HMS Capel (K 470)
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| Name | HMS Capel (K 470) | ||
| Type: | Frigate (Captain) | ||
| Tonnage | 1,085 tons | ||
| Completed | 1943 - Boston Navy Yard, Boston MA | ||
| Owner | The Admiralty | ||
| Homeport | |||
| Date of attack | 26 Dec 1944 | Nationality:  British | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-486 (Gerhard Meyer) | ||
| Position | 49.50N, 01.41W - Grid BF 3528 - See location on a map - | ||
| Complement | ? men (76 dead and ? survivors). | ||
| Convoy | |||
| Route | |||
| Cargo | |||
| History | Laid down as destroyer escort USS Wintle (DE 266) of the Evarts-class for the US Navy, completed in August 1943 as frigate HMS Capel (K 470) for the Royal Navy. | ||
| Notes on loss | At 14.14 hours on 26 Dec, 1944, U-486 fired three Gnats at the 1st Escort Group on patrol off Cherbourg and observed hits after 1 minute 39 seconds and 1 minute 41 seconds and heard a third detonation after 7 minutes. Meyer claimed two destroyers sunk and a corvette damaged. In fact the frigates HMS Affleck (K 462) (Cdr C. Gwinner, DSO and Bar, DSC, RN (retired)) and HMS Capel (K 470) (Lt B.G. Heslop, DSC, RN) were hit. The first was towed to port, but declared a total loss and the latter sank northeast of Cherbourg. The survivors were picked up by American MTBs and taken to Cherbourg. The commander, eight officers and 67 ratings from HMS Capel (K 470) were lost. | ||
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