HMS Balfour (K464)

Originally destined for the US Navy she was provisionally given the name USS McAnn (later this name was reassigned to to DE 179) however the delivery was diverted to the Royal Navy before the launch. Commanding Officers were Lt Cdr C D B Coventry RN on commissioning with Cdr C Gwinner RN (Senior Officer 1st Escort Group) taking over after the loss of HMS Affleck on the December 26, 1944 when HMS Balfour became the lead ship for the 1st Escort Group.

1 Actions
2 General Information
3 External links
4 References

[edit] Actions

HMS Balfour served with both the 1st Escort Group and 18th Escort Group earning battle honours for service in the North Atlantic, off Normandy and in the English Channel.

On the June 25, 1944 HMS Balfour with HMS Affleck 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 all hands. This action took place 25 miles south of Start Point at position 50.03N, 02.95W. It should be noted that the Kriegsmarine had U-1191 listed as missing (no radio contact) since the 12th June 1944.

On the July 18, 1944 HMS Balfour attacked the submarine U-672 by the use of depth charges, damaging U-672 so badly that it was forced to surface and the crew to abandon ship. Unfortunately for the crew of HMS Balfour U-672 sank before a sea boat (for the boarding party) could be launched. All hands (52 crew and officers) were rescued and spent the rest of the war as prisoners of war. This action took place in the English Channel north of Guernsey at position 50.03N, 02.30W.

[edit] General Information

Pennant (UK): K 464
Pennant (US): DE 73
Built by: Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard Inc. (Hingham, Massachusetts, U.S.A.)
Laid down: April 19, 1943
Launched: July 10, 1943
Commissioned: October 17, 1943
Returned to US Navy: October 25, 1945
Fate: Sold for scrap October 28, 1946

[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)