Several Lake-class cutters served the Royal Navy as Banff-class sloops after HMS Malaya's crew manned them. The renamed Champlain crossed from Atlantic convoy work to Operation Torch and support-group operations, including the sinking of U-954. A top speed of 16 knots was modest, while a range of about 7,500 nautical miles suited the escort problem. The Royal Navy's worldwide sloop requirement therefore resembled Coast Guard patrol needs more closely than the US Navy's preference for faster destroyers.
Notable Point · 57:40-1:03:29
Lake-class cutters as Atlantic convoy escorts
The Lake-class cutters reveal how long range and escort endurance made Coast Guard designs closely resemble Royal Navy sloops.