HMS Culver

For other ships with the same name, see USCGC Mendota.

USCGC Mendota, under construction, circa 1928.
History
United States
Name	USCGC Mendota
Namesake	Lake Mendota
Builder	Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation
Laid down	20 June 1928
Launched	27 November 1928
Commissioned	23 March 1929
Fate	Transferred to Royal Navy, 30 April 1941.
United Kingdom
Name	HMS Culver
Commissioned	30 April 1941
Identification	Pennant number: Y97
Fate	Sunk 31 January 1942.
General characteristics
Class & type	Lake-class cutter (USCG) Banff-class sloop (RN)
Displacement	2,075 long tons (2,108 t)
Length	250 ft (76.2 m)
Beam	42 ft (12.8 m)
Draft	12 ft 11 in (3.9 m)
Propulsion	1 × General Electric turbine-driven 3,350  shp (2,500  kW) electric motor, 2 boilers
Speed	14.8 knots (27.4 km/h; 17.0 mph) cruising 17.5 knots (32.4 km/h; 20.1 mph) maximum
Complement	97
Armament	1 × 5"/51 caliber gun 1 × 3"/50 caliber gun 2 × 6-pounder (57 mm) gun

USCGC Mendota was a Lake-class cutter belonging to the United States Coast Guard launched on 20 June 1928 and commissioned on 23 March 1929. ^[1] After 12 years of service with the Coast Guard, she was transferred to the British Royal Navy as part of the Lend-Lease Act and renamed HMS Culver. While escorting an SL convoy, on 31 January 1942 she was sunk when struck by two torpedoes fired by the German submarine U-105.

Career

U.S. Coast Guard - Mendota

After commissioning in March 1929, Mendota was homeported in Norfolk, Virginia. ^[2] In March 1932, Mendota came to the aid of the oil tanker Dixie Arrow after her steering gear had been damaged in a storm. ^[3] On 22 December 1939, Sebago attempted to assist the 2,847  gross register tons  (GRT) Greek steamship Aliakmon, which had grounded north of Wash Woods, Virginia. The 12-inch (30 cm) hawser that had been secured to the vessel parted, but Mendota, having arrived a few hours later, was able to float the $200,000 vessel. ^[2]

Royal Navy - Culver

As part of the Lend-Lease Act she was transferred to the Royal Navy where she was renamed HMS Culver (Y87) and commissioned on 30 April 1941. ^[4] On 31 October 1941, Culver picked up 25 people from the Dutch merchant vessel Bennekom which had been sunk by a torpedo from U-96.

Sinking

On 31 January 1942, while escorting convoy SL 98, Culver came under fire by the German submarine U-105. ^[5] At 23:31 hours, she was struck twice, once on the port side in the forward boiler room and once further aft that likely struck the vessel's magazine. Culver broke in two and sank in less than a minute. The commander, 7 officers and 119 ratings were lost. A single officer and 12 ratings survived the sinking and were rescued by HMS Londonderry. ^[5]

See also

• List of United States Coast Guard cutters

References

1. Helgason, Guðmundur. "USCGC Mendota". uboat.net. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
2. "Mendota (1929)" (PDF). USCG. US Coast Guard. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
3. "Storms Sweep". The Lewiston Daily Sun. 7 March 1923. pp. 1, 9. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
4. Helgason, Guðmundur. "HMS Culver (Y 87)". uboat.net. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
5. Helgason, Guðmundur. "HMS Culver (Y 87) - Sinking". uboat.net. Retrieved 24 July 2015.

48°43′N20°14′W / 48.717°N 20.233°W / 48.717; -20.233