LOCH-Class
Twin Screw Frigate ordered from Henry Robb,
Leith on 25th January 1943 and laid down as Job
No
J11859 (Yard Number 846) on 1?th November 1943.
The ship was launched on 10th
May 1944 as the 1st RN ship to carry the name.
Her build was completed on 20th
October 1944. The ship. was adopted by the
civil community of
Northampton after entering
service.
G e o g r a p h i c
D a t a
Inland
Loch in Inverness
Grid Reference:
NH8304
B a t
t l e H
o n o
u r s
ATLANTIC
1944 - ARCTIC 1945
H e r
a l d i
c D a
t a
Badge:
On
a Field barry wavy
of 10 white and Blue,
On
a
pomme a salmon hook
Gold
(Explanation:
The pomme (Green
disc) represents an island.
Loch
Insh means the Loch
of the Isle. The
salmon
hook
refrers to the
fishing on the Loch.)
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 4
October
Contractors trials and commissioned for service
in 19th Escort Group.
Commanding Officer: Commander E C W Dempster
20th
Build completion
29th
Completed trials and storing.
took passage to Tobermory with call at Aberdeen.
November
Carries out work-up for operational service.
28th
On completion took passage to join Group at
Liverpool.
December
Deployed with Group for convoy defence in NW
Approaches and Irish Sea.
6th
Sank U297 in defence of Carrier Group off Cape
Wrath with HM Frigate GOODALL.
(Note: HM Frigate BULLEN of Group had been sunk
earlier that day.
See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.)
1 9
4 5
January
Transferred with Group to English Channel for
anti-submarine operations.
(Note: This deployment was made to counter
increased attacks by U-Boats on coastal
convoys which included re-routed Atlantic
traffic.)
February
1st
Under repair in Belfast.
2nd
Rejoined Group for convoy defence in Irish Sea
and SW Approaches.
Based at Milford Haven and Liverpool. Convoy
defence with Group in continuation.
March
Nominated for service with Group for support of
Russian Convoy.
April
18th
Joined escort for Russian Convoy JW66 with HM
Frigates LOCH SHIN, COTTON, GOODALL
and ANGUILLA of Group.
25th
Arrived off Kola Inlet with JW66 after
uninterrupted passage.
Carried out anti-submarine search operation to
clear entrance for mercantiles.
Detached with snips of Group after entry of
convoy and deployed to provide antisubmarine
cover for minelaying operation (Operation
TRAMMEL)
(Note: Minelay was carried out by HM Minelayer
APOLLO, HM Destroyers OBEDIENT,
OPPORTUNE and ORWELL. See Naval Staff History
(MINING).)
29th
Carried out anti-submarine operation off Kola
Inlet with Group before departure of return
Convoy RA66.
Sank U307 using SHARK projectiles and
SQUID in the attacks.
14 survivors were rescued.
(Note: U286 was also sunk by other ships of
Group later on 29th.)
May
Nominated for service in East Indies after
refit.
Detached from RA66 with ships of Group before
arrival in Clyde.
6th
Taken in hand for refit at build yard in Leith.
(Note during refit ventilation arrangements were
modified and AA armament increased.
June
Under refit.
July
Carried out post refit trials.
27th
Passage to Rosyth to prepare for foreign
service.
August
23rd
Took passage from Rosyth to join East Indies
Escort Force.
September
Passage to East Indies with calls at Gibraltar
and Malta.
October
1st
At Aden
25th
At Colombo and briefed for deployment for escort
duty and the support of military
operations
in Sumatra and Java.
Deployed in Indian Ocean and visited Port Blair
November
Based at Colombo and deployed in Indian Ocean
for convoy escort.
New Commanding Officer appointed: Lieut..
Commander E M Skinner RN.
29th
Passage to Singapore in continuation of escort
of repatriation convoys
(See SEAGULLS IN MY BELFRY by CC Anderson.)
December
Convoy escort from Singapore to Padang and
Colombo in continuation.
Deployed for East African coast visit
1 9
4 6
January
Passage to Kilindini.
5th
At Kilindini
February
Deployed at Kilindini.
