Allied Warships

HMS Domett (K 473)

Frigate of the Captain class

NavyThe Royal Navy
TypeFrigate
ClassCaptain 
PennantK 473 
Built byBoston Navy Yard (Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.) 
Ordered25 Jan 1942 
Laid down7 Apr 1943 
Launched19 May 1943 
Commissioned3 Sep 1943 
End service 
History

Returned to the USN after the war and sold on 3 June 1947.  

Former nameUSS Eisner DE 269

Commands listed for HMS Domett (K 473)

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and that we only list Commanding Officers for the duration of the Second World War.

CommanderFromTo
1T/A/Lt.Cdr. Stirling Gordon, RNVR15 Aug 1943mid 1945

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Notable events involving Domett include:


24 Oct 1943

Convoy SC 145.

This convoy departed Halifax on 24 October 1943.

On departure from Halifax the convoy was made up of the following merchant vessels; Agwistar (American, 4661 GRT, built 1919), Athelprince (British (tanker), 8782 GRT, built 1926), Atlantic (Panamanian, 6132 GRT, built 1919), Baltrover (British, 4916 GRT, built 1913), Baron Dunmore (British, 3938 GRT, built 1933), Bayou Chico (American, 5401 GRT, built 1920), Benedick (British (tanker), 6978 GRT, built 1928), Bonaire (Dutch, 3164 GRT, built 1926), Boston City (British, 2870 GRT, built 1920), Chr. Th. Boe (Norwegian (tanker), 6192 GRT, built 1930), Clam (British, 7404 GRT, built 1927), Delmar (American, 5107 GRT, built 1920), Dundee (British, 1541 GRT, built 1934), El Ciervo (British (tanker), 5841 GRT, built 1923), El Grillo (British (tanker), 7264 GRT, built 1922), Fort Slave (British, 7134 GRT, built 1942), Gudfor (Norwegian, 2280 GRT, built 1928), Gyda (British, 1695 GRT, built 1934), H.M. Flagler (Panamanian (tanker), 8208 GRT, built 1918), Kingman (Panamanian, 1513 GRT, built 1934), Leerdam (Dutch, 8815 GRT, built 1921), Maycrest (British, 5923 GRT, built 1913), Michigan (Panamanian (former French), 6419 GRT, built 1920), Orwell (Norwegian (tanker), 7920 GRT, built 1905), Pacific Shipper (British, 6290 GRT, built 1924), San Felix (British (tanker), 13037 GRT, built 1921), San Valerio (British (tanker), 6493 GRT, built 1913), Sarazen (British, 5401 GRT, built 1920), Sulev (British (former Estonian), 2233 GRT, built 1908), Van de Velde (Dutch, 6389 GRT, built 1919), Vav (Norwegian (tanker), 6415 GRT, built 1931) and Wisla (Polish, 3108 GRT, built 1928).

On departure from Halifax the convoy was escorted by the destroyer HMCS Annapolis (Lt.Cdr. A.G. Boulton, RCNVR) and the corvettes HMCS Kenogami (T/Lt. J.L. Percy, RCNVR), HMCS Saskatoon (Lt.Cdr. T. MacDuff, RCNR) and HMCS Shediac (T/A/Lt.Cdr. A. Moorhouse, RCNR).

The minesweeper HMCS Clayoquot (T/Lt. C.L. Campbell, RCNVR) was with the convoy during 25/26 October 1943.

On 28 October 1943, the original escort from Halifax parted company to proceed to St. Johns, Newfoundland after the relief escort had joined coming from St. Johns. This relief escort was made up of the destroyers HMS Fame (Cdr. R.A. Currie, RN), HMS Vanquisher (Lt.Cdr. G.A.G. Ormsby, RN), frigates HMS Deveron (Lt.Cdr. R.E.H. Partington, RD, RNR), HMS Domett (T/A/Lt.Cdr. S. Gordon, RNVR) and the corvettes HNoMS Potentilla, HNoMS Rose and HMS Linaria (T/A/Lt.Cdr. R.H. Jameson, RNR).

Around 1105P/29 the escort carrier HMS Fencer (Capt. E.W. Anstice, RN) and the destroyers HMS Inconstant (Cdr. R.H. Mills, RN), ORP Garland (Kmdr.ppor. (Cdr.) S. Biskupski) and ORP Burza (Kmdr.ppor. (Cdr.) F. Pitulko) joined the convoy. They parted comanay with the convoy to proceed to the Clyde around 1320N/2.

