LOCH-Class Frigate originally ordered on
24th July
1942 from Henry Robb, Leith for
completion as a RIVER-Class Frigate to
be
named NAVER. The order changed for a
Twin Screw Fast Frigate during 1943 and
ship laid down on 14th September 1943 as
Job Number J11817 (Yard Number 342.
The ship was launched by Mrs AV
Alexander, wife of the First Lord of the
Admiralty on 23rd March 1944 and build
was completed on 11th August 1944. This
ship was sold to New Zealand in 1948 and
renamed HMNZS PUKAKI. Details of her
service in the RN and the RNZN are
included in this record.
B a
t t l e H o n o u r s
ENGLISH
CHANNEL 1945
H e
r a l d i c D a t a
Only
ships of this Class which
remained in service or re-commissioned
after 1950
were officially given Crests. Many which
served during WW2
did have an
unofficial Badge, often having an
association with the Clan
of the area in which the namesake was
geographically placed.
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 3
September
23rd
- Launched
by Mrs AV Alexander, wife of 1st Lord of
the Admiralty.
1
9 4 4
February
Transfer
to
Royal Canadian Navy for loan service
arranged.
July
Contractors
trials
31st
- Commissioned
into Royal Canadian Navy. Nominated
for
service in 6th Canadian Escort Group.
August
11th
- Build
completion and commenced Acceptance Trials
in Forth area.
Took
passage to Tobermory on completion of
trials and
storing.
September
7th
- On
completion of work-up for operational
service joined Group at Londonderry for
convoy
defence
and anti-submarine
operations in NW Approaches.
October
16th
- During
deployment to intercept U-Boats on passage
to Atlantic in Faeroes area
(Operation SJ)
U1006
detected on surface by radar
after it had been subjected to depth
charge attack by HM Frigate
ANNAN.
(Note:
Disabled submarine had fired an acoustic
torpedo (T5) which had failed to hit
HMS
ANNAN
because that ships was towing
FOXER device.
For
details of development and use
of FOXER see SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann
and
THE TORPEDOMEN by A Poland.). Engaged
and
sank U1006 with HMS ANNAN using main
armament and close range weapons. (Note:
Return fire caused 8 casualties on board
HMS
ANNAN.
44
survivors from U1006 were rescued.
For details see U-BOATS DESTROYED by P
Kemp.)
November
2nd
- Escorted
HM Tug EARNER with HM Frigate WHITTAKER in
tow for passage in Belfast. (Note: HMS
WHITAKER had sustained major structural
damage after an explosion of HEDGEHOG
mortar
bombs. See references).
11th
- Taken in
hand at Holyhead for modification to
improve hull stiffening.
December
29th
- On
completion of shipyard work resumed duty
with Group at Belfast.
1
9 4 5
January
Transferred
with
Group for convoy defence in English
Channel based at Portsmouth. (Note:
U-Boats fitted with SCHNORKEL equipment
were
carrying out attacks on coastal shipping
and
Atlantic convoys had been re-routed
through English Channel as the threat of
air attacks had been removed by allied
military operations in France.)
February to March
Deployed
for
convoy defence and anti-submarine patrol
in English Channel with ships of Group (For
details of
operations in Channel see HOLD THE NARROW
SEA by P Smith, ENGAGE THE ENEMY
MORE CLOSELY by C Barnett and HITLER'S
U-BOAT
WAR by C Blair.)
April
6th
- Canadian
Escort Group nominated for transfer to NW
Atlantic Command of RCN.
8th
- Transferred
with Group to Plymouth in continuation of
Channel deployment
18th
- Took
passage from Londonderry to Halifax.
May
3rd
- Arrived
at Halifax for convoy defence duties with
Group.
23rd
- 6th
Canadian Escort Group disbanded .
29th
- Took
passage from Halifax to return to UK
manned by RCN personnel .
Ship
nominated for reduction to Reserve status
June
5th
- Arrived
at Sheerness to Pay Off.
20th
- Accepted
into Reserve at Sheerness after de-storing
July
Formally
returned
to Royal Navy. Laid
up at
Sheerness.
August to December
Laid
up at Sheerness
1
9 4 6 t
o 1
9 4 7
Laid
up at
Sheerness.
1
9 4 8
February
Offered
to
Royal New Zealand Navy with five other
LOCH Class Frigates.
