HMS Bligh was a Captain-class frigate active during World War II. She was named after William Bligh, commander of HMS Director at the Battle of Camperdown during the French Revolutionary War, and commander of HMS Bounty.

History
United States
NameUSS Liddle
BuilderBethlehem-Hingham Shipyard Inc., Hingham, Massachusetts
Laid down10 May 1943
IdentificationDE-76
FateTransferred to UK, returned 17 October 1945 and sold for scrap, 13 June 1946
United Kingdom
NameBligh
NamesakeWilliam Bligh
Launched31 July 1943
Commissioned23 October 1943
IdentificationK467
FateReturned to US Navy on 17 October 1945
General characteristics
Class and typeBuckley-class destroyer escort/Captain-class frigate
Displacement1,800 long tons (1,829 t) fully loaded
Length306 ft (93 m) overall
Beam36.5 ft (11.1 m)
Draught11 ft (3.4 m) fully loaded
Speed24 knots (44 km/h)
Endurance5,500 nautical miles (10,200 km) at 15 knots (28 km/h)
ComplementTypically between 170 & 180
William Bligh in 1814

Originally destined for the US Navy as a turbo-electric (TE) type Buckley-class destroyer escort, HMS Bligh was provisionally given the name USS Liddle, a name that was later reassigned to another ship. However, the delivery was diverted to the Royal Navy before the launch.

Service history

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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, HMS Aylmer and two Swordfish aircraft (Sqdn. 825) of the British escort carrier HMS Vindex, attacked and sank the U-boat U-765 at position 52°30′N 28°28′W / 52.500°N 28.467°W / 52.500; -28.467 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 and HMS Keats attacked and destroyed the submarine U-1172 with depth charges, causing the loss of all 52 hands at position 52°24′N 05°42′W / 52.400°N 5.700°W / 52.400; -5.700.

References

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  • The Captain Class Frigates in the Second World War by Donald Collingwood. published by Leo Cooper (1998), ISBN 0-85052-615-9.
  • The Buckley-Class Destroyer Escorts by Bruce Hampton Franklin, published by Chatham Publishing (1999), ISBN 1-86176-118-X.
  • Niestle, Axel (1998). German U-Boat Losses During World War II. United States Naval Institute. ISBN 1-55750-641-8.

  This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entries can be found here and here.

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