HMS Caicos

HMS Caicos (K505)
HMS Caicos on 27 March 1945.
History
United States
NameUSS Hannam
NamesakeBritish name assigned in anticipation of ship's transfer to United Kingdom
ReclassifiedPatrol frigate, PF-77, 15 April 1943
BuilderWalsh-Kaiser Company, Providence, Rhode Island
Laid down23 April 1943[1]
RenamedCaicos, 1943
NamesakeThe Caicos Islands
Launched6 September 1943
Commissionednever
IdentificationPG-185
FateTransferred to United Kingdom 31 December 1943
AcquiredReturned by United Kingdom 12 December 1945
Fate
  • Sold for scrapping June 1946
  • Scrapping cancelled
  • Resold to Argentina 6 July 1947
United Kingdom
NameHMS Caicos
NamesakeThe Caicos Islands
Acquired31 December 1943
Commissioned31 December 1943[1] or 2 January 1944[2]
Decommissioned1945[3]
IdentificationK505
FateReturned to United States 12 December 1945
Argentina
NameARA Trinidad
NamesakeARA Santísima Trinidad, an Argentine brigantine which saw prominent action in 1815–1816 during the Argentine War of Independence.[4]
Acquired6 July 1947
Commissioned1948
IdentificationP-34
RenamedARA Santísima Trinidad (P-34) 3 October 1950
NamesakeARA Santísima Trinidad of 1815–1816
DecommissionedPlaced in reserve 1961–1962
Honours and
awards
Battle honor, 8 December 1960
RenamedComodoro Augusto Laserre (Q-9) 1963
NamesakeAugusto Lasserre (1826–1906), Argentine Navy officer
ReclassifiedBuque de Investigacion (survey vessel) 1963
Recommissioned27 January 1964
RenamedComodoro Augusto Lasserre (Q-9) 1964
NamesakeCorrected spelling of "Augusto Lasserre"
Stricken20 February 1969
DecommissionedMarch 1969
FateSold for scrapping 1971
General characteristics
Class and typeColony-class frigate
Displacement
  • 1,430 tons standard
  • 2,415 tons deep load
Length
  • 285.5 ft (87.0 m) (waterline)
  • 304.0 ft (92.7 m) (overall)
Beam37.5 ft (11.4 m)
Draught13.75 ft (4.19 m)
PropulsionTriple expansion, 2 × 3-drum type boilers, 2 shafts5,500 ihp (4,100 kW)
Speed
  • 20.3 knots (37.6 km/h) (on first trials),
  • 19 knots (35 km/h) (by 1963)
Range
  • 7,800 nmi (14,400 km) at 12 knots (22 km/h)
  • 700 tons oil
Complement
  • 175 as frigate
  • 100 as survey vessel
Armament
  • 2 × 105 mm (4.1 inch) L45 Bofors DP guns,
  • 8 × 40 mm AA guns (2×2, 4×1),
  • 1 × Hedgehog,
  • 6 × Depth charge throwers, 2 Tracks

HMS Caicos was a Colony-class frigate of the United Kingdom that served during World War II. She was originally ordered by the United States Navy as the Tacoma-class patrol frigate USS Hannam and was transferred to the Royal Navy prior to completion. It was named after the Caicos Islands.

After her return to U.S. Navy custody, she was sold to Argentina and served in the Argentine Navy (Armada de la Republica Argentina) as a frigate under the names ARA Trinidad (P-34) and ARA Santísima Trinidad (P-34) from 1948 to 1962. After a refit she then served as a survey ship as ARA Augusto Lasserre (Q-9) from 1963 to 1969.

  1. ^ a b uboat.net HMS Caicos (K 505)
  2. ^ Times of the Islands, the International Magazine of the Turks & Caicos Islands, Summer 2007
  3. ^ According to uboat.net HMS Caicos (K 505), Caicos is not listed as an active unit on the October 1945 Navy List, strongly implying that the Royal Navy decommissioned her sometime earlier that year.
  4. ^ Page 6, Janes Fighting Ships 1963–64