March
Sale
agreed. Ship to be
refitted before transfer
April
Awaiting
refit
May
19th
- Taken in
hand for refit by HM Dockyard, Sheerness.
June
Under
refit
July
Carried
out
post refit harbour and sea trials
August
6th
- On
completion took passage to HM Dockyard
Chatham for formal transfer to RNZN.
September
13th
- Formal
transfer and renamed HMNZS PUKAKI by Mrs H
V P McClintock wife of the Captain
Superintendent, Sheerness Dockyard. (Note: All
ships transferred were named after lakes
in
New Zealand.
Initial
name selected for the ship
was MANPOURI in Southland , New Zealand
but
this
was changed to Pukaki a lake in Otago
Province.)
Pennant
Number for visual signalling purposes
changed to F424 to conform with changes
made for all RN ships after WW2.
S
e r v i c
e a
s
H
M N Z S
P U K A K I
October
15th
- Sailed for Malta from Portland with
three other RNZN LOCH Class
Frigates.
Commenced
work-up in Malta with ships of Destroyer
Command,
Mediterranean Fleet.
November
Work-up
in continuation,
December
Passage
to New Zealand
1
9 4 9
January
On
arrival at Auckland joined 11th Frigate
Flotilla after passage via Singapore.
February
Deployed
at Auckland
March
Carried
out patrol in Pacific with calls at Suva
and Samoa.
April
Returned
to Auckland.
May
Carried
out exercise programme with ships of
Flotilla.
June
to
September
Deployed
at Auckland
October
Passage
to Australia for joint RAN/RNZN exercises. Carried out
exercises.
November
Returned
to Auckland after visit to Hobart.
December
Deployed
at Auckland.
1
9 5 0
January
Local
deployment in continuation.
February
to April
Carried
out visit programme prior to RNZN
exercises in Bay of Islands.
May
Deployed
for Pacific patrol with calls at Suva and
Ocean Is.
June
Returned
to Auckland after visits to Tabiteuea,
Fanafuti and Suva.
25th
- Placed at the disposal of the UN Forces
in Korea.
July
3rd
- Sailed for Sasebo via Hong Kong with
sister HMNZS TUT1RA.
August
Arrived
at Sasebo to join UN naval command.
Deployed
for escort duties
between Japan and Korea with Task Group
96.5.
September
Transferred
to Task Group 90.7 for support of landings
by US 1st Marine
Division
at
Inchon.
October
Rejoined
Task Group 96.5 for protection of
minesweeping operations prior
to the
landings
at Wonsan of east coast of Korea.
On
release deployed for escort
of assault convoys.
26th
- Detached for R&R period at Kure.
November
Relieved
on station by HMNZS ROTOITI and took
passage to Auckland with
call at
Hong
Kong..
December
Nominated
for refit prior to reduction to Reserve.
3rd
- Arrived at Auckland
1
9 5 1
January
Taken
in hand for refit by HMNZ Dockyard,
Auckland.
February
to August
Under
refit
September
Placed
in Reserve on completion of refit trials.
October
to December
Laid-up
at Auckland
1
9 5 2
January to
October
Laid-up
November
Nominated
for service
December
Re-commissioned
for service in 11th Frigate Flotilla.
1
9 5 3
January
Worked-up
for operational service.
February to August
Deployed
in New Zealand waters for Flotilla duties. Nominated
for
detached service with Far East Command
based at Singapore.
September
Transferred
for duty at Singapore.
21st
- Sailed for Far East Station.
October
Passage
with calls at Sydney and Singapore.
November
10th
- Arrived at Singapore for service with
4th Frigate
Squadron.
December
Squadron
deployment based in Hong Kong.
1
9 5 4
January to March
Deployed
in North China Sea waters for trade
protection and back-up to
UN in Korea if
required.
Returned
to Hong Kong for routine maintenance and
R&R.
April
29th
- In company with HM Destroyer CONCORD
obtained release of British
ss INCHUVLA
in
Formosa Straits after detention by Chinese
Nationalist warship.
May
Transferred
to Singapore for anti-terrorist
operations.
June
Deployed
at Singapore for support of military
operations and patrol.
July
During
deployment with HM Frigate OPOSSUM carried
out bombardment on
terrorist
position
on west coast of Malaya with support from
Army aircraft
August
Relieved
in Squadron by HMNZS KANIERE and took
passage to Auckland.
