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HMS Holmes (K581)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For other ships with the same name, see HMS Holmes and USS Holmes.

History
United States
Nameunnamed
BuilderBethlehem-Hingham Shipyard, Hingham, Massachusetts
Laid down27 October 1943[1]
IdentificationDE-572
RenamedUSS Holmes 1943
NamesakeBritish name assigned in anticipation of transfer to United Kingdom
Launched18 December 1943
Completed31 January 1944
Commissionednever
FateTransferred to United Kingdom 31 January 1944
AcquiredReturned by United Kingdom 3 December 1945[2]
Stricken7 February 1946
FateSold October 1947 for scrapping
United Kingdom
NameHMS Holmes
NamesakeAdmiral Sir Robert Holmes (ca. 1622-1692), English naval officer who fought in the Second and Third Anglo-Dutch Wars[3]
Acquired31 January 1944
Commissioned31 January 1944[1]
IdentificationPennant number K581
FateReturned to U.S. Navy 3 December 1945[2]
General characteristics
Displacement1,400 long tons (1,422 t)
Length306 ft (93 m)
Beam36.75 ft (11.2 m)
Draught9 ft (2.7 m)
Propulsion
  • Two Foster-Wheeler Express "D"-type water-tube boilers
  • GE 13,500 shp (10,070 kW) steam turbines and generators (9,200 kW)
  • Electric motors for 12,000 shp (8,900 kW)
  • Two shafts
Speed24 knots (44 km/h)
Range5,500 nmi (10,200 km) at 15 knots (28 km/h)
Complement186
Sensors and
processing systems
Armament
NotesPennant number K581

HMS Holmes (K581) was a Royal Navy Captain-class frigate, originally a Buckley-class destroyer escort intended for the United States Navy. Before she was finished in 1944, she was transferred to the Royal Navy under the terms of Lend-Lease, and was in commission from 1944 to 1945, seeing service during World War II.

Construction and transfer

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The still-unnamed ship was laid down as the U.S. Navy destroyer escort DE-572 by Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard, Inc., in Hingham, Massachusetts, on 27 October 1943.[1] Allocated to the United Kingdom, she received the British name Holmes and was launched on 18 December 1943. She was transferred to the United Kingdom upon completion on 31 January 1944.

Service history

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An officer taking a compass bearing aboard HMS Holmes whilst she was guarding Allied supply lines to the Normandy beachhead

Commissioned into service in the Royal Navy as the frigate HMS Holmes (K581) on 31 January 1944 simultaneously with her transfer, the ship served on escort duty for the remainder of World War II. The Royal Navy returned her to the U.S. Navy on 3 December 1945.[2]

Disposal

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The U.S. Navy struck Holmes from its Naval Vessel Register on 7 February 1946. She was sold to Walter H. Wilms and Company of Detroit, Michigan, in October 1947 for scrapping.

Citations

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  1. ^ a b c uboat.net HMS Holmes (K 581)
  2. ^ a b c Navsource Online: Destroyer Escort Photo Archive DE-572 HMS Holmes (K-581)
  3. ^ Captain Class Frigate Association: HMS Holmes K581 (DE 572)

References

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to HMS Holmes (ship, 1943).
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