HMS Louis (K515)

The second HMS Louis (K515) was a British Captain-class frigate of the Royal Navy in commission during World War II. Originally constructed as the United States Navy Evarts-class destroyer escort DE-517, she served in the Royal Navy from 1943 to 1946.

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

History
United States
Name: unnamed (DE-517)
Builder: Boston Navy Yard, Boston, Massachusetts
Laid down: 9 July 1943
Launched: 13 August 1943
Completed: 9 November 1943
Commissioned: never
Fate: Transferred to United Kingdom 9 November 1943
Acquired: Returned by United Kingdom 20 March 1946
Fate: Sold 17 June 1946
United Kingdom
Class and type: Captain class frigate
Name: HMS Louis (K515)
Namesake: Rear Admiral Sir Thomas Louis (1758-1807), British naval officer who was commanding officer of HMS Minotaur at the Battle of the Nile in 1798[1]
Acquired: 9 November 1943
Commissioned: 9 November 1943[2]
Fate: Returned to United States 20 March 1946
General characteristics
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:
Notes: Pennant number K515

Construction and transfer

The ship was laid down by the Boston Navy Yard in Boston, Massachusetts, on 9 July 1943 as the unnamed U.S. Navy destroyer escort DE-517 and launched on 13 August 1943. The United States transferred the ship to the United Kingdom under Lend-Lease on 9 November 1943.

Service history

The ship was commissioned into service in the Royal Navy as HMS Louis (K515) under the command of Acting Lieutenant Commander Robert Johnston, RNR, on 9 November 1943[2] simultaneously with her transfer. She served on antisubmarine patrol and convoy escort duty in the Bay of Biscay, North Atlantic Ocean, and Arctic Ocean. On 24 August 1944, she sank the German submarine U-445 with depth charges in the Bay of Biscay west of St. Nazaire, France, at position 47°21′00″N 005°50′00″W.[2]

The Royal Navy returned Louis to the U.S. Navy at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 20 March 1946.

Disposal

The United States Government sold Louis to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on 17 June 1946.

References
  1. Captain Class Frigate Association HMS Louis K515 (DE 517)
  2. uboat.net HMS Louis (K 515)


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