Dates: 1943 - 1946

CAPTAIN Class Turbo-Electric BUCKLEY Type Frigate ordered under the UK/US Lease-Lend Agreement on 1st November 1941 and laid down on 4th August 1943 by the Bethlehem Steel Shipyard at Hingham, Mass. USA. The ship was launched on 23rd October 1943 as the first RN ship to carry the name of William George Rutherford who was one of Nelson’s captains at Trafalgar and in command of HMS SWIFTSURE. Build was completed date was 16th December 1943. This ship was not adopted by a civil community in UK in 1941-42 after a National Savings WARSHIP WEEK campaign. Details of arrangements made for manning this Class of warship in the USA are given in THE CAPTAIN CLASS FRIGATES IN WW2 by D Collingwood.

View your bookmarks