|
LOCH
Class Anti-Submarine Frigate ordered from
Charles Hill,
Bristol on 6th March 1943 and laid down on 8th
June 1944 as Job No.J600 (Yard
No 300). She was to be named LOCH SWANNAY but
after a policy change to meet the
need for anti-aircraft escorts for service in
the Far East the contract was
changed the ship to be completed to a revised
design. She was renamed VERYAN
BAY when launched by Mrs Charles Hill,
wife
of the Chairman of the builders, on 11th
November 1944 and was the first RN ship to
carry this name. Completion date
was 13th May 1945. (See General Information
for details of design changes to
the basic LOCH Class hull structure).
G
e o g r a p h i c D a t a
Bay
on South coast of Cornwall between Dodman
Point and Nare Head
40 miles Plymouth.
Grid
Reference:SW9640
H
e r a l d i c D a t a
Badge:
On a Field
per
fess wavy Green and barry wavy of 4 white
and blue,
An escallop white
M
a n n i n g D i v i s i o
n
Devonport
S
u m m a r y o f 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 5
May
Contractors trials
13th
Build completion and commenced Acceptance
Trials.
15th
Commissioned for service.
Commanding Officer: Lieut. Cdr J S Brownrigg,
DSC, RN.
Allocated for service in Far East with Pacific
Escort Force on completion.
On completion of trials and storing took
passage to Tobermory.
June
Worked-up for operational service
Under repair in Glasgow.
Resumed work-up after repair.
July
On completion of work-up took passage to
Portland..
Carried out Weapon calibration and weapon
firing trials at Portland.
Passage to Malta for further training.
August
Carried out further work-up with ships of
Mediterranean Fleet.
September
Took passage to Singapore, via Aden.
October
Joined Pacific Escort force at Singapore.
November
Passage from Singapore to Hong Kong to join
Escort Group
December
Joined HM Frigates BIGBURY BAY, WIDEMOUTH BAY
and WHITESAND BAY
in Group at Hong
Kong
as part of British Pacific Fleet.
1
9 4 6
January
Deployed with Group at Hong Kong and carried
out Yangtse Patrol and in South China Sea.
to
(Note: This was established to provide
protection for British flagged mercantiles
trading
February
in Chinese ports and subject to detention by
communist forces.)
March
2nd
Passage to Subic Bay.
4th
At US Navy Base in Subic Bay, Philippines.
14th
Took return passage to Hong Kong
16th
On arrival placed in Quarantine
(Note: 60 of ship’s company were transferred
to Hospital Ship.)
27th
Resumed Flotilla duties when released from
Quarantine.
April
4th
Passage to Labuan.
8th
Arrived at Labuan
12th
Sailed from Labuan to Hong Kong a escort for
Landing Craft (Tank)
(Note: This type of craft was used to carry
firewood for sale to relieve a shortage
in the Colony.)
20th
Arrived at Hong Kong with Landing Craft.
26th
Passage to Sydney with calls at Thursday
Island and Townsville.
May
16th
Arrived at Sydney
21st
Taken in hand for refit at HM Australian
Dockyard, Cockatoo Island.
to
Oerlikon close range AA armament removed.
31st
June
Under refit
July
Carried out post refit trials on completion of
dockyard work.
15th
Passage to Melbourne for visit.
17th
Took return passage to Sydney
23rd
Sailed from Sydney to carry out Pacific
patrol.
31st
At Kuk, Solomon Islands
August
Deployed in Solomon Islands.
Embarked Governor, Solomon Islands for
official visits
(Note: This was first visit by the Governor
since VJ Day.
14th
Took passage to Port Moresby to refuel.
17th
At Port Moresby
18th
Sailed from Port Moresby to returned to Hong
Kong
29th
On arrival resumed duties with Group
September
8th
Deployed for Formosan Strait Patrol
16th
Returned to Hong Kong.
Nominated for Guardship duty at Amoy
Deployed at Amoy
October
11th
Returned passage to Hong Kong from Amoy
12th
Arrived at Hong Kong.
14th
Took passage to Java for Guardship duties.
