HMS Culver

USCGC Mendota (1928) was a Lake-class cutter belonging to the United States Coast Guard launched on 20 June 1928 and commissioned on 23 March 1929.[1] After 12 years of service with the Coast Guard, she was transferred to the British Royal Navy as part of the Lend-Lease Act. She was sunk in January 1942 when struck by two torpedoes fired by the German submarine U-105.

For other ships with the same name, see USCGC Mendota.

USCGC Mendota, under construction, circa 1928.
History
United States
Name: USCGC Mendota
Namesake: Lake Mendota
Builder: Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation
Laid down: 20 June 1928
Launched: 27 November 1928
Commissioned: 23 March 1929
Fate: Transferred to Royal Navy, 30 April 1941.
United Kingdom
Name: HMS Culver
Commissioned: 30 April 1941
Identification: Pennant number: Y97
Fate: Sunk by U-105, 31 January 1942.
General characteristics
Class and type:
Displacement: 2,075 long tons (2,108 t)
Length: 250 ft (76.2 m)
Beam: 42 ft (12.8 m)
Draft: 12 ft 11 in (3.9 m)
Propulsion: 1 × General Electric turbine-driven 3,350 shp (2,500 kW) electric motor, 2 boilers
Speed:
  • 14.8 knots (27.4 km/h; 17.0 mph) cruising
  • 17.5 knots (32.4 km/h; 20.1 mph) maximum
Complement: 97
Armament:

Career

U.S. Coast Guard - Mendota

After commissioning in March 1929, Mendota was homeported in Norfolk, Virginia.[2] On 22 December 1939, Sebago attempted to assist the 2,847 gross register tons (GRT) Greek steamship Aliakmon, which had grounded north of Wash Woods, Virginia. The 12-inch (30 cm) hawser that had been secured to the vessel parted, but Mendota, having arrived a few hours later, was able to float the $200,000 vessel.[2]

Royal Navy - Culver

As part of the Lend-Lease Act she was transferred to the Royal Navy where she was renamed HMS Culver (Y87) and commissioned on 30 Apr 1941.[3] On 31 October 1941, Culver picked up 25 people from the Dutch merchant vessel Bennekom which had been sunk by a torpedo from U-96.

Sinking

On 31 January 1942, while escorting convoy SL 98, Culver came under fire by U-105.[4] At 23:31 hours, she was struck twice, once on the port side in the forward boiler room and once further aft that likely struck the vessel's magazine. Culver broke in two and sank in less than a minute. The commander, 7 officers and 119 ratings were lost. A single officer and 12 ratings survived the sinking and were rescued by HMS Londonderry.[4]

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See also

References
  1. Helgason, Guðmundur. "USCGC Mendota". uboat.net. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  2. "Mendota (1929)" (PDF). USCG. US Coast Guard. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  3. Helgason, Guðmundur. "HMS Culver (Y 87)". uboat.net. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  4. Helgason, Guðmundur. "HMS Culver (Y 87) - Sinking". uboat.net. Retrieved 24 July 2015.

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