Second
LOCH Class Twin Screw Frigate built by Blyth SB,
ordered on
25th January 1943. The ship was laid down as Job
No J4793 (Yard No 298) on 3rd
December that year and launched on 2nd September
1944 as the 1st R N ship to
carry the name. Build was completed on 11th
January 1945.
G
e o g r a p h i c
D a t a
Inland
Loch in Inverness
Grid
Reference NR0102
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 barry
wavy of six White and Blue, a Camel Proper.
(Explanation: From the
Arms of Inverness.)
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
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and
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1
9 4 4
November
Fitted out for service at Bolcow's Battleship
Wharf, Gambols, Sunder land.
Contractors Trials.
December
Commissioned for service
Commanding Officer: Lieut. Cdr. G MacClelland
DSC RN.
Builder presented ship for Acceptance Trials.
Acceptance delayed by defects found on trials.
1
9 4 5
January
11th
Accepted for service from builders after further
sea trials.
(Note:
Embarked
party of WRNS during trials in North Sea.)
Took passage to Tobermory for work-up on
completion of trials and storing.
13th
Began work-up for operational service.
31st
Joined 24th Escort Group in Western Approaches
Command based at Londonderry.
February
Deployed in Irish Sea for convoy defence.
Involved in collision with HM Frigate DART
at
Greenock.
During patrol in Irish Sea, BARRACUDA aircraft
crashed after
making
low passes over
the ship.
None of the aircraft crew survived.
(Note: The Pilot
was
brother of ship's Navigating officer which
caused great distress on
board.)
16th
Deployed on convoy defence with UK-Gibraltar
route convoys with 37th Escort
Group.
March
Convoy defence in SW Approaches and Irish Sea
continued.).
to
Part of escort for Convoys KMF42 outward and
MKF41 inward to UK.
April
Escorted Convoys KMF43 outward and MKF 43 inward
to UK.
May
Deployed on A/S patrol in NW Approaches and
Irish Sea.
7th
Joined ships of 24th Escort Group to meet three
U-Boats which were, in accordance with
surrender terms were remaining on the surface
and flying a Black Flag.
Sent boarding party to accept surrender and
escorted submarines to Loch Foyle.
Nominated for service in East Indies and
refitted at Londonderry
(Note: Six 20mm Oerlikon mountings were fitted
and some modifications made to ventilation
system.)
June
On completion took passage to Colombo.
August
New Commanding Officer Joined ship: Lieut. Cdr.
J E B Healey RNVR.
On arrival at Colombo nominated for escort of
assault convoys for landings at Port
Swettenham.
(Operation ZIPPER: This operation had been
delayed several times due to problems
associated with the implementation of the PYTHON
Scheme to return long serving
service personnel to UK and US insistence. See
THE FORGOTTEN FLEET by J
Winton, WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO) and for
information about all mercantiles and
warships taking part BRITISH INVASION FLEETS by
J de Winser.)
September
Deployed for escort of assault convoys during
passage to Beach Head.
On release from ZIPPER deployed at Singapore for
support of military operations
and repatriation of allied nationals in Dutch
East Indies (RAPWI)
October
Embarked British Embassy official for passage to
Bangkok.
to
Escorted HM Landing Ship PERSIMMON taking troops
including Lincolnshire
November
Regiment to accept formal surrender of Sumatra.
On completion continued deployment in Dutch East
Indies and escorted landing
craft carrying RAPWI from ports in Sumatra and
Java and Bali to Singapore.
Stationed periodically at Sabang as Guardship.
Carried out patrols to prevent arms reaching
Indonesian dissidents who were determined
to prevent the return of the Dutch colonial
authorities.
December
Carried out rescue mission to Bengkulu in
Sinatra to collect Dutch doctor.
(Note: On arrival found the doctor had already
been taken to safety by an RAF aircraft.
The civil population were most unfriendly).
Transferred to Trincomalee for duty with East
Indies Fleet for Indian Ocean and
Persian Gulf patrol duties.
Took passage to Trincomalee.
Nominated for routine docking by HM Dockyard
Bombay before commenced new duties.)
Passage to Bombay..
1
9 4 6
January
Transferred to Karachi for Air-sea Rescue duties
in Indian Ocean off Gwadar with HM
Destroyer PETARD, HM Frigate TAFF and other LOCH
Class frigates.