21st
At Batavia.
November
Deployment at Batavia for support of military
operations against insurgents
in continuation.
(Note: This was due to opposition to renewal
of Dutch colonial rule.)
9th
Sailed from Batavia to Cheribon.
10th
Arrived at Cheribon
(Note: During stay the Brutish Representative,
Lord Killearn met Indonesian
political representatives for discussion
relating to future independence.)
13th
Return passage to Batavia.
29th
Sailed from Batavia for Singapore with General
Mansergh of British Garrison.
(Note: Last RN Guardship at Batavia.
Ships company eligible for the Naval General
Service Medal
(SE Asia Clasp).
December
7th
Arrived at Singapore.
13th
Sailed from |Singapore as escorted HM Landing
Craft (HQ) 100 during passage to
Subic Bay for return to US Navy.
(Note: LCHQ was being returned from RN service
under Lend Lease.)
20th
Passage from Subic Bay ro Hong Kong.
1
9 4 7
January
Deployed with Flotilla for local patrol and
exercises with BPF ships.
Escort Group and Fleet duties in continuation.
(Note: Fleet units taking part included HM
BERMUDA, HM Light Fleet Aircraft Carriers
GLORY and VENERABLE with destroyers and
frigates of BPF.
February
Deployment at Hong Kong for Group and Fleet
duties.
22nd Took
passage to Japan for official visit by BPF
units
March
1st
At Yokohama
14th
Took passage to Kure
16th
At Kure.
21st
Transferred to Mediterranean Fleet.
26th
Prepared for passage to Malta.
29th
Sailed from Hong Kong for Singapore.
April
4th
At Singapore.
6th
Took passage to Malta with calls at
Trincomalee and Aden.
27th
Transit of Suez Canal.
Mayl
Passage in Mediterranean
2nd
Joined 2nd Escort Flotilla on arrival in
Malta.
5th
New Commanding Officer, Captain RS Wellby,
DSO, RN.
(Later Rear Admiral, CB, DSO).
15th
Deployed for Palestine patrol and surveillance
of immigrant traffic on passage to Palestine.
Took passage to Leghorn for surveillance of ss
PRESIDENT WRAFIELD.
17th
At Leghorn
29th
Passage to Malta
31st
Arrived in Malta
June
4th
Passage to Piraeus for surveillance of
immigrant traffic.
6th
At Piraeus.
10th
Passage from Piraeus to Malta with call at
Corfu.
(Note: First RN ship to visit since mining of
HM Destroyers SAUMAREZ and VOLAGE
in Corfu Channel in October 1946).
18th
Arrived in Malta
Nominated for refit at Gibraltar
19th
Passage to Gibraltar.
23rd
Taken in hand for refit by HM Dockyard,
Gibraltar.
July
Under refit
31st
Carried out post refit trials on completion of
dockyard work.
August
Deployed in western Mediterranean before
returned to Malta.
(Note: Carried out surveillance of mercantiles
off North African coast.)
15th
Arrived in Malta
28th
Sailed from Malta for Palestine Patrol based
at Haifa
September
1st
Deployed at Haifa for surveillance and
interception of immigrant ships.
October
Haifa deployment in continuation.
4th
R&R period at Beirut
7th
Resumed patrol deployment.
13th
Took passage to Malta on relief
Nominated for Guardship at Trieste
November
Passage to Trieste
Deployed as Adriatic Guardship at Trieste.
(Note: British garrison was maintained at
Trieste.)
December
Adriatic Guardship duty in continuation.
1
9 4 8
January
Adriatic Guardship duty at Trieste in
continuation.
15th
Took passage to Malta on relief
18th
Resumed Flotilla duties on arrival in Malta.
22nd
Deployed for Flotilla exercises in Malta area.
to
31st
February
Deployed in Malta
10th
Carried local exercises.
19th
Present in Malta during visit by HRH The Duke
of Gloucester.
22nd Taken
in hand for refit.
(Note: Pennant Number for visual signalling
purposes changed to F651.)
March
Under refit
.
