HMS Bullen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids History |
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| Builder | Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard Inc |
| Laid down | 17 May 1943 |
| Launched | 7 August 1943 |
| Commissioned | 25 October 1943 |
| Fate | Sunk on 6 December 1944 by U-775 |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement | 1,800 tons fully loaded |
| Length | 306 ft (93 m) overall |
| Beam | 36 ft 6 in (11.13 m) |
| Draught | 11 ft (3.4 m) fully loaded |
| Speed | 24 kn (44 km/h) |
| Endurance | 5,500 nmi (10,200 km) at 15 kn (28 km/h) |
| Complement | 168 |
HMS Bullen (K 469) was a special kind of warship called a Captain-class frigate. She served in the Royal Navy during World War II. The ship was named after Charles Bullen, a brave captain from the famous Battle of Trafalgar.
Originally, HMS Bullen was planned to be a different type of ship. She was going to be a DE-78, a Buckley-class destroyer escort for the United States Navy. These ships used a special engine system called Turbo-electric transmission. Before she was even launched, she was given to the Royal Navy and named HMS Bullen.
Her commanding officer was Lieutenant Commander A.H. Parrish of the Royal Navy.
The Sinking of HMS Bullen
HMS Bullen was part of a group of ships called the 19th Escort Group. Their job was to protect other ships from enemy attacks. On 6 December 1944, while sailing northwest of Strathy Point in Sutherland, Scotland, a German submarine attacked her.
The submarine, named U-775, fired a torpedo that hit Bullen in the middle of the ship. Sadly, 71 of the crew members died in the attack. However, 97 people survived the sinking.
Today, the place where HMS Bullen sank is protected by law. It is called a 'protected place' under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986. This means the wreck is kept safe and respected as a war grave.
