Ships hit by U-boats


HMS Capel (K 470)

British Frigate


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NameHMS Capel (K 470)
Type:Frigate (Captain)
Tonnage1,085 tons
Completed1943 - Boston Navy Yard, Boston MA 
OwnerThe Admiralty 
Homeport 
Date of attack26 Dec 1944Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-486 (Gerhard Meyer)
Position49° 50'N, 1° 41'W - Grid BF 3528
Complement? men (76 dead and ? survivors).
Convoy
Route 
Cargo 
History Laid down as destroyer escort USS Wintle (DE 266) of the Evarts-class for the US Navy, completed in August 1943 as frigate HMS Capel (K 470) for the Royal Navy. 
Notes on event

At 14.14 hours on 26 Dec 1944, U-486 fired three Gnats at the 1st Escort Group on patrol off Cherbourg and observed hits after 1 minute 39 seconds and 1 minute 41 seconds and heard a third detonation after 7 minutes. Meyer claimed two destroyers sunk and a corvette damaged. In fact the frigates HMS Affleck (K 462) (Cdr C. Gwinner, DSO and Bar, DSC, RN (retired)) and HMS Capel (K 470) (Lt B.G. Heslop, DSC, RN) were hit. The first was towed to port, but declared a total loss and the latter sank northeast of Cherbourg. The survivors were picked up by American MTBs and taken to Cherbourg.

The commander, eight officers and 67 ratings from HMS Capel (K 470) were lost.

 
On boardWe have details of 79 people who were on board


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Media links


U-Boat Attack Logs

Daniel Morgan and Bruce Taylor


amazon.co.uk
(£ 38.25)

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