1
9 4 4
December
Contractors
trials
and commissioned for service in Western
Approaches Command. Commanding
Officer: Lieutenant Commander R A Cherry
RNR.
29th
- Build
completion and commenced Acceptance Trials.
1
9 4 5
January
Took
passage to
Tobermory on completion of trials and storing.
Deployed
with escort for Escort Carrier during passage.
4th -
Began
work-up.
25th
- Passage
to join 20th Escort Group at Londonderry on
completion of work-up. (Note:
Temporary attachment with Group made up of
COLONY Class Frigates.)
28th
- Deployed
as escort for Gibraltar convoy.
February
4th -
Arrived
at Gibraltar with convoy.
14th
- Passage
to UK as convoy escort.
20th
- Returned
to Londonderry and transferred to 24th Escort
Group as Senior Officer's ship. (Note:
Other ships in Group included sister ships LOCH
QUOICH and LOCH TARBERT and
two RIVER
Class Frigates.)
Commanding
Officer: Commander V J
Waterhouse DSO RN and SO EG24. Deployed
with
Group for Gibraltar route convoy defence.
23rd
- Exercised
with Group in NW Approaches.
March
Londonderry
deployment
in continuation
10th
- Part of
escort for Gibraltar convoy with Group.
16th
- Arrived
at Gibraltar with convoy.
25th
- Sailed
as escort for return convoy to UK.
30th
- Arrived
at Liverpool.
April
2nd -
Part of
escort for Gibraltar convoy from Liverpool
during passage through Irish Sea and western
Approaches.
7th -
Arrived
at Gibraltar.
12th
- Took
passage from Gibraltar as part of escort for UK
convoy.
17th
- Arrived
at Liverpool.
18th
- Passage
to Gibraltar as part of escort for outward
convoy,
23rd
- Arrived
at Gibraltar with convoy.
29th
- Sailed
from Gibraltar with escort for return convoy to
Liverpool. (Note:
Sustained slight damage above waterline in
collision with HMCS EVENLODE.)
May
5th -
Returned
to Londonderry after arrival of convoy in
Liverpool.
6th -
Deployed
in NW Approaches for collection of surrendering
U-Boats. (Note:
U-Boats were taken to Lisahally Assembly Point
and later disposed of in NW Approaches
(Operation
DEADLIGHT), December 1945 - February 1946.)
7th -
At
Liverpool.
16th
- Nominated
for service in East Indies Escort Force and
returned to Londonderry to prepare
for
foreign
service.
June
Docking
and
refit at Londonderry. (Note:
During
this period additional Oerlikon guns were fitted
on Quarterdeck to improve Close Range
defence against air attacks. Some small
improvements were made to ventilation, but
these were inadequate.)
July
8th -
Took
passage from Londonderry with HMS LOCH QUOICH to
join East Indies Force.
12th
- Arrived
at Gibraltar
27th
- Arrived
at Aden.
August
4th -
Arrived
at Colombo.
Took
part in preparations for
planned landings in Malaya (Operation ZIPPER).
(Note:
The landings had been postponed for many reasons
including delays due to the
implementation of the PYTHON Scheme for
repatriation of long serving service personnel
from South East Asia following VE Day. See
Final Report by SEAC Supreme Contender, THE
FORGOTTEN FLEET by J Winton and
WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO.).)
September
Deployed
for
defence of assault convoys in Bay of Bengal and
Malacca Strait. Passage to
Singapore for convoy defence with ships of
East Indies Escort Force.
7th -
(Note:
Ship was at Singapore during formal surrender
ceremonies.)
9th -
Deployed
for local patrol and escort based at Singapore.
October
Local
convoy
escort and patrol in continuation.
November
Embarked
consular
officials and took passage to Bangkok.
4th -
At
Bangkok.
11th
- Took
passage to Singapore.
13th
- Arrived
at Singapore and deployed locally.
Commanding
Officer: Lieutenant Commander Bidwell RNR.
December
Nominated
for
support of military operations in Dutch East
Indies.
5th -
Took
passage to Batavia.
9th -
Deployed
at Batavia as Guardship. (Note:
Opposition
to the resumption of Dutch colonial rule was
rife and a Guardship
was
deployed
to assist in maintaining
law and order and support military.)
