View source for Captain-class frigate

{{Short description|Designation given to 78 frigates of the Royal Navy}}
{{Redirect|Captain class||Captain (disambiguation)}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin|sclass=2}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image= File:HMS Cosby (K559) IWM FL 8554.jpg
|Ship image size=300
|Ship caption={{HMS|Cosby|K559|6}}, an example of the ''Buckley'' subclass.
|image alt=
}}
{{Infobox ship class overview
|Name=
|Builders=*[[Boston Navy Yard]], MA (31)
*[[Philadelphia Navy Yard]], PA (1)
*[[Bethlehem Hingham Shipyard|Bethlehem-Hingham]], MA (46)
|Operators={{navy|United Kingdom}}
|Class before=
|Class after=
|Subclasses=*[[Evarts-class destroyer escort|GMT (''Evarts'') Type]]
*[[Buckley-class destroyer escort|TE (''Buckley'') Type]]
|Cost=
|Built range=1941–1943
|In service range= 1943–1956
|In commission range=
|Total ships building=
|Total ships planned=
|Total ships completed=78
|Total ships cancelled=
|Total ships active=
|Total ships laid up=
|Total ships lost=*7 sunk
*8 [[Constructive total loss]]
|Total ships retired=
|Total ships preserved=
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Ship class=
|Ship type=[[Frigate#World War II|Frigate]]
|Ship tonnage=
|Ship displacement=*{{Convert|1140|LT|t|0}} (''Evarts'')
*{{Convert|1400|LT|t|0}} (''Buckley'')
|Ship length=*{{Convert|289|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on}} (''Evarts'')
*{{Convert|306|ft|m|abbr=on}} (''Buckley'')
|Ship beam=*{{Convert|35|ft|m|abbr=on}} (''Evarts'')
*{{Convert|36|ft|9|in|m|abbr=on}} (''Buckley'')
|Ship height=
|Ship draft=*{{Convert|9|ft|m|abbr=on}} (''Evarts'')
*{{Convert|11|ft|m|abbr=on}} (''Buckley'')
|Ship depth=
|Ship hold depth=
|Ship decks=7
|Ship deck clearance=
|Ship power=*{{convert|7040|bhp|kW|0|abbr=on}} (''Evarts'')
*{{convert|13500|shp|kW|-1|abbr=on}} (''Buckley'')
|Ship propulsion=See text
|Ship speed=*{{Convert|20|kn|lk=in}} (''Evarts'')
*{{Convert|24|kn}} (''Buckley'')
|Ship range=*{{Convert|5000|nmi}} at {{Convert|15|kn}} (''Evarts'')
*{{Convert|5500|nmi}} at {{Convert|15|kn}} (''Buckley'')
|Ship endurance=
|Ship boats=*Royal Navy {{convert|27|ft|m|adj=on}} [[whaleboat|whaler]]
*US Navy standard [[ship's boat]]
|Ship capacity=
|Ship troops=
|Ship complement=*156 (''Evarts'')
*186 (''Buckley'')
|Ship crew=
|Ship time to activate=
|Ship sensors=*SA&nbsp;&&nbsp;SL type radars
*Type&nbsp;128D or Type&nbsp;144 series [[Sonar|Asdic]]
*MF [[Direction finding|Direction Finding]] antenna
*[[High frequency direction finding|HF Direction Finding]] Type FH 4 antenna
|Ship EW=
|Ship armament=*3 × [[3-inch/50-caliber gun|3&nbsp;in (76&nbsp;mm) /50 Mk.22 guns]]
*1 × twin [[Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/60|Bofors 40&nbsp;mm]] mount Mk.I
*7–16 × [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon|20&nbsp;mm Oerlikon]] guns
*Mark&nbsp;10 [[Hedgehog (weapon)|Hedgehog]] A/S projector
*2 x [[depth charge rail|rails]], 4 x [[depth charge thrower|throwers]], up to 200 depth charges
*[[QF 2-pounder naval gun]]
|Ship notes=
}}
|}

The '''Captain class''' was the designation given to 78 [[frigate]]s 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]] (originally "British Destroyer Escort") classification: 32 of the [[Evarts-class destroyer escort|GMT (''Evarts'') Type]] and 46 of the [[Buckley-class destroyer escort|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.

Captain-class frigates acted in the roles of [[convoy]] escorts, [[anti-submarine warfare]] vessels, [[British Coastal Forces of World War II|coastal forces]] control frigates and headquarters ships for the [[Normandy landings]]. During the course of World War II this class participated in the sinking of at least 34 German submarines and a number of other hostile craft; 15 of the 78 Captain-class frigates were either sunk or written off as a [[constructive total loss]].

In the post-war period, all of the surviving Captain-class frigates except one ([[HMS Hotham (K583)|HMS ''Hotham'']] which was used as a power station and for powerplant experiments) were returned to the US Navy before the end of 1947 in order to reduce the amount payable under the provisions of the Lend-Lease agreement; the last Captain-class frigate was returned to United States custody in March 1956.

==Naming==
{{Main|List of Captain-class frigates|l1=List of Captain-class frigates}}

It was the intention of the [[Admiralty (United Kingdom)|Admiralty]] that these ships would be named after [[Captain (Royal Navy)|captain]]s who served with [[Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson|Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson]] at the [[Battle of Trafalgar]], but as building continued it became necessary to delve back further into history for the names of well-regarded admirals and captains.{{sfn | Collingwood | 1998 | p=203}}

Of the 78 frigates, 66 bore names that had not been allocated to earlier Royal Navy ships. ''Lawford'', ''Louis'', ''Manners'', ''Moorsom'', ''Mounsey'', ''Narborough'', ''Pasley'' and ''Seymour'' had been used for [[destroyer]]s during [[World War I]].{{sfn | Collingwood | 1998 | p=203}} {{HMS|Rupert|K561|6}} was the fifth of that name since 1666.{{sfn | Collingwood | 1998 | p=203}} ''Torrington'' was the fourth of that name since 1654.{{sfn | Collingwood | 1998 | p=203}} ''Holmes'' had been used once before in 1671 and ''Fitzroy'' had previously been used for a survey vessel in 1919.{{sfn | Collingwood | 1998 | p=203}}

==Early history==
[[File:DEs under construction.jpg|thumb|left|Two of the ''Buckley'' subclass under construction.]]

