The second HMS Louis (K515) was a British Captain-class frigate of the Royal Navy in commission during World War II. Originally constructed as the United States Navy Evarts-class destroyer escort DE-517, she served in the Royal Navy from 1943 to 1946.

History
United States
Nameunnamed (DE-517)
BuilderBoston Navy Yard, Boston, Massachusetts
Laid down9 July 1943
Launched13 August 1943
Completed9 November 1943
Commissionednever
FateTransferred to United Kingdom 9 November 1943
AcquiredReturned by United Kingdom 20 March 1946
FateSold 17 June 1946
Royal Navy EnsignUnited Kingdom
NameHMS Louis (K515)
NamesakeRear Admiral Sir Thomas Louis (1758-1807), British naval officer who was commanding officer of HMS Minotaur at the Battle of the Nile in 1798[1]
Acquired9 November 1943
Commissioned9 November 1943[2]
FateReturned to United States 20 March 1946
General characteristics
Displacement1,140 long tons (1,158 t)
Length289.5 ft (88.2 m)
Beam35 ft (11 m)
Draught9 ft (2.7 m)
Propulsion
  • Four General Motors 278A 16-cylinder engines
  • GE 7,040 bhp (5,250 kW) generators (4,800 kW)
  • GE electric motors for 6,000 shp (4,500 kW)
  • Two shafts
Speed20 knots (37 km/h)
Range5,000 nautical miles (9,260 km) at 15 knots (28 km/h)
Complement156
Sensors and
processing systems
Armament
NotesPennant number K515

Construction and transfer

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The ship was laid down by the Boston Navy Yard in Boston, Massachusetts, on 9 July 1943 as the unnamed U.S. Navy destroyer escort DE-517 and launched on 13 August 1943. The United States transferred the ship to the United Kingdom under Lend-Lease on 9 November 1943.

Service history

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The ship was commissioned into service in the Royal Navy as HMS Louis (K515) on 9 November 1943[2] simultaneously with her transfer. She served on antisubmarine patrol and convoy escort duty in the Bay of Biscay, North Atlantic Ocean, and Arctic Ocean. On 24 August 1944, she sank the German submarine U-445 with depth charges in the Bay of Biscay west of St. Nazaire, France, at position 47°21′00″N 005°50′00″W / 47.35000°N 5.83333°W / 47.35000; -5.83333 (U-445 sunk).[2]

The Royal Navy returned Louis to the U.S. Navy at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 20 March 1946.

Disposal

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The United States Government sold Louis to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on 17 June 1946.

Citations

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References

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