28th
- Passage
to Singapore with call at Padang (Note:
RN
frigates were deployed to escort landing craft
and other vessels carrying civilians
interned by Japan in 1941 to Singapore for
repatriation.
These
were identified as RAPWI. See
SEAGULLS IN MY BELFRY by C C Anderson.)
1
9 4 6
January
Deployed
for
convoy defence in Malacca Strait and Bay of
Bengal.
12th
- At
Vizgapatan.
21st
- Returned
to Singapore.
Commanding
Officer: Lieutenant
Commander ACD Leach DSC RN
26th
- At
Vizgapatan.
February
Returned
to
Singapore.
Nominated
for Air-Sea Rescue duty.
12th
- Passage
to relieve HMS LOCH ACHRAY on Station.
14th
- Deployed
for ASR duty
(Note:
Air-Sea Rescue ships were
deployed to provide emergency aid to aircraft
carrying
personnel to and from India and Malaya.)
22nd
- Took
passage to Singapore.
23rd
- Returned
to Singapore.
Nominated
for return to UK and for
reduction to Reserve status
25th
- Took
passage to UK
March
Passage
to UK
with HMS LOCH TARBERT
April
Passage
in Mediterranean
23rd
- Sailed
from Gibraltar for Portsmouth
29th
- At
Portsmouth
May
Paid-off,
destored
and reduced to Reserve.
June
Accepted
into
Category B and laid up in Reserve at Portsmouth
July
to December
Laid-up
at
Portsmouth
(Note:
Docked for routine inspection
of underwater fittings.)
1
9 4 6
Laid-up
at
Portsmouth
1
9 4 7
Laid-up
at
Portsmouth.
Pennant
Number for visual signalling
purposes changed to F625. Offered
to
Royal New Zealand Navy and sold for £234,150 in
1948.
(Note:
To be refitted prior to commissioning. Original
name selected was TARAWA but this was changed to
ROTOITI before formal
renaming.)
Taken
in hand for refit by HM Dockyard, Portsmouth.
S e
r v i c e a s H
M N Z S R O T O I T
I (F 6 2 5)
H e r
a l d i c D a t a
Badge:
Or, two huia feathers crossed per saltire
proper, in pale a sprig
of
akatea vine proper of the second, all bound with
a
fillet
or and gules.
(Note:
Approved in February 1951 after rejection of
original complex
design
based on a proverb relating to a Maori Chief,
Rangitihi
whose
head wound was bound up with akeata vine.
M o t
t o
Takaia:
'Bind together'
1
9 4 9
January to
March
Under
refit.
April
Post
refit trials.
May
7th -
Commissioned into RNZN service at Portsmouth. Commanding
Officer: Lieutenant Commander A M Seymour DSC
RN.
16th
- Formally renamed HMNZS ROTOITI by Mrs W H
Jordan, wife of the NZ
High Commissioner
June
Called
at Gibraltar. Commenced work-up with Mediterranean Fleet ships.
July
7th -
On completion of work-up took passage to Aden
with HMNZS TUTIRA.
Commenced
RNZN
operational use.
August
Passage
in Indian Ocean to Auckland with call at
Singapore. Joined 11th
Frigate Squadron at Auckland.
September
2nd -
Commanding Officer: Lieutenant Commander ACB
Bloomfield.
October
Deployed
for patrol in SW Pacific.
Visited
Raoul.
November to
December
Return
passage to Auckland. Deployed
with local exercises.
1
9 5 0
January
Local
deployment at Auckland in continuation.
February to
March
Deployed
for patrol and visits in North and South Island
of New Zealand.
April
Deployed
at Auckland.
May to July
Carried
out Pacific islands patrol with visits to Suva,
Ocean Island,
Tarawa.
Return
passage to Auckland with call at Suva.
August
Took
part in Flotilla exercises in Hauraki Gulf.
September
Prepared
for detached service with UN naval Task Force in
Korean waters. (Note: On
29th
June 1950, in response to an appeal from UN, New
Zealand had made two
frigates available for UN service.)
18th
- Commanding Officer: Lieutenant Commander E E
Turner DSC RNZN. (Later
Commodore RNZN)
October
7th -
Took passage from Auckland to Hong Kong with
call at Darwin to
refuel.
