HMS Byard

HMS Byard was a Buckley class Captains class frigate during World War II. Named Sir Thomas Byard, who commanded HMS Bedford at the Battle of Camperdown in 1797 during the French Revolutionary Wars.

Originally destined for the US Navy HMS Byard was provisionally given the name USS Donaldson (this name was reassigned to DE 44) however the delivery was diverted to the Royal Navy before the launch. Commanding Officers were Lt Cdr L H Phillips RN February 1943, Lt Cdr K Ferris RNVR January 1944 and Lt J I Jones RN June 1944.

Actions

HMS Byard served exclusively with the 4th Escort Group earning battle honours for service in the North Atlantic.

On the October 17 1943, HMS Byard was escorting an Atlantic convoy which was attacked by a wolf pack of 16 submarines east of Cape Farewell, Greenland. During the ensuing battle HMS Byard sank the submarine U-841 at position 59.57N, 31.06W, by the use of depth charges resulting in 27 dead and 27 survivors from U-841's crew. This action made HMS Byard the first Captains class frigate to destroy a Kriegsmarine submarine.

General Information

• Pennant (UK): K 315
• Pennant (US): DE 55
• Built by: Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard Inc. (Hingham, Massachusetts, U.S.A.)

External links

• Byard - Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
• Uboat.net page for HMS Byard
• Uboat.net page for U-841
• captainclassfrigates.co.uk

References

• The Captain Class Frigates in the Second World War by Donald Collingwood. published by Leo Cooper (1998), ISBN 085052 615 9.
• The Buckley-Class Destroyer Escorts by Bruce Hampton Franklin, published by Chatham Publishing (1999), ISBN 086176118X.
• German U-Boat Losses During World War II by Axel Niestle, published by United States Naval Inst (1998), ISBN 1557506418.

 This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.