(Note: These were required to provide an
emergency facility in the event of any accident
involving aircraft, being used for return of
personnel from Far East and India to UK.)
Mail was delivered by RAF.
February
Air Sea Rescue deployment continued.
21st
Present at Karachi during RIN Mutiny and sailed
to Bombay to support RN presence after the
mutiny on RIN ships in the port.
27th
Sailed for Karachi with HM Destroyer PETARD.
March
3rd
Began 3rd ASR Duty.
10th
Relieved by HM Frigate LOCH MORE and returned to
Karachi
Deployed for patrol between Bombay, Colombo and
Trincomalee.
New Commanding Officer appointed as Senior
Officer (Frigates), East Indies:
Commander J E Fentor RN.
April
6th
Towed Yacht WHITE BEAR from Colombo to
Kilindini.
(Note: This ship had been
requisitioned
in 1939 for survey work.)
15th
On return the owner refused to accept WHITE BEAR
because of its condition.
26th
Towed WHITE BEAR back to Colombo.
May
5th
Arrived at Colombo.
8th
Escorted tug CROCODILE for passage to Cochin.
10th
Took CROCODILE in tow.
11th
Returned to Trincomalee.
24th
Commenced refit in Colombo.
June
Under refit.
July
Deployed for first time in Persian Gulf as SO
(Frigates) -for patrol duty
to
and support, of colonial administration.
December
Calls made at Basra and Bahrein.
Returned to Trincomalee on relief.
1
9 4 7
January
Deployed with East Indies Squadron at
Trincomalee.
February
Under refit by HM Dockyard, Singapore.
to
New Commanding Officer appointed as SO
(Frigates):
March
Commander S S Stamwich RN.
April
Passage to Trincomalee with call at Penang.
to
Deployment in Persian Gulf in continuation..
August
Calls made at Basra, Kuwait, Muscat and Khor
Kuwai in Straits of Hormuz.
September
Carried out Self maintenance at Colombo.
October
Under refit in Singapore.
to
December
1
9 4 8
January
Carried out patrol duty in Indian Ocean.
February
Diverted to assist civil power for security
duties at Mogadiscio.
to
On release resumed Indian Ocean patrol duty and
took part in Squadron exercises.
March
Calls made at Lamu, Mombasa, Zanzibar, Dar es
Salaam and Seychelles.
April
Joined combined RN/RIN exercises in Ceylon sea
area.
May
Deployed in Persian Gulf.
to
New Commanding Officer appointed as SO
(Frigates): Commander GFM Bsst (?), RN.
December
Based at Bahrein and calls made at Basra, and
Abadan during series of patrols.
Pennant number for visual signalling purposes
changed to F434.
1
9 4 9
January
Persian Gulf duty based at Bahrein in
continuation.
to
Calls made at Lingah, Khor Kuwai, Muscat and
Kuwait.
February
Nominated for extended refit.
March
Passage to Singapore with call at Trincomalee.
April
Under extended refit.
to
October
November
New Commanding Officer appointed as SO(F):
Commander E T L Dunsterville RN
Completion was delayed due to addition defects
found on survey.
December
On completion of post refit trials took passage
to Trincomalee.
1
9 5 0
January
Deployed on patrol duty in Indian Ocean.
to
Called at Mombasa
March
April
Attended ceremonies at Mogadishu on return to
Italian administration
Passage to Colombo for self refit period.
New Commanding Officer appointed as SO(F):
Commander E F S Back DSC RN
May
Deployed for patrol off Indian Coast with visits
to Madras and Calcutta.
to
July
August
Deployed for Indian Ocean patrol off East Indies
with calls as Port Andaman
to
and Cocos.
September
October
Joined Joint RN/RIN exercises off Cochin.
November
Passage to Singapore with calls at Galle and
Cocos.
December
Under refit at Singapore.
1
9 5 1
January
Under refit at Singapore including docking in
AFD10.
Approval given for ship to be retained in East
Indies.
February
On completion of post refit trials took passage
to Trincomalee with calls at Penang,
Nicobar, Calcutta and Vizgapatam.
(Note: Investigation carried out into missing
pistol)
March
1st
On completion of post refit trials deployed for
patrol in Bay of Bengal with calls at Calcutta
and Vizgapatan
April
Bay of Bengal Patrol in continuation
25th
At Colombo
28th
Sailed for patrol in Indian Ocean.