(Note: Training carried out for Palestine
Patrol duties.)
Carried out port refit trials
April
5th
On completion of sea trials took passage for
patrol duty in Red Sea.
10th
Transit of Suez Canal completed
11th
Deployed in Read Sea with visits to Wejh and
Massawa.
to
30th
May
Red Sea deployment in continuation.
8th
Sailed from Port Sudan and visited Kumfida and
Jeddah.
to
On relief in Red Sea patrol took passage to
Malta
20th
Deployed in Malta with Flotilla.
21st
Sailed for Malta from Port Said on relief.
25th
Resumed Flotilla duties in Malta.
June
Took part in Fleet visits and exercise
programme.
July
Deployed for Palestine patrol as relief for HM
Frigate WIDEMOUTH BAY.
August
Returned to Malta and deployed with Flotilla.
September
Deployed for Palestine patrol duties based in
Cyprus.
Routine docking and maintenance in Malta on
return.
October
9th
Resumed Flotilla duties on completion.
Took passage to Tripoli, Libya.
13th
Took part in Fleet Exercise ARCTURUS
(Note: This included landings at Zuara.)
18th
Return passage to Malta
27th
Deployed for Fleet exercises.
November
3rd
Took passage to Trieste for Guardship duty.
6th
Deployed as Guardship at Trieste
18th
Passage to Venice for R&R.
Calls exchanged with civic and military
authorities.
22nd
Resumed Guardship duty at Trieste.
December
7th
Took passage to Malta on relief.
10th
Resumed Flotilla duties in Malta.
13th
New Commanding Officer: Captain HCN Rolfe,
Royal Navy.
(Note This was first appointment for a Sea
Command for an Aviation specialist.)
1
9 4 9
January
Complement of Boy ratings joined for training.
11th
Took part in Flotilla exercises.
18th
Passage to Port Said for Guardship duty at
Aqaba
25th
Called at Port Tewfik
27th
At Aqaba as
Guardship.
to
Visit by Local Nadir.
31st
February
Aqaba deployment in continuation.
8th
Refuelled at Port Tewfik and returned to
Aqaba.
19th
On relief by HM Frigate ST AUSTELL BAY took
passage to Malta.
27th
Resumed Flotilla duties in Malta.
March
Deployed for Flotilla duties in Malta.
3rd
Took part in local exercises.
23rd
Routine docking for hull inspection.
29th
On completion rejoined Fleet exercises.
April
Deployed in Malta
14th
Took part in local exercise
15th
New Commanding Officer appointed
Captain GT Lambert, DSC
19th
Took passage to Trieste for Guardship duty.
22nd
Arrived at Trieste.
May
19th
Passage to Venice
22nd At
Venice with HM Battleship VANGUARD for Royal
visit by HRH Princess Margaret.
(Note: As the battleship could not berth
alongside, the Princess embarked for the short
passage. The Mainbrace was spliced during the
visit and the ship was used to take
and collect Libertymen from HMS VANGUARD.
24th
Took return passage to Malta.
26th
Resumed Flotilla duties on arrival in Malta.
June
Deployed at Malta for
Flotilla and Fleet exercises
July
Took part in 1st Summer Fleet visits
and exercise
programme.
8th
At Navarin for Fleet Regatta.
14th
Detached and took passage to Aqaba for
Guardship duty.
22nd At
Port Tewfik
26th
Sailed for Aqaba
27th
Relieved HM Destroyer CHIVALROUS as Guardship
at Aqaba.
August
Deployed at Aqaba as Guardship
8th
Carried out patrol in Red Sea.
15th
Returned to Aqaba
19th
Sailed from Aqaba for Malta on relief by HMS
CHILDERS.
21st
Passage from Port Said
(Note: Branch Pipe for water system lost
overboard and steering failure during
passage.)
25th
Arrived in Malta.
28th
Board of Inquiry convened in Malta.
29th
Took passage to Gibraltar for refit.
September
2nd
Taken in hand for refit at Gibraltar
October
Under refit
25th
Carried out post refit trials
28th
Passage to Malta to resume Flotilla duties.