Passage
from Hong Kong to Sasebo.
November
5th -
Relieved sister ship HMNZS PUKAKI (Ex HMS LOCH
ACHANALT) for UN
service.
Passage
to Inchon for convoy escort and harbour control
duties.
December
Deployed
for 'Cigarette Route' Patrol.
Deployed
off Inchon for
'Clockwork Mouse' patrol.
Assisted South Korean refugees to reach safety.
Embarked
senior
UN officers and US news correspondent during
visit to Han River. (Note:
These
patrols were shared with HMNZS TUTIRA (Ex HMS
LOCH MORLICH).
1
9 5 1
January
Deployment
off west coast of Korea with other Commonwealth
warships
continued.
(Note:
When Inchon and Chinampo were evacuated deployed
to intercept
shipping
attempting
to supply or reinforce enemy troops by sea.)
February to June
Resumed
shipping control duties and continued patrol in
coastal waters
after the re-occupation of Inchon. (Note: Maintenance and leave periods were spent at
Kure but UK naval operations were controlled at the US naval base in Sasebo, Japan.)
July
17th
- During patrol in the approaches to Chinnampo
harbour carried out
attack on enemy gun
position
at Sogon-Ni Point. Assault
Party of 14, supported
by gunfire from the ship was landed. Two
soldiers were
captured
and brought back on
board as PoW.
August
25th
- Carried out second raid on gun positions at
Sogon-Ni. Landed
shore
party from ship
(Note:
Party included Royal Marines provided by HM
Cruiser CEYLON.) During
assault
at Gorln Chiki, landing party came under fire
and an Able Seaman was killed. Assault
party
then returned on board. (Note: This casualty was the only sustained by the
RNZN casualty during the Korean War.)
September
Patrol
and support bombardment duties off west coast of
Korea in
continuation.
October
Completed
first tour of duty with UN.
(Note:
In May 1952 awards were
made to the ship's company for their Korean
service.
These
included DSC to the
Captain, two to other officers and two DSM.
A
Mention in Despatches was
awarded to the Petty Officer Telegraphist.
Able
Seaman Marchioni was
awarded a Posthumous Mention in Despatches.)
23rd
- Took passage from Kure to Hong Kong
25th
- During passage received distress message from
British ss HUPEH
which had been boarded and taken over by pirates in the Yangste estuary. (Note:
Mercantile was carrying women and children.).
Sighted
ss HUPEH and illuminated
by starshell.
26th
- After threat of reprisals if ss HUPEH were
boarded, the pirates
agreed to leave ship if they were granted safety during their evacuation to an
island near-by.
To
avoid bloodshed this was accepted.
Resumed
passage to Hong Kong
after pirates left ss HUPEH. (Note: Ship was presented with a Rose bowl by the
owners of ss HUPEH in March 1952 at a
ceremony en board mv ANSHUN at
Auckland.)
November
After
call at Hong Kong, took passage to Auckland with
calls in North
Borneo and at
Brisbane,
Australia. Arrived at Auckland.
(Note:
Lieutenant Commander BE
Turner was later awarded the US Legion of Merit
for his
services
during UN service. He was the
only RNZN officer to be awarded this American
distinction. Statistics
-
51,000 miles steamed since October 1950.)
30th
- Paid-off and re-commissioned for service in
11th Frigate
Flotilla.
Commanding
Officer: Lieutenant Commander G O Graham DSC**
RN.
Nominated
for
further detached service with UN in Korea.
December
Prepared
for further service with UN off Korea.
1
9 5 2
January
Trials
and exercises prior to operational service.
7th -
Sailed from Auckland for Second UN Tour.
Passage
from Hong Kong after
calls at Raoul and Suva.
February
2nd -
Relieved HMNZS HAWEA (Ex HMS LOCH ECK) at Sasebo
for service in UN
Task Force.
12th
- Passage to west coast of Korea on completion
of exercises off Sasebo.
15th
- Deployed for patrol and support duties.
22nd
- Anchored in Han River estuary to provide
gunfire support during
planned raid on enemy positions. Came
under heavy fire from three
shore batteries and withdrew without casualties.
