HMS Bickerton (K 466)

HMS Bickerton (K 466) after being torpedoed
| Name | HMS Bickerton (K 466) | ||
| Type: | Frigate (Captain) | ||
| Tonnage | 1.300 tons | ||
| Completed | 1943 - Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard Inc, Hingham MA | ||
| Owner | The Admiralty | ||
| Homeport | |||
| Date of attack | 22 Aug, 1944 | Nationality: | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-354 (Hans-Jürgen Sthamer) | ||
| Position | 71.42N, 19.11E - Grid AB 9333 - See location on a map - | ||
| Complement | ? men (38 dead and ? survivors). | ||
| Convoy | |||
| Route | |||
| Cargo | |||
| History | Built as unnamed American destroyer escort (DE 75). On 17 Oct, 1943 lend-leased to Britain and renamed HMS Bickerton (K 466). On 5 May 1944, U-765 (Wendt) was detected by the 5th Escort Group (Cdr Macintyre) supported by the HMS Vindex (D 15) and fired at 19.00 hours two Gnats at the frigates HMS Bligh (K 467) and HMS Bickerton (K 466), but both missed. The U-boat was later sunk after a long hunt. | ||
| Notes on loss | HMS Bickerton (K 466) (Cdr Donald George Frederick Wyville MacIntyre, DSO and 2 Bars, RN), as part of the 5th Escort Group (Cdr Macintyre) was escorting the second group of escort carriers (HMS Trumpeter (D 09) and HMS Nabob (D 77)) from the Home Fleet (Adm Moore), which covered the convoy JW-59 and launched further attacks (Operation Goodwood) on the German battleship Tirpitz in the Altenfjord. Before the group was able to launch an attack on the battleship, U-354 encountered them on her search for the convoy northwest of the North Cape in the Barents Sea. At about 01.00 hours on 22 Aug, 1944, the U-boat badly damaged HMS Nabob (D 77) with a FAT torpedo spread and tried to sink her at 01.22 hours with a Gnat, which struck HMS Bickerton (K 466). The frigate was subsequently scuttled by a torpedo from HMS Vigilant (R 93). One officer and 37 ratings were lost. | ||
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