November
1st
Resumed Flotilla duties on arrival in Malta.
14th
Carried out exercises with HM Submarine
SOLENT.
25th
Annual Inspection by Flag Officer
(Destroyers).
December
2nd
Deployed with Flotilla in Exercise SWAT.
7th
Took passage from Malta for Guardship duty at
Aqaba
12th
Refuelled at Port Tewfik.
17th
Deployed at Aqaba as Guardship in place of HMS
CHEVRON.
1 9 5
0
January
Guardship at Aqaba in continuation
Returned to Malta on relief
February
Deployed at Malta and took part in Fleet
exercises.
March
Interim refit and docking in Malta
April
Transfer for Loan service with RNZN approved.
11th
Took part in local exercises with HM Sloop
PELICAN and HM Destroyer CHIEFTAIN.
15th
New Commanding Officer JFR Crews, GM RN
(Note: Commander Crews was awarded the George
Medal in 1945.
The citation reads ‘For gallantry in saving
lives in an air raid on the city of
Plymouth’.
17th
Deployed for local exercises.
27th
Passage to Auckland with HMS ST AUSTELL BAY.
(Note: These two ships were being exchanged
with HMNZ Frigates HAWEA and
TAUPO, LOCH Class ships transferred to
RNZN.)
May
1st
Transit of Suez Canal.
6th
At Massawa with HMS ST AUSTELL BAY.
10th
At Aden with HMS ST AUSTELL BAY.
23rd
At Trincomalee.
27th
Detached from HMS ST AUSTELL BAY and made
independent passage to Christmas
Island.
June
3rd
At Christmas Island
9th
Rejoined HMS ST AUSTELL BAY.
12th
At Fremantle.
23rd
At Hobart, Tasmania.
26th
Took passage to Auckland with HMS ST AUSTELL
BAY
July
3rd
Arrived at Auckland and joined 11th Frigate
Flotilla, RNZN
15th
Passage to Nelson.
18th
Official visit to Nelson.
Exchanged calls with civic authorities.
Open to visitors.
21st
Met HMS ST AUSTELL BAY during passage to
Wellington
22nd At
Wellington
Open to visitors
24th
Passage to Auckland with HMS ST AUSTELL BAY
Took part in exercises with HM New Zealand
Cruiser BELLONA.
27th
At Auckland
RNZNR ratings joined for training.
August
1st
Took part in anti-submarine exercises with
HMNZ Frigate ROTOITI off
Port Fitzroy.
3rd
Leave Period at Auckland
Visited ports in South Island.
11th
At Mercury Bay
Open to Visitors from Waitangi
14th
At Port Abercrombie
15th
Took part in exercises in Hauraki Gulf with
RNZN ships.
18th
Return passage to Auckland.
24th
Passage to Lyttleton, South Island.
26th
At Lyttleton.
Calls exchange with civic authorities
Open to visitors
September
4th
Return passage to Auckland.
6th
At Auckland
8th
Passage to Gisburn.
9th
Struck jetty on arrival at Gisburn.
Open visitors.
15th
Passage to Wellington
16th
At Wellington with HMS ST AUSTELL BAY.
Open to visitors
19th
Took passage to Campbell Island with stores
26th
At Campbell Island.
29th
Return passage to Wellington with calls on
west coast of South Island.
Calls made at Bluff and Revolver Bay
October
Passage on west coast
1st
Calls made at Anchorage Arm, Dagas Sound,
Shoal Cove, Caswell Sound
to
and Milford Haven.
6th
7th
At Wellington
9th
Passage to Auckland
11th
Took part in exercises off Port Fitzroy with
HMS ST AUSTELL BAY.
13th
Deployed in Hauraki Gulf for exercises with
RNZN ships
20th
Prepared for return passage to Malta at
Auckland.
28th
Sailed with HMS ST AUSTELL BAY for return
passage.
November
5th
At Cairns, Australia.
7th
Passage to Singapore with call at Darwin for
fuel.
22nd At
Singapore
26th
Passage to Trincomalee with HM Boom Defence
Vessel BARBERRY in tow.
