LOCH-Class
Frigate ordered from Harland & Wolff
at Belfast on 2nd February 1943 and
laid down as Job No J3373 (Yard Number
1246) on 28th December 1943. The ship
was launched on 23rd May 1944 as the 1st
RN ship to carry the name. Build was
transferred to John Brown after launch
and the ship was towed to Clydebank for
completion.
Build was completed on 23rd October 1944
after fitting-out.
B
a t t
l e H o n o u r s
ATLANTIC 1945
H
e r a l d i
c D a t a
Badge:
On a Field Red issuing from barry
wavy White and Blue in base
a demi-lion
White grasping a club
Gold.
(Note: Taken from the
Arms of Wallace)
D
e t a i
l s o f W a
r S e r v i
c e
(for
more ship information,
go
to
Naval History Homepage
and
type name in Site Search
1
9 4 4
October
Contractors Trials.
Commissioned for service in 22nd Escort
Group.
23rd
Build completion and commenced
Acceptance Trials
Nominated for special trials with
different design propellers on
completion of
storing and other
trials.
November
Carried cut comparison trials on
different design propellers.
December
Passage to Tobermory
12th
Commenced work-up for operational
service.
1
9 4 5
January
3rd
On completion took passage to join Group
Deployed with HM Sloops AMETHYST, HART,
PEACOCK and STARLING for
anti-submarine search operations in
Irish Sea and NW Approaches.
16th
Shared credit for sinking U482 with
above ships in position 55-30N 05.53W
using SQUID
and depth charges
(Note: U482 had torpedoed Escort Carrier
THANE in Clyde estuary.
There were no survivors from the
submarine.
See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp and
HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR by
C Blair.)
February
Under repair for weather damage
sustained during deployment in NW
Approaches.
March
17th
Rejoined Group for support duty and
convoy defence inn Irish Sea and SW
Approaches
based at Milford Haven.
April
Irish Sea and SW Approaches deployment
in continuation.
Nominated for service in East Indies
after refit.
May
Passage to Cardiff for refit.
10th
Taken in hand for refit by Bailey at
Cardiff.
June
Sustained damage in collision with tug
at Cardiff and had to be docked.
July
On completion prepared for foreign
service.
20th
Took passage to join East Indies Fleet.
28tih
Sailed for Alexandria from Gibraltar.
August
Additional Oerlikon mountings fitted at
Alexandria to improve AA defence.
10th
During passage in Red Sea responded to
Distress signal from HM Fighter
Direction
Ship PALOMARES on fire in Red Sea
11th
Provided medical aid and embarked
severely burned casualties.
12th
Landed casualties to Massawa.
15th
At Aden.
22nd
Sailed for Colombo from Aden.
29th
At Colombo.
September
2nd
Joined East Indies Fleet and nominated
for defence of Assault convoys for
Malayan coast landings.
(Operation ZIPPER - This had been
delayed. See THE FORGOTTEN FLEET by
J Winton. Final Report of Supreme
Commander SEAC (HMSO) and BRITISH
INVASION FLEETS by J de Winser for
information about all mercantiles and
warships
taking part.)
Deployed for escorted of follow-up
convoys and landed SOE party on passage.
P
o s t W a
r N o t e s
HMS
LOCH CRAGGIE was deployed at Singapore
for support of military
operations in the Dutch East Indies
against insurgents opposing return of
Dutch
colonial rule and as Guardship at Morotai
in the Moluccas
where Japanese prisoners of war were
held before return to Japan. The ship
returned to Devonport in July 1946 and
Paid-off. She was placed in Reserve
until
being re commissioned in December 1950
as part of a programme to increase the
active Fleet after the start of war in
Korea. She served with the 5th Frigate
Flotilla, Mediterranean Fleet until
January 1953 when she returned to
Reserve. Although
selected for modernisation this was not
implemented and her equipment was
preserved
at Liverpool in 1954. On completion she
was transferred to the Reserve Fleet
Division at Gibraltar. Although offered
for sale to the Portugal this was not
accepted and the ship remained laid-up
at Gibraltar until placed on the
Disposal List in 1961. After being
de-equipped the ship was sold in July
1963
for breaking-up in Lisbon by Dantops
Leal and arrived
there in tow on 25th October 1963.
Addendum
CONVOY
ESCORT MOVEMENTS
of HMS LOCH
CRAGGIE
by
Don Kindell
These
convoy lists have not been cross-checked
with the text above
|
|
|
|
|
Date
convoy sailed
|
Joined
convoy as escort
|
Convoy
No.
|
Left
convoy
|
Date
convoy arrived
|
|
|
|
|
|
29/03/45
|
unknown
|
HX
347
|
unknown
|
14/04/45
|
03/04/45
|
unknown
|
HX
348
|
unknown
|
20/04/45
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)