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HMS Aylmer (K463)
Encyclopedia
HMS Aylmer was a Buckley
class Captain class frigate
during World War II
. The ship was named after Matthew Aylmer
, commander of at the Battle of Barfleur in 1692 during the War of the Grand Alliance
.
Originally destined for the US Navy, HMS Aylmer was provisionally given the name USS Harmon (later this name was reassigned to DE 678
), however the delivery was diverted to the Royal Navy
before the launch. Commanding Officers were Lt Cdr A.D.P.Campbell RN, Cdr B.W.Taylor RN (Senior Officer 5th Escort Group) 30 August 1944 and Lt Cdr W.L.Smith RNR February 1945.
HMS Aylmer was adopted by the Boy's Own Paper
. The May 1945 issue has pictures of HMS Aylmer in the graving dock in Liverpool after she had rammed and sunk the U-1051 off Anglesey. In the May 1946 issue C.J.Olivant (the author of the article) describes the war service of HMS Aylmer.
She was stationed in Belfast for the duration of her Wartime service with the 5th Escort Group.
in May 1944, off Normandy
(Operation Neptune)in June 1944,was part of Operation Goodwood in the Barents Sea in August 1944 and Mediterranean (Convoy escort to Naples in September 1944).
On 6 May 1944 the submarine U-765 was sunk in the North Atlantic, at position 52°30′N 28°28′W, by depth charges from HMS Aylmer, operating alongside two Swordfish aircraft
(Sqdn. 825) of the British escort carrier
and the British frigates and . As a result of this action 37 of U-765s crew died and 11 were rescued and taken prisoner and picked up by HMS ((Bickerton)).
During Operation Goodwood on 22 August 1944 the escort carriers and sailed to the Barents Sea to attack the Tirpitz. During this operation HMS Nabob was torpedoed and ten minutes later the Destroyer escort (commanded by Cdr Donald MacIntyre, senior officer of the 5th Escort Group) was also hit by an acoustic torpedo (Gnat)
; both attacks were by the submarine U-354. HMS Nabob was able to raise steam and was escorted back (at an average 10 knots) to Rosyth where she was considered a constructive total loss and used as spare parts. HMS Bickerton was sunk by as any salvage was considered too risky. HMS ((Vigilant)) had to fire three torpedoes to sink Bicketon. As a result of this action Cdr Donald MacIntyre transferred his command to HMS Aylmer.
On 26 January 1945 the submarine U-1051 was sunk in the Irish Sea
south of the Isle of Man
, at position 53°39′N 05°23′W by the frigates HMS Aylmer, , and . U-1051 was forced to the surface by the use of depth charges, then a gun battle ensued with U-1051 finally sinking after it had been rammed by HMS Aylmer. This action resulted in the loss of all hands (47) from the crew of U-1051. It is entirely clear that the ramming of U-1051 by HMS Aylmer was intentional and that Cdr B.W.Taylor was not removed from command as has been suggested, shortly after this incident. A reading of the after action report makes it clear that the U-1051 was still a belligerent submarine (during the attack by the escorts, U-1051 fired another torpedo at HMS Aylmer). When she surfaced U-1051 was fired on by HMS Aylmer, HMS Calder, HMS Bligh and HMS Bentinck. It is known that the 3 inch /50 caliber main gun of the Captain class had trouble penetrating the hull plating of German submarines (their shells would bounce off the submarines they fired on), so it is possible Commander Taylor thought that discretion was the better option and rammed the submarine as the ship's "Elephant Guns" had little effect; however in doing this he would have been acting against Admiralty
orders that ships were not to ram submarines except in dire circumstances.
The 46 page report in ADM 217/752 held in the National Archives completely vindicates Commander Taylor. At paragraph 8 of the Staff minute written by Captain J.T.Borrett, Captain (D) Belfast and attached to the proceedings of HMS Grindall says.
" It is noted that on surfacing no immediate attempt to evacuate the U boat was observed. The only damage to be seen was to the conning tower, which if resulting from the Hedgehog attack, could not have been considered lethal. It is thought quite possible that the U boat surfaced through faulty trim resulting from confusion in the boat caused by the Hedgehog explosion. From experience decisive results from 3" gunfire against the U boat's hull could not be expected and the U boat might well have regained control and dived again with a possibility of escape. Added to this HMS Calder was in imminent danger from torpedo attack. Having regard to these circumstances it is considered that the decision made by the commanding officer of HMS Aylmer to ram was entirely correct and its execution was faultless."
The Staff Minute is initialed J.T.B.and dated 16/2 (1945) and it was approved by a more senior officer as App Excellent on 17/2.
After the Action Commander Taylor went to Holyhead with a damaged HMS Aylmer. HMS Bligh and HMS Tyler were her escorts. On arrival at 11.30pm that evening, HMS Tyler was sent back to Sea to continue operations and Commander Taylor transferred his Flag to HMS Bligh and they also went back into the Irish Sea to continue operations with the 5EG. On the 27th Jan 1945 another U Boat was sunk by HMS Keats. So in the space of three days the EG 5 group had sunk 2 U boats.