The convoy arrived in U.K. waters on 6 November 1943.

18 Dec 1943
HMS Spirit (Lt. A.W. Langridge, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Larne with HMS Domett (T/A/Lt.Cdr. S. Gordon, RNVR). (1)

20 Dec 1943
HMS Stratagem (T/Lt. R.L. Willoughby, RNR) shifted from Campbeltown to Larne. She was escorted by HMS Domett (T/A/Lt.Cdr. S. Gordon, RNVR). (2)

21 Dec 1943
HMS Stratagem (T/Lt. R.L. Willoughby, RNR) conducted A/S exercises off Larne with HMS Domett (T/A/Lt.Cdr. S. Gordon, RNVR). (2)

30 Dec 1943
Around 1745A/30, the battleships HMS Queen Elizabeth (Capt. H.G. Norman, CBE, RN), HMS Valiant (Capt. G.E.M. O’Donnell, DSO, RN) and the battlecruiser HMS Renown (Capt. B.C.B. Brooke, RN, flying the flag of Vice Admiral A.J. Power, KCB, CVO, RN, second in command of the Eastern Fleet) departed Scapa Flow with the ultimate destination, Trincomalee, Ceylon. On departure from Scapa Flow these ships were escorted by the destroyer HMS Tuscan (Lt.Cdr. C.H.de B. Newby, RN) and the frigates HMS Berry (T/A/Lt.Cdr. C.S. Pirie, RNVR), HMS Blackwood (Lt.Cdr. L.T. Sly, RD, RNR) and HMS Domett (T/A/Lt.Cdr. S. Gordon, RNVR). These ships proceeded through the Minches and were joined around 1100A/31 by the aircraft carriers HMS Illustrious (Capt. R.L.B. Cunliffe, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral C. Moody, CB, RN), HMS Unicorn (Capt. H.L.St.J. Fancourt, DSO, RN) escorted by the destroyers HMS Termagant (Lt.Cdr. J.P. Scatchard, DSC, RN), HMS Tenacious (Lt.Cdr. D.F. Townsend, RN) and HMS Kempenfelt (Lt.Cdr. J.B. Marjoribanks, RN). These ships had departed the Clyde around 2200A/30. The frigates HMS Cooke (Lt.Cdr. L.C. Hill, OBE, RD, RNR), HMS Duckworth (Cdr. R.G. Mills, DSO, DSC and Bar, RN), HMS Essington (A/Lt.Cdr. W. Lambert, RNVR) and HMS Parrett (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) T. Hood, RNR) also joined. They came from Londonderry, Northern Ireland. HMS Tuscan was now detached to the Clyde to make repairs as she had sustained weather damage during the passage from Scapa Flow. (3)

4 Jan 1944
Around 1630Z/4, HMS Queen Elizabeth (Capt. H.G. Norman, CBE, RN), HMS Valiant (Capt. G.E.M. O’Donnell, DSO, RN), HMS Renown (Capt. B.C.B. Brooke, RN, flying the flag of Vice Admiral A.J. Power, KCB, CVO, RN, second in command of the Eastern Fleet) parted company with the carriers to proceed ahead of them to Gibraltar to fuel. They took the destroyers HMS Termagant (Lt.Cdr. J.P. Scatchard, DSC, RN), HMS Tenacious (Lt.Cdr. D.F. Townsend, RN), HMS Kempenfelt (Lt.Cdr. J.B. Marjoribanks, RN) and the frigates HMS Duckworth (Cdr. R.G. Mills, DSO, DSC and Bar, RN) and HMS Essington (A/Lt.Cdr. W. Lambert, RNVR) with them as escorts.

This left the frigates HMS Berry (T/A/Lt.Cdr. C.S. Pirie, RNVR), HMS Blackwood (Lt.Cdr. L.T. Sly, RD, RNR), HMS Cooke (Lt.Cdr. L.C. Hill, OBE, RD, RNR), HMS Domett (T/A/Lt.Cdr. S. Gordon, RNVR) and HMS Parrett (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) T. Hood, RNR) to escort the carriers HMS Illustrious (Capt. R.L.B. Cunliffe, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral C. Moody, CB, RN) and HMS Unicorn (Capt. H.L.St.J. Fancourt, DSO, RN).

