As HMS Beverley
Beverley arrived at Belfast 24 October and was modified for trade convoy escort service by removal of three of the original 4"/50 caliber guns and three of the triple torpedo tube mounts to reduce topside weight for additional depth charge stowage and installation of hedgehog. In April 1942 she was an escort for Convoy PQ 14 en route to North Russia. En route the convoy was attacked by a superior force of enemy destroyers, which had approached unobserved during a snow storm and fired several torpedoes at a range of 9,000 yards. One merchant ship was sunk. The enemy returned four times and took part in short gunnery duels, but did not close the range below 8,000 yards.
On 4 February 1943, while escorting Atlantic Convoy SC-118 with Escort Group B-2, Beverley sighted the German submarine U-187 (later sunk by HMS Vimy) southeast of Cape Farewell, Greenland. She also took part in attacks on other U-boats the next day.
Beverley was assigned to Escort Group B-4 of the Mid-Ocean Escort Force for convoys ON-140, ON-161, ON-169, HX-229 and ON-176. On 9 April while escorting Convoy ON 176, she collided with the steamship Cairnvolona in bad weather and had her anti-submarine and degaussing gear put out of action. Two days later she was torpedoed by U-188 commanded by Kapitänleutnant Siegfried Lüdden in 52°19′N 40°28′W / 52.317°N 40.467°W / 52.317; -40.467, and sank with the loss of 139 members of her crew, including her commanding officer.
Read more about this topic: USS Branch (DD-197)