May
3rd
At Maldives
7th
At Seychelles
June
Indian Ocean patrol in continuation including
calls at Mombasa, Tanga, Mauritius and
Rodriguez.
Returned to Trincomalee.
Passage to Colombo for self refit
July
Under self refit.
August
On completion took passage to Trincomalee for
duties with East Indies Squadron
September
Deployed in Persian Gulf for patrols with calls
at Bahrein, Mina al Ahmadi, and Muscat.
to
(Note: Iraq nationalised oil fields in May 1951
increasing need for an additional RN
October
presence in the Persian Gulf).
November
Passage to Colombo with call at Karachi.
Visited Cochin and Cocos Islands.
December
Took part in RN/RIN exercises off Cochin.
1
9 5 2
January
Deployed for patrol in Bay of Bengal.
Called at Chittagong and Port Cornwallis
February
Passage for refit at Singapore via Penang.
March
Under refit by HM Dockyard Singapore.
April
Passage to Trincomalee.
On arrival detached for escort of Motor
Minesweepers from Aden.
May
Met HM Frigate LOCH LOMOND at Aden and took over
escort, duty.
Passage from Aden to Trincomalee with 110th
Minesweeping Flotilla.
June
Deployed on patrol in Indian Ocean.
Provided aid to civil power at Mombasa during
Mau Mau rebellion.
July
On release from support in Mombasa resumed
patrol with calls at Lindi, Mirawa, Reunion
to
Island (French), Mauritius and Cochin.
August
September
Under routine Docking and repair at Colombo.
October
Deployed in Persian Gulf with calls at Muscat
Returned to Karachi,
November
Carried out Indian Ocean patrol with calls at
Mombasa, Lamu, Malindi and Dar el Salaam.
December
Returned to Trincomalee via Mombasa.
New Commanding Officer appointed as SO
(Frigates): Commander J A Harper DSC RN.
1
9 5 3
January
Passage to Singapore and patrol in Bay of
Bengal.
to
Calls made at Vizgapatam, Chittagong, Rangoon
and Penang.
February
Taken in hand for refit by HM Dockyard
Singapore.
March
Under refit.
to
Refit extended to cover additional work.
May
Carried out post refit trials on completion.
June
Passage to Trincomalee with call at Cocos.
July
Carried out self maintenance period at Colombo
prior to detached service in Persian Gulf.
August
Deployed for final Persian Gulf patrol and
support duty.
to
Calls made at Bahrein, Doha and Basra.
September
October
Passage to Karachi prior to Indian Ocean duty.
10th
Embarked Governor of Mauritius for visit to
Dependencies.
Calls made at Agalega, St. Brandan and Rodriques
November
Passage to Colombo on completion.
Under self maintenance at Colombo.
(Note: Relief by HM Frigate LOCH INSH delayed.)
December
Passage to Trincomalee.
1
9 5 4
January
Deployed for patrol off eastern coast-of India
and west coast of Burma.
to
Called at Calcutta, Chittagong, Port Blair and
Nicobars.
April
During return passage to Trincomalee visited
Cocos.
May
On relief took return passage to UK with call at
Male before return via Red Sea.
June
Called at Gibraltar and sailed for Portsmouth
Arrived at Portsmouth.
(Note: Not to be refitted but to pay-off and
reduce to Reserve status.
July
De-stored and placed in Category III Reserve
F
i
n a l P h a s e
HMS
LOCH QUOICH was
de-equipped and placed in extended
reserve in
October 1955. Placed on the Disposal List
in 1957 the ship was sold to BISCO for
demolition by
Clayton
Davies at
Dunston. She arrived
in tow at the
breaker’s yard in the Tyne at Dunston
on 13th
November that year. (Note: An
advertisement in NAVY NEWS of December 1957 for
offers
to buy trophies from ships being disposed of
included a Gurkha
Knife in good condition from this
ship.)
Addendum
CONVOY
ESCORT MOVEMENTS
of HMS LOCH QUOICH
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
10/03/45
|
10/03/45
|
KMF
041
|
17/03/45
|
17/03/45
|
25/03/45
|
25/03/45
|
MKF
041
|
30/03/45
|
30/03/45
|
31/03/45
|
31/03/45
|
KMF
042
|
07/04/45
|
07/04/45
|
17/04/45
|
20/04/45
|
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)