Also on this day the destroyers HMS Active (Lt.Cdr. P.G. Merriman, DSC, RN), HMS Anthony (Lt.Cdr. J.H. Wallace, DSC, RN), HMS Brilliant (Lt.Cdr. J. Smallwood, RN), HMS Inglefield (Cdr. C.F.H. Churchill, DSC, RN), HMS Isis (Cdr. B. Jones, DSO, DSC, RN) and HMS Urchin (Lt.Cdr. J.T.B. Birch, DSO, DSC, RN) departed Gibraltar to make rendezvous with the carriers and take over the escort from the frigates so that there too could proceed to Gibraltar to fuel. (4)

5 Jan 1944
Around 0900Z/5, the destroyers HMS Active (Lt.Cdr. P.G. Merriman, DSC, RN), HMS Anthony (Lt.Cdr. J.H. Wallace, DSC, RN), HMS Brilliant (Lt.Cdr. J. Smallwood, RN), HMS Inglefield (Cdr. C.F.H. Churchill, DSC, RN), HMS Isis (Cdr. B. Jones, DSO, DSC, RN) and HMS Urchin (Lt.Cdr. J.T.B. Birch, DSO, DSC, RN), joined HMS Illustrious (Capt. R.L.B. Cunliffe, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral C. Moody, CB, RN) and HMS Unicorn (Capt. H.L.St.J. Fancourt, DSO, RN). The carriers escort made up of the frigates HMS Berry (T/A/Lt.Cdr. C.S. Pirie, RNVR), HMS Blackwood (Lt.Cdr. L.T. Sly, RD, RNR), HMS Cooke (Lt.Cdr. L.C. Hill, OBE, RD, RNR), HMS Domett (T/A/Lt.Cdr. S. Gordon, RNVR) and HMS Parrett (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) T. Hood, RNR) then parted company to proceed ahead of the carriers to fuel at Gibraltar.

The battleship group, made up of HMS Queen Elizabeth (Capt. H.G. Norman, CBE, RN), HMS Valiant (Capt. G.E.M. O’Donnell, DSO, RN), HMS Renown (Capt. B.C.B. Brooke, RN, flying the flag of Vice Admiral A.J. Power, KCB, CVO, RN, second in command of the Eastern Fleet) and escorted by the destoyers HMS Termagant (Lt.Cdr. J.P. Scatchard, DSC, RN), HMS Tenacious (Lt.Cdr. D.F. Townsend, RN), HMS Kempenfelt (Lt.Cdr. J.B. Marjoribanks, RN) and the frigates HMS Duckworth (Cdr. R.G. Mills, DSO, DSC and Bar, RN) and HMS Essington (A/Lt.Cdr. W. Lambert, RNVR) arrived at Gibraltar around 2130A/5 and all ships commenced fuelling. (5)

6 Jan 1944
Around 0430A/6, HMS Queen Elizabeth (Capt. H.G. Norman, CBE, RN), HMS Valiant (Capt. G.E.M. O’Donnell, DSO, RN), HMS Renown (Capt. B.C.B. Brooke, RN, flying the flag of Vice Admiral A.J. Power, KCB, CVO, RN, second in command of the Eastern Fleet), HMS Termagant (Lt.Cdr. J.P. Scatchard, DSC, RN), HMS Tenacious (Lt.Cdr. D.F. Townsend, RN), HMS Kempenfelt (Lt.Cdr. J.B. Marjoribanks, RN), HMS Duckworth (Cdr. R.G. Mills, DSO, DSC and Bar, RN) and HMS Essington (A/Lt.Cdr. W. Lambert, RNVR), departed Gibraltar.

Around 0800A/6, they joined HMS Illustrious (Capt. R.L.B. Cunliffe, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral C. Moody, CB, RN) and HMS Unicorn (Capt. H.L.St.J. Fancourt, DSO, RN), HMS Active (Lt.Cdr. P.G. Merriman, DSC, RN), HMS Anthony (Lt.Cdr. J.H. Wallace, DSC, RN), HMS Brilliant (Lt.Cdr. J. Smallwood, RN), HMS Inglefield (Cdr. C.F.H. Churchill, DSC, RN), HMS Isis (Cdr. B. Jones, DSO, DSC, RN) and HMS Urchin (Lt.Cdr. J.T.B. Birch, DSO, DSC, RN) which had just passed the Straits of Gibraltar eastbound.