March to
April
Deployment
off west coast of Korea in continuation. Maintenance
and rest periods in Kure.
May
3rd -
During patrol in Kirin-Do Channel provided
counter battery fire in
support of military
operation.
(Note:
16 rounds fired with good effect).
During
this patrol an
appendectomy operation carried out on Cook
rating by ship Medical
Officer.
June
Patrol
and support duties in continuation.
Passage
to Hong Kong for
maintenance period.
July
On
completion resumed UN duties and returned to
Sasebo.
August to September
Patrol,
military support and escort of friendly coastal
traffic in
continuation off
west
coast Korea. Maintenance period in Kure.
(Note:
Duties rotated with HMNZS
TAUPO.)
October
6th -
Returned to Kure from patrol.
11th
- Visited by First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir
Roderick MacGrigor at
Kure.
20th
- Patrol and support duties in continuation.
November
Deployed
in turn with HMNZS HAWEA for west coast duties.
December
Returned
to Kure for Xmas Day.
26th
- Passage to resume west coast duties.
28th
- Deployed in support of Korean gunboats
carrying cut inshore
attacks on enemy
shore
positions.
1
9 5 3
January
Returned
to Sasebo on relief by HMNZS HAWEA.
Resumed
west coast escort duties
after rest period.
February
Final
patrol duty off west coast of Korea.
28th
- Took passage from Sasebo for Hong Kong.
March
Passage
from Hong Kong to Sydney, Australia.
During
stay at Sydney met HMNZS
KANIERE on passage to join UN Task Force.
19th
- Arrived at Auckland.
April
Paid-off
and prepared for refit.
(Note:
Three awards of Mention
in Despatches were made. One to an officer and two to ratings for services
during UN service in Korean War. Statistics: Steamed 58,000 miles during detached
service.)
May
Taken
in hand for refit and by HM New Zealand
Dockyard, Auckland.
June to December
Under
refit
(Note:
Ship was not refitted to Full Modernised RN LOCH
standard. Radar Type
277Q was installed in place of earlier design
Type 277P.)
1
9 5 4
On
completion of post refit trials ship was reduced
to Reserve status. Laid-up at
Auckland.
1
9 5 5
Laid
up in Reserve.
1
9 5 6
Nominated
to re-commission for further service.
(Note:
Ship was required to
support nuclear weapon trials at Christmas
Island.
(Operation
GRAPPLE).)
1
9 5 7
January
Preparing
for operational service. at Auckland.
February
Re-commissioned
at Auckland.
March
On
completion of acceptance trials after Reserve
period took passage to
join the
GRAPPLE
Squadron at Christmas Island.
31st
- Joined HMNZS PUKAKI at Christmas Island.
April to
May
Deployed
for nuclear trials monitoring at Christmas
Island. (Note:
Carried
out monitoring patrol duties in rotation with
HMNZS PUKAKI.)
June
25th
- Took passage for return to Auckland with HMNZS
PUKAKI.
July
Arrived
at Auckland for maintenance and leave period.
August
Deployed
at Auckland and prepared for further GRAPPLE
duties off west
coast of Korea.
Commanding
Officer: Lieutenant Commander L E Hodge RNZN.
September
Return
passage for GRAPPLE tests at Christmas Island.
October
Deployed
for nuclear monitoring patrol duties at
Christmas Island.
November
On
release from GRAPPLE duties took passage to
Auckland.
December
Took
part in joint RNZN/RAN exercises in Australian
waters with RNZN
ships.
1
9 5 8
January
to February
Deployed
for Squadron duties based at Auckland.
March
Taken
in hand for docking and interim refit at
Auckland. Nominated
for
detached service with 3rd Frigate Squadron, Far
East Fleet in the Commonwealth
Strategic
Reserve.
April
On
completion of docking prepared for detached
service. Took
passage
to work-up with RAN at Sydney.
May
Passage
from Sydney to join RN Squadron at Singapore.
June to
August
Deployed
with Squadron for exercises and visits
programme. During this
period visited Hong Kong and Japanese ports.
Carried
out Joint exercises with
US Navy off Japan.
September
Routine
docking and maintenance period at Singapore. On
completion
deployed for anti-piracy patrols off North
Borneo.