In June 1941 [[His Majesty's Government|the British government]], seeking to take advantage of the US Lend-Lease program, asked the United States to design, build and supply an escort vessel that was suitable for anti-submarine warfare in deep open ocean situations.{{sfn | Franklin | 1999 | p=5}} The requested particulars were a length of {{convert|300|ft|m|-1}}, a speed of {{convert|20|kn|km/h|0}}, a [[Dual-purpose gun|dual purpose main armament]] and an [[bridge (ship)|open bridge]].{{sfn | Lenton | 1998| pp=198–199}} The [[United States Navy]] had been looking into the feasibility of such a vessel since 1939, and Captain E. L. Cochrane of the US Navy's [[Bureau of Ships]]&nbsp;– who, during his visit to the United Kingdom in 1940, had looked at Royal Navy [[corvette]]s and {{sclass2|Hunt|destroyer|2}}s&nbsp;– had come up with a design for such a vessel.{{sfn | Franklin | 1999 | pp=6–7}} This design anticipated a need for large numbers of this type of vessel, and had sought to remove the major production [[bottleneck (project management)|bottleneck]] for such vessels: the [[Gear#Double helical|double helical reduction gearing]] required for the [[steam turbine]] machinery of destroyers.{{sfn|NAVPERS 10813-B|1966}}{{sfn | Lenton | 1998| pp=198–199}} The production of reduction gears could not be easily increased, as the precision machinery required for their construction alone took over a year to produce.{{sfn | Lenton | 1998| pp=198–199}} Therefore, a readily-available and proven layout of [[diesel-electric]] machinery, also used on submarines, was adopted. When the United Kingdom made its request, [[Harold Rainsford Stark|Admiral Stark]] of the US Navy decided to put these plans into motion and recommended that the British order be approved.{{sfn | Franklin | 1999 | p=7}} [[Gibbs &amp; Cox|Gibbs and Cox]], the marine architects charged with creating working plans, had to make several alterations to the production methods and to Captain Cochrane's original design, most notably dropping another production bottleneck&nbsp;– the [[5-inch/38-caliber gun]] – and replacing it with the [[3-inch/50-caliber gun]], which allowed adding a [[superfiring]] third gun (at the "B" position, forward);{{sfn | Lenton | 1998| pp=198–199}} also, the original design specified eight engines for {{convert|24|kn}} but other priority programs forced the use of only four with a consequent shortening of the hull and reduction of the ship's maximum speed by an estimated {{convert|4|kn}}.{{sfn | Friedman | 2004 | p=143}}  The design had relatively light armour with for example the steel plate used on the Buckleys ranging from 1/2 inch to 7/16 inch with 1/4 inch plate being used for the majority of the hull and deck plating.{{sfn | Franklin | 1999 | p=15}}

The result was a vessel that could be produced quickly (for example ''Halsted'' was built in just 24 and half days{{sfn | Franklin | 1999 | p=18}}) at half the cost of a fleet destroyer,{{sfn | Franklin | 1999 | p=7}} ($3.5 million{{sfn | Halsey | 1943}} compared to $10.4 million for a 1,620-ton destroyer such as the US {{sclass|Benson|destroyer|4}}{{sfn | Friedman | 2004 | p=141}} or $6.4 million for British Hunt-class destroyer.{{sfn | Friedman | 2004 | p=140}})

On 15 August 1941 [[Franklin D. Roosevelt|President Franklin D. Roosevelt]] authorised the construction of 50 of the new ''Evarts''-class design as BDE 1–50 (British destroyer escort) as part of the 1799 program.{{sfn | Lenton | 1998 | pp=198–199}}{{sfn | Morison | 1956 | p=34}} The [[turbo-electric]] powered ''Buckley'' class were not part of the first order and were authorised later by Public Law 440 effective 6 February 1942.{{sfn | Franklin | 1999 | pp=11–12}} The Royal Navy placed orders in November 1941 with four shipyards: the [[Boston Navy Yard]], the [[Mare Island Navy Yard]], the [[Philadelphia Naval Shipyard]] and the [[Puget Sound Navy Yard]].{{sfn | Franklin | 1999 | p=7}} When the United States entered the war, they too adopted the BDE design.{{sfn | Franklin | 1999 | p=7}} The BDE designation was retained by the first six destroyer escorts (BDEs 1, 2, 3, 4, 12 and&nbsp;46) transferred to the United Kingdom. Of the initial 50 ordered, these were the only ones the Royal Navy received; the rest were reclassified as destroyer escorts (DE) on 25 January 1943 and taken over by the United States Navy.{{sfn | Franklin | 1999 | p=7}} By the end of World War II the Royal Navy had received 31 ''Evarts'' from Boston Navy Yard, 1 from Philadelphia Navy Yard and 46 ''Buckleys'' from [[Bethlehem Hingham Shipyard|Bethlehem-Hingham]].{{sfn | Franklin | 1999 | p=7}}{{sfn | Lenton | 1998| pp=198–199}}

The Royal Navy classified these ships as frigates, as they lacked the [[torpedo tube]]s needed for a destroyer classification.{{sfn | Collingwood | 1998 | p=33}} For those used to Admiralty-designed ships the Captains were unfamiliar: they had no break forward of the [[forecastle]] but instead had a graceful shear to deck-line from the forecastle to midship, and the ''Evarts'' had raked cowls on top of the funnels.{{sfn | Collingwood | 1998 | p=7}} Those who served on these ships came to view these features as being very handsome.{{sfn | Collingwood | 1998 | p=7}} Amongst the differences with British-designed vessels were using [[bunk bed|bunks]] instead of [[hammocks]] and welds instead of rivets.{{sfn | Collingwood | 1998 | p=20}}{{sfn | Collingwood | 1998 | p=17}}
{{Clear}}

==Propulsion==
The ''Evarts'' subclass had diesel-electric machinery, based on an arrangement used for submarines.{{sfn | Lenton | 1998| pp=198–199}} There were two [[driveshaft|shafts]]. Four [[Cleveland Diesel Engine Division#Winton Engine Corporation|Winton]] 278A 16-cylinder engines, with a combined rating of {{convert|7040|bhp|kW|0|abbr=on}}, drove [[General Electric|General Electric Company]] (GE) generators (4,800&nbsp;kW) that supplied power to two GE electric motors, with an output of {{convert|6000|shp|kW|abbr=on}}, for a speed of {{convert|20|kn}}. It had been intended to provide another set of this machinery for an output of {{convert|12000|shp|kW|abbr=on}}, to make the design speed of {{convert|24|kn}}, but hull production greatly outstripped that of the machinery; therefore, only one set of machinery was used per ship.{{sfn | Lenton | 1998| pp=198–199}}{{sfn | Friedman | 2004 | p=143}}

In order to make the designed speed, the ''Buckley'' subclass had turbo-electric machinery.{{sfn | Lenton | 1998| pp=198–199}} Two [[Foster Wheeler]] Express "D"-type [[water-tube boiler]]s supplied steam to GE {{convert|13500|shp|kW|-1|abbr=on}} steam turbines and generators (9,200&nbsp;kW).{{sfn | Lenton | 1974 | p=14}} Electric motors for {{convert|12000|shp|kW|-2|abbr=on}} drove the two shafts, each fitted with a three-bladed propeller of solid [[manganese]]-[[bronze]] that was {{convert|8|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on}} in diameter.{{sfn | Lenton | 1974 | p=14}}{{sfn | Franklin | 1999 | p=17}} This all-electric drivetrain was considered{{by whom|date=March 2021}} particularly innovative at the time, although the {{sclass|Auk|minesweeper|1}}s (known as ''Catherine'' class in RN) had a similar arrangement.

