HMS Blackwood (K313)

HMS Blackwood was a Captain-class frigate of the Evarts-class of destroyer escort, originally commissioned to be built for the U.S. Navy. Before she was finished in 1942, she was transferred to the Royal Navy under the terms of Lend-Lease, and saw service during the Second World War.

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Blackwood.

HMS Blackwood
History
United Kingdom
Name: HMS Blackwood
Namesake: Henry Blackwood
Builder: Boston Navy Yard, Massachusetts, United States
Laid down: 22 September 1942
Launched: 23 November 1942
Commissioned: 27 March 1943
Identification: Pennant number: K313
Fate:
  • Damaged by U-764 on 15 June 1944
  • Sunk under tow on 16 June
General characteristics
Class and type: Captain-class frigate
Displacement: 1,140 tons
Length: 289.5 ft (88.2 m)
Beam: 35 ft (11 m)
Draught: 9 ft (2.7 m)
Propulsion:
  • Four General Motors 278A 16-cylinder engines
  • GE 7,040 bhp (5,250 kW) generators (4,800 kW)
  • GE electric motors for 6,000 shp (4,500 kW)
  • Two shafts
Speed: 20 knots (37 km/h)
Range: 5,000 nautical miles (9,260 km) at 15 knots (28 km/h)
Complement: 156
Sensors and
processing systems:
  • SA & SL type radars
  • Type 144 series Asdic
  • MF Direction Finding antenna
  • HF Direction Finding Type FH 4 antenna
Armament:

Career

Blackwood was built by Boston Navy Yard, Massachusetts, United States and commissioned into the Royal Navy on 27 March 1943. She saw service on anti-submarine patrols and as a convoy escort. On 23 November 1943 she and the frigates HMS Bazely and HMS Drury sank the U-boat U-648 north-east of the Azores, and two days later on 25 November Bazely and Blackwood sank U-600 north of Punta Delgada.

Blackwood was part of the 4th Escort Group and was on patrol in the western approaches to the English Channel on 15 June 1944, covering ships bound for the allied invasion of Normandy when she was sighted by U-764, which fired a Gnat at her. Blackwood was hit and damaged, killing 57 of the crew. She was taken under tow, but foundered off Portland Bill the following day. The wreck lies in position 50°07′00″N 02°01′06″W. in 60 meters (200 ft) of water, and is designated as a protected place under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986.

References
  • Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8.
  • HMS Blackwood at Uboat.net
  • HMS Blackwood at Captain class frigate association
  • MoD announcement of designation


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