HMS Burwell

The first USS ''Laub'' (DD-263) was a in the United States Navy and transferred to the Royal Navy where she served as HMS ''Burwell'' (H94) during World War II. She was named for Henry Laub.

As USS ''Laub''

''Laub'' was laid down by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, Squantum, Massachusetts, on 20 April 1918. The destroyer was launched on 28 August 1918, sponsored by Miss Marjorie Mohan, a collateral descendant of Henry Laub. The ship was commissioned on 17 March 1919.

Assigned to the Atlantic destroyer force out of Newport, Rhode Island, ''Laub'' was dispatched 2 to 17 May 1919 to take up position off Newfoundland as plane guard, and navigational aid during the NC-4 transatlantic flight. The destroyer continued exercises off the east coast until 30 June when she sailed for European service. Arriving Brest 17 July, ''Laub'' operated with the fleet off Western Europe until she sailed late in August for duty in the eastern Mediterranean. Upon arrival at Constantinople 2 September, ''Laub'' operated with the Food Commission, bringing relief to Europe. She sailed for America on the 17th, arriving New York City 4 October. Her stay on the east coast was a brief one as she sailed 2 weeks later to join the Pacific Fleet, arriving San Diego, California 27 November.

From December 1919 until she decommissioned 15 June 1922, ''Laub'' performed torpedo experiments and reserve training cruises along the Pacific coast.

''Laub'' recommissioned 18 December 1939. After shakedown out of San Diego, the destroyer arrived Guantanamo 7 April 1940 to join the Caribbean Neutrality patrol. Following 2 months' duty out of Guantanamo, she sailed to Galveston, Texas, for patrol operations in the Gulf of Mexico. Following 4 months of operations in the gulf and along the Atlantic coast, ''Laub'' arrived at Halifax, Nova Scotia, 5 September. She decommissioned there 8 October 1940.

As HMS ''Burwell''

''Laub'' was transferred to Great Britain the following day as part of the destroyer-bases agreement. During World War II she served in the Royal Navy protecting Allied shipping in the North Atlantic under the name HMS ''Burwell''. As ''Burwell'' was modified for trade convoy escort service by removal of three of the original 4"/50 caliber guns and one of the triple torpedo tube mounts to reduce topside weight for additional depth charge stowage and installation of Hedgehog.Lenton&Colledge (1968) pp.92-94
In this role ''Burwell'' was engaged in all the duties performed by escort ships; protecting convoys, searching for and attacking U-boats which attacked ships in convoy, and rescuing survivors.

In sixteen months service ''Burwell'' escorted 24 Atlantic and three Gibraltar convoys, of which seven were attacked, and she was involved in two major convoy battles; around SC 52 in November 1941 and KMS 10 in March 1943.
A notable incident during this period was her involvement in the capture of the German U-boat '' U-570'' in August 1941.

In October 1943 ''Burwell'' was withdrawn to the Reserve and converted to an Air target Ship. She continued in this function until January 1945 when she was withdrawn completely and laid up.
In March 1947 ''Burwell'' was sold for scrap.

Notes

References

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External links

Photo Gallery
at Navsource.org


at Naval Historical Center


at naval.history.net; retrieved 29 May 2020

{{DEFAULTSORT:Laub (Dd-263)
Clemson-class destroyers
Ships built in Quincy, Massachusetts
1918 ships
Ships transferred from the United States Navy to the Royal Navy
Town-class destroyers of the Royal Navy
Town-class destroyers converted from Clemson-class destroyers
World War II destroyers of the United Kingdom