September
28th
- Arrived at Auckland after call at Port
Moresby.
October
to December
Deployed
locally with 11th Frigate Squadron for
flotilla duties based in
Auckland
1
9 5 5
January
Squadron
deployment in continuation
February
Attended
Waitangi ceremonies
March
Re-commissioned
for loan service with Far East Fleet.
April
Worked-up
for operational service.
May
Carried
out exercises with RAN ships during
passage to Singapore.
June
Joined
4th Frigate Squadron in Far East Fleet.
July
Deployed
at Hong Kong
August
Deployed
at Sasebo for Korean Guardship duty, trade
protection and
visits.
September
Deployed
at Hong Kong.
October to
December
Deployed
with Squadron for trade protection, Korean
coast Guardship and visits to
Japan for exercises with US Navy ships.
1
9 5 6
January
Return
passage to Hong Kong from Sasebo
February
Took
part in Far East Fleet exercises and
visited Bangkok.
March to
April
Deployed
at Singapore with Squadron.
May
Return
passage to Auckland with call at Port
Moresby.
June to
October
Resumed
deployment for 11th Frigate Squadron
duties based at Auckland. Nominated
for
routine docking and hull inspections.
November
Docking
period at Auckland.
December
Deployed
with HMNZS HAWEA for escort of HM Yacht
BRITANNIA during visit
by
HRH
The Duke of Edinburgh to Chatham Island.
On
release from Royal Escort
took passage with HMNZS HAWEA as escort
for New
Zealand
Support Ship HMNZS
ENDEAVOUR during initial; stage of journey
to McMurdo
Sound
in Antarctica. (Note:
HMNZS
ENDEAVOUR was taking Sir Edmund Hilary for
trans-polar crossing.)
27th
- After crossing Antarctic Circle returned
to Dunedin because of
dangers presented by pack-ice.
1
9 5 7
January
Deployed
at Auckland.
February
Took
part in RNZN exercises in Hauraki Gulf.
March to August
Deployed
as Weather Reporting Ship during Operation
GRAPPLE at Christmas
Island.
(Note:
This duty was shared with HMNZS PUKAKI
until August.)
Returned
to
Auckland and docked for routine
inspections.
September
Took
part in joint RNZN/RAN exercises.
Visited
Sydney.
October
Deployed
at Christmas Island for further GRAPPLE
Weather Ship duties. (Note:
Shared
duty with HMNZS PUKAKI.)
November
Passage
to Auckland.
December
Took
part in joint. RNZN/RAN exercises off
Australia.
1
9 5 8
January
Passage
to Auckland.
February
Deployed
with 11th Frigate Squadron at Auckland and
Docking Period.
March
Took
part in RNZN Fleet exercise programme.
April
Passage
to Christmas Island for GRAPPLE test
meteorological duty. (Note:
Shared
duty with HMNZS ROTOITI until May.)
May
Return
passage to Auckland with calls at Manihiki
and Danger Island.
19th
- Arrived at Auckland.
June
Deployed
at Auckland.
July
Passage
to Christmas Island for GRAPPLE test
meteorological duty. (Note:
Shared
duty with HMNZS ROTOITI. Visited Suva and returned to Christmas Island.)
August
Meteorological
duties for GRAPPLE in continuation.
September
Return
passage to Auckland.
October to
December
Deployed
with Squadron at Auckland.
1
9 5 9
January
to March
Auckland
deployment in continuation.
April
Nominated
for detached for service with Far East
Fleet.
May
Passage
to Sydney.
June
Passage
to Singapore from Sydney with call at
Townsville.
July
Deployed
at Singapore.
August
Took
part in SEATO Exercise JET59 with British,
September
Escorted
damaged destroyer HMS HOGUE to Singapore
from Trincomalee. (Note: HMS
HOGUE had collided with Indian Cruiser
MYSORE and sustained major
damage
which was later found beyond economic
repair.)
October
Deployed
at Singapore.
November
Visited
Hong Kong.
December
Took
part in major Far East Fleet exercise
programme off Western
Australia.
1
9 6 0
January
Passage
to Singapore with call at Sourabaya.
February
Took
part in SEATO exercise JET 60.
March
Visited
Hong Kong and Japanese ports including
Kobe.
April
Return
passage to Singapore with call at Hong
Kong.
May
Released
from Far East Fleet detachment and took
passage to Auckland. Visited
Port
Moresby and Suva.
