HMS Capel (K470)
Introduction '''HMS ''Capel''''' was a , built in the United States as a , and transferred to the Royal Navy under the terms of Lend-Lease, which served in World War II.The ship was laid down as '''USS ''Wintle'' (DE-266)''' on 11 March 1943 by the Boston Navy Yard, Boston, Massachusetts, and launched on 22 April 1943, sponsored by Mrs. Mary Clyde Wintle. On 14 June 1943 the ship was allocated to the United Kingdom; and she was transferred to the Royal Navy and commissioned as HMS ''Capel'' on 16 August 1943.The ship was named after Admiral Sir Thomas Bladen Capel (1776-1853).
Service history ''Capel'' was attached to 1st Escort Group based at Belfast from 9 April 1944.After patrols in the area between the Scottish Isles and the Irish Sea, ''Capel'' was anchored in Moelfre Bay, Anglesey to await "D-Day". She sailed on 5 May 1944 to join the massive anti-submarine screen patrolling the western end of the English Channel, in order to protect the Normandy landings of 6 June 1944. ''Capel'' returned to Belfast on 18 June to rest.After the port of Cherbourg was captured and cleared the ''Capel'' and her Escort Group escorted convoys across the Channel, to and from Cherbourg with rest periods spent at Plymouth. In late 1944 the group shifted operations to the eastern end of the Channel, patrolling the convoy route to the newly liberated port of Antwerp.At 14.14 hours on 26 December 1944 ''Capel'' and the rest the Escort Group were patrolling  east-northeast of Cherbourg when the  sighted the group and fired three T5 torpedoes; one of which hit ''Capel'' and another . ''Affleck'' was towed to port, but declared a total loss, while ''Capel'' sank at position . The survivors were picked up by American MTBs and taken to Cherbourg. Her commander, Lieutenant B.G. Heslop, DSC, eight officers, and 67 men were lost.
References *  The Captain Class Frigates Association*  uboat.net HMS ''Capel''* *