==Royal Navy alterations==
The first port of call in the United Kingdom for most of the Captain-class vessels was Pollock Dock, [[Port of Belfast|Belfast]] where the ships were modified in order to match Admiralty requirements.{{sfn | Collingwood | 1998 | pp=30–31}} In all there were 109 items in the alterations and additions list for the ''Evarts'' and 94 for the ''Buckleys''.{{sfn | Collingwood | 1998 | pp=30–31}}

One major design difference between the Royal Navy ''Buckley''-class frigates and the US Navy ''Buckley''-class destroyer escorts was that the Royal Navy frigates did not mount torpedo tubes.{{sfn | Collingwood | 1998 | p=7}} (The ''Evarts'' class was not designed to carry torpedoes.){{sfn | Franklin | 1999 | p=21}}  The resulting reduction in top weight combined with the previous reduction in the gun battery resulted in excessive stability, causing sharp and violent rolling behaviour in the relatively short North Atlantic swells.  Several solutions were discussed including reshipping the torpedo tubes and replacing the American 3"/50 caliber guns with heavier British 4.5 inch but all proved impractical due to production bottlenecks and wartime congestion in British shipyards.  The problem was ultimately addressed by increasing the number of depth charges stowed on the upper deck and fitting larger bilge keels, which tamed the roll to manageable levels.{{sfn|Friedman|1982|p=159-161}}

Further alterations were:

===Sea-keeping equipment===
A [[crow's nest]] was affixed to the mainmast.{{sfn | Elliott | 1972 | p=261}} A standard Royal Navy {{convert|27|ft|m|0|adj=on}} [[whaleboat|whaler]] was fitted on the [[Port and starboard|port]] side of the funnel in addition to the US-issue [[ship's boat]] on the starboard side;{{sfn | Franklin | 1999 | p=43}} additional [[Carley float|Carley lifesaving rafts]] were also fitted: big ones on sloping launch skids [[aft]] of the funnel and small ones aft of the searchlights.{{sfn | Elliott | 1972 | p=259}} Wind deflectors were fitted on the leading edge of the [[bridge (nautical)|bridge]] area and a canvas-covered shelter was installed on the [[quarterdeck]] to provide better weather protection for [[depth charge]] crews.{{sfn | Elliott | 1972 | p=261}} Oiling [[fairlead]]s were fitted to the edge of the hull by the anchor winch.{{sfn | Elliott | 1972 | p=259}} The [[bilge keel]]s were lengthened and made deeper (a process that took a minimum of three weeks).{{sfn | Franklin | 1999 | p=21}}

===Gunnery===
[[File:HMS Stayner 1944 IWM A 24049.jpg|thumb|right|{{HMS|Stayner|K573|6}} acting as a [[Coastal Forces]] control frigate; note the [[QF 2-pounder naval gun|2-pounder (40&nbsp;mm) "pom-pom"]] [[Chase gun|bowchaser]]]]
More [[Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/60|40&nbsp;mm Bofors]] and [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon|Oerlikon 20 mm]] guns were mounted in place of the removed torpedo tubes,{{sfn | Elliott | 1972 | p=262}} and the MK&nbsp;IV elevating column Oerlikon mountings were replaced with the simpler MK&nbsp;VIA mountings;{{sfn | Collingwood | 1998 | p=31}} those ships that were to serve as [[Coastal Forces]] control frigates hunting [[E-boats]] had extra guns fitted.{{sfn | Elliott | 1972 | p=262}} On some ships, either [[gun shield]]s were fitted to the main armament, or a spray and blast shield was fitted to the B gun.{{sfn | Elliott | 1972 | p=261}} Two-inch rocket [[flare]] projectors were fitted to the B gun: six if the spray and blast shield was fitted, three if not.{{sfn | Elliott | 1972 | p=261}} A 40&nbsp;mm [[QF 2-pounder naval gun|QF 2-pounder Mk VIII "pom-pom"]] was fitted as [[Chase gun|bowchaser]] to ships that were to serve as Coastal Forces control frigates.{{sfn | Collingwood | 1998 | p=104}}

The bridge layout was significantly altered; the biggest alteration was the addition of a two-tier [[Director (Military)|director control tower]] that improved visibility and gave better protection to the equipment. Vertically fired "snowflake" parachute flare projectors were fitted to the [[bridge wing]]s.{{sfn | Elliott | 1972 | p=261}}
{{Clear}}

===Anti-submarine===
More depth charges were fitted on the upper deck of each side of the ship, allowing for about 200 in total; Royal Navy smoke floats were fitted above the depth charges in addition to the US Navy chemical smoke cylinders fitted to the stern of the Captains.{{sfn | Elliott | 1972 | p=264}} A medium frequency [[direction finding]] antenna (MF/DF) was fitted in front of the bridge and a [[high-frequency direction finding]] (HF/DF, "Huffduff") Type FH 4 antenna was fitted on top of the mainmast;{{sfn | Elliott | 1972 | p=264}} furthermore, a radio-receiving set tuned to the frequencies used for ship-to-ship communication by German U-boats and E-boats was fitted and a German-speaking rating carried. The Captains were eventually given Type 144 series [[Asdic]] (sonar) sets,{{sfn | Collingwood | 1998 | p=31}} an upgrade from the original Type 128D,{{sfn | Franklin | 1999 | p=42}} and a [[Foxer]] was fitted to the aft of the Captains (and most other Atlantic escort vessels) during 1944 to counter the new [[G7es torpedo|G7es acoustic torpedoes]].{{sfn | Elliott | 1972 | p=264}}

===Navigation and communications===
The steel parts around the [[binnacle]] (the enclosure containing the compass) were replaced by non-ferrous materials.{{sfn | Collingwood | 1998 | p=31}} In addition to the standard US Navy [[LORAN|long-range position-fixing set (LORAN)]], a Royal Navy [[GEE (navigation)|GEE short-range position-fixing set]] was fitted.{{sfn | Elliott | 1972 | p=264}} A [[radar]] interrogation system was installed that was able to challenge ships at sea (only ships likewise fitted with the system would be able to reply), along with four coloured fighting lights{{sfn | Elliott | 1972 | p=264}} (signalling lamps installed on the [[Yard (sailing)|yardarm]] to aid recognition by friendly forces during night fighting{{sfn | Admiralty | 1951 | p=169}}).

===Camouflage and insignia===
Following standard Royal Navy protocols, all of the Captains had large [[pennant number]]s painted on the sides and stern of the hull, usually in blue, red or black.{{sfn | Franklin | 1999 | p=121}}{{sfn | Elliott | 1972 | p=269}} The [[Escort Group (naval)|escort groups]] to which most Captains were assigned had their own individual insignia; these distinctive and colourful designs were painted on the side of the ship's funnel, and if the ship was home to the escort group's senior officer it would also have a coloured band painted around the top of the funnel (usually in blue or red).{{sfn | Elliott | 1972 | p=264}} The ship's waterline was always in black.{{sfn | Elliott | 1972 | p=269}}

A total of five different [[ship camouflage]] schemes were employed on the Captains.{{sfn | Elliott | 1972 | p=264}} The ships came from the shipyards in white with light blue polygons, the US Navy's camouflage pattern for northern latitudes.<ref>[[World War II ship camouflage measures of the United States Navy#Improved measures from combat experience|Measure 16 (Thayer System)]]</ref> For those ships assigned to the North Atlantic, a scheme consisting of light and dark blues and greens with some soft white was adopted as it was believed that this would blend with the sea colour in bad weather.{{sfn | Elliott | 1972 | p=264}} Ships assigned to the [[English Channel]] in 1944 (Coastal Forces control frigates and those assigned to Operation Neptune as headquarters ships) received a design in black, blue, light grey and white.{{sfn | Elliott | 1972 | p=264}} For ships assigned to the 16th Flotilla ([[Harwich]]) and 21st Flotilla ([[Sheerness]]) operating in the [[North Sea]] and English Channel, a scheme consisting of horizontal upper deck divisions of light and dark grey (as used by the US Navy) was used.{{sfn | Elliott | 1972 | p=264}} Early in 1945, a scheme was adopted that was to be common to all Royal Navy ships, consisting of white with a sky-blue stripe along the hull.{{sfn | Elliott | 1972 | p=264}}

===Modifications to Normandy landing HQ ships===
[[File:HMS Dacres.jpg|thumb|right|{{HMS|Dacres|K472|6}}, converted to act as a headquarters ship for the Normandy landings; note the additional smaller mainmast to support the extra [[antenna (radio)|aerials]].]]
	
