HMS Nyasaland (K587) was a Colony-class frigate of the United Kingdom that served during World War II. She originally was ordered by the United States Navy as the Tacoma-class patrol frigate USS Hoste (PF-83) and was transferred to the Royal Navy prior to completion.
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | USS Hoste |
| Namesake | Captain Sir William Hoste (1780-1826), British naval officer (British name assigned in anticipation of ship's transfer to United Kingdom) |
| Reclassified | Patrol frigate, PF-83, 15 April 1943 |
| Builder | Walsh-Kaiser Company, Providence, Rhode Island |
| Laid down | 7 September 1943[1] |
| Renamed | Nyasaland, 1943 |
| Namesake | Nyasaland (British name assigned in anticipation of ship's transfer to United Kingdom) |
| Launched | 6 October 1943 |
| Sponsored by | Mrs. William A. Cahir |
| Commissioned | never |
| Identification | PG-191 |
| Fate | Transferred to United Kingdom, 31 July 1944 |
| Acquired | Returned by United Kingdom 15 April 1946 |
| Fate | Sold for scrapping 10 November 1947 |
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | HMS Nyasaland |
| Namesake | Nyasaland |
| Acquired | 31 July 1944 |
| Commissioned | 31 July 1944[1] |
| Identification | Pennant number: K587 |
| Fate | Returned to United States 15 April 1946 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Colony/Tacoma-class patrol frigate |
| Displacement | 1,264 long tons (1,284 t) |
| Length | 303 ft 11 in (92.63 m) |
| Beam | 37 ft 6 in (11.43 m) |
| Draft | 13 ft 8 in (4.17 m) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) |
| Complement | 190 |
| Armament |
|
Construction and acquisition edit
The ship, originally designated a "patrol gunboat," PG-191, was ordered by the United States Maritime Commission under a United States Navy contract as the first USS Hoste. She was reclassified as a "patrol frigate," PF-83, on 15 April 1943 and laid down by the Walsh-Kaiser Company at Providence, Rhode Island, on 7 September 1943.[1] Intended for transfer to the United Kingdom, the ship was renamed Nyasaland by the British prior to launching and was launched on 6 October 1943, sponsored by Mrs. William A. Cahir.
Service history edit
Transferred to the United Kingdom under Lend-Lease on 31 July 1944, the ship served in the Royal Navy as HMS Nyasaland (K587) on patrol and escort duty. On 17 December 1944, she sank the German submarine U-772 with depth charges in the North Atlantic Ocean south of Cork, Ireland, at 51°16′N 008°05′W / 51.267°N 8.083°W. On 4 February 1945, she shared credit with the British frigates Loch Scavaig, Papua, and Loch Shin for sinking the German submarine U-1014 in a depth-charge attack in the North Channel off Malin Head, Ireland, at 55°17′N 006°45′W / 55.283°N 6.750°W. On 2 March 1945, she rescued 42 survivors of the British merchant ship SS King Edgar, which the German submarine U-1302 had sunk in St. George's Channel at 52°05′N 005°42′W / 52.083°N 5.700°W.[1]
Disposal edit
The United Kingdom returned Nyasaland to the U.S. Navy on 15 April 1946. She was sold to the Sun Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company of Chester, Pennsylvania, on 10 November 1947 for scrapping.
References edit
Notes edit
Bibliography edit
- This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
- Navsource Online: Frigate Photo Archive HMS Nyasaland (K 587) ex-Hoste ex-PF-82 ex-PG-191