Commander Taylor was subsequently Gazetted with the award of the Distinguished Service Cross on 29th May 1945. As was Commander Playne from HMS Calder.
Another theory that has been put forward is that in the noise and confusion of the gun battle the coxswain
misheard orders and put the helm over the wrong way. However, published in The battle of the Irish Sea, Sir David Gibson has included a picture of HMS Aylmer steaming in to ram the U boat. She still has plenty of Sea room and it looks as if the U boat is under way. The Photo was taken by one of Aylmer's officers, Sub Lieutenant G.I.Davis R.N.V.R.
As Holyhead was too small to repair the damage to Aylmer's bows, she made her way to Liverpool where she was repaired. In Early April 1945 HMSAylmer resumed her role as Senior Officer of the 5th Escort Group and on 15th April the group, by ships, HMS Grindall and HMS Keats sank U285 125 miles south west of Ireland.
On May 8th 1945., VE day HMS Aylmer was in Belfast her home port. On 10th may 1945 she was dispatched to Loch Alsh to assist in taking German U boat crews into captivity.
On 5th November 1945 she was returned to the US Navy at New York.
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...
class Captain class frigate
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...
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 Matthew Aylmer
Matthew Aylmer, 1st Baron Aylmer
Matthew Aylmer, 1st Baron Aylmer was an Irish Admiral of the Royal Navy.Lord Aylmer, Admiral and Commander-in-Chief, was the second son of Sir Christopher Aylmer of Balrath, County Meath, and entered the Royal Navy under the protection of the Duke of Buckingham, as a Lieutenant, in 1678...
, commander of at the Battle of Barfleur in 1692 during the War of the Grand Alliance
War of the Grand Alliance
The Nine Years' War – often called the War of the Grand Alliance, the War of the Palatine Succession, or the War of the League of Augsburg – was a major war of the late 17th century fought between King Louis XIV of France, and a European-wide coalition, the Grand Alliance, led by the Anglo-Dutch...
.
Originally destined for the US Navy, HMS Aylmer was provisionally given the name USS Harmon (later this name was reassigned to DE 678
USS Harmon (DE-678)
The USS Harmon was a of the United States Navy. USS Harmon was named after Mess Attendant Leonard Roy Harmon, who was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for his actions on the USS San Francisco during the battle of Guadalcanal...
), 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 Cdr A.D.P.Campbell RN, Cdr B.W.Taylor RN (Senior Officer 5th Escort Group) 30 August 1944 and Lt Cdr W.L.Smith RNR February 1945.
HMS Aylmer was adopted by the Boy's Own Paper
Boy's Own Paper
The Boy's Own Paper was a British story paper aimed at young and teenage boys, published from 1879 to 1967.-Publishing history:The idea for the publication was first raised in 1878 by the Religious Tract Society as a means to encourage younger children to read and also instil Christian morals...
. The May 1945 issue has pictures of HMS Aylmer in the graving dock in Liverpool after she had rammed and sunk the U-1051 off Anglesey. In the May 1946 issue C.J.Olivant (the author of the article) describes the war service of HMS Aylmer.
She was stationed in Belfast for the duration of her Wartime service with the 5th Escort Group.
Actions
HMS Aylmer served exclusively with the 5th 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...
in May 1944, 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:...
(Operation Neptune)in June 1944,was part of Operation Goodwood in the Barents Sea in August 1944 and Mediterranean (Convoy escort to Naples in September 1944).
On 6 May 1944 the submarine U-765 was sunk in the North Atlantic, at position 52°30′N 28°28′W, by depth charges from HMS Aylmer, operating alongside two Swordfish aircraft
Fairey Swordfish
The Fairey Swordfish was a torpedo bomber built by the Fairey Aviation Company and used by the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy during the Second World War...
(Sqdn. 825) of the British escort carrier
Escort aircraft carrier
The escort aircraft carrier or escort carrier, also called a "jeep carrier" or "baby flattop" in the USN or "Woolworth Carrier" by the Royal Navy, was a small and slow type of aircraft carrier used by the British Royal Navy , the Imperial Japanese Navy and Imperial Japanese Army Air Force, and the...
and the British frigates and . As a result of this action 37 of U-765s crew died and 11 were rescued and taken prisoner and picked up by HMS ((Bickerton)).
During Operation Goodwood on 22 August 1944 the escort carriers and sailed to the Barents Sea to attack the Tirpitz. During this operation HMS Nabob was torpedoed and ten minutes later the Destroyer escort (commanded by Cdr Donald MacIntyre, senior officer of the 5th Escort Group) was also hit by an acoustic torpedo (Gnat)
G7es torpedo
The G7es or Zaunkönig T-5 was a torpedo employed by German U-boats during World War II. It was known as the GNAT to the British.- Description :...
; both attacks were by the submarine U-354. HMS Nabob was able to raise steam and was escorted back (at an average 10 knots) to Rosyth where she was considered a constructive total loss and used as spare parts. HMS Bickerton was sunk by as any salvage was considered too risky. HMS ((Vigilant)) had to fire three torpedoes to sink Bicketon. As a result of this action Cdr Donald MacIntyre transferred his command to HMS Aylmer.