After fuelling the frigates HMS Berry (T/A/Lt.Cdr. C.S. Pirie, RNVR), HMS Blackwood (Lt.Cdr. L.T. Sly, RD, RNR), HMS Cooke (Lt.Cdr. L.C. Hill, OBE, RD, RNR), HMS Domett (T/A/Lt.Cdr. S. Gordon, RNVR) departed Gibraltar later in the day to overtake the force. (5)

7 Jan 1944
Around 0900A/7, the frigates HMS Berry (T/A/Lt.Cdr. C.S. Pirie, RNVR), HMS Blackwood (Lt.Cdr. L.T. Sly, RD, RNR), HMS Cooke (Lt.Cdr. L.C. Hill, OBE, RD, RNR), HMS Domett (T/A/Lt.Cdr. S. Gordon, RNVR) joined the force made up of HMS Queen Elizabeth (Capt. H.G. Norman, CBE, RN), HMS Valiant (Capt. G.E.M. O’Donnell, DSO, RN), HMS Renown (Capt. B.C.B. Brooke, RN, flying the flag of Vice Admiral A.J. Power, KCB, CVO, RN, second in command of the Eastern Fleet), HMS Illustrious (Capt. R.L.B. Cunliffe, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral C. Moody, CB, RN) and HMS Unicorn (Capt. H.L.St.J. Fancourt, DSO, RN), HMS Active (Lt.Cdr. P.G. Merriman, DSC, RN), HMS Anthony (Lt.Cdr. J.H. Wallace, DSC, RN), HMS Brilliant (Lt.Cdr. J. Smallwood, RN), HMS Inglefield (Cdr. C.F.H. Churchill, DSC, RN), HMS Isis (Cdr. B. Jones, DSO, DSC, RN), HMS Termagant (Lt.Cdr. J.P. Scatchard, DSC, RN), HMS Tenacious (Lt.Cdr. D.F. Townsend, RN), HMS Kempenfelt (Lt.Cdr. J.B. Marjoribanks, RN), HMS Urchin (Lt.Cdr. J.T.B. Birch, DSO, DSC, RN), HMS Duckworth (Cdr. R.G. Mills, DSO, DSC and Bar, RN) and HMS Essington (A/Lt.Cdr. W. Lambert, RNVR).

HMS Active, HMS Anthony, HMS Brilliant and HMS Isis were then detached. Shortly after doing so they were detached to hunt an enemy submarine [this was U-343].

Late in the evening HMS Termagant, HMS Tenacious and HMS Kempenfelt were detached to fuel at Bizerta. (6)

8 Jan 1944
Around 1500A/8, HMS Termagant (Lt.Cdr. J.P. Scatchard, DSC, RN), HMS Tenacious (Lt.Cdr. D.F. Townsend, RN), HMS Kempenfelt (Lt.Cdr. J.B. Marjoribanks, RN), rejoined HMS Queen Elizabeth (Capt. H.G. Norman, CBE, RN), HMS Valiant (Capt. G.E.M. O’Donnell, DSO, RN), HMS Renown (Capt. B.C.B. Brooke, RN, flying the flag of Vice Admiral A.J. Power, KCB, CVO, RN, second in command of the Eastern Fleet), HMS Illustrious (Capt. R.L.B. Cunliffe, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral C. Moody, CB, RN) and HMS Unicorn (Capt. H.L.St.J. Fancourt, DSO, RN), HMS Inglefield (Cdr. C.F.H. Churchill, DSC, RN), HMS Urchin (Lt.Cdr. J.T.B. Birch, DSO, DSC, RN), HMS Berry (T/A/Lt.Cdr. C.S. Pirie, RNVR), HMS Blackwood (Lt.Cdr. L.T. Sly, RD, RNR), HMS Cooke (Lt.Cdr. L.C. Hill, OBE, RD, RNR), HMS Domett (T/A/Lt.Cdr. S. Gordon, RNVR), HMS Duckworth (Cdr. R.G. Mills, DSO, DSC and Bar, RN) and HMS Essington (A/Lt.Cdr. W. Lambert, RNVR).

Shortly after these three destroyers had rejoined the force, HMS Inglefield was detached to Bizerta.