October to December
Deployed
with Squadron for exercises in Singapore area
and at Hong Kong. Returned to
Singapore
1
9 5 9
January
Deployed
with RN Squadron at Singapore.
February
Docking
period at Singapore. Nominated
for guardship and
escort duties during Royal Visit to Tarawa in
Gilbert and Ellice
Islands.
Passage
to Hong Kong.
March
Escorted
HM Royal Yacht BRITANNIA with HRH The Duke of
Edinburgh
embarked
during
passage to Tarawa. HRH transferred by jackstay for brief visit to ship. Deployed as
guardship at Tarawa during Royal visit.
April
On
release from Royal Yacht escort took passage to
Auckland to resume
RNZN duties.
May
Deployed
at Auckland with 11th Frigate Squadron.
June
Took
part in RNZN exercises with Squadron.
July
Taken
in hand for extended refit by HM Dockyard,
Auckland.
August to December
Under
refit.
(Note:
Completed modifications to same standard as
modernised RN LOCH
Class
including
fit of UHF radio equipment.
Accommodation
improved and
electronic warfare outfit fitted. Two Bofor mountings fitted in place of obsolescent
2pdr Pom-pom.)
1
9 6 0
January
Carried
out Post Refit Trials. Commanding
Officer: Lieutenant
Commander R L Harding RNZN.
February
Nominated
for further detached service with 3rd Frigate
Squadron RN in the
Commonwealth Strategic Reserve at Singapore.
Took
part in joint RAN/RNZN exercises
with 11th Frigate Squadron off Sydney.
March
Passage
from Sydney to Singapore to Join Far East Fleet.
April
Took
part in Exercise SEALINK with RN ships in South
China Sea. Visited
Bangkok with Far East Fleet ships.
May to June
Deployed
with Squadron ships for Fleet Visits and
Exercise programme. Visit to
Hong
Kong and carried out exercises with US and other
Navies in Japanese waters. Visited
Kobe.
July
Returned
to Singapore.
August
Deployed
in Malayan sea area and visited Parang.
September
Docking
and maintenance period at Singapore.
October
Deployed
for Flotilla duties and Fleet exercises in
Malayan area. Visited
Langdau, Port Swettenham and Pangkor.
November
Passage
to Hong Kong for Fleet exercises and visited
Bangkok.
December
Returned
to Singapore. Passage to Hong Kong.
1
9 6 1
January
Took
part in Fleet exercises with US Navy and visited
Tokyo. Return
passage
to Singapore with call at Manila.
February
Took
passage to return to Auckland with calls at Port
Moresby and Noumea.
March
Arrived
at Auckland.
April
Resumed
deployment with 11th Frigate Squadron.
May to
August
Deployed
with Squadron for exercises and visits in New
Zealand.
Commanding
Officer:
Lieutenant Commander Q A Lawrence RNZN.
September
Routine
docking and essential repair at Auckland.
October
Resumed
RNZN Squadron duties.
November
Took
part in RNZN exercise and visits programme.
December
(no
information)
1
9 6 2
January to March
Squadron
deployment in continuation.
Visited
Raoul Island.
April
Visited
Sydney and took passage for Pacific Islands
patrol.
May
Visited
Suva and returned to Auckland.
June
Taken
in hand for refit by HM Dockyard, Auckland.
July to
August
Under
refit.
September
Carried
out post refit trials. Prepared
for DEEP FREEZE patrol
deployments.
(Note:
This was a US operation in the Antarctic to
investigate
meteorological conditions and carry out survey work.)
October
8th -
Took passage from Auckland to Lyttelton for
briefing at Expedition
Headquarters.
20th
- Arrived on Station.
November
1st -
Took passage to Dunedin for R&R period.
12th
- Resumed duties on Station.
21st
- Passage to Wellington on relief from DEEP
FREEZE patrol.
December
Deployed
for meteorological and Oceanographic duties off
west coast of
South Is.
Commanding
Officer: Lieutenant Commander DJ Cheney, RNZN (Note:
Captain
was promoted Commander RNZN during Commission).
11th
- On arrival in Omeha Bay painted ship for
return entry to
Auckland.
