Twin
Screw Fast Frigate
ordered on 19th January 1943 from
Charles Hill of Bristol and laid down on
29th
September 1943 as Yard No 453 (Admiralty
Job No 453). The ship was launched on
25th March 1944 by Mrs G Luckwell,
wife of the Yard
Manager, and was the first RN ship to
carry this name. She -was completed on
25th June 1944 in 274 days which was
faster than the time taken for the
prototype LOCH FADA built by John Brown
at Clydebank. This new type of frigate
had been adopted by the civil community
of Edmonton then in the County of
Middlesex and now part of the Greater
London Borough of Enfield after a
WARSHIP
WEEK National Savings campaign in March
1942. Although this shipyard had
previously built FLOWER Class Corvettes
and RIVER Class Frigates this ship was
the first of this Class builtt
in Bristol and using
more extensive prefabrication. See
General Information.
G
e o g r a p h i
c D a t a
Grid
Reference: NG2153
Sea
Loch on NW coast of the Island of Skye
B
a t t l
e H o n o u r s
ARCTIC
1944 - NORTH SEA 1945
H
e r a l d i
c D a t a
Badge:
On a Field Blue,
two
springs of juniper in saltire,
leaved and fructed
proper.
(Explanation
The Loch is in the country of the McLeods
of Harris.
The
Badge is based on that of the Harris McLeods.)
M
a n n i
n g D i
v i s i
o n
Devonport
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
June
Contractors trials and commissioned for
service
Commanding Officer: Commander E Wheeler
RNR.
Nominated for service in 10th Escort
Group.
25th
Build completion and commenced
Acceptance Trials
30th
On completion of trials and storing took
passage to Tobermory
July
Carried out work-up for operational
service.
August
Passage to Clyde to prepare for convoy
defence duty.
Allocated for detached service with 20th
Escort Group
12th
Sustained structural damage after
collision with HM Destroyer
BULLDOG in Gourock Bay
(Note: HMS BULLDOG was badly damaged and
under repair at Ardrossan for some
time.)
15th
Joined 20th Escort Group at Loch Ewe
for-Russian convoy defence.
Deployed with HM Destroyers KEPPEL,
WHITEHALL, HM Sloops CYGNET, KITE.
MERMAID, PEACOCK and five FLOWER Glass
Corvettes for escort of Russian Convoy
JW59 during
passage
to Kola Inlet.
(Notes: For details of all Russian
Convoy operations see CONVOYS TO RUSSIA
by RA
Ruegg ARCTIC CONVOYS by J Woodman, THE
RUSSIAN
CONVOYS by B
Schoefield
CONVOY ! by P Kemp and HITLER’S U-BOAT
WAR BY c Blair.
The Russian battleship ARCHANGELSK (Ex
HMS ROYAL SOVEREIGN was also part
of this convoy together with 12 Russian
Torpedo Boats
being
transferred to the Soviet
Navy and manned by Russian crews.)
24th
Took part in sinking of U354 in position
72.49N 30.41E with HM Sloops MERMAID and
PEACOCK, HM Destroyer KEPPEL AND
AIRCRAFT from HM
Escort Carrier VINDEX which
made the initial sighting of the
submarine. There were no survivors.
See above references).
(Note: HM Cruiser JAMAICA, HM
Escort Aircraft Carriers STRIKER and
VINDEX were also
part of the escort for JW59.).
25th
Detached from Convoy JW59 after arrival
in Kola Inlet.
28th
Joined escort for returning Convoy RA59A
with same ships
September
4th
Detached from return Convoy RA59A after
arrival at Loch Ewe
(Note: This
convoy arrived without loss mainly due
to the extensive anti-submarine
operations by aircraft from HMS STRIKER,
HMS VINDEX and the vigilance
of the escorts, which were responsible
for sinking U394 on 1st September
See above references.)
5th
Joined allocated Escort Group at
Londonderry.
Deployed with HM Frigates HELMSDALE.
BRAITHWAITE, BAYTUN and FOLEY
for defence of North
Atlantic
convoys and anti-submarine search
operations.
October
Atlantic and coastal convoy defence in
continuation
to
(For details of weapons and tactics used
see SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann.
November
During this period German SCHNORKEL
fitted U-Boats were being progressively
used).
Nominated for refit
December
11th
Taken in hand
for refit and repair of machinery
defects in
Tyne
commercial shipyard.
1
9 4 5
January
On completion of post refit trials
rejoined Group and continued convoy
defence.
Deployed with Flotilla based at
Scapa Flow for anti-submarine SW Approaches.
(Note: Particular attention was paid to
routes used by U-Boats for entry to
coastal
waters.)
February
Deployed in NW Approaches.
14th
Took part in the sinking of U989 with HM
Frigates LOCH ECK, BAYNTUN and
BRAITHWAITE. There were no survivors.
(See U-BOATS DESTROYED.)
(Note: Captain was awarded DSC after
this action.)
This was part of an extensive operation
to intercept U-Boats on passage
March
Transferred to English Channel to
continue operations against U-Boats
concentrating
attacks at focal points of convoy
routes.