23rd
Nominated for return to UK to Pay-Off into
Reserve.
Took passage to Trincomalee.
March
8th
Arrived at Trincomalee.
Took passage to UK on relief by HM Frigate LOCH
QUOICH.
April
Paid Off and reduced to Reserve status at
Devonport.
May
Laid-up at Devonport.
to
December
1 9 4
7 t o 1 9 4
9
Laid-up at Devonport.
Refitted for Reserve service by Brigham and
Cowan, Hull (1949).
Pennant Number for visual signalling purposes
changed to F433.
1 9
5 0
January
Laid up in Reserve at Devonport.
to
February
March
Nominated for service with 6th Frigate Flotilla,
Home Fleet.
April
Prepared for service and refitted by HM
Dockyard, Devonport.
to
July
August
Carried out post refit trials.
September
21st
Commissioned for service with 6th Frigate
Flotilla, Home Fleet.
Commanding Officer: Commander R S Foster-Brown
RN.
October
Carried out weapon trials and anti-submarine
training at Londonderry.
November
Joined Flotilla at Gibraltar during Home Fleet
exercise.
On completion of Exercise visited Bayonne
December
Deployed at Plymouth.
1 9 5 1
January
Took part with Flotilla in Home Fleet exercises
including visits to Gibraltar,
to
Aranci Bay, Savona and Monaco.
March
Returned to Devonport on completion.
April
Routine docking at Devonport.
Despatched to join Home Fleet search for HM
Submarine AFFRAY in English Channel
May
AFFRAY search operations in continuation.
June
On release resumed Flotilla duties.
July
Flotilla deployment in continuation including
visits to Milford Haven,
and
Falmouth.
August
Under repair at Devonport.
September
Deployed with Flotilla in Home waters and
visited Portland and Troon.
October
Took part in Flotilla training at Londonderry.
to
Deployed with Flotilla for Home Fleet Exercises
in Atlantic.
November
After stay at Gibraltar took part in Home Fleet
visits programme during return.
December
Routine Docking at Devonport.
Selected as Prototype for LOCH Class Frigate
modernisation.
1 9 5 2
January
Took part in Home Fleet Exercise programme with
Flotilla.
to
During R&R periods visited Gibraltar, Nice
and Malta.
March
Relieved by HM Frigate VIRAGO in Flotilla
(March)
April
On return to Devonport for Leave period placed
in Care and Maintenance pending
modernisation.
Paid off with reduced complement retained.
May
In Care and Maintenance at Devonport
to
December
1 9 5 3
January
In
Care and Maintenance at Devonport.
to
April
May
Taken in hand for modernisation by HM Dockyard
Devonport.
June
Under Dockyard Control
to
December
1 9 5 4
January
Under Dockyard Control.
to
Selected for service in Persian Gulf on
completion as relief for HMS LOCH QUOICH.
July
August
Carried out post refit trials.
September
6th
Commissioned for service.
Commanding Officer: Commander A J T Harris RN.
Completed sea trials and weapon calibrations
before passage to Malta for work-up.
October
Worked-up at Malta with Destroyer Command,
Mediterranean Fleet.
November
On completion of work-up took passage to Aden.
December
Arrived at Bahrain for Persian Gulf duties.
Joined HM Frigate LOCH ALVIE on Station.
Deployed for patrol in southern Gulf area with
visits to Dohar.
Took passage to Trincomalee.
1 9 5 5
January
Passage to Colombo from Trincomalee for routine
docking.
Nominated for east coast of India patrol on
completion.
February
Deployed for patrol duties.
Visited Nicobar, Chittagong and Madras.
March
Returned to Trincomalee.
Took passage to Bahrain for Persian Gulf
deployment.
April
Deployed in southern Persian Gulf with visits to
Dubai, Sharjah, Um-al-Qupin
and Ras-al-Khaima.
May
Deployed for patrol off Batina coast.
Visited Masirah, Kuria Maria Islands and
Salalah.
20th
Diverted to assist HM Frigate LOCH KILLISPORT in
fire-fighting and salvage of the Dutch
tanker ss ARGEA PRIM.
