HMS Calder is a name given to three vessels of the Royal Navy, all named after Admiral Sir Robert Calder, a contemporary of Admiral Horatio Nelson. Two of these vessels were never commissioned into the Royal Navy, having been retained by the United States Navy before delivery. The third, HMS Calder (K349), was a Captain-class frigate that served during World War II.
Vessels named HMS Calder
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HMS Calder (intended) – A planned Captain-class frigate launched at Mare Island in 1942, but retained by the United States and commissioned into the US Navy as USS Gilmore.
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HMS Calder (intended) – Another planned Captain-class frigate launched at Mare Island in 1942, retained by the United States and commissioned into the US Navy as USS Finnegan.
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HMS Calder (K349) – A Captain-class frigate launched at the Bethlehem Hingham Shipyard in Massachusetts on 27 March 1943 and commissioned into the Royal Navy on 15 July 1943 under the Lend-Lease program. Originally intended for the US Navy as USS Formoe (DE-58), it was diverted to the Royal Navy before launch.
HMS Calder (K349) – Service History
HMS Calder (K349) was a Buckley-class (turbo-electric type) Captain-class frigate. It served exclusively with the 4th Escort Group and earned battle honours for service in the North Atlantic.
Key actions
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26 January 1945 – Together with the frigates HMS Aylmer, HMS Bentinck, and HMS Manners, HMS Calder sank the German submarine U-1051 in the Irish Sea south of the Isle of Man. U-1051 was forced to the surface by depth charges and sunk after being rammed by HMS Aylmer. All 47 crew members of U-1051 were lost.
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8 April 1945 – Together with HMS Bentinck, HMS Calder sank the German submarine U-774 in the North Atlantic south-west of Ireland. The submarine was detected after its periscope was spotted by a lookout on HMS Calder, and depth charges were used to sink it. All 44 crew members of U-774 were lost.
Fate
HMS Calder was returned to the United States Navy on 19 October 1945 and formally decommissioned on 4 December 1945. It was sold for scrap on 15 January 1948.
General characteristics (K349)
- Displacement: 1,800 long tons (1,829 t) fully loaded
- Length: 306 ft (93 m) overall
- Beam: 36.5 ft (11.1 m)
- Draught: 9.5 ft (2.9 m) standard; 11.25 ft (3.43 m) full load
- Propulsion: Two boilers, General Electric turbo-electric drive, two propellers, 12,000 hp (8.9 MW)
- Speed: 24 knots (44 km/h)
- Endurance: 5,500 nautical miles (10,200 km) at 15 knots (28 km/h)
- Complement: Typically between 170 and 186
- Pennant (UK): K 349
- Pennant (US): DE 58