HMS ''Dacres'', HMS ''Kingsmill'' and HMS ''Lawford'' were converted to headquarters ships for use during [[Normandy landings|Operation Neptune]] (the Normandy landings). These ships had their aft three-inch (76&nbsp;mm) gun and all the depth charge gear removed, and the superstructure extended, to provide accommodations for extra [[Staff Officer]]s; two [[deckhouse]]s were built for the additional radios needed and a smaller extra mainmast was added to support the many additional [[antenna (radio)|aerials]]. Four more Oerlikons were fitted bringing the total to 16, and a number of radar sets fitted ([[Type 271 radar|Type&nbsp;271]] centimetric target identification and [[Type 291 radar|Type&nbsp;291]] air warning, and the associated Types&nbsp;242 and 253 [[Identification Friend or Foe|IFF sets]]).{{sfn | Lenton | 1998| pp=198–199}}{{sfn | Collingwood | 1998 | p=150}} The complement was reduced to 141, but with a headquarters staff of&nbsp;64.{{sfn | Lenton | 1998| pp=198–199}}
{{Clear}}

==Ships' companies==
The Captains had a typical crew of either 156 (''Evarts'') or 186 (''Buckley'') officers and [[Naval rating|ratings]].{{sfn | Lenton | 1974 | p=14}} The bulk of the ratings enlisted after the outbreak of World War II, thus having little military or seafaring experience, and had to be trained in whichever branch of the Navy they chose to serve; after about six weeks [[Military parade|drilling, marching]] and generally getting physically fit they went into specific job training.{{sfn | Collingwood | 1998 | pp=25–26}} Many of the senior [[non-commissioned officer]]s were pre-war Royal Navy ratings who had been promoted.{{sfn | Collingwood | 1998 | pp=25–26}}

Engineering personnel were faced with the added complication of power plants not normally found in the Royal Navy. Initially, they were trained alongside US Navy personnel at purpose-built facilities in the General Electric Company factories at [[Cleveland]] and [[Syracuse, New York|Syracuse]], and were awarded certificates at the end of their training; later, training was provided in the United Kingdom.{{sfn | Collingwood | 1998 | p=12–13}}

Ship's companies were shipped over to the US by them taking passage from the Clyde or Liverpool to New York on [[ocean liner]]s such as {{ship|RMS|Queen Mary||2}}.{{sfn | Collingwood | 1998 | p=10}} On arriving in New York, the crews were initially assigned to {{HMS|Saker}} until they were reassigned to a Captain-class frigate.{{sfn | Collingwood | 1998 | p=10}} Later, some of the Captains were ferried across the Atlantic by crews of the [[Royal Canadian Navy]] coming to the United Kingdom to collect {{sclass2|River|frigate|0}} frigates ordered by the Canadians.{{sfn | Collingwood | 1998 | p=10}}

==Operations==
These ships were primarily deployed to [[Escort Group]]s that were then used to provide anti-submarine cover to the convoys that they escorted. The four or more ships in an escort group, by operating together under a single commander, were able to use group tactics so that with the issue of a single short command the various ships of the group, often out of sight of each other, could be relied upon to act in a co-ordinated fashion.{{sfn | Collingwood | 1998 }}{{Page needed|date=June 2012}}

A small number of Captains were converted to act as headquarters ships during Operation Neptune (the Normandy landings) and as coastal forces control frigates. Captains who operated with Coastal Forces ([[motor torpedo boat]]s, [[motor gun boat]]s and US Navy [[PT boat]]s) sank at least two [[Midget submarine|two-man submarines]],{{sfn | Collingwood | 1998 | p=120}} and were involved in the destruction of at least 26 E-boats,{{sfnm | 1a1=Collingwood | 1y=1998 | 1p=124 | 2a1=Collingwood | 2y=1998 | 2p=139}} one [[Vorpostenboot|KFK patrol vessel]] (coastal escort vessels constructed so as to resemble a fishing-vessel),{{sfn | Collingwood | 1998 | p=116}} two minesweepers,{{sfn | Collingwood | 1998 | p=116}} and the shooting down of a [[Junkers Ju 88]] aeroplane.{{sfn | Collingwood| 1998 | p=154}}