(Note: HMS ST AUSTELL BAY was in company and
towing HMS BARLANE.
December
3rd
At Trincomalee.
8th
Sailed from Trincomalee with HMS BARBERRY in
tow and in company with
HMS ST AUSTELL BAY towing HMS BARBERRY
25th
At Port Sudan
29th
Tows slipped for Suez Canal transit
31st
Resumed tow and sailed from Port Said for
Malta.
1
9 5 1
January
4th
Arrived in Malta with HMS ST AUSTELL BAY and
rejoined Flotilla.
10th
Took part in EXERCISE WILEX 14 with
Mediterranean Fleet ships
(Note: These included HM Cruisers LIVERPOOL
and GAMBIA.
Delivered mail to ships involved.)
11th
Deployed with Flotilla for exercises
to
(Note: Involved in search for waterlogged boat
containing ratings from
31st
HM Sloop MERMAID.
February
Under refit by HM Dockyard, Malta
to
Nominated for transfer to 7th Frigate
Flotilla, Home Fleet on completion.
March
April
Carried out post refit trials on completion of
dockyard work
7th
Attended Review of Mediterranean Fleet ships
by HRH Princess Elizabeth,
13th
Took passage to Plymouth
21st
Arrived at Plymouth
Paid-off.
May
Re-commissioned for service in 7th Frigate
Flotilla
8th
Deployed at Portland for weapon calibration
and ranging.
12th
Passage to Invergordon to take part in Home
Fleet exercises.
14th
Home Fleet exercises.
(Note: Serials included anti-submarine
procedures and Night Encounter.)
30th
At Rosyth.
June
2nd
Took part in Home Fleet convoy defence
exercise during passage to
Cherbourg.
7th
At Cherbourg.
9th
Passage to Penzance for visit.
10th
At Penzance
Open to visits
12th
Resumed Home Fleet convoy defence exercise in
English Channel.
16th
Deployed in NW Approaches for Fleet exercise.
20th
Deployed in English Channel in continuation.
21st
Carried out exercises with HMS ST AUSTELL BAY
off Portland.
25th
Took part in Exercise VELOX
29th
Deployed for Flotilla exercises.
30th
Passage to Swanage for visit.
July
1st
At Swanage
Open to Visitors
5th
Passage to Portland for further exercises.
12th
Routine docking at Devonport
August
Leave Period and self refit
September
Passage to Portland for exercises
12th
Passage to Holyhead for visit.
13th
At Holyhead
Calls exchanged with civic authorities
Open to visitors
19th
Passage to Londonderry for anti-submarine
exercises.
30th
Deployed for Joint Anti-Submarine Exercises in
NW Approaches.
October
Londonderry deployment in continuation.
11th
Took part in Home Fleet Exercise ASSESS with
Flotilla.
to
Deployed with HM Frigates LOCH ARKAIG, LOCH
INSH, LOCH FADA
18th
and ST AUSTELL BAY for anti-submarine
exercises during passage to
Gibraltar
19th
Arrived at Gibraltar with Home Fleet ships.
29th
Deployed for local exercises.
November
At Gibraltar with ships of Flotilla
Annual Inspection.
17th
Passage to Plymouth with HM Frigates LOCH
KILLISPORT and LOCH INSH.
December
Under refit by HM Dockyard Plymouth.
1
9 5 2
January
Under refit
Nominated for service in West Indies on
completion of refit.
New Commanding Officer: Commander R
Horncastle, RN
February
Carried out post refit trials on completion of
dockyard work.
Prepared for service in West Indies.
7th
Passage to Bermuda.
18th
Arrived at Bermuda.
(Note: Visits Programme by ships of West
Indies Squadron cancelled due to
death of HM King George VI.
Nominated for Guardship duty in Falklands.
Royal Marines Detachment from HM Cruiser
SHEFFIELD joined for passage
to Port Stanley.
March
Passage to Port Stanley, Falklands
Calls made at Rio de Janeiro and Montevideo.
Relieved HM Frigate BURGHEAD BAY on arrival.
