HMS Bligh (K467)

HMS "Bligh" was a "Buckley" class "Captains class" frigate active during World War II. She was named after William Bligh, commander of HMS|Director|1784|6 at the Battle of Camperdown during the French Revolutionary War, and perhaps more infamously commander of the "Bounty". Originally destined for the US Navy, HMS "Bligh" was provisionally given the name USS "Liddle" (later this name was reassigned to DE 206); however, the delivery was diverted to the Royal Navy before the launch. Commanding Officers were Lt Cdr. RE Blyth RNVR and Lt Cdr. JW Cooper RNR.

Actions

HMS "Bligh" served exclusively with the 5th Escort Group taking part in operations in the Eastern Atlantic, the English Channel, and off Normandy.

On 6 May 1944, "Bligh", together with HMS|Bickerton|K466|6, HMS|Aylmer|K463|6 and two Swordfish aircraft (Sqdn. 825) of the British escort carrier HMS|Vindex|D15|6, attacked and sank the submarine U-765 at position coord|52|30|N|28|28|W|display=inline using depth charges, resulting in the loss of 37 hands.

On 7 November 1944, an accidental firing of an anti-aircraft gun while docked at Liverpool caused both death and injury on the troopship RMS "Capetown Castle".

On 27 January 1945, "Bligh", along with HMS|Tyler|K576|6 and HMS|Keats|K482|6 attacked and destroyed the submarine U-1172 with depth charges, causing the loss of all 52 hands at position coord|52|24|N|05|42|W.

General Information

*Pennant (UK): K 467
*Pennant (US): DE 76
*Built by: Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard Inc. (Hingham, Massachusetts, U.S.A.)

External links

* [http://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/5646.html Uboat.net page for HMS Bligh]
* [http://uboat.net/boats/u765.htm Uboat.net page for U-765]
* [http://uboat.net/boats/u1172.htm Uboat.net page for U-1172]
* [http://www.captainclassfrigates.co.uk/ captainclassfrigates.co.uk]

References

* "The Captain Class Frigates in the Second World War" by Donald Collingwood. published by Leo Cooper (1998), ISBN 085052 615 9.
* "The Buckley-Class Destroyer Escorts" by Bruce Hampton Franklin, published by Chatham Publishing (1999), ISBN 086176118X.
* "German U-Boat Losses During World War II" by Axel Niestle, published by United States Naval Inst (1998), ISBN 1557506418.