English Channel
Orchis was then assigned to patrol the English Channel, and sank German submarine U-741 on 15 August 1944. U-741 torpedoed LST-404 of convoy FTM-69 while Orchis was escorting nearby convoy FTC-68. Orchis gained and held SONAR contact on U-741 and flooded the forward part of the U-boat with two Hedgehog attacks and two Depth charge attacks. Leo Leuwer escaped from the aft torpedo-room hatch of the sunken U-boat, and was rescued by Orchis.
On 21 August 1944, Orchis struck a mine destroying the bow back to the 4-inch gun. The damaged ship was beached on Juno Beach and declared a total loss.
Read more about this topic: HMS Orchis (K76)
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