April
Deployed at Port Stanley as Guardship
to
(Note: Collected penguins for Vancouver Zoo.)
June
These were to be taken to Montevideo for air
passage to Canada.)
Sailed from Port Stanley
July
2nd
Relieved by HMS ST AUSTELL BAY at Rio de
Janeiro
August
Deployed in West Indies for Flotilla duties
and exercises.
to
September
October
Relieved in Squadron by HMS BIGBURY BAY
20th
Sailed for Plymouth with HMS BURGHEAD BAY.
29th
Arrived at Plymouth.
(Statistical Note: Steamed 26,000 miles since
January 1952.)
November
Under refit at Devonport
to
Paid-off
December
1
9 5 3
January
Under refit
to
February
March
5th
Re-commissioned for service in 7th Frigate
Squadron, West Indies as Senior Officer
in relief for HM Sloop SNIPE
Commanding Officer: Captain RGW Hare, OBE RN
Carried out post refit trials and prepared for
foreign service
April
Royal Marines Detachment embarked.
9th
Passage to Bermuda .
30th
Arrived at Bermuda
May
Prepared for provision of Guard for Coronation
ceremonial at Kingston, Jamaica
25th
Passage to Kingston for Coronation ceremonies.
29th
Arrived at Kingston.
June
2nd
Took part in Coronation celebrations during
which Station Colour was trooped.
3rd
Took passage to Antigua
6th
At Antigua
8th
Passage to Barbados
9th
At Barbados for Queens Birthday
Guard landed.
12th
Passage to Grenada
13th
At Grenada
16th
Passage to Puerta Caballo, Venezuela
18th
At Puerto Caballo.
22nd
Passage to Trinidad
23rd
At Trinidad
24th
Took passage to Recife, Brazil after
refuelling.
July
3rd
At Recife
Calls exchanged with civil and military
authorities
Open to visitors
7th
Took passage to Montevideo.
10th
Encountered bad weather conditions.
14th
At Montevideo.
18th
Passage to Port Stanley as relief for HMS
BIGBURY BAY
22nd
Arrived at Port Stanley.
Royal Marines landed.
August
24th
Deployed for patrol with calls at Speedwell
Settlement, Port Stevens and New Island
28th
Return passage to Port Stanley from New
Island.
September
14th
Deployed for patrol with calls at Ajax Bay,
San Carlos and Fox Bay.
18th
Return passage to Port Stanley.
October
At Port Stanley
14th
Took passage to Bermuda.
21st
At Rio de Janeiro.
27th
At Recife
29th
Passage to Trinidad.
November
5th
At Trinidad
14th
Passage to Kingston
19th
Embarked troops at Kingston for passage to
Bermuda.
20th
Deployed for Air-Sea Rescue duties in position
27.50N 70W during Royal Flight to
Bermuda from UK.
(Note: Royal Family were to embark in ss
GOTHIC for Commonwealth Tour.)
27th
Arrived at Bermuda.
December
3rd
Deployed at Hamilton for ceremonial duties
during visit of French and US Leaders
for meeting with British Prime Minister for
three Power discussions.
4th
Provided Street Lining Party and ceremonial
Guards
11th
Returned to Bermuda dockyard.
18th
Annual Inspection by CinC.
1 9 5
4
January
9th
Took passage to Nassau and exercised with HMS
BURGHEAD BAY
11th
HMS BURGHEAD BAY detached
13th
Arrived at Nassau.
14th
Began hydrographic survey at Green Bay for
proposed new moorings
16th
At Nassau
19th
Passage to Palm Beach, Florida
21st
At Palm Beach.
Open to visitors. 3,400 recorded in Deck Log.
26th
Passage to Jacksonville.
27th
At Jacksonville
Calls exchanged with civil authority and US
Navy
February
1st
Took return passage to Bermuda and prepared
for return passage to UK.
4th
Arrived at Bermuda
8th
Sailed from Bermuda to Plymouth
18th
Arrived at Plymouth.
March
Paid-off and taken in hand for refit by HM
Dockyard Devonport.
