Captain-class frigates converted for landing command

Three American-built Captain-class frigates were adapted for landing headquarters work by removing the aft gun and depth charges, then adding staff space and more 20 mm anti-aircraft guns. The designation appears as Landing Ship Headquarters Frigate, or LSH(F), although contemporary books use several competing acronyms. The conversion produced compact command ships for Operation Neptune without requiring purpose-built hulls. HMS Dacres could still lead a convoy after flooding disabled her forward engine room, showing the value of retaining useful mobility after damage. HMS Lawford was sunk either by an aerial torpedo or, probably, an Hs 293 guided weapon, a single hit that exposed how little punishment these small ships could absorb. The identification remains uncertain because Royal Navy reporting may have called the weapon an 'aerial torpedo' despite earlier Mediterranean encounters with German guided munitions.