Deployed in search for Spanish trawler
reported by aircraft as main contact
with
German submarine.
Unable to board trawler after
interception and encouraged it to depart
from area
towards Spain.
April
Channel and Irish Sea deployment in
continuation, based at Milford Haven
May
After termination of hostilities with
Germany deployed for interception of
surrendering
U-Boats without success and rejoin Group
at
Londonderry.
13th
Under repair at Londonderry.
20th
Transferred to Rosyth Escort Force.
June
Deployed for Air-Sea Rescue duty in Atlantic during flights of aircraft to and from
USA.
to
Supported re-occupation operations in
Norway by transfer of stores and mail.
July
August
Transferred to 1st Anti-Submarine
Training Flotilla based at Londonderry.
New Commanding Officer: Commander G W
McGuiness RNR appointed.
September
Deployed with Flotilla for training
duties.
to
November
December
Selected for duty in Operation
DEADLIGHT.
(Note: This was a programme for
destruction of captured U-Boats in NW
Approaches.
Submarines were to be sunk by various
means including the use of
anti-submarine
weapons, surface armament and explosive
charges.)
Deployment cancelled after ship ran
aground in Loch Foyle and sustained
extensive
underwater damage.
Withdrawn from training duties.
Taken in hand for repair in Belfast.
1
9 4 6
January
Under repair at Belfast.
to
April
May
Post refit trials.
June
Resumed Training duties at Londonderry.
as part of 4th Training Flotilla.
July
Training duties at Londonderry with
Flotilla in continuation.
to
Nominated for reduction to Reserve.
August
September
Transfer to Reserve delayed due to late
completion cf. refit of HM Frigate LOCH
TRALAIG
(Note: LOCH TRALAIG was to relieve ship
in Flotilla.)
Retained in 4th Flotilla
October
Training duties at Londonderry with
Flotilla.
to
New Commanding Officer: Lieut. Cdr V C F
Clarke DSC Royal Navy appointed.
December
1
9 4 7
January
Training duties at Londonderry with
Flotilla in continuation.
to
March
April
Paid off at Devonport and reduced to
Reserve status..
May
Laid up in Category A2 Reserve at
Devonport.
to
November
December
Reserve Category. reduced to B2.
To refit before use.
Under repair to electrical defects at
Devonport.
1
9 4 8
Laid up at Devonport in Reserve Fleet
Pennant Number for visual signalling
purposes, changed to F425 to conform
with introduction
of new identities.
1
9 4 9
January
Taken in hand for refit in commercial
shipyard at Penarth.
February
Under refit.
to
April
May
On completion of post refit trials
returned to Reserve Category B in
Portsmouth
June
Laid up at Devonport in Reserve Fleet.
to
December
1
9 5 0
January
Laid-up at Devonport
February
Nominated for service in 2nd Frigate
Flotilla after refitting.
March
Under refit by HM Dockyard, Devonport
for service.
to
New Commanding Officer appointed:
Commander R F Nicholson Royal Navy.
April
May
1st
Commissioned for service in 2nd Frigate
Flotilla, Mediterranean Fleet.
Departure delayed by malicious damage to
steering machinery.
June
Carried out post refit trials and
worked-up for service.
26th
Sailed to join Flotilla .in Malta towing
an MFV manned by some of ship's company.
July
After joining Flotilla took part in
Flotilla exercises and visits.
August
Visited Messina.
Nominated for detached duty at Aqaba.
September
Passage to Aqaba for Guardship duty.
17th
During period as Guardship embarked HM
King Abdulla of
Jordan
to witness weapon
firing and ship manoeuvres with HM
Frigate
LOCH SCAVAIG.
October
Passage to
Malta to resume
Flotilla duties after relief at Aqaba.
Took part in Flotilla programme
including visit to Leghorn.
November
Flotilla duties in continuation.
Visited Tripoli with HMS LOCH SCAVAIG.
December
Routine docking in Malta and
resumed Flotilla duties on completion.
1
9 5 1
January
Deployed with Flotilla for exercises and
visited Dragonasti with HM Frigate LOCH
LOMOND.
February
Took part in
Spring Cruiser exercise and visit
programme with Mediterranean Fleet.
23rd
Withdrawn from joint exercise with US
Navy ships after machinery defect.
Towed to Gibraltar for repair.
24th
Arrived at Gibraltar.
March
Planned refit in Malta
transferred to Gibraltar
Taken in hand for refit by HM Dockyard.
April
Under refit.
27th
Rendered assistance after RFA BEDENHAM
blew up after explosion at
Gibraltar.
(Note: This ship was unloading
explosives when a barge loaded with
depth charges
caught fire. The resultant explosion
killed eighteen people and many were
injured together with damage to dockside
buildings).
May
On completion of post refit trials took
passage to Malta to resume duty in the
2nd Frigate
Flotilla.
When entering Mellehia to paint ship
before commencing Flotilla duty
grounded.
Sustained extensive underwater damage
included loss of propeller blades.
(Note: The Commanding Officer was
subsequently court-martialled and
'dismissed'
his ship.)