3rd
New Commanding
Officer Commander L R P Lawford DSC RN
joined.
April
Under refit.
to
Re-commissioned for service on West Indies and
South American Station.
May
June
Carried out post refit trials.
Royal Marines detachment embarked.
July
Carried cut Weapon Trials and exercises at
Portland.
3rd
Passage to Torbay for visit with HM Destroyers
TYRIAN and HM Frigate BROCKLESBY.
5th
Resumed Portland firings and exercises
Two monocular sights missing from X mounting.
22nd Board
of Inquiry held on board.
26th
Returned to Plymouth to prepare for foreign
service.
August
3rd
Took passage to Bermuda.
7th
Diverted to land Royal Marine for hospital
treatment at Cobh, Eire.
17th
Arrived at Bermuda
September
4th
Took passage from Bermuda to Port Stanley for
Guardship duties.
8th
At Antigua
Open to visitors
15th
At Trinidad to refuel.
18th
At Georgetown, British Guiana.
Open to visitors
17th
At Belem, Brazil for visit to Brazilian naval
base.
Calls exchanged with Brazilian naval
authorities.
October
Passage to Salvador, Brazil
5th
At Salvador
Open to visitors
11th
At Rio de Janeiro
Open to visitors
16th
Took passage to Port Stanley.
23rd
On arrival relieved HMS BIGBURY BAY as
Guardship.
(Note: Significant increase in the number of
threats being made by Argentine and Chilean
warships to activities by British whaling
ships was taking place.)
Landed Royal Marines
November
20th
Embarked Settlement mail and prepared to take
Governor of Falklands to
South Georgia
21st
Took passage to Deception Island to embark
Governor.
24th
Embarked Governor.
Sailed for Potters Cove
25th
Delivered protest to Argentine base at Potters
Cove.
Took passage to Signy, Inaccessible Island.
27th
Governor and Staff disembarked
30th
Sailed from Signy with Governor, civil Staff
December
1st
At Grytviken, South Georgia.
4th
Passage to Leith with mail.
8th
Returned to Port Stanley with Governor, civil
staff and mail.
10th
Governor disembarked on arrival at Port
Stanley.
1
9 5 5
January
Argentine and Chilean activities giving rise
to concern.
2nd
Royal Marines embarked.
3rd
Took passage to Deception Island .
7th
Delivered Protest to Argentine warships and to
Chilean Base.
to
13th
14th
Delivered Protest to Argentine base on Ardley
Peninsula.
Carried out 4in armament practice firings on
departure.
15th
Remained in South Shetlands area.
17th
Took passage to Port Stanley.
19th
Governor and Royal Marines disembarked,
February
2nd
Royal Marines embarked
3rd
Took passage for patrol in South Georgia.
8th
At Grytviken
16th
Return passage to Port Stanley.
20th
At Port Stanley
24th
CinC AWI arrived flying his flag in HM Cruiser
SUPERB.
27th
Prepared for return passage to Bermuda on
arrival of HM Frigate BURGHEAD BAY.
March
2nd
Took passage to Punta Arenas, Chile
4th
At Punta Arenas.
Calls exchanged with civil and naval
authorities.
Open to visitors
8th
At Puerto Montt, Chile
14th
At Antofagasta, Chile.
Calls exchanged with military authorities.
Open to visitors.
25th
At Mollendo Peru
Guard landed to take part in local parade.
31st
At Libertad, Ecuador
April
Passage to Bermuda with Panama Canal Transit.
At Bermuda.
Carried out routine maintenance and self
refit.
May
Deployed at Bermuda for exercises and visits
programme.
to
July
August
Passage to Plymouth to refit and
re-commission.
On arrival Paid-off and taken in hand for
refit by HM Dockyard Devonport.
September
Under refit by HM Dockyard Devonport.
(Note: Extensive changes were made to
communications outfit and additional ballast
provided to improve
stability)
October
Under refit.
15th
Re-commissioned for further service with 7th
Frigate Squadron.
New Commanding Officer: Commander J Bitmead RN
November
Under refit
to
December
1
9 5 6
January
Carried out post refit harbour trials.