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+ Submarine sinkings in which Captain-class frigates participated{{sfn | Niestle | 1998}}{{Page needed|date=June 2012}}
! scope="col" | Submarine
! scope="col" | Date
! scope="col" | Ships
! scope="col" | Fate of submarine crew
! scope="col" | Position sunk
|-
! scope="row" | {{GS|U-841||2}}
| 17 October 1943
|  ''[[HMS Byard (K315)|Byard]]''
| 27 lost and 27 survivors
|style=white-space:nowrap | {{coord|59|57|N|31|06|W|region:XA_type:event|display=inline|name=U-841 sunk by HMS Byard, 17 October 1943}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{GS|U-538||2}}
|style=white-space:nowrap | 21 November 1943
|  ''[[HMS Foley (K474)|Foley]]''
| 55, all hands Lost
| southwest of Ireland {{coord|45|40|N|19|35|W|region:XA_type:event|display=inline|name=U-538 sunk by HMS Foley, 21 November 1943}}
|- <!--
! scope="row" | {{nowrap|{{GS|U-648||2}}}}{{wbr}}{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}
| 23 November 1943
|  ''Bazely'',  ''Blackwood'',  ''Drury''
| 50, all hands lost
| {{coord|42|40|N|20|37|W|display=inline|name=U-648 sunk}} -->
|-
! scope="row" | {{GS|U-600||2}}
| 25 November 1943
|  ''Bazely'',  ''Blackwood''
| 54, all hands lost
| {{coord|40|31|N|22|07|W|region:XA_type:event|display=inline|name=U-600 sunk, 25 November 1943}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{GS|U-757||2}}
| 8 January 1944
|  ''Bayntun''
| 49, all hands lost
| {{coord|50|33|N|18|03|W|region:XA_type:event|display=inline|name=U-757 sunk by HMS Bayntun, 8 January 1944}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{GS|U-91|1941|2}}
| 26 February 1944
|  ''Affleck'',  ''Gore'',  ''Gould''
| 36 lost and 16 survivors
| {{coord|49|45|N|26|20|W|region:XA_type:event|display=inline|name=U-91 sunk, 26 February 1944}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{GS|U-358||2}}
| 1 March 1944
|  ''Affleck'',  ''Gore'',  ''Gould'',  ''Garlies''
| 50 lost and 1 survivor
| {{coord|45|46|N|23|16|W|region:XA_type:event|display=inline|name=U-358 sunk, 1 March 1944}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{GS|U-392||2}}
| 16 March 1944
|  ''Affleck''
| 52, all hands lost
| {{coord|35|55|N|05|41|W|region:XA_type:event|display=inline|name=U-392 sunk by HMS Affleck, 16 March 1944}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{GS|U-765||2}}
| 6 May 1944
|  ''Bickerton'',  ''Bligh'',  ''Aylmer'' with Swordfish aircraft from [[HMS Vindex (D15)|HMS ''Vindex'']]
| 37 lost and 11 survivors
| North Atlantic {{coord|52|30|N|28|28|W|region:XA_type:event|display=inline|name=U-765 sunk, 6 May 1944}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{GS|U-269||2}}
| 25 June 1944
|  ''Bickerton''
| 13 lost and 39 survivors
| {{coord|50|01|N|02|59|W|region:XA_type:event|display=inline|name=U-269 sunk by HMS Bickerton, 25 June 1944}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{GS|U-988||2}}
| 29 June 1944
|  ''Duckworth'',  ''Cooke'',  ''Domett'',  ''[[HMS Essington (K353)|Essington]]'' together with Liberator aircraft
| 50, all hands lost
| English Channel {{coord|49|37|N|03|41|W|region:XA_type:event|display=inline|name=U-988 sunk, 29 June 1944}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{GS|U-672||2}}
| 18 July 1944
|  ''Balfour''
| 52 survivors
| English Channel, north of Guernsey {{coord|50|03|N|02|30|W|region:XA_type:event|display=inline|name=U-672 sunk by HMS Balfour, 18 July 1944}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{GS|U-212||2}}
| 21 July 1944
|  ''Curzon'',  ''Ekins''
| 49 all hands lost
| English Channel south of Brighton {{coord|50|27|N|00|13|W|region:XA_type:event|display=inline|name=U-212 sunk by 21 July 1944}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{GS|U-214||2}}
| 26 July 1944
|  ''Cooke''
| 48, all hands lost
| English Channel {{coord|49|58|N|03|30|W|region:XA_type:event|display=inline|name=U-214 sunk by HMS Cooke, 26 July 1944}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{GS|U-671||2}}
| 5 August 1944
|  ''Stayner''
| style="white-space:nowrap" | 47 lost and 5 survivors
| English Channel {{coord|50|23|N|00|06|E|region:XA_type:event|display=inline|name=U-671 sunk by HMS Stayner, 5 August 1944}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{GS|U-618||2}}
| 14 August 1944
|  ''Duckworth'',  ''Essington''
| 61, all hands lost
| {{coord|47|22|N|04|39|W|region:XA_type:event|display=inline|name=U-618 sunk, 14 August 1944}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{GS|U-445||2}}
| 24 August 1944
|  ''Louis''
| 52, all hands lost
| {{coord|47|21|N|05|50|W|region:XA_type:event|display=inline|name=U-445 sunk by HMS Louis, 24 August 1944}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{GS|U-1051||2}}
| 26 January 1945
|  ''Aylmer'',  ''Bentinck'',  ''Calder'',  ''Manners''
| 47, all hands lost
| {{coord|53|39|N|05|23|W|region:XA_type:event|display=inline|name=U-1051 sunk, 26 January 1945}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{GS|U-1172||2}}
| 27 January 1945
|  ''Tyler'',  ''Keats'',  ''Bligh''
| 52, all hands lost
| {{coord|52|24|N|05|42|W|region:XA_type:event|display=inline|name=U-1172 sunk, 27 January 1945}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{GS|U-1279||2}}
| 3 February 1945
|  ''Bayntun'',  ''Braithwaite''
| 48, all hands lost
| {{coord|61|21|N|02|00|E|region:XA_type:event|display=inline|name=U-1279 sunk, 3 February 1945}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{GS|U-989||2}}
| 14 February 1945
|  ''Bayntun'',  ''Braithwaite''
| 47, all hands lost
| {{coord|61|36|N|01|35|W|region:XA_type:event|display=inline|name=U-989 sunk, 14 February 1945}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{GS|U-1278||2}}
| 17 February 1945
|  ''Bayntun''
| 48, all hands lost
| {{coord|61|32|N|01|36|E|region:XA_type:event|display=inline|name=U-1278 sunk by HMS Bayntun, 17 February 1945}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{GS|U-1208||2}}
| 27 February 1945
|  ''Duckworth'',  ''Rowley''
| 49, all hands lost
| English Channel {{coord|49|56|N|06|06|W|region:XA_type:event|display=inline|name=U-1208 sunk, 27 February 1945}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{GS|U-399||2}}
| 26 March 1945
|  ''Duckworth''
| 46 lost and 1 survivor
| English Channel {{coord|49|56|N|05|22|W|region:XA_type:event|display=inline|name=U-399 sunk by HMS Duckworth, 26 March 1945}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{GS|U-722||2}}
| 27 March 1945
|  ''Fitzroy'',  ''Redmill'',  ''Byron''
| 44, all hands lost
| {{coord|57|09|N|06|55|W|region:XA_type:event|display=inline|name=U-722 sunk, 27 March 1945}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{GS|U-905||2}}
| 27 March 1945
|  ''Conn''
| 45, all hands lost
| {{coord|58|34|N|05|46|W|region:XA_type:event|display=inline|name=U-905 sunk by HMS Conn, 27 March 1945}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{GS|U-1169||2}}
| 29 March 1945
|  ''Duckworth'',  ''Rowley''
| 49, all hands lost
| {{coord|49|58|N|05|25|W|region:XA_type:event|display=inline|name=U-1169 sunk, 29 March 1945}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{GS|U-965||2}}
| 30 March 1945
|  ''Conn'',  ''Rupert'',  ''Deane''
| 51, all hands lost
| {{coord|58|19|N|05|31|W|region:XA_type:event|display=inline|name=U-965 sunk, 30 March 1945}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{GS|U-1001||2}}
| 8 April 1945
|  ''Fitzroy'',  ''Byron''
| 45, all hands lost
| North Atlantic south-west of Land's End {{coord|49|19|N|10|23|W|region:XA_type:event|display=inline|name=U-1001 sunk, 8 April 1945}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{GS|U-774||2}}
| 8 April 1945
|  ''Bentinck'',  ''Calder''
| 44, all hands lost
| {{coord|49|58|N|11|51|W|region:XA_type:event|display=inline|name=U-774 sunk, 8 April 1945}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{GS|U-1063||2}}
| 15 April 1945
|  ''Cranstoun'',  ''Burges''  Sank by depth charges from [[HMS Loch Killin (K391)|HMS ''Loch Killin'']]
| 29 lost and 17 survivors
| {{coord|50|08|N|03|53|W|region:XA_type:event|display=inline|name=U-1063 sunk, 15 April 1945}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{GS|U-285||2}}
| 15 April 1945
|  ''Grindall'',  ''Keats''
| 44, all hands lost
| {{coord|50|13|N|12|48|W|region:XA_type:event|display=inline|name=U-285 sunk, 15 April 1945}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{GS|U-636||2}}
| 21 April 1945
|  ''Bentinck'',  ''Bazely'',  ''Drury''
| 42, all hands lost
| {{coord|55|50|N|10|31|W|region:XA_type:event|display=inline|name=U-636 sunk, 21 April 1945}}
|-
! scope="row" | {{GS|U-286||2}}
| 29 April 1945
|  ''Cotton''
| 51, all hands lost
| {{coord|69|29|N|33|37|E|region:XA_type:event|display=inline|name=U-286 sunk by HMS Cotton, 29 April 1945}}
|}

