HMS Aylmer (K463)

Originally destined for the US Navy she was provisionally given the name USS Harmon (later this name was reassigned to 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) August 30, 1944 and Lt Cdr W.L.Smith RNR February 1945.

HMS Aylmer was adopted the Boy's Own Paper.

1 Actions
2 General Information
3 External links
4 References

[edit] Actions

HMS Aylmer served exclusively with the 5th Escort Group taking part in operations in the North Atlantic and off Normandy.

On May 6, 1944 the submarine U-765 was sunk in the North Atlantic, at position 52.30N, 28.28W, by depth charges from HMS Aylmer, operating alongside 2 Swordfish aircraft (Sqdn. 825) of the British escort carrier HMS Vindex and the British frigates HMS Bligh and HMS Bickerton. As a result of this action 37 of U-765's crew died and 11 were rescued and taken prisoner.

On the January 26, 1945 the submarine U-1051 was sunk in the Irish Sea south of the Isle of Man, at position 53.39N, 05.23W by the frigates HMS Aylmer, HMS Bentinck, HMS Calder and HMS Manners. 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 should be noted that it is not entirely clear if the ramming of U-1051 by HMS Aylmer was intentional and that Cdr B.W.Taylor was removed from command shortly after this incident.

[edit] General Information

Pennant (UK): K 463
Pennant (US): DE 72
Built by: Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard Inc. (Hingham, Massachusetts, U.S.A.)
Laid down: April 12, 1943
Launched: July 10, 1943
Commissioned: September 30, 1943
Returned to US Navy: November 5, 1945
Fate: Sold June 20, 1947 to Mr. John J. Witto of Staten Island, N.Y. and broken up for scrap.

[edit] External links

[edit] References

For an excellent book on the subject of a particular example of this type of ship in World War II, see The Captain Class Frigates in the Second World War by Donald Collingwood. published by Leo Cooper (1998), ISBN 085052 615 9.

Captains-class frigate

Buckley class (turbo-electric type)