Late on the day the destroyer HMS Urchin was detached to Malta. (5)

12 Jan 1944
HMS Queen Elizabeth (Capt. H.G. Norman, CBE, RN), HMS Valiant (Capt. G.E.M. O’Donnell, DSO, RN), HMS Renown (Capt. B.C.B. Brooke, RN, flying the flag of Vice Admiral A.J. Power, KCB, CVO, RN, second in command of the Eastern Fleet), HMS Illustrious (Capt. R.L.B. Cunliffe, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral C. Moody, CB, RN) and HMS Unicorn (Capt. H.L.St.J. Fancourt, DSO, RN), HMS Termagant (Lt.Cdr. J.P. Scatchard, DSC, RN), HMS Tenacious (Lt.Cdr. D.F. Townsend, RN), HMS Kempenfelt (Lt.Cdr. J.B. Marjoribanks, RN), HMS Berry (T/A/Lt.Cdr. C.S. Pirie, RNVR), HMS Blackwood (Lt.Cdr. L.T. Sly, RD, RNR), HMS Cooke (Lt.Cdr. L.C. Hill, OBE, RD, RNR), HMS Domett (T/A/Lt.Cdr. S. Gordon, RNVR), HMS Duckworth (Cdr. R.G. Mills, DSO, DSC and Bar, RN) and HMS Essington (A/Lt.Cdr. W. Lambert, RNVR) arrived at Port Said.

All six frigates remained at Port Said. All the other ships entered the Suez Canal, although HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Valiant had to discharge fuel first at Port Said. (5)

8 Feb 1944
HMS Vox (Lt. J.M. Michell, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Larne with ), HMS Duckworth (Cdr. R.G. Mills, DSO, DSC and Bar, RN), HMS Domett (T/A/Lt.Cdr. S. Gordon, RNVR), HMS Cooke (Lt.Cdr. L.C. Hill, OBE, RD, RNR) and aircraft. (7)

10 Mar 1944
HMS Terrapin (Lt.Cdr. D.S.R. Martin, DSO and 2 bars, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Larne with HMS Cooke (Lt.Cdr. L.C. Hill, OBE, RD, RNR), HMS Domett (T/A/Lt.Cdr. S. Gordon, RNVR), HMS Duckworth (Cdr. R.G. Mills, DSO, DSC and Bar, RN) and HMS Ekins (T/Lt. G.G. Bonner-Davies, RNVR). (8)

11 May 1944
At 2120 hours (zone -2), HMS Seraph (Lt. T. Russell-Walling, RN), lost depth control as 'A' tank suddenly flooded, and hit bottom at 498 feet. Damage was severe, there were several leaks, her main motors were flooded and she was unable to dive. It took almost four hours to effect repairs and several attempts were undertaken before Seraph finally surfaced. Contact with Coastal Command aircraft was established at 0500/12 and a message was passed to her to relay as Seraph's own W/T set was out of action.

At 2020/12 contact was made with a USAAF Liberator and another message was passed to this aircraft requesting assistance and an escort.

As of the early morning hours of the 13th aircraft remained with Seraph until the 3rd Escort Group arrived with the frigates HMS Domett (T/A/Lt.Cdr. S. Gordon, RNVR) and HMS Berry (T/A/Lt.Cdr. C.S. Pirie, RNVR). The 3rd Escort Group however left after about 1 hour but later returned. The trawler HMS Neave (T/Lt. T. Ross, RNVR) and and tug HMS Abeille IV arrived during the day and relieved the two frigates. (9)

30 Jun 1944
German U-boat U-441 was sunk in the English Channel west of Guernsey, in position 49°37'N, 03°41'W, by depth charges from a British Liberator aircraft (224 Sqn RAF/L) and the British frigates HMS Essington (A/Lt.Cdr. W. Lambert, RNVR), HMS Duckworth (Cdr. R.G. Mills, DSO, DSC and Bar, RN), HMS Domett (T/A/Lt.Cdr. S. Gordon, RNVR), HMS Cooke (Lt.Cdr. L.C. Hill, OBE, RD, RNR).

Media links


The Captain Class Frigates in the Second World War

Collingwood, Donald

Sources

  1. ADM 173/18094
  2. ADM 173/18129
  3. ADM 53/117663 + ADM 53/118390 + ADM 53/118437 + ADM 53/118667 + ADM 53/118679
  4. ADM 53/119575 + ADM 53/120303 + ADM 53/120374 + ADM 53/120663 + ADM 53/120675 + ADM 199/2494
  5. ADM 53/119575 + ADM 53/120303 + ADM 53/120374 + ADM 53/120663 + ADM 53/120675
  6. ADM 53/119575+ ADM 53/120303 + ADM 53/120374 + ADM 53/120663 + ADM 53/120675
  7. ADM 173/19443
  8. ADM 173/18996
  9. ADM 173/18698

ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.


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