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 Shipyards Inc, Hingham MA | ||
| Owner | The Admiralty | ||
| Homeport | |||
| Date of attack | 22 Aug 1944 | Nationality:  British | |
| 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 destroyer escort USS Eisele (DE 75) of the Buckley class for the US Navy. On 17 Oct, 1943, commissioned as HMS Bickerton (K 466) in the Royal Navy and served in the 5th Escort Group. On 5 May 1944, U-765 (Wendt) was detected by the 5th Escort Group, supported by HMS Vindex (D 15) (Capt H.T.T. Bayliss, RN) and fired at 19.00 hours two Gnats at the frigates HMS Bligh (K 467) (A/LtCdr J.W. Cooper, RNR (retired)) and HMS Bickerton (K 466) (Cdr D.G.F.W. MacIntyre, DSO and 2 Bars, RN), but both missed. The U-boat was later sunk after a long hunt. | ||
| Notes on loss | HMS Bickerton (K 466) (Cdr D.G.F.W. MacIntyre, DSO and 2 Bars, RN), as part of the 5th Escort Group 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) (LtCdr L.W.L. Argles, RN). One officer and 37 ratings were lost. | ||
| More info | |||
If you can help us with any additional information on this vessel then please contact us.