(Note: ARGEA PRIM had collided with Dutch mv
TABIAN at entrance to Straits of
Hormuz
on 19th May and was badly damaged with extensive
fires on board.)
23rd
Joined HMS LOCH KILLISPORT in company with ARGEA
PRIM which was under tow by ss
ESMERALDA.
25th
Remained with ARGEA PRIMA until arrival at
Bahrain under own power.
(Note: Salvage awards were paid only to HMS LOCH
KILLISPORT.)
June
Deployed in northern Persian Gulf and visited
Fao, Kuwait and Danman.
July
Deployed for patrol off Batina coast with visits
to Muscat. Mikalla and Socotra.
On relief took passage to UK from Aden.
August
Passage through Mediterranean.
Arrived at Devonport to Pay-Off and
recommission.
September
Under refit.
October
Re-commissioned for service in Persian Gulf.
Commanding Officer: Commander T E Fanshaw DSC
RN.
November
Under refit.
to
Carried out post refit trials.
December
1 9 5 6
January
On completion of sea trials deployed for weapon
trials at Portland.
February
Worked-up at Portland.
March
After repair at Devonport took passage to Aden.
Arrived in Aden with call at Gibraltar.
Deployed at Aden for Batina coast patrol and
visited Kuria Maria Islands.
April
Called at Masira on passage to Bahrain.
Deployed at Bahrain for Persian Gulf patrol
duty.
May
Took part in joint exercises and patrol off
Oman.
Visited Muscat.
June
Deployed in Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf.
to
(Note: During this period various deployments
were made in view of the current
July
problems with Egypt.
August
Deployed in southern Persian Gulf and visited
Ras-al-Khaiirar and Sharjah.
After return to Bahrain for R&R took passage
for patrol in northern Gulf.
September
Visited Basra.
October
Returned to Bahrain and deployed off Oman coast.
Visited Muscat.
During passage carried out salvage of mv
HANGKONG.
(Note: Ship was found adrift and abandoned south
of Bahrain and taken in tow.
Salvage awards were paid later.)
November
Deployed at Aden in view of Suez crisis
(Operation MUSKETEER)
to
Carried out joint exercises with other RN
warships.
December
Returned to Bahrain after release from
MUSKETEER.
1 9
5 7
January
Relieved by HM Frigate LOCH RUTHVEN and took
passage to return to UK to
re-commission.
(Note: Passage made via Mombasa and Simonstown
as Suez Canal was closed.)
February
Passage in Atlantic with calls at Freetown and
Gibraltar.
March
Paid-Off at Devonport and taken in hand for
Extended Refit.
April
Under refit
to
Extensive changes were made to equipment fit.
December
Centralised Air Conditioning was
installed for all
compartments in forward structure.
1 9
5 8
January
7th
Recommissioned for General Service Commission.
On completion of sea trials took passage to
Portland.
Carried out weapon calibrations and trials
before beginning work-up.
February
Worked-up at Portland.
March
Carried out anti-submarine training at
Londonderry.
Joined tone Fleet for exercises and visits
programme.
Visited Liverpool.
April
Visited Le Havre.
Returned to Devonport to prepare for foreign
service.
May
Passage to Aden to embark Somali crew.
Arrived at Bahrain.
June
Deployed at Bahrain and took part in Flotilla
exercises after Maintenance Period.
to
Passage to Shatt-el-Arab for Guardship duty.
July
(Note: After the assassination of King Faisal II
of Iraq, Jordan had asked for
Royal Navy
assistance.
Primary object of deployment was the protection
of
British tanker
shipping using
the waterway).
Visited Fao during deployment in northern Gulf
August
Returned to Bahrain.
Deployed for patrol in southern Gulf and visited
Dubai
September
.Patrol deployment based at Bahrain in
continuation.
(Note: Arabian Sea and Persian Gulf Command
established.)
October
Passage to Karachi.
Took part with other RN ships in multi-national
Exercise MIDLINK In Indian Ocean
based at Karachi.