June
Under repair.
to
(Note: During this period some of the
ship's company were sent to provide part
of
July
the crew for HM Landing Ship (Infantry)
being taken out of the
Reserve Fleet
in
Malta
for service at Basra after Iran
demanded that the
Anglo-Iranian
Oil Company be
nationalised).
August
Carried out harbour and sea trials
September
On completion rejoined Flotilla.
After arrival in Sliema Creek the ship
was involved in a series of collisions.
(Note: This did little to recover any of
this ship's poor reputation as one of
the other ships
involved was HM Destroyer SAINTES, the
Leader of the 3rd Destroyer Flotilla and
commanded by a Captain, Royal Navy.)
October
Deployed with Flotilla in Malta.
November
Prepared to recommission in Malta.
(Note: The ship had only been in
commission for 18 months as opposed to
30 months, the
normal
at that time for a foreign commission.
It is difficult to avoid the conclusion
that the
change
was made in an attempt to re-establish
her somewhat tarnished image !).
21st
Re-commissioned in Malta for service in
2nd Frigate Flotilla.
New Commanding Officer: Commander R N
Rycroft Royal Navy.
Rejoined HM Sloop MERMAID (Senior
Officer), HM Frigate
LOCH SCAVAIG and
HM Sloop
MAGPIE (commanded by HRH The Duke of
Edinburgh) in Flotilla.
December
Resumed Flotilla duties after
maintenance period.
1
9 5 2
January
Deployed as Guardship at Port Said during Egyptian threats to nationalise the
Suez
Canal
Provided shore landing parties in
support of military.
February
Port Said duties in continuation.
27th
Took passage to Benghazi to resume
Flotilla duties.
March
11th
Sailed from Benghazi to take part in
Mediterranean Fleet exercises.
April
Fleet deployment with Flotilla in
continuation.
5th
Visited Algiers.
Returned to Malta.
May
Flotilla duties in continuation and
visited Messina.
June
Took part in Mediterranean Fleet Summer
Cruiser exercise and visits programme
with Flotilla.
21st
Visited Corfu for 7 days.
July
Fleet programme duties in continuation.
3rd
Visited Dragonasti.
14th
At Navarino with HM Frigate LOCH LOMOND
during Fleet Regatta.
20th
Returned to Malta.
August
Nominated for return to UK to be
reduced to Reserve status.
(Note: This decision had been made in
view of the planned availability of
faster
anti-submarine frigates the being
converted from Fleet Destroyers.
HM Destroyers ROCKET and RELENTLESS were
the prototypes).
Flotilla duties in continuation at
Malta.
September
Deployed at Port Said as Guardship.
October
Prepared for return passage to UK.
November
Paid-off and de-stored
to
Began reduction to Reserve status
December
1
9 5 3
January
Reduction to Reserve at Devonport.
to
Accepted into Reserve.
March
(Note: Although recommended for
modernisation by Flag Officer Commanding
Reserve Fleet
this proposal was not implemented. The
earlier groundings and defect rate
associated
with machinery may have influenced the
decision not to do extensive work in the
ship).
April
Laid-up at Devonport
to
December
1 9 5 4
January
Nominated for refit by HM Dockyard
Devonport to ensure Reserve Category I
status.
February
Under repair and refit.
to
March
May
Laid-up in Reserve at Devonport.
to
December
1
9 5 5
January
Selected for refit by Charles Hill at
Bristol
to
Prepared for tow and refit.
February
March
Taken in hand for refit at Bristol. Under refit
April
Under refit
to
November
December
Commissioned for post refit sea trials.
1
9 5 6
January
On completion of trials Paid off and
returned to Bristol shipyard for
provision of
dehumidification
equipment
to protect the weapon mountings from
weather
damage
whilst laid up in Reserve.
February
Preservation work in progress.
to
April
May
On completion prepared for tow to
Penarth.
June
Laid up in Reserve Fleet at Penarth.
to
December
F
i n a l P h a s e
HMS
LOCH DUNVEGAN
remained in Supplementary Reserve at
Penarth until
1960 when she was put on the Disposal
List. Sold to BISCO
for demolition by T
W Ward at Briton Ferry where
the
ship arrived under tow at the
breaker’s
yard
on 24th August 1960.
Addendum
CONVOY
ESCORT MOVEMENTS
of HMS LOCH DUNVEGAN
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
15/08/44
|
15/08/44
|
JW
059
|
25/08/44
|
25/08/44
|
28/08/44
|
28/08/44
|
RA
059A
|
04/09/44
|
05/09/44
|
16/09/44
|
16/09/44
|
DS
057
|
19/09/44
|
19/09/44
|
21/09/44
|
21/09/44
|
SD
057
|
23/09/44
|
23/09/44
|
14/10/44
|
15/10/44
|
ONS
034
|
17/10/44
|
01/11/44
|
29/10/44
|
30/10/44
|
ONS
035
|
01/11/44
|
15/11/44
|
04/03/45
|
unknown
|
HX
342
|
unknown
|
19/03/45
|
24/03/45
|
24/03/45
|
TBC
107
|
27/03/45
|
27/03/45
|
21/04/45
|
22/04/45
|
OS
124KM
|
25/04/45
|
27/04/45
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)