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="font-size:97%;"
|+ Captain-class frigates sunk or seriously damaged
! scope="col" | Ship
! scope="col" | Date
! scope="col" | Incident
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[HMS Gould (K476)|Gould]]''
| 1 March 1944{{sfn| Collingwood | 1998 | p=78}}
| Torpedoed and sunk by {{GS|U-358||2}} south-west of Ireland at {{coord|45|46|N|23|16|W|region:XA_type:event|display=inline|name=HMS Gould sunk by torpedo from U-358, 1 March 1944}}. Loss of 123 hands.{{sfn | Helgason ''Gould''}}
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[HMS Lawford (K514)|Lawford]]''
| 8 June 1944{{sfn| Collingwood | 1998 | p=152}}
| Hit by a [[Glide bomb]] launched from a [[Luftwaffe]] aeroplane in her hull, port side midships, that blew out the bottom of the ship which quickly sank, off J1 Sector of [[Gold Beach]] on D-Day+2. Loss of 26 hands.{{sfn | Collingwood | 1998 | p=153}}
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[HMS Halsted (K556)|Halstead]]''
| 11 June 1944{{sfn | Collingwood | 1998 | p=131}}
| Torpedoed by an E-boat in mid channel off Normandy that blew off her bow section, she was written off as a constructive total loss. Loss of 27 hands.{{sfn | Collingwood | 1998 | p=131}}
|-
! scope="row" style="white-space:nowrap" |  ''Blackwood''
| 15 June 1944{{sfn| Collingwood | 1998 | p=64}}
| Torpedoed by {{GS|U-764||2}}, the forward part of ship was blown off; the hulk sank at 04:10 15 June 1944.{{sfn | Helgason ''Blackwood''}} Loss of 60 hands.{{sfn | Collingwood | 1998 | p=64}}
|-
! scope="row" | ''Goodson''
| 26 June 1944{{sfn| Collingwood | 1998 | p=96}}
| Torpedoed by {{GS|U-984||2}} approximately {{convert|38|nmi|km|0}} south of Portland Bill in position {{coord|50|00|N|02|48|W|region:XA_type:event|display=inline|name=HMS Goodson sunk by torpedo from U-984, 26 June 1944}}; badly damaged towed back to port and assessed as a constructive total loss.{{sfn | Helgason ''Goodson''}} No fatalities.{{sfn | Collingwood | 1998 | p=97}}
|-
! scope="row" | ''Bickerton''
| 22 August 1944{{sfn | Franklin | 1999 | p=112}}
| Torpedoed by {{GS|U-354||2}} during [[German battleship Tirpitz#Operations Goodwood I, II, III and IV|Operation Goodwood]] in the Barents Sea; at {{coord|72|42|N|19|11|E|region:XA_type:event|display=inline|name=HMS Bickerton sunk by torpedo from U-354, 22 August 1944}} seriously damaged and ship abandoned, sunk by own forces. Loss of 39 hands.{{sfn | Naval-history.net: Bickerton}}
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[HMS Whitaker (K580)|Whitaker]]''
| 1 November 1944{{sfn| Franklin | 1999 | p=145}}
| Torpedoed by {{GS|U-483||2}} off Malin Head, near Loch Swilly, Ireland; she was seriously damaged, and towed back to Belfast.{{sfn | Franklin | 1999 | p=145}} Declared a constructive total loss. Loss of 92 hands.{{sfn | Franklin | 1999 | p=145}}
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[HMS Mounsey (K569)|Mounsey]]''
| 2 November 1944{{sfn| Collingwood | 1998 | p=165}}
| Torpedoed by {{GS|U-295||2}} outside the [[Kola Peninsula|Kola Inlet]] but managed to limp back to Polyarnoe, where she was patched up by the Soviets and managed to get back to [[Port of Belfast|Belfast]] before Christmas for permanent repairs.{{sfn | Ruegg | Hague | 1993 | p=69}} Loss of 10 hands.{{sfn | Collingwood | 1998 | p=165}}
|-
! scope="row" | ''Bullen''
| 6 December 1944{{sfn| Collingwood | 1998 | p=189}}
| Torpedoed midships and sunk off Cape Wrath by {{GS|U-775||2}} at {{coord|58|42|N|04|12|W|region:XA_type:event|display=inline|name=HMS Bullen sunk by torpedo from U-775, 6 December 1944}}.{{sfn | Helgason ''Bullen''}} Loss of 55 hands.{{sfn | Collingwood | 1998 | p=189-190}}
|-
! scope="row" | ''Dakins''
| 25 December 1944{{sfn| Collingwood | 1998 | p=134}}
| Hit a ground mine off the Belgium coast; she was towed into Antwerp where she was declared a constructive total loss. No fatalities.{{sfn | Collingwood | 1998 | p=134}}
|-
! scope="row" | ''Capel''
| 26 December 1944{{sfn| Collingwood | 1998 | p=85}}
| Torpedoed by one of two torpedoes fired by {{GS|U-486||2}}, she sank having had her [[bow (ship)|bow]] blown off north-north-east of Cherbourg, at {{coord|49|50|N|01|41|W|region:XA_type:event|display=inline|name=HMS Capel sunk by torpedo from U-486, 26 December 1944}}.{{sfn | Collingwood | 1998 | pp=85–86}} Loss of 76 hands.{{sfn | Helgason ''Capel''}}
|-
! scope="row" | ''Affleck''
| 26 December 1944{{sfn| Collingwood | 1998 | p=85}}
| Torpedoed off Cherbourg by one of two torpedoes fired by {{GS|U-486||2}}, which seriously damaged her stern.{{sfn | Helgason ''Affleck''}} She was towed back to port and assessed as a constructive total loss. Loss of 9 hands.{{sfn | Collingwood| 1998 | p=86}}
|-
! scope="row" | ''Manners''
| 26 January 1945{{sfn| Collingwood| 1998 | pp=101–102}}
| Torpedoed by {{GS|U-1051||2}} off the [[Isle of Man]].{{sfn | Helgason ''Manners''}}{{sfn | Collingwood | 1998 | p=101}} She was towed back to Barrow-in-Furness and declared a constructive total loss. Loss of 43 hands.{{sfn | Helgason ''Manners''}}
|-
! scope="row" | ''Ekins''
| 15 April 1945{{sfn| Collingwood| 1998 | p=137}}
| Hit two ground mines in the [[Scheldt Estuary]], towed back to port and put into dry dock, when water was pumped out she broke her back and was written off as a constructive total loss. No fatalities{{sfn | Collingwood | 1998 | p=137-138}}
|-
! scope="row" | ''[[HMS Redmill (K554)|Redmill]]''
| 27 April 1945{{sfn| Collingwood | 1998 | p=175}}
| Torpedoed by {{GS|U-1105||2}} {{convert|25|nmi|km|0}} west of Sligo Bay, Ireland at {{coord|54|23|N|10|36|W|region:XA_type:event|display=inline|name=HMS Redmill torpedoed by U-1105, 27 April 1945}} towed into Belfast with serious damage.{{sfn | Collingwood| 1998 | p=175}}{{sfn | Helgason ''Redmill''}} Written off as a Constructive Total Loss. Loss of 24 hands.{{sfn | Collingwood | 1998 | p=175}}
|-
! scope="row" | ''Goodall''
| 29 April 1945{{sfn| Ould | 2004 | p=1}}
| Torpedoed by {{GS|U-286||2}} outside the Kola Inlet {{coord|69|29|N|33|38|E|region:XA_type:event|display=inline|name=HMS Goodall sunk by U-286 torpedo, 29 April 1945}}.{{sfn | Helgason ''Goodall''}}  Goodall was the last ship of the Royal Navy sunk in the European theatre of World War II. Loss of 98 hands.{{sfn | Ould | 2004 | p=1}}
|}

