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HMS Bickerton (K466)
Encyclopedia
HMS Bickerton was a Buckley
class Captains class frigate
during World War II
. Named after Sir Richard Bickerton commander of at the First Battle of Ushant
during the American Revolutionary War
.
Originally this ship was provisionally given the name USS Eisele (this name was reassigned to ) however the delivery was diverted to the Royal Navy
before the launch. The Commanding Officers were Lieutenant
EM Thorpe RN and Commander D.G.F.W. MacIntyre, DSO RN (Senior Officer 5th Escort Group).
(Russian Convoys
), North Atlantic
, off Normandy
and in the English Channel
.
On 6 May 1944, the German
submarine
was sunk in the North Atlantic — in position 52°30′N 28°28′W — by depth charge
s from Bickerton, operating alongside two Fairey Swordfish
(No. 825 Squadron
) of the escort carrier and frigates and . Of the crew of U-765, 37 died and 11 survived.
On 25 June, was sunk in the English Channel south-east of Torquay
— in position 50°01′N 02°59′W — by depth charges from Bickerton. Of the crew of U-269, 13 died and 39 survived.
in the Altenfjord. Before the group was able to launch an attack on Tirpitz, encountered them on her search for the convoy Northwest of the North Cape in the Barents Sea
. At about 01:00 on 22 August, U-354 badly damaged Nabob with a FAT torpedo spread and tried to sink her at 01:22 with a Gnat, which struck Bickerton. She was subsequently scuttled by a torpedo from at position 71°42′N 19°11′E.
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 Captains 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...
. Named after Sir Richard Bickerton commander of at the First Battle of Ushant
Battle of Ushant (1778)
The Battle of Ushant took place on 27 July 1778, during the American War of Independence, fought between French and British fleets 100 miles west of Ushant, a French island at the mouth of the English Channel off the north-westernmost point of France...
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 this ship was provisionally given the name USS Eisele (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. The Commanding Officers were Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
EM Thorpe RN and Commander D.G.F.W. MacIntyre, DSO RN (Senior Officer 5th Escort Group).
Actions
Bickerton served exclusively with the 5th Escort Group earning battle honours for service in the ArcticArctic Ocean
The Arctic Ocean, located in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Arctic north polar region, is the smallest and shallowest of the world's five major oceanic divisions...
(Russian Convoys
Arctic convoys of World War II
The Arctic convoys of World War II travelled from the United Kingdom and North America to the northern ports of the Soviet Union—Arkhangelsk and Murmansk. There were 78 convoys between August 1941 and May 1945...
), 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...
, 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 6 May 1944, the German
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
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
was sunk in the North Atlantic — in position 52°30′N 28°28′W — by depth charge
Depth charge
A depth charge is an anti-submarine warfare weapon intended to destroy or cripple a target submarine by the shock of exploding near it. Most use explosives and a fuze set to go off at a preselected depth in the ocean. Depth charges can be dropped by either surface ships, patrol aircraft, or from...
s from Bickerton, operating alongside two Fairey Swordfish
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...
(No. 825 Squadron
825 Naval Air Squadron
825 Naval Air Squadron was a Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm carrier-based squadron formed on 8 October 1934 from the aircraft and personnel of 824 Naval Air Squadron...
) of the escort carrier and frigates and . Of the crew of U-765, 37 died and 11 survived.
On 25 June, was sunk in the English Channel south-east of Torquay
Torquay
Torquay is a town in the unitary authority area of Torbay and ceremonial county of Devon, England. It lies south of Exeter along the A380 on the north of Torbay, north-east of Plymouth and adjoins the neighbouring town of Paignton on the west of the bay. Torquay’s population of 63,998 during the...
— in position 50°01′N 02°59′W — by depth charges from Bickerton. Of the crew of U-269, 13 died and 39 survived.
Sinking
Bickerton was escorting the second group of escort carriers ( and ) from the Home Fleet (under Admiral Moore), which covered the convoy JW-59 and launched further attacks (Operation Goodwood) on the German battleshipBattleship
A battleship is a large armored warship with a main battery consisting of heavy caliber guns. Battleships were larger, better armed and armored than cruisers and destroyers. As the largest armed ships in a fleet, battleships were used to attain command of the sea and represented the apex of a...
in the Altenfjord. Before the group was able to launch an attack on Tirpitz, encountered them on her search for the convoy Northwest of the North Cape in the Barents Sea
Barents Sea
The Barents Sea is a marginal sea of the Arctic Ocean, located north of Norway and Russia. Known in the Middle Ages as the Murman Sea, the sea takes its current name from the Dutch navigator Willem Barents...
. At about 01:00 on 22 August, U-354 badly damaged Nabob with a FAT torpedo spread and tried to sink her at 01:22 with a Gnat, which struck Bickerton. She was subsequently scuttled by a torpedo from at position 71°42′N 19°11′E.
General information
- Pennant (UK): K 466
- Pennant (US): DE 75
- Built by: Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard Inc. (Hingham, Massachusetts, U.S.A.)