USCGC Sebago (1930)
USCGC Sebago was a Lake-class cutter belonging to the United States Coast Guard launched on 12 April 1930 and commissioned on 2 October 1930. After 11 years of service with the Coast Guard, she was transferred to the Royal Navy as part of the Lend-Lease to the Allies and became HMS Walney.
USCGC Sebago underway, pre-World War II. | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| United States | |
| Name | USCGC Sebago |
| Namesake | Sebago Lake |
| Builder | General Engineering and Drydock Company |
| Launched | 10 February 1930 |
| Commissioned | 2 September 1930 |
| Fate |
|
| United Kingdom | |
| Name | HMS Walney |
| Launched | 10 February 1930 |
| Commissioned | 12 May 1941 |
| Identification | Y04 |
| Fate | Sunk during Operation Reservist |
| Sunk: | 8 November 1942 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | |
| Displacement | 2,075 long tons (2,108 t) |
| Length | 250 ft (76 m) |
| Beam | 42 ft (13 m) |
| Draft | 12 ft 11 in (3.94 m) |
| Propulsion | 1 × General Electric turbine-driven 3,350 shp (2,500 kW) electric motor, 2 boilers |
| Speed |
|
| Complement | 97 |
| Armament |
|
After some time on convoy escort duty, Walney was selected for Operation Reservist as part of the Allied invasion of French North Africa. Walney, together with Hartland were to break into Oran harbour and land troops that would take control of key facilities before they could be destroyed. She got into the harbour but was hit repeatedly by French guns. She just made to the jetty and survivors were able to get off but were subsequently captured, Walney then sank. Her captain, Frederick Thornton Peters was awarded the Victoria Cross "for valour in taking H.M.S. Walney, in an enterprise of desperate hazard into the harbour of Oran..."