HMS Cubitt

Last updated

History
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svgUnited Kingdom
NameHMS Cubitt
Builder Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard, Hingham, Massachusetts
Laid down9 June 1943
Launched11 September 1943
Commissioned17 November 1943
Decommissioned4 March 1946
Stricken12 April 1946
Honours and
awards
  • Atlantic
  • North Foreland
  • North Sea [1]
FateSold for scrapping, 7 March 1947
General characteristics
Class and type Captain-class frigate
Displacement
  • 1,400 long tons (1,422 t) standard
  • 1,740 long tons (1,768 t) full
Length
  • 306 ft (93 m) o/a
  • 300 ft (91 m) w/l
Beam36 ft 9 in (11.20 m)
Draught9 ft (2.7 m)
Propulsion
  • 2 × Foster Wheeler Express "D"-type water-tube boilers
  • GE 13,500 shp (10,067 kW) steam turbines and generators (9,200 kW)
  • Electric motors 12,000 shp (8,948 kW)
  • 2 shafts
Speed24 knots (44 km/h; 28 mph)
Range5,500 nmi (10,200 km) at 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement186
Electronic warfare
& decoys
Armament
Service record
Part of: 21st Escort Group
Commanders: Lt. George Denys Gregory, RN [2]

HMS Cubitt (K512) was a Captain-class frigate of the British Royal Navy that served during World War II. The ship was laid down as a Buckley-class destroyer escort at the Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard at Hingham, Massachusetts on 9 June 1943, with the hull number DE-83, and launched on 11 September 1943. The ship was transferred to the UK under Lend-Lease on 17 November 1943, [3] and named after Captain J. Cubitt, a Navy officer who commanded the frigate Mary Rose in 1661. [4]

Service history

Cubitt was assigned to Nore Command, serving in the 21st Escort Group based at Harwich. She did not take part in the Normandy landings on 6 June 1944, but was afterwards deployed escorting convoys to and from the landing beaches. Towards the end of 1944 Cubitt became a Coastal Forces Control Frigate (CFCF), controlling a flotilla of Motor Torpedo Boats operating in the Channel and North Sea to counter the threat of enemy E-Boats. [5]

On 29 January 1945 Cubitt was on patrol with HMS Caicos and three MTBs, the Caicos signalled contact with two groups of E-boats. Lt Cmdr Gregory ordered Caicos to take on the group to the north and turned Cubitt with his MTBs to engage the other group. The seas that night were choppy and the MTBs found themselves speed restricted to 20 knots, a clear 10 knots slower than the E-boats. Five miles behind their target Gregory decided to leave behind the slower MTBs and took off to engage the E-boats alone. Managing to close to just a mile away, his enemy closed on a minefield into which it could retreat. Gregory’s gunners’ visibility was still hugely impaired and Cubitt was forced to send up flares for a last ditch barrage. The E-boats, warned by the light, veered away: declining the challenge for a fight. Gregory was described in reports as ‘stamping in fury’ at their refusal to engage. Cubitt’s forward gunners fired off twelve rounds before losing range.

In February 1945 Cubitt was refitted at Tilbury. Her 2-pounder "pom pom" bow chaser was removed, the two 20 mm Oerlikons mounted in front of the bridge were replaced with two single 40 mm Bofors, and splinter shields were fitted to her 3-inch (76 mm) guns. [5]

On the night of 7/8 April 1945 Cubitt and Rutherford were on patrol with their MTB's when Cubitt encountered a large group of E-Boats. A Motor Gun Boat and an E-Boat collided, and Cubitt picked up casualties from another MGB that was on fire. [5]

Cubitt visited several Dutch ports immediately after they were liberated, and after VE Day escorted ships to Oslo and Brunsbüttel. Cubitt was then assigned to "Operation Deadlight", towing surrendered U-boats from Loch Ryan out into the North Atlantic where they were sunk. [5]

Cubitt was returned to the U.S. Navy on 4 March 1946, struck from the Navy List on 12 April 1946, and sold for scrapping on 7 March 1947. [3]

Related Research Articles

Captain-class frigate Designation given to 78 frigates of the Royal Navy

The Captain class was the designation given to 78 frigates of the Royal Navy, constructed in the United States, launched in 1942–1943 and delivered to the United Kingdom under the provisions of the Lend-Lease agreement. They were drawn from two classes of the American destroyer escort classification: 32 of the GMT (Evarts) Type and 46 of the TE (Buckley) Type. Upon reaching the UK the ships were substantially modified by the Royal Navy, making them distinct from the US Navy destroyer escort ships.

HMS <i>Byard</i> Frigate of the Royal Navy

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HMS <i>Bickerton</i> Frigate of the Royal Navy

HMS Bickerton was a Captain-class frigate of the Royal Navy. She served during the World War II as a convoy escort and anti-submarine warfare vessel in the Battle of the Atlantic and was an effective U-boat killer, being credited with the destruction of two U-boats during a service career of just 10 months. Bickerton was lost in action on 22 August 1944.

HMS <i>Balfour</i> Frigate of the Royal Navy

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HMS Bentley was a Captain-class frigate which served during World War II. The ship was named after Sir John Bentley who entered the Royal Navy in 1720. Between 1744 and 1761 he commanded a series of ships and took part in the decisive victory at the Battle of Quiberon Bay in 1759 while commanding a 74-gun third-rate ship of the line HMS Warspite.