November
On completion of MIDLINK remained at Karachi for
routine docking and refit.
December
Deployed for visits to Cochin and Bombay.
Took passage from Bombay to resume Persian Gulf
duties.
1 9
5 9
January
Visited Muscat and carried out Flotilla
exercises.
Embarked British Resident at Bahrain for
attendance at Enthronement of the New
Ruler
of Dubai.
Embarked Commodore ASPG at Bahrain for Official
Visit to Sultan of Qatar.
February
Passage to Muscat
Guard landed at Muscat for the Presentation of
Ship's Bell from HM Minesweeper
WELCOME to the Ruler at Muscat.
(Note: HMS WELCOME had an association with the
Oman in 1945.)
Took passage from Muscat to Mombasa.
March
Deployed for East African coast visits and
called at Tanga, Mtawara and Zanzibar.
Returned to Mombasa and took passage to Aden.
April
Passage from Aden to Massawa to give SHOP WINDOW
Demonstration.
On completion took passage to UK to
re-commission.
Arrived at Devonport.
May
Paid-Off and taken in hand for Refit.
June
Under refit.
July
Re-commissioned for service in Persian Gulf.
(Note: Royal Marines Detachment Detachment was
part of complement.).
Commanding Officer: Captain T N Catlow RN.
August
Post refit trials carried out on completion of
dockyard work.
September
Carried out further sea trials off Plymouth.
Passage to Port-land for weapon trials and
work-up.
October
Worked-up at Portland and returned to Devonport
to prepare for foreign service.
November
16th
Passage to Gibraltar and encountered heavy
weather with flooding of compartments.
23rd
Under repair to weather damage including ASDIC
Dome at Gibraltar
.
24th
Resumed passage to Aden.
December
8th
Met
HM Cruiser GAMBIA in Fed Sea
9th
Embarked Somali crew at Aden.
17th
Took part in SHOP WINDOW Demonstrations.
18th
Arrived at Bahrain for Persian Gulf duties.
22nd At
Mina-al-Ahmadi for Xmas period.
28th
Deployed with HM Frigate LOCH FYNE for exercises
on passage.
1 9
6 0
January
1st
Provided Guard for annual parade for Ruler of
Bahrain.
Carried out Dhow patrol in southern Gulf area.
7th
Landed RM Detachment at Muscat and patrolled off
Batina coast.
17th
Intercepted suspect Dhow and escorted it to
Muscat.
27th
Carried out Flotilla exercises and consort for
Sea Inspection of HMS LOCH FYNE.
February
8th
Carried out anti-submarine exercises with HM
Frigate LOCH KILLISPORT.
11th
Visited Umm Said.
14th
Visited Dubai.
17th
At Bahrain for machinery repairs.
23rd
At Dubai with Consul General and Political
Agent.
27th
At Muscat with Political Agent.
29th
Passage to Bahrain.
March
1st
Passage to Karachi for Interim Docking and
Refit.
12th
Under refit, and docking.
Damaged Shaft A-Bracket for propeller repaired.
April
16th
Took part in Pakistan naval exercises after
repair of bearing on 14th.
18th
Landed Guard for Queens Birthday Parade at
Bombay with CinC Far East present.
24th
Passage to Bahrain to resume Persian Gulf
duties.
May
1st
Took part in exercise with HMS LOCH LOMOND and
Iran Navy off Kharg Island.
(Exercise KHARGEX II).
9th
Deployed as consort of Sea Inspection of HMS
LOCH KILLISPORT.
17th
Deployed with ships of Squadron for
anti-submarine exercises at Jebel Dharsna and
Daz
(Exercise CASPEX5)
30th
Embarked Political Resident for visits to Abu
Dhabi and Dubai.
June
1st
Returned to Bahrain from Dubai.
8th
Sea Inspection by Cdre ASPG.
9th
Embarked Commandant General Royal Marines for
visit to Abadan.
Took passage with HMS LOCH KILLISPORT.
10th
At Abadan.
12th
Took part in Queens' Birthday Parade at
Khorramshah, Iran.
13th
Return passage to Bahrain with Commandant
General Royal Marines.
