsmarine
had U-1191 listed as missing (no radio contact) since 12 June 1944.
On 26 December 1944 at 14:14 hours off the French coast near Cherbourg U-486
fired three acoustic torpedoes at the 1st Escort Group hitting HMS Affleck and . This resulted in the sinking of HMS Capel. HMS Affleck was towed to port, where the ship was written off as a Constructive Total Loss.
Captain class frigate
The Captain class were 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 Lend-Lease. They served in World War II as convoy escorts, anti-submarine warfare vessels and coastal forces control frigates...
which served during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The ship was named after Sir Edmund Affleck
Edmund Affleck
Sir Edmund Affleck, 1st Baronet was a naval officer of considerable repute. He entered the navy at an early age, and during reign of George II, served in the several capacities of lieutenant, master and commander, and post captain...
, commander of HMS Bedford
HMS Bedford (1775)
HMS Bedford was a Royal Navy 74-gun third rate. This ship of the line was launched on 27 October 1775 at Woolwich.-Early service:In 1780, Bedford fought at the Battle of Cape St Vincent...
at the Moonlight Battle
Battle of Cape St. Vincent (1780)
The naval Battle of Cape St Vincent, took place off the coast of Portugal on 16 January 1780 during the American War of Independence. A British fleet under Admiral Sir George Rodney defeated a Spanish squadron under Don Juan de Lángara. The battle is sometimes referred to as the Moonlight Battle,...
in 1780 during the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
.
Originally destined for the US Navy as a Buckley-class destroyer escort
Buckley class destroyer escort
The Buckley class destroyer escorts were 102 destroyer escorts launched in the United States in 1943 - 1944. They served in World War II as convoy escorts and anti-submarine warfare ships. The lead ship was USS Buckley which was launched on 9 January 1943. The ships had General Electric steam...
, HMS Affleck was provisionally given the name USS Oswald (later this name was reassigned to ). However, the delivery was diverted to the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
before the launch.
Commanding Officers were Lt E I Pilditch on commissioning, then Cdr C Gwinner RN (Senior Officer 1st Escort Group).
Actions
HMS Affleck served exclusively with the 1st Escort Group taking part in operations in the North AtlanticAtlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
, off Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
, and in the English Channel
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
.
On 19 February 1944, together with , HMS Affleck picked up 54 survivors from the Panamanian merchant Colin which had been torpedoed and sunk the previous day in the North Atlantic
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
in position 54°16′N 31°58′W by the Kriegsmarine
Kriegsmarine
The Kriegsmarine was the name of the German Navy during the Nazi regime . It superseded the Kaiserliche Marine of World War I and the post-war Reichsmarine. The Kriegsmarine was one of three official branches of the Wehrmacht, the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany.The Kriegsmarine grew rapidly...
submarine U-859.
On 26 February 1944 in the North Atlantic at position 49°45′N 26°20′W HMS Affleck, together with and , sank the submarine U-91
German submarine U-91 (1941)
German submarine U-91 was a Type VIIC U-boat of the German Kriegsmarine that saw service during World War II. The U-boat completed six wartime patrols and sank one warship totalling , and damaged four for a total of ....
by the use of depth charges and then by use of main guns. When the damaged uboat surfaced and tried to ram HMS Affleck, this action resulted in 36 dead and 16 survivors from U-91's crew.
On 1 March 1944 in the Northern Atlantic north of the Azores
Azores
The Archipelago of the Azores is composed of nine volcanic islands situated in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, and is located about west from Lisbon and about east from the east coast of North America. The islands, and their economic exclusion zone, form the Autonomous Region of the...
at position 45°46′N 23°16′W HMS Affleck together with HMS Gore, HMS Gould and sank the submarine U-358 by the use of depth charges, resulting in 50 dead and 1 survivor from U-358's crew.
On 16 March 1944 in the Straits of Gibraltar at position 35°55′N 05°41′W HMS Affleck together with the destroyer and three US Catalina aircraft
PBY Catalina
The Consolidated PBY Catalina was an American flying boat of the 1930s and 1940s produced by Consolidated Aircraft. It was one of the most widely used multi-role aircraft of World War II. PBYs served with every branch of the United States Armed Forces and in the air forces and navies of many other...
(VP 63) sank the submarine U-392 by the use of a hedgehog
Hedgehog (weapon)
The Hedgehog was an anti-submarine weapon developed by the Royal Navy during World War II, that was deployed on convoy escort warships such as destroyers to supplement the depth charge. The weapon worked by firing a number of small spigot mortar bombs from spiked fittings...
attack, resulting in 52 dead (all hands) from U-392's crew.
On 25 June 1944 HMS Affleck with attacked a submarine believed to be U-1191 by the use of depth charges, this resulted in the sinking of the submarine with the loss of all hands. This action took place 25 miles (40 km) south of Start Point
Start Point, Devon
Start Point is a promontory in the South Hams district. It is one of the most southerly points in Devon, England, . It marks the southern limit of Start Bay, which extends northwards to the estuary of the River Dart....
. The Kriegsmarine
Kriegsmarine
The Kriegsmarine was the name of the German Navy during the Nazi regime . It superseded the Kaiserliche Marine of World War I and the post-war Reichsmarine. The Kriegsmarine was one of three official branches of the Wehrmacht, the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany.The Kriegsmarine grew rapidly...
had U-1191 listed as missing (no radio contact) since 12 June 1944.
On 26 December 1944 at 14:14 hours off the French coast near Cherbourg U-486
German submarine U-486
German submarine U-486 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for the German Kriegsmarine for service during World War II.On December 24, 1944, U-486 torpedoed the five miles off the coast of Cherbourg, France. This resulted in the death of over 750 Allied soldiers...
fired three acoustic torpedoes at the 1st Escort Group hitting HMS Affleck and . This resulted in the sinking of HMS Capel. HMS Affleck was towed to port, where the ship was written off as a Constructive Total Loss.
General information
- Pennant (UK): K 462
- Pennant (US): DE 71
- Built by: Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard Inc. (Hingham, Massachusetts, U.S.A.)