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SERVICE HISTORIES of ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS in WORLD WAR 2
by Lt Cdr Geoffrey B Mason RN (Rtd) (c) 2003

HMS LARGO BAY (K 423) - Bay-class Frigate

HMS Largo Bay (Navy Photos/Bob Hanley, click to enlarge)

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BAY Class Anti-Aircraft Frigate initially ordered on 25th January 1943 for build as a LOCH Class Anti-submarine Frigate, but for which the ordered was changed in 1944. Originally to have been named LOCH FOIN she was laid down on 8th February 1944 and launched as PADSTOW BAY by Pickersgill at Sunderland on 3rd October 1944. First RN ship to carry this name she was completed on 26th January 1946.

  

Geographic Location

Grid Reference: NO4201. Bay 3 miles East of Leven on north Shore of Firth of Forth.

 

B a t t l e  H o n o u r s

None

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge: On a Field barry wavy of eight White and Blue a branch

of oak tree Green fructed Gold.

 

 M a n n i n g   P o r t

Portsmouth

 

 

S u m m a r y   o f   S e r v i c e

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1 9 4 6

 

January                  Nominated for service in Mediterranean on completion of trials.

                                Contractors trials

                26th        Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials

                                On completion of storing and trials took passage to Portland for weapon calibration and

                                work-up for foreign service.

 

February                Deployed at Portland

                16th        Passage to Gibraltar

                19th        Embarked military personnel for passage to Malta

                23rd        Arrived at Malta and joined Escort Flotilla.

                                Nominated for Palestine Patrol duties in eastern Mediterranean.

                                (Note: RN ships were required to intercept mercantiles on passage to Palestine which were

                                reported to be carrying illegal immigrants. For details See Naval Staff History published in 2002.)

                                Passage to Alexandria

 

March                    Deployed for patrol.

                3rd          At Alexandria.

                14th        Arrived in Malta on relief from patrol.

 

April                       Deployed in Malta for Flotilla duties.

 

May

                14th        Sailed for patrol from Malta.

                19th        At Piraeus.

 

June                        Passage to Malta.

                3rd          Arrived in Malta

                                Deployed for local duties with Flotilla in Malta.

 

July                         Malta deployment in continuation.

                                Nominated to return to UK to Pay-off and reduce to Reserve status.

 

August

                6th          Took passage from Malta to return to UK.

                10th        At Gibraltar

                15th        Arrived at Portsmouth

                                Paid-off and destored.

 

September             Reduced to Reserve for lay-up at Portsmouth in Reserve Fleet.

  

F i n a l   P h a s e

 

HMS LARGO BAY remained in the Reserve Fleet until 1958 when placed on the Disposal List. The ship was sold to BISCO for demolition by TW Ward and towed to the breaker’s yard at Inverkeithing where she arrived on 11th July 1959.

 

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revised 29/5/11
further editing and formatting is required