24th
Took passage to Mombasa after exchange of defect
Fan with HMS LOCH KILLISPORT.
July
2nd
Arrived at Mombasa. Took passage to
Dar-es-Salaam.
3rd
Embarked Cdre ASPG.
Visit to Zanzibar cancelled due to machinery
defect.
7th
Visit to Tanga with Cdre ASPG.
12th
Sailed for Mombasa with HM Coastal Minesweeper
BASSINGHAM.
14th
Passage to Mahe, Seychelles from Mombasa.
18th
Embarked Governor of the Seychelles at Victoria
for visit to dependencies.
(Note: Including calls at Bird, La Digue, Dennis
and Frigate Islands.)
22nd Death
of Electrical Mechanic W. McCarthy during return
passage to Mahe.
23rd
Burial of EM MacCarthy at Mahe.
24th
Took passage to Aden.
30th
Arrived at Aden after machinery defects en
passage.
August
2nd
Embarked Commander British Land Forces at Aden
for passage to Mombasa.
9th
Arrived at Mombasa.
Station Leave granted.
(Note: During Maintenance Period, assistance
provided by HM Commando
Carrier
BULWARK)
18th
Sailed for exercises with HMS BULWARK before
taking return passage to Bahrain.
25th
Steering breakdown in Strait of Hormuz.
26th
Ran aground at Sitra, Bahrain Oil Fuel Depot and
refloated by tugs.
September
2nd
Flag Officer Middle East visited ship prior his
departure for UK.
3rd
Sailed for UK.
Further Machinery defects repaired except shaft
alignment problem.
9th
Carried out Amphibious Warfare Exercises off
Muscat till 11th.
27th
Called at Malta.
October
Passage to Rosyth for refit and
re-commissioning.
5th
At Rosyth and Paid Off.
Taken in hand for refit.
(Statistics: Miles steamed - 35,372, hours
underway - 3,465.)
November
Under refit.
January 10th
to
December
1 9
6 1
January
Refit in continuation.
10th
Re-commissioned for service in Persian Gulf.
RM Detachment embarked.
Commanding Officer: Captain I G Raikes DSC RN.
February
Post refit trials.
March
Took passage to Portsmouth after further sea trials.
18th
Worked-up at Portland.
April
Work-up in continuation.
Visited Southampton and Leave Period at
Devonport.
May
4th
Passage to Londonderry from Portland on
completion of work-up
26th
Passage to Bournemouth for visit on completion
of anti-submarine training.
June
Prepared for foreign service at Devonport as
relief for HM Frigate LOCH RUTHVEN.
4th
Took passage for Malta with call at Gibraltar
Embarked crated stores for upper deck stowage
and sailed Aden from Malta.
(Note: The deck cargo was for support, of
operations (Operation VANTAGE).
Sealed boxes believed to contain money.)
15th
Sailed from Aden to Bahrain with seven Coastal
Minesweepers
16th
Total loss of power was restored.
22nd Arrived
at Bahrain after meeting HMS LOCH RUTHVEN on
passage.
August
2nd
Took passage to Kuwait to relieve HMS LOCH ALVIE
in British Task Force 317.
(Note: This Task Force was assembled following
the Iraqi threat to Kuwait.
(Operation VANTAGE.).).
14th
Returned to Bahrain for Patrol off Trucial Oman
17th
Deployed for patrol and Dhow interception.
24th
Stood-by Spanish tanker mv MEQUINENZA which was
aground on Shah Alum Shoal,
near Bahrain (26.25N 52..99E.
Assisted in refloating.
25th
Left scene after mv DURANGO arrived.
(Note: Salvage awards ware paid later.)
26th
Passage to Muscat for visit
September
3rd
Returned to Bahrain.
4th
Sailed from Bahrain with HMS LOCH FYNE after
refuelling.
5th
Took part in Exercise FOMEX 10 with ships of
Squadron off Daz Island.
9th
Returned to Bahrain on completion.
11th
At Kuwait with HM Frigate CHICHESTER in
continuation of VANTAGE support.