23rd
Ships company moved on board from Barracks.
26th
Carried out sea trials.
February
5th
On completion took passage to Portland.
5th
Worked-up at Portland for operational service
Carried out weapon calibration, firings and
exercises and calibration
24th
On completion to passage to Devonport to
prepare for foreign service.
(Note: British presence in South Atlantic
essential in case advantage was taken
by
Argentina or Chile during the current Middle
East Suez crisis.)
March
12th
Took passage to Bermuda
24th
Arrived at Bermuda.
On arrival nominated for Falklands Guardship
and patrol duties.
April
4th
Passage from Bermuda to Port Stanley as relief
for HM Patrol Ship PROTECTOR.
(Note: Routed with calls at ports on west
coast of South America)
9th
At Kingston, Jamaica
14th
Transit of Panama Canal.
20th
Relieved HMS PROTECTOR during visit to Callao,
Peru.
27th
At Antofagasta, Chile.
May
5th
At Talahuano, Chile
12th
Passage of Magellan Strait
14th
At Punta Arenas
17th
Arrived at Port Stanley.
Deployed for local patrol and exercises.
June
Nominated for visits to Atlantic ports
4th
Took passage to Rio Grande del Sol.
9th
At Rio Grande del Sol.
15th
At Vittoria
21st
At Santo
Local leave granted
27th
Took return passage to Port Stanley.
July
4th
Returned to Port Stanley,
8th
Prime Minister broadcast on Suez crisis.
Deployed on South Shetland Patrol.
August
Prepared for programme of Official Visits to
Brazilian ports.
Took passage from Port Stanley
10th
At Puerto Belgrano
Calls exchanged with Brazilian Naval
authorities.
14th
Brazilian Admiral visited ship.
16th
At Mar del Plata
20th
Passage of 190 miles up-river to Rosario
22nd At
Rosario.
29th
At Montevideo, Uruguay
September
4th
Passage to Port Stanley from Montevideo.
(Note: Mail and stores had been embarked
during stay.)
8th
Arrived at Port Stanley
10th
Deployed at Port Stanley for local patrol and
exercises.
26th
Prepared for visits to ports in southern
Argentina.
28th
Took passage to Rio Gallagos.
October
1st
At Rio Gallagos
5th
At San Julian.
11th
At Port Stanley
13th
Prepared for return passage to Bermuda.
17th
Sailed from Port Stanley to Santos, Brazil.
19th
Transferred to South Atlantic Station.
25th
At Santos
November
1st
At Recife, Brazil
5th
Sailed to Simonstown from Recife to join South
Atlantic Station..
19th
Arrived at Simonstown.
28th
Took passage for visits programme to East
African ports.
30th
At East London.
December
7th
At Inhambane, Mozambique
14th
At Port Elizabeth.
18th
Took passage from East London to Simonstown
20th
Arrived at Simonstown
Local Leave granted
Nominated for reduction to Reserve and to
return to UK
1 9 5
7
January
Nominated for visits to ports in SW Africa during return passage to
UK
19th
Sailed for Lobito, Portuguese West Africa
(Angola)
25th
At Lobito
31st
At Boma, Belgian Congo (Zaire)
February
2nd
Passage up Congo River to Matadi, Belian
8th
At Libreville, French Equatorial Africa.
11th
At Sao Thome Island, Gulf of Guinea
(Portuguese colony)
15th
At Lagos, Nogeria.
21st
At Monrovia, Liberia.
25th
At Freetown
(Note: Flag of CinC South Atlantic worn)
28th
Took passage from Freetown to Plymouth
March
11th
Arrived at Plymouth and Paid-off
12th
De-stored and commenced reduction to Reserve
status.
F i n a l P h a s e
HMS VERYAN BAY remained Laid-up in the Reserve Fleet
at Plymouth
until 1959 when placed on the Disposal
List. The ship was
sold to BISCO for demolition by Metal
Industries and arrived in tow at the breaker’s
yard in Charlestown near Rosyth on 1st July
1959.
|
