LOCH-Class
Twin
Screw Frigate ordered from
Burntisland SB
on 6th March 1943 and laid down as Job No J11854
(Yard Number 283) on 2nd June 1943. The ship was
launched on
29th November 1943 and was the 1st RN ship to
carry the name. Build completed on
12th April 1944, There had been distinct rivalry
with sister ship HMS LOCH FADA
being built as Lead Slip of the Class by John
Brown at Clydebank. and
which completed two days
earlier.
Both these ships were fitted with Radar Type 272
Mk5 in place of the
improved Type 277 which was not available for
fit during build. The SQUID
anti-submarine mortar was fitted. (See
General Information).
G
e o g
r a p h i
c D a t a
Inland
Loch
in Inverness
Grid
Reference: NH5210
B
a t t
l e H o n o u r s
ATLANTIC 1944 - ENGLISH CHANNEL 1945 - BISCAY 1944 -
ENGLISH CHANNEL 1945
H
e r a l d i
c D a t a
Badge:
On a Field Barry indented of
six White and Blue, a sprig of oak
fucted
Proper.
(Explanation: The Loch is
in, or near, Jacobite
country.
The sprig of oak was one of the Jacobite
emblems.
Near the Loch is Gorrogy
Lodge, Garrogy
probably means 'rough water'
hence the field to
indicate this.)
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
April
Contractors trials and commissioned for service
in 2nd Escort Group.
Commanding Officer: Lieutenant Commander D
Darling, DSC RANVR.
12th
Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials
24th Sailed
from
Leith
for Clyde for weapon trials on SQUID Mortar
mountings.
May
Carried out trials in Clyde area conducted by
Underwater Research Establishment
at Fairlie.
10th
Worked-up at Tobermory for operational service
on completion of trials and storing.
June
1st
Joined Group at Liverpool.
10th
Deployed in SW Approaches for anti-submarine
operations based at Plymouth.
(Note: These were intended to prevent U-Boats
entering Channel for attacks on warships,
assault convoys and escorts during Normandy
landings
(Operation NEPTUNE - See OPERATION NEPTUNE by K
Edwards. LANDINGS IN
NORMANDY, June 1944 (HMSO) and for information
about all mercantiles and
warships taking part.
July
2nd
Returned to Liverpool.
18th
Resumed operations in Channel.
31st
Shared credit with HM Sloop STARLING for sinking
U333 SW of Scillies in position 49.39N
07.28W.
There were no survivors from U333.
(Note: For details see U-BOATS DESTROYED by P
Kemp.
This was the first U-Boat to be sunk using the
SQUID Mortar and the 538th claimed.
U-BOATS
DESTROYED is at variance with other sources.)
August
Bay of Biscay deployment in continuation.
6th
Sank U736 in position 47.19N 04.16W, W of St
Nazaire
19 survivors were rescued.
(See above reference which claims this was the
1st SQUID sinking)
9th
Took part with Group and 53 Squadron RAF
LIBERATOR aircraft attacks en U608.
in position 46.30N 03.087W SW of St Nazaire.
All crew of 51 rescued after submarine had been
forced to surface and scuttle.
11th
Took part in attacks on U385 which was later
sunk by a SUNDERLAND aircraft of 641
Squadron
RAF. See above reference.
13th
Returned to Liverpool and taken in hand for
repair to propeller damaged during
attacks on
U736.
Transferred to 17th Escort Group.
20th
Passage to Scapa Flow to join Group after
repair.
21st
Deployed in NW Approaches and North Sea.
(Note: Patrols between Faeroes and Norwegian
coast were carried out by several Escort
Groups to intercept U-Boats on passage to the
Atlantic.
These were very successful. See SEEK AND STRIKE
by W Hackmann,)
September
Anti-submarine operations in NW Approaches in
continuation.
14th
In Clyde for leave.
27th
Resumed operations in NW Approaches based at
Scapa Flow.
October
NW Approaches deployment in continuation.
26th
Returned to Clyde.
November
10th
Resumed operations with Group based in Scapa
Flow.
December
4th
Returned to Clyde for leave and replenishment.
Nominated for detached service for
anti-submarine support in Channel.
1 9
4 5
January
Deployed for Channel convoy escort and support.
5th
In collision with HM Trawler QUADRILLE and
sustained structural damage.
Towed HMS QUADRILLE to Portsmouth
7th
Under repair.
25th
Passage to resume operations in NW Approaches
with calls at Belfast and in Clyde.
February
Deployed in NW Approaches with 17th Escort
Group.
6th
Detached for service in Channel area with Forces
125 and 126.
8th
Deployed in Channel.
19th
Passage to Clyde to rejoin Group.
March
3rd
Resumed operations in NW Approaches based at
Scapa Flow.
April
Transferred to Plymouth with Group for support
duty in Channel.
11th
Deployed with HM Frigate CRANSTOUN and BURGES of
Group for support of Channel
Convoy traffic.
(Note: Atlantic convoys had been re-routed
through English Channel.)
13th
Sank U1063 off Start Point in position 50.08N
03.52W.
Submarine was attacked by gunfire and with depth
charges.
17 of U1063 crew were rescued
May
26th
Returned to Clyde.
June
Nominated for transfer to Rosyth Escort Force
for escort of convoys to Norway.
(Note: Norwegian nationals were embarked for
return to Norway.)
16th
Passage to Rosyth to join Rosyth Escort Force.
17th
Norwegian re-occupation support commenced.
(Note: Visits were paid to Stavanger, Bergen and
Trondheim.)
22nd New
Commanding Officer: Lieut. Cdr. C W Hancock RNVR
appointed).
July
1st
Returned to Rosyth.
Nominated for reduction to Reserve
August
Deployed as Guardship at Rosyth.
September
Passage to Dartmouth to Pay-Off.
October
Completing de-storing at Dartmouth
November
7th
Accepted into Reserve Category B.
Po s t W a r
N o t e s
HMS
LOCH KILLIN was transferred to Plymouth when
Dartmouth
Sub-Division closed. During refit in London the
ship was damaged when a dry
dock was flooded accidentally in March 1949.
Although she was nominated for
modernisation this was cancelled in June 1951
. The
ship transferred to Reserve Fleet Sub-Division
at Penarth in June 1956 and
placed on the Disposal List on 12th April 1960.
After sale to BISCO for demolition
by J Cashmere of Newport the ship
was towed to the
breaker's yard on 24th August 1960.