June
Rejoined
11th Frigate Squadron at Auckland.
July
Deployed
at Auckland.
Paid-off
August
Taken
in hand for extended refit at Auckland.
September to
December
Under
refit
1
9 6 1
January to
February
Carried
out harbour trials
March
Refit
completed.
April
Re-commissioned
and carried out post refit trials. Post refit
trials programme suspended to give aid to
civil power at Tarawa in Gilbert and
Ellice Islands.
May
Returned
to Auckland from Tarawa.
Prepared
for detached service at
Singapore with Far East Fleet.
June
Passage
to Singapore with calls at Sydney and
Cairns.
July
Arrived
at Singapore. Passage to Hong Kong
August
Returned
to Singapore.
September
Deployed
with Squadron at Singapore and visited
Penang. Took part
in
exercises at Langkawi.
October
Deployed
at Singapore with Squadron.
November
Passage
to Hong Kong.
December
Deployed
at Hong Kong for Squadron and Fleet
exercises.
1
9 6 2
January
Passage
to Japan for visits and exercise
programme. Visited
Beppu,
Yokohama and Kobe.
February
Return
passage to Singapore with call at Hong
Kong.
March
Took
part in SEATO Exercise JET61 after docking
at Singapore.
April
Deployed
at Hong Kong. Return passage to Singapore.
May
Took
part in Fleet exercise programme.
Visited
Manila. Return
passage
to Auckland with call at Darwin.
June
Passage
from Darwin with calls at Brisbane and
Taranaki.
July
Rejoined
Squadron at Auckland.
August
Took
part in RNZN Fleet exercises.
September
to October
Deployed
at Auckland.
November
Carried
out Pacific Islands patrol and visits
programme. Called at
Suva
and Raoul.
December
Deployed
at Auckland. Nominated for refit.
1
9 6 3
January
to February
Under
refit.
Nominated
for training ship duties.
March
Carried
out post refit harbour and sea trials.
April
Worked-up
and prepared for training duties.
May
Deployed
for patrol and visits during training of
new-entry ratings. Visited
Raoul,
Apia and Fakaofa.
June
Return
passage from Fakaofa to Auckland with
calls at Islands and Suva.
July
Deployed
for training programme and called at
Gisbum, Wellington and
Wanganui.
Took
part in RNZN exercises at Wellington.
August
Deployed
for training cruise. Visited
Chatham Island,
Lyttleton, Picton and Wellington.
September
Passage
from Auckland for joint RNZN/RAN
exercises. Called at
Sydney and Jervis Bay.
October
On
completion of exercises in Sydney area
returned to Auckland with call
at Launceston.
November
Deployed
at Auckland and docked for routine hull
inspections,.
December
Deployed
at Auckland. Nominated for support of US Operation DEEP FREEZE. (Note: This
American operation was to maintain a
continuous air supply to bases in
Antarctica.
RNZN
ships shared this duty for spells of 10
days).
1
9 6 4
January
Deployed
for weather ship and air sea rescue duty
in Southern Ocean (60
Deg S.)
February
R&R
break at Dunedin and resume DEEP FREEZE
duty.
March
Returned
to Auckland on release from DEEP FREEZE.
April
Deployed
at Auckland and visited Tamanga.
May
Passage
to Sydney to take part in joint RNZN/RAN
exercises.
June
Visited
Newcastle and Brisbane.
July
Returned
to Auckland.
August
Deployed
at Auckland
September
Prepared
for DEEP FREEZE support duty.
October
Deployed
in position 60 Deg. S. for weather-ship
and air sea rescue
duties.
Rest
and Recreation
at Lyttleton.
November
DEEP
FREEZE deployment in continuation. R&R
at Dunedin. Passage to
Auckland on release from DEEP FREEZE.
December
Resumed
DEEP FREEZE duties.
1
9 6 5
January
DEEP
FREEZE duties in continuation
R&R
at Dunedin.
February
DEEP
FREEZE duties ended and returned to
Auckland via Dunedin.
March
Future
deployment under discussion.
Deployed
at Auckland.
April
Under
refit prior to reducing to Reserve
May
Paid
off and Reduced to Reserve.
F
i n a l P h a s e
HMZNS
PUKAKI
was placed on the Disposal List and sold
in October 1965 for
demolition.. The ship was
towed
to
Hong Kong and scrapped in January 1966.