HMS <i>Byron</i> Frigate of the Royal Navy

HMS Byron was a US-built Captain class frigate of the Royal Navy during World War II. Named after Vice Admiral The Honourable John Byron whose frequent encounters with bad weather in ensuing years won him the sobriquet, "Foul Weather Jack". Originally laid down as DE-79, a turbo-electric (TE) type Buckley-class destroyer escort, she was diverted to the Royal Navy and named HMS Byron before the launch.

HMS <i>Conn</i> Frigate of the Royal Navy

HMS Conn was a TE ("Buckley") Type Captain class frigate of the Royal Navy. She served during World War II as a convoy escort and anti-submarine warfare vessel in the Battle of the Atlantic and was credited with the destruction of two U-boats during the conflict.

HMS <i>Cosby</i> Frigate of the Royal Navy

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coastal Forces of the Royal Navy</span> British Royal Navy unit

Coastal Forces was a division of the Royal Navy initially established during World War I, and then again in World War II under the command of Rear-Admiral, Coastal Forces. It remained active until the last minesweepers to wear the "HM Coastal Forces" cap tally were taken out of reserve in 1968. The division received more gallantry awards than any other branch of the Royal Navy during that period.

HMS Cotton (K510) was a Captain-class frigate of the British Royal Navy that served in World War II. The ship was laid down as a Buckley-class destroyer escort at the Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard at Hingham, Massachusetts on 2 June 1943, with the hull number DE-81, and launched on 21 August 1943. The ship was transferred to the UK under Lend-Lease on 8 November 1943, and named after Rear-Admiral Sir Charles Cotton, an officer who served in the American Revolutionary, French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars.

HMS Cranstoun (K511) was a Captain-class frigate of the British Royal Navy that served in the last two years of World War II. The ship was laid down as a Buckley-class destroyer escort at the Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard at Hingham, Massachusetts on 9 June 1943, with the hull number DE-82, and launched on 28 August 1943. The ship was transferred to the UK under Lend-Lease on 13 November 1943, and named after Captain James Cranstoun, an officer who served in the American Revolutionary and French Revolutionary Wars.

HMS <i>Curzon</i> (K513) Frigate of the Royal Navy

HMS Curzon (K513) was a Captain-class frigate of the British Royal Navy that served during World War II. The ship was laid down as a Buckley-class destroyer escort at the Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard at Hingham, Massachusetts on 23 June 1943, with the hull number DE-84, and launched on 18 September 1943. The ship was transferred to the UK under Lend-Lease on 20 November 1943, and named after either Captain Henry Curzon, who commanded Pallas at the First Battle of Groix (1795), or Captain Edward Curzon who commanded Asia at the Battle of Navarino (1827). There is official uncertainty about which is correct.

HMS <i>Ekins</i> Frigate of the Royal Navy

HMS Ekins (K552) was a British Captain-class frigate of the Royal Navy that served during World War II. Originally constructed as a United States Navy Buckley class destroyer escort, she served in the Royal Navy from 1943 to 1945.

The second HMS Redmill (K554), and first ship to see service under the name, was a British Captain-class frigate of the Royal Navy in commission during World War II. Originally constructed as a United States Navy Buckley class destroyer escort, she served in the Royal Navy from 1943 to 1945.

The fourth HMS Rupert (K561) was a British Captain-class frigate of the Royal Navy in commission during World War II. Originally constructed as a United States Navy Buckley class destroyer escort, she served in the Royal Navy from 1943 to 1946.

HMS <i>Rutherford</i> Frigate of the Royal Navy

HMS Rutherford (K558) was a British Captain-class frigate of the Royal Navy in commission during World War II. Originally constructed as a United States Navy Buckley-class destroyer escort, she served in the Royal Navy from 1943 to 1945.

The second HMS Seymour (K563) was a British Captain-class frigate of the Royal Navy in commission during World War II. Originally constructed as a United States Navy Buckley class destroyer escort, she served in the Royal Navy from 1943 to 1946.

HMS <i>Stayner</i> Frigate of the Royal Navy

HMS Stayner was a British Captain-class frigate of the Royal Navy in commission during World War II. Originally constructed as a United States Navy Buckley-class destroyer escort, she served in the Royal Navy from 1943 to 1945.

HMS <i>Torrington</i> (K577) Frigate of the Royal Navy

The fourth HMS Torrington (K577) was a British Captain-class frigate of the Royal Navy in commission during World War II. Originally constructed as a United States Navy Buckley class destroyer escort, she served in the Royal Navy from 1944 to 1946.

HMS <i>Trollope</i> Frigate of the Royal Navy

HMS Trollope (K575) was a British Captain class frigate of the Royal Navy in commission during World War II. Originally constructed as a United States Navy Buckley class destroyer escort, she served in the Royal Navy from January to July 1944, when she was lost.

References

  1. ↑ Tynan, Roy (2006). "Captain Class Frigate - Battle Honours". captainclassfrigates.co.uk. Retrieved 9 April 2011.
  2. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur (2011). "Allied Warships of WWII - HMS Cubitt". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 9 April 2011.
  3. 1 2 Smolinski, Mike (2010). "Destroyer Escort Photo Index - HMS Cubitt (K512)". navsource.org. Retrieved 9 April 2011.
  4. ↑ Tynan, Roy (2003). "Captain Class Frigates - HMS Cubitt (K512)". captainclassfrigates.co.uk. Retrieved 9 April 2011.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Tynan, Roy (2003). "Operations of the Nore Command Frigates". captainclassfrigates.co.uk. Retrieved 9 April 2011.
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