(Note: Air Conditioning plant was defective for
three days )
14th Operation
VANTAGE terminated.
27th
Returned to Bahrain with HM Frigate CHICHESTER.
October
At Bahrain.
13th Deployed
for Dhow patrol of Trucial coast with calls at
Sir Adu Musa and Das.
23rd
Took passage to Aden from Bahrain.
31st
Arrived at Aden after further air conditioning
problems.
November
3rd
Took passage from Aden for Karachi with three
Coastal Minesweepers in company.
8th
Arrived at Karachi after heavy weather passage
to take part in CENTO Exercise
(Note: Called at Al Mukalla, Yemen on passage).
17th Took
part in sea serials for MIDLINK IV with CENTO
warships and HMS LOCH
ALVIE.
(Note: Participation restricted by boiler
contamination problem.)
20th
Rejoined MIDLINK IV after repair.
27th
Sailed from Karachi for visit to Bombay after
completion of MIDLNK IV.
29th
Arrived at Bombay.
December
2nd
Return passage to Karachi for Interim Docking
and refit.
4th
Taken in hand for refit.
1 9
6 2
January
4th
On completion of post refit trials took passage
from Karachi to resume Persian Gulf
duties at Bahrain.
8th
Arrived at Bahrain.
18th
Took part in FOME Exercises,
(Note: During exercises visited Sharjah, Dubai,
Doha, Abu Dhabi and Yas Island.
22nd On
completion deployed for Dhow patrol in southern
Gulf area.
February
1st
Returned to Bahrain.
13th
Embarked Flag Officer Middle East and took
passage to Bombay.
19th
Arrived at Bombay.
23rd
Took passage to Bahrain and carried out
exercises in Persian Gulf before arrival.
March
1st
At Bahrain.
15th
Visited Bandar Mashur
17th
Carried cut Dhow Interception patrol off Trucial
coast.
April
On return to Bahrain prepared for annual
inspection by Flag Officer Middle East.
12th
Sea Inspection.
13th
Sailed from Bahrain for East African coast
visits.
19th
Diverted on passage for Guardship duty at Gan
following shore riots.
23rd
Arrived at Gan.
May
6th
Took passage from Gan to Seychelles.
10th
Arrived at Victoria, Seychelles..
14th
Embarked FOME and took passage to Mombasa
17th
Arrived at Mombasa and sailed for Aden same day.
23rd
At Aden.
25th
Sailed from Aden with two Inshore minesweepers
in tow.
28th
Delayed at Port Suez pending arrival of relief
which had been delayed by defects
June
2nd
Suez Canal transit.
Minesweepers detached at Port Said.
8th
Arrived in Malta after rough passage and sailed
same day for Gibraltar.
15th
Sailed from Gibraltar for Devcnport.
20th
Arrived at Plymouth.
22nd Paid
off and began reducing to Reserve status.
(Statistics: Miles steamed 47,042.)
F
i n a l
P h a s e
HMS
LOCH INSH was
placed on the Disposal
List and sold to the Royal Malayan Navy in 1963.
After a very extensive refit
at Portsmouth which included change to after the
superstructure and the
provision of Helicopter landing facilities, the
ship was renamed HANG TUAH.
She sailed for
Malaya on 12th November 1964 and served as the
Flagship of the Royal Malaysian
Navy until 1971 when she was used as a training
ship until withdrawn from service
6 years later.
Addendum
CONVOY
ESCORT MOVEMENTS
of HMS LOCH INSH
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
23/01/45
|
unknown
|
HX
334
|
unknown
|
06/02/45
|
|
09/02/45
|
16/02/45
|
MKS
082G
|
17/02/45
|
17/02/45
|
|
14/03/45
|
unknown
|
HX
344
|
unknown
|
28/03/45
|
|
17/03/45
|
18/03/45
|
ON
291
|
19/03/45
|
06/04/45
|
|
19/03/45
|
19/03/45
|
TBC
102
|
22/03/45
|
22/03/45
|
|
16/04/45
|
16/04/45
|
JW
066
|
25/04/45
|
25/04/45
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)
