Laid down as a frigate (MC hull 1658) by Walsh Kaiser Co, Providence, R.I. USA for the Maritime Commission.
11 May 1943 laid down, Intended name USS HALSTEAD (PF-76).
10 June 1943 allocated to the British Royal Navy under Lend Lease Program.
27 August 1943 launched under the name HMS BARBADOS (K504), sponsored by Miss Anna M. Pacheco. One of the Colony Class of which 21 served in the Royal Navy.
Displacement 1.430 ton, dim. 304 x 37.6 x 12.0Ft (draught main).
Powered by two steam turbines, 5.500 hp., twin screws, speed 20 knots.
Armament 3 – 3inch AAguns, 2 – 40mm, 9 – 20mm guns. 1 Hedgehog depth charge projector, 8 Y-gun depth charge projectors, 2 depth charge racks.
Crew 190.
18 December 1943 accepted by the Royal Navy at the Boston Naval Yard.
Off this class were several built in mass production on yards in the USA.
The design was a modification of the British River Class.
After commissioned spent several months in North America waters, working up.
November 1944 she left the American waters, departing Bermuda for Gibraltar, but she suffered an engine break-down and returned to Bermuda for repairs. After repairs in Bermuda she sailed for Great Britain arriving in the home waters on January 1945.
Assigned to the 23rd Escort Group based at Londonderry.
From March till April 1945 refitted at Devonport.
The used escorting surrendered U-boats into British ports.
23 May1945 escorted together with HMS CAYMAN, escorting 4 submarines to Lough Foyle; 28 May in company with CAYMAN, left Kristiansand to escort a group of U-boats across the North Sea to Scapa Flow, arriving 1 June.
24 July 1945 paid of. At Londonderry.
April 1946 returned back to the USA and was accepted by the Commandant 1st Naval District, Boston in the USA on 15 April 1946.
She was declared “not essential to the defence of the United States” and she was struck from the Naval list on 19 July 1946.
20 October 1947 sold to Sun Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Chester, Pa. for scrapping.
On Barbados 1994 35c sg 1079, scott 876.
Source: http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/b2/barbados-i.htm and some other web-sites.