HMS Bullen

BDE-78 was laid down on 17 May 1943 at Hingham, Massachusetts, by the Bethlehem Steel Corp., launched on 17 August 1943. The ship transferred to the United Kingdom on 25 October 1943 and commissioned in the Royal Navy that day as HMS Bullen (K460). While part of the 19th Escort Group, Bullen was torpedoed by the German submarine northwest of Strathy Point, Sutherland, Scotland on 6 December 1944, striking her midships. Of the crew of HMS Bullen, 71 died and 97 survived. The wrecksite is designated as a 'protected place' under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986.

The Buckley-class ships had an overall length of 306 ft, a beam of 37 ft, and a draught of 11 ft at full load. They displaced 1430 LT at (standard) and 1823 LT at full load. The ships had a turbo-electric powertrain with two Foster Wheeler Express D boilers providing steam to a pair of General Electric steam turbines which drove two electric generators which sent electricity to two 6000 shp electric motors which drove the two propeller shafts. The destroyer escorts reached a speed of 24 kn and had enough fuel oil to give them a range of 6000 nmi at 12 kn. Their crew consisted of 220 officers and ratings. The armament of the Buckley-class ships in British service consisted of three single…