12th
- Returned to Auckland. (Note:
31 trainee seamen ratings
were embarked during DEEP FREEZE duties.)
1
9 6 3
January to
March
Flotilla
duties in continuation in New Zealand waters. Attended
Waitangi Day celebrations (February).
April
Took
part in RNZN Fleet exercises.
May
Deployed
for local duties based at Auckland.
June to July
Carried
out Pacific Islands patrol with visits to Apia,
Lifuka, Atufu.
Wallis Is, Home Island and Suva. Returned to Auckland.
August
Carried
out Pacific patrol including visited Fakofa and
Apia.
September
Routine
Docking and Maintenance at Auckland.
Nominated
for further
meteorological reporting and Air-Sea Rescue duty
in support of US Operation DEEP
FREEZE.
(See above)
October to
November
Flotilla
duties with detachment for DEEP FREEZE patrols.
December
Returned
to Auckland from DEEP FREEZE patrol duty. Nominated
for
Guardship duty during forthcoming visit to New
Zealand by HM The Queen Mother. (Note:
HMNZS
PUKAKI deployed in place of ship for planned
DEEP FREEZE patrol duty.)
1
9 6 4
January
Deployed
at Auckland and prepared for Royal escort duty.
February
3rd -
Took passage to Fiji to join HM Royal Yacht
BRITANNIA as escort
during the Royal visit to Fiji and New Zealand.
10th
- Joined HMS BRITANNIA at Latoka.
Return
passage to New Zealand as
escort for HMS BRITANNIA.
14th
- Deployed as escort during visits to
Wellington, Timaru, Bluff and
Dunedin.
28th
- Detached from HMS BRITANNIA on departure from
Lyttelton, South
Island when HM The
Queen
Mother had disembarked for air transit to
Australia.
March to April
Future
deployment to be as a training ship for New
Entry Seamen ratings (Note: Ship
was
not required for further detached service with
Commonwealth Strategic Reserve.).
May
Training
duty including period with HMNZ Cruiser ROYALIST
at Suva. (Note about
30
trainees were embarked for sea experience.)
June to July
Deployed
for Pacific islands patrol including visits to
Raoul, Lautoka,
Rotuma, Funfuti,
Land
Harbour, Lambasa. Return passage to Auckland via Suva.
August
Maintenance
Period at Auckland.
October
Deployment
for training in continuation
November to
December
Under
refit at Auckland.
1
9 6 5
January
Resumed
Training duties. Commanding Officer: Lieutenant Commander K C H Cadman
RNZN.
February
Training
deployment in continuation.
Carried
out rubber dinghy
trials off North coast, North Island with HMNZ
Cruiser
ROYALIST. (Note:
Dinghy
was fitted with VHF radio beacon to assist in
location.
Trials
were sponsored by Civil
Aviation Search and Rescue authority.)
March to
July
Training
duty in continuation. Nominated
for reduction to
Reserve status.
August
Paid-off
and reduced to Reserve at Auckland.
F i n
a l P h a s e
HMNZS ROTOITI was laid up at Auckland until 1966
when placed on the Disposal List. The ship was
sold to the Hong Kong Rolling Mills for
demolition. She was towed to Hong Kong where she
arrived in February 1967. The name was carried
forward when given to an RNZN Patrol Craft built
in UK.
Addendum
CONVOY
ESCORT MOVEMENTS
of HMS LOCH KATRINE
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
28/01/45
|
28/01/45
|
KMF
039
|
04/02/45
|
04/02/45
|
14/02/45
|
14/02/45
|
MKF
039
|
20/02/45
|
20/02/45
|
10/03/45
|
10/03/45
|
KMF
041
|
17/03/45
|
17/03/45
|
25/03/45
|
25/03/45
|
MKF
041
|
29/03/45
|
30/03/45
|
31/03/45
|
31/03/45
|
KMF
042
|
07/04/45
|
07/04/45
|
12/04/45
|
12/04/45
|
MKF
042
|
17/04/45
|
17/04/45
|
17/04/45
|
17/04/45
|
KMF
043
|
23/04/45
|
23/04/45
|
29/04/45
|
29/04/45
|
MKF
043
|
05/05/45
|
05/05/45
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)