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Allied Warships

HMS Lagan (K 259)

Frigate of the River class

NavyThe Royal Navy
TypeFrigate
ClassRiver 
PennantK 259 
Built bySmiths Dock Co., Ltd. (South Bank-on-Tees, U.K.) 
Ordered 
Laid down7 Jan, 1942 
Launched28 Jul, 1942 
Commissioned21 Dec, 1942 
End service20 Sep, 1943 
Loss position
 
HistoryAround 0500hours on 20 Sepember 1943, the German submarine U-270 fired a Gnat torpedo at HMS Lagan (Lt.Cdr. Albert Ayre, RNR (retired)) near convoy ON-202. The torpedo struck her in the stern. The position of the attack was 57º09'N, 27º28'W. The U-boat was then chased away by depth charges from the Canadian destroyer HMCS Gatineau and the badly damaged frigate was towed into a UK port where she arrived on 24 September. Damage was severe and she was declared a Constructive Total Loss (CTL). Damage sustained from torpedo was 30 feet of stern from frame 115 aft missing. 30 feet of after deck from frame 100 badly damaged. Forward superstructure damaged by debris including tinned food and depth charges raining down. 28 seamen were killed or missing.

Sold to be broken up for scrap on 21 May 1946.

Commanding Officer:
Lt.Cdr. Albert Ayre, RNR (retired)
24 September 1942 > 

Hit by U-boat
A total loss on 20 Sep, 1943 by U-270 (Otto).


Noteable events involving Lagan include:

12 May, 1943
The German submarine U-89 was sunk in the Northern Atlantic, in position 46º30'N, 25º40'W by a Swordfish aircraft (Sqdn. 811) from the British escort carrier HMS Biter (Capt. E.M.C. Abel Smith, RN), the British destroyer HMS Broadway (Lt.Cdr. E.H. Chevasse, RN) and the British frigate HMS Lagan (Lt.Cdr. A. Ayre, RNR). (see map)

13 May, 1943
The German submarine U-753 was sunk in the North Atlantic, in position 48º37'N, 22º39'W, by depth charges from the Canadian corvette HMCS Drumheller (Lt. L.P. Denny, RCNR), the British frigate HMS Lagan (Lt.Cdr. A. Ayre, RNR) and depth charges from a Canadian Sunderland aircraft (RCAF Sqdn. 423/G). (see map)


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