Collectively, the Captain class gained battle honours for service in [[Arctic convoys of World War II|Arctic (Russian) Convoys]], Atlantic, [[Bay of Biscay|Biscay]], English Channel, Normandy (D-Day on 6 June 1944 and subsequent related operations), North Foreland and [[Operation Infatuate|Walcheren]].{{sfn |Tynan |2003}} During the course of World War II they destroyed more German submarines than any other Royal Navy ship class.{{sfn |Franklin |1999 |p=x}}

==Post-war==
At the end of World War II, most of the surviving Captains were returned to the US Navy as quickly as possible to reduce the amount payable under the provisions of the Lend-Lease agreement. The last of the Captains returned was ''Hotham'', which in the post-war period served as a floating power station in Singapore until early 1948, when she sailed for Portsmouth, becoming the base for a Royal Navy Engineering research team experimenting with gas turbine engines.{{sfn | Collingwood | 1998 | pp=146–147}} ''Hotham'' was returned on 25 April 1952 and simultaneously transferred back to the United Kingdom under the [[Mutual Defense Assistance Act|Mutual Defence Assistance Program]].{{sfn | DANFS ''Hotham''}} The partially stripped vessel was returned to United States custody on 13 March 1956.{{sfn | DANFS ''Hotham''}}{{sfn | Lenton | 1974 | p=16}}

==In film ==
Much of the [[Robert Mitchum]] film ''[[The Enemy Below]]'' (1957) was filmed in {{USS|Whitehurst|DE-634|6}}, a ''Buckley''-class destroyer escort, of the same type as the Captain class. The rest of the film is set in the [[U-boat]] that it is hunting. {{USS|Alfred A. Cunningham|DD-752}} has a cameo in the final burial scene.

==Memorial==
On 17 April 2005 a memorial to the Captain class, those who served and those killed in action while serving in them was dedicated at the [[National Memorial Arboretum]] near [[Alrewas]], [[Staffordshire]].{{sfn |Order of Service |2005}}

{{Blockquote|multiline=yes|title=Introduction to the Order of Service from the memorial dedication, 17 April 2005|
Today we come in thanksgiving for all who served on Captain-Class Frigates in the Royal Navy in the Second World War.

In particular we give thanks to those who made the supreme sacrifice on behalf of us all.

We remember all those who were shore-based, especially the Wrens who gave valuable support to those who served at sea, and who are represented here today.}}
{{Clear}}

==See also==
* [[Coastal Forces of the Royal Navy]]
* [[Colony-class frigate]]
* ''[[The Enemy Below]]'' (a 1957 war film partially filmed on a ''Buckley''-class destroyer escort)
* [[List of destroyer escorts of the United States Navy]]
* [[List of frigate classes of the Royal Navy]]
* {{USS|Slater|DE-766}} (the Destroyer Escort Historical Museum).
*[[List of ship classes of World War II]]

