Ships hit by U-boats


HMS Whitaker (K 580)

British Frigate



Photo courtesy of P. Phelps

NameHMS Whitaker (K 580)
Type:Frigate (Captain)
Tonnage1,300 tons
Completed1944 - Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyards Inc, Hingham MA 
OwnerThe Admiralty 
Homeport 
Date of attack1 Nov 1944Nationality:      British
 
FateA total loss by U-483 (Hans-Joachim von Morstein)
Position55° 30'N, 7° 39'W - Grid AM 5397
Complement? men (92 dead and ? survivors).
ConvoySC-159
Route 
Cargo 
History Built as an unnamed destroyer escort (DE 571) of the Buckley class for the US Navy. On 28 Jan 1944, commissioned as frigate HMS Whitaker (K 580) in the Royal Navy. 
Notes on event

At 02.07 hours on 1 Nov 1944, U-483 fired two FAT torpedoes at convoy SC-159 off Matlin Head, heard two detonations and sinking noises and claimed hits on two steamers. In fact, HMS Whitaker (K 580) (Lt G.P.W. Edwards, RN) had been hit and lost the whole bow forward of the bridge due to the explosion of the forward magazine. The commander, all seven officers and 84 ratings were lost. The British rescue ship Aboyne from convoy took care of the wounded crew members. In the next two hours, the crew extinguished the fires and stopped the flooding of the vessel, which was then towed to Londonderry and later to Belfast. The frigate was declared a total loss and returned to the US Navy on 3 Dec 1945. On 9 Jan 1947, the wreck was sold for scrap to John Lee, Belfast and was subsequently broken up in 1948.

 
More infoMore on this vessel 
On boardWe have details of 91 people who were on board


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