On 26 January 1945 the submarine U-1051 was sunk in the Irish Sea
Irish Sea
The Irish Sea separates the islands of Ireland and Great Britain. It is connected to the Celtic Sea in the south by St George's Channel, and to the Atlantic Ocean in the north by the North Channel. Anglesey is the largest island within the Irish Sea, followed by the Isle of Man...
south of the Isle of Man
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
, at position 53°39′N 05°23′W by the frigates HMS Aylmer, , and . U-1051 was forced to the surface by the use of depth charges, then a gun battle ensued with U-1051 finally sinking after it had been rammed by HMS Aylmer. This action resulted in the loss of all hands (47) from the crew of U-1051. It is entirely clear that the ramming of U-1051 by HMS Aylmer was intentional and that Cdr B.W.Taylor was not removed from command as has been suggested, shortly after this incident. A reading of the after action report makes it clear that the U-1051 was still a belligerent submarine (during the attack by the escorts, U-1051 fired another torpedo at HMS Aylmer). When she surfaced U-1051 was fired on by HMS Aylmer, HMS Calder, HMS Bligh and HMS Bentinck. It is known that the 3 inch /50 caliber main gun of the Captain class had trouble penetrating the hull plating of German submarines (their shells would bounce off the submarines they fired on), so it is possible Commander Taylor thought that discretion was the better option and rammed the submarine as the ship's "Elephant Guns" had little effect; however in doing this he would have been acting against Admiralty
Admiralty
The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the Kingdom of England, and later in the United Kingdom, responsible for the command of the Royal Navy...
orders that ships were not to ram submarines except in dire circumstances.
The 46 page report in ADM 217/752 held in the National Archives completely vindicates Commander Taylor. At paragraph 8 of the Staff minute written by Captain J.T.Borrett, Captain (D) Belfast and attached to the proceedings of HMS Grindall says.
" It is noted that on surfacing no immediate attempt to evacuate the U boat was observed. The only damage to be seen was to the conning tower, which if resulting from the Hedgehog attack, could not have been considered lethal. It is thought quite possible that the U boat surfaced through faulty trim resulting from confusion in the boat caused by the Hedgehog explosion. From experience decisive results from 3" gunfire against the U boat's hull could not be expected and the U boat might well have regained control and dived again with a possibility of escape. Added to this HMS Calder was in imminent danger from torpedo attack. Having regard to these circumstances it is considered that the decision made by the commanding officer of HMS Aylmer to ram was entirely correct and its execution was faultless."
The Staff Minute is initialed J.T.B.and dated 16/2 (1945) and it was approved by a more senior officer as App Excellent on 17/2.
After the Action Commander Taylor went to Holyhead with a damaged HMS Aylmer. HMS Bligh and HMS Tyler were her escorts. On arrival at 11.30pm that evening, HMS Tyler was sent back to Sea to continue operations and Commander Taylor transferred his Flag to HMS Bligh and they also went back into the Irish Sea to continue operations with the 5EG. On the 27th Jan 1945 another U Boat was sunk by HMS Keats. So in the space of three days the EG 5 group had sunk 2 U boats.
Commander Taylor was subsequently Gazetted with the award of the Distinguished Service Cross on 29th May 1945. As was Commander Playne from HMS Calder.
Another theory that has been put forward is that in the noise and confusion of the gun battle the coxswain
Coxswain
The coxswain is the person in charge of a boat, particularly its navigation and steering. The etymology of the word gives us a literal meaning of "boat servant" since it comes from cox, a coxboat or other small vessel kept aboard a ship, and swain, which can be rendered as boy, in authority. ...
misheard orders and put the helm over the wrong way. However, published in The battle of the Irish Sea, Sir David Gibson has included a picture of HMS Aylmer steaming in to ram the U boat. She still has plenty of Sea room and it looks as if the U boat is under way. The Photo was taken by one of Aylmer's officers, Sub Lieutenant G.I.Davis R.N.V.R.
As Holyhead was too small to repair the damage to Aylmer's bows, she made her way to Liverpool where she was repaired. In Early April 1945 HMSAylmer resumed her role as Senior Officer of the 5th Escort Group and on 15th April the group, by ships, HMS Grindall and HMS Keats sank U285 125 miles south west of Ireland.
On May 8th 1945., VE day HMS Aylmer was in Belfast her home port. On 10th may 1945 she was dispatched to Loch Alsh to assist in taking German U boat crews into captivity.
On 5th November 1945 she was returned to the US Navy at New York.
General information
- Pennant (UK): K 463
- Pennant (US): DE 72
- Built by: Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard Inc. (HinghamHingham, MassachusettsHingham is a town in northern Plymouth County on the South Shore of the U.S. state of Massachusetts and suburb in Greater Boston. The United States Census Bureau 2008 estimated population was 22,561...
, MassachusettsMassachusettsThe Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, US)