==References==
{{Reflist |20em}}

===Works cited===
{{Refbegin |30em}}
* {{cite book
 | ref= {{sfnRef|Admiralty|1951}}
 | author= Admiralty, Great Britain
 | author-link= Admiralty (United Kingdom)
 | title= Manual of Seamanship
 | volume= 1
 | url= https://books.google.com/books?id=slQuAQAAIAAJ
 | access-date =18 June 2012
 | year= 1951
 | publisher= [[Office of Public Sector Information|His Majesty's Stationery Office]]
}}
* {{cite book
 | ref= {{sfnRef|NAVPERS 10813-B|1966}}
 | author= Bureau of Naval Personnel
 | date= 1966
 | chapter= Chapter 7: Reduction Gears and Related Equipment
 | title= Engineering, Operation and Maintenance
 | publisher= U.S. Navy, Training Publications Division
 | id= NAVPERS 10813-B
 | place= Washington, D.C.
 | orig-year= 1948
 | edition= 3rd Revised & illus.
 | pages= 225–229
 | url= https://www.eugeneleeslover.com/ENGINEERING/ENGINEERING-CHAPTER-7.html
}}
* {{cite book
 | last=Collingwood
 | first=Donald
 | title=The Captain-class frigates in the second world war: an operational history of the American-built destroyer escorts serving under the White Ensign from 1943–46
 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SgxnAAAAMAAJ
 | access-date=24 May 2012
 | year=1998
 | publisher=Leo Cooper
 | isbn=978-0-85052-615-8
}}
* {{cite magazine
 | last=Elliott
 | first=Peter
 | title=The Lend-Lease Captains
 | magazine=[[Warship International]]
 | year=1972
 | issue=3
 | publisher=[[International Naval Research Organization]]
 | issn=0043-0374
 | oclc=1647131
}}
* {{cite book
 | last=Franklin
 | first=Bruce Hampton
 | title=The Buckley-class destroyer escorts
 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=W4XfAAAAMAAJ
 | access-date=24 May 2012
 | year=1999
 | publisher=Chatham Publishing
 | isbn=1-86176-118-X
}}
*{{cite book|last1=Friedman|first1=Norman|title=U.S. Destroyers: An Illustrated Design History|date=1982|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis|isbn=0-87021-733-X}}
* {{cite book
 | last=Friedman
 | first=Norman
 | title=U.S. Destroyers: An Illustrated Design History
 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Tzp58htKLkEC&pg=PA69
 | access-date=18 June 2012
 | year=2004
 | publisher=Naval Institute Press
 | isbn=978-1-55750-442-5
}}
* {{cite magazine
 | last=Halsey
 | first=Ashley
 | title=Those not-so-little ships–The DE's
 | magazine=[[Proceedings (magazine)|Proceedings]] 
 | year=1943
 | issue=9 (September)
 | publisher=[[United States Naval Institute]]
 | issn=0041-798X
 | oclc=12581195
}}
* {{cite web
 | ref={{harvid|Helgason ''Affleck''}}
 | last=Helgason
 | first=Guðmundur
 | title=HMS ''Affleck'' (K 362)
 | url=https://www.uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/5885.html
 | publisher=uboat.net
 | access-date=7 September 2021
 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210115155134/https://www.uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/5885.html
 | archive-date= 15 January 2021
 | url-status= live
}}
* {{cite web
 | ref={{harvid|Helgason ''Blackwood''}}
 | last=Helgason
 | first=Guðmundur
 | title=HMS ''Blackwood'' (K 313)
 | url=https://www.uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/5483.html
 | publisher=uboat.net
 | access-date=7 September 2021
 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210306154611/https://www.uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/5483.html
 | archive-date= 6 March 2021
 | url-status= live
}}
* {{cite web
 | ref={{harvid|Helgason ''Bullen''}}
 | last=Helgason
 | first=Guðmundur
 | title=HMS ''Bullen'' (K 469)
 | url=https://www.uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/5482.html
 | publisher=uboat.net
 | access-date=7 September 2021
 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210225222218/https://www.uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/5482.html
 | archive-date= 25 February 2021
 | url-status= live
}}
* {{cite web
 | ref={{harvid|Helgason ''Capel''}}
 | last=Helgason
 | first=Guðmundur
 | title=HMS ''Capel'' (K 470)
 | url=https://www.uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/5474.html
 | publisher=uboat.net
 | access-date=7 September 2021
 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210124004135/https://www.uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/5474.html
 | archive-date= 24 January 2021
 | url-status= live
}}
* {{cite web
 | ref={{harvid|Helgason ''Goodall''}}
 | last=Helgason
 | first=Guðmundur
 | title=HMS ''Goodall'' (K 479)
 | url=https://www.uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/5481.html
 | publisher=uboat.net
 | access-date=7 September 2021
 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210122063049/https://www.uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/5481.html
 | archive-date= 22 January 2021
 | url-status= live
}}
* {{cite web
 | ref={{harvid|Helgason ''Goodson''}}
 | last=Helgason
 | first=Guðmundur
 | title=HMS ''Goodson'' (K 480)
 | url=https://www.uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/5467.html
 | publisher=uboat.net
 | access-date=7 September 2021
 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210226065422/https://www.uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/5467.html
 | archive-date= 26 February 2021
 | url-status= live
}}
* {{cite web
 | ref={{harvid|Helgason ''Gould''}}
 | last=Helgason
 | first=Guðmundur
 | title=HMS ''Gould'' (K 476)
 | url=https://www.uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/5464.html
 | publisher=uboat.net
 | access-date=7 September 2021
 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210119063611/https://www.uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/5464.html
 | archive-date= 19 January 2021
 | url-status= live
}}
* {{cite web
 | ref={{harvid|Helgason ''Manners''}}
 | last=Helgason
 | first=Guðmundur
 | title=HMS ''Manners'' (K 568)
 | url=https://www.uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/5675.html
 | publisher=uboat.net
 | access-date=7 September 2021
 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210225220542/https://www.uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/5675.html
 | archive-date= 25 February 2021
 | url-status= live
}}
* {{cite web
 | ref={{harvid|Helgason ''Redmill''}}
 | last=Helgason
 | first=Guðmundur
 | title=HMS ''Redmill'' (K 554)
 | url=https://www.uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/5660.html
 | publisher=uboat.net
 | access-date=7 September 2021
 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210119060309/https://www.uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/5660.html
 | archive-date= 19 January 2021
 | url-status= live
}}
* {{cite book
 | last=Lenton
 | first=H T.
 | title=British and Empire Warships of the Second World War
 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a1ZyQgAACAAJ
 | access-date=24 May 2012
 | year=1998
 | publisher=Greenhill Books/Naval Institute Press
 | isbn=1-85367-277-7
}}
* {{cite book
 | last=Lenton
 | first=H.T.
 | title=British Escort Ships
 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=q7KIAAAACAAJ
 | access-date=24 May 2012
 | year=1974
 | publisher=Macdonald and Jane's
 | isbn=0-356-08062-5
}}
* {{cite web
 | ref={{harvid|Naval-history.net: Bickerton}}
 | last=Mason
 | first=Geoffrey B
 | title=Chronologies of war service of Royal Navy Warships H. M. S. Bickerton (K466)
 | url=http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-15Fr-Capt-Bickerton.htm
 | publisher=naval-history.net
 | access-date=21 November 2008
}}
* {{cite web
 | ref={{harvid|DANFS ''Hotham''}}
 | last=Mooney
 | first=James L
 | title=Hotham
 |work=[[Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships]]
 | url=http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/h8/hotham-i.htm
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040331095957/http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/h8/hotham-i.htm
 | url-status=dead
 | archive-date=31 March 2004
 | publisher=The Naval Historical Foundation
 | oclc=2794587
 | access-date=22 August 2007
}}
* {{cite book
 | last=Morison
 | first=Samuel Eliot
 | author-link=Samuel Eliot Morison
 | title=History of United States Naval Operations in World War II. Vol. 10: The Atlantic Battle Won, May 1943 – May 1945
 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2hFaQwAACAAJ
 | access-date=24 May 2012
 | year=1956
 | publisher=Little, Brown and Company
 | isbn=978-0316583107
}}
* {{cite book
 | last=Niestle
 | first=Axel
 | title=German U-Boat Losses During World War II: details of destruction
 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7RJnAAAAMAAJ
 | access-date=24 May 2012
 | year=1998
 | publisher=Naval Institute Press
 | isbn=1-55750-641-8
}}
* {{Cite sign
 | ref={{harvid|Order of Service|2005}}
 | title = Order of Service – Memorial to the Captain class
 | date = 17 April 2005 
 | place=[[National Memorial Arboretum]]
}}
* {{cite book
 | last=Ould
 | first=Vic.
 | title=Last but not least: HMS "Goodall", Torpedoed 29 April 1945 – Recollections of Survivors
 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=T2vcAAAACAAJ
 | access-date=24 May 2012
 | year=2004
 | publisher=Arcturus Press
 | isbn=0-907322-93-X
}}
* {{cite book
 | last1=Ruegg
 | first1=Bob
 | last2=Hague
 | first2=Arnold
 | title=Convoys to Russia: Allied Convoys and Naval Surface Operations in Arctic Waters 1941–1945
 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZLUoSQAACAAJ
 | access-date=24 May 2012
 | year=1993
 | publisher=World Ship Society
 | isbn=0-905617-66-5
}}
* {{cite web
 | last=Tynan
 | first=Roy B
 | date=2003
 | title=Captain Class Frigate – Battle Honours
 | work=List of Battle Honours
 | url=http://www.captainclassfrigates.co.uk/honours/bhon.html
 | publisher=The Captain Class Frigates Association
 | access-date=25 August 2007
}}
{{Refend}}

===Further reading===
{{Refbegin}}
* {{cite book
 | last=Parkinson
 | first=R.
 | title=The Economics of Shipbuilding in the United Kingdom
 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QRQMcLmTRuwC&pg=PA113
 | access-date=18 June 2012
 | year=2011
 | publisher=Cambridge University Press
 | isbn=978-1-107-60142-0
}}
* {{cite web
 | ref={{harvid|Helgason ''Bickerton''}}
 | last=Helgason
 | first=Guðmundur
 | title=HMS ''Bickerton'' (K 466)
 | url=http://www.uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/5484.html
 | publisher=uboat.net
 | access-date=7 September 2021
 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210302202831/https://www.uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/5484.html
 | archive-date= 2 March 2021
 | url-status= live
}}
{{Refend}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Captain class frigates}}
* {{usurped|1=[http://www.desausa.org/ http://www.desausa.org/]}} Destroyer Escort Sailors Association (DESA).
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070301070801/http://www.captainclassfrigates.co.uk/ https://web.archive.org/web/20070301070801/http://www.captainclassfrigates.co.uk/] the Captain Class Frigates Association.
* [http://www.uboat.net/allies/warships/class.html?ID=234 http://www.uboat.net] uboat.net&nbsp;– Allied Warships&nbsp;– Captain class Frigates
* [http://www.thenma.org.uk/ http://www.nationalmemorialarboretum.org/] The National Memorial Arboretum
* [http://www.naval-history.net/xDKEscorts15Fr-Capt1.htm Convoy escort movements for Captain-class frigates]

{{Captains class frigate}}
{{WWII British ships}}

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{{DANFS}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Captain class frigate}}
[[Category:Buckley-class destroyer escorts| ]]
[[Category:Captain-class frigates| ]]
[[Category:Evarts-class destroyer escorts| ]]
[[Category:Frigate classes]]
[[Category:Ship classes of the Royal Navy]]
[[Category:World War II frigates of the United Kingdom| ]]