LOCH-Class
Frigate ordered from Caledon
SB at Dundee on 2nd February 1943
and laid down as Job
Number J11845 on 7th
December 1943. The ship was launched on 19th
June 1944
and
was the 1st R N ship
to bear the name. Build was
completed on 16th November 1944. This ship was
adopted by the civil community of
Burnham on Sea, Somerset after commissioning.
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 White, in front of a saltire couped
and engrailed Black,
a
sprig of
Hazel, fructed proper.
(Explanation:
From the arms and Badge of the Colquhoun.)
Motto
Si
je puis: 'If I can'
(Note:
The Clan Colquhoun motto.
This
Clan has been predominant in the area adjacent t
Loch
Lomond
since
1300 AD)
D
e t a i l s 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 4
November
Contractor's trials and commissioned for service
in 17th Escort Group.
Commanding Officer: Lieut. Commander R E H
Partington RNR.
18th
Commenced Acceptance trials.
On completion of trials and storing took passage
to Tobermory.
24th
Worked up at Tobermory for operational service.
December
11th
Joined Group at Greenock on completion of
work-up.
12th
Deployed at Greenock for convoy defence in NW
Approaches and Irish Sea.
1 9 4 5
January
Transferred to Channel in continuation.
February
Deployed with Task Group 125 in Channel and
Irish Sea for coastal convoy
defence.
March
Transferred to Scapa Flow for convoy defence in NW Approaches and
Irish Sea.
April
Deployed in Channel based at Plymouth in
continuation.
May
Returned to Greenock after VE Day.
Nominated for service in East Indies after
refit.
Taken in hand for refit at Milford Haven.
Ventilation system modified and
Close Range AA armament improved.
New Commanding Officer: Lieut. Commander S
Darling DSC RANVR
appointed.
June
28th
Took passage to Ceylon.
July
23rd
Sailed from Aden for Colombo for briefing.
Prepared for escort duty.
August
Deployed for escort of military convoys prior to
Malayan Landings.
(Operation ZIPPER. See THE FORGOTTEN FLEET by J
Winton,
BRITISH INVASION FLEETS by J de Winser and Naval
Staff History.
September
Escorted ZIPPER convoys for Port Swettenham
landings.
(New Commanding Officer Lieut. Commander KG
Webb, RNR appointed.)
12th
Deployed at Singapore and nominated for support
of military operations.
Escort duties from Kuching and Labuan to
Singapore.
October
Patrol and escort duties based at Singapore.
(Note: Landing craft and other ships ware being
used to carry PoW and civilian
internees (RAPWI) and escorts ware provided for
mercantiles on
passage in and out of Singapore.
See SEAGULLS IN MY BELFRY by C Anderson.)
November
Deployed as Guardship at Sabang.
Indian Ocean escort duty from Vizgapatan.
December
Support and escort duties in continuation based
at Singapore.
Deployed at Kuching and Labuan, Borneo.
24th
Returned to Singapore.
1 9 4 6
January
Patrol and escort duties based at Singapore.
19th
Escorted convoy to Vizgapatan.
Nominated for return to UK to pay off.
February
Escort of Landing Craft taking RAPWI to
Singapore, with HMS LOCH CRAGGIE.
13th
Escort of U181 and U862 for scuttling in Straits
of Malacca (0.3 05N, 60.38W).
with HMS LOCH GLENDHU. On completion took
passage to Trincomalee.
19th
At Trincomalee.
Nominated for return to UK to Pay-off into
Reserve.
March
Passage from Trincomalee to Aden.
20th
Sailed from Aden.
April
Arrived at Portsmouth and Paid-Off.
De-stored and began reduction to Reserve status.
May
Accepted into Reserve at Portsmouth
July
Laid-up at Portsmouth.
to
December
1 9 4
7 t o 1 9 4
9
Laid-up at Portsmouth.
Pennant Number for visual signalling purposes
changed to F137 (1948)
Refitted for further Reserve Fleet service 1949-
Returned to Reserve (22/11/49)
1 9 5 0
January
Nominated for service and to be brought forward
iron Reserve.
to
July
August
Prepared for operational service at Portsmouth.
September
22nd
Commissioned for service with 2nd Frigate
Flotilla, Mediterranean Fleet.
Commanding Officer: Commander H R Moore RN.
October
Weapon trials and Work-up
to
Anti-Submarine training at Londonderry
November
December
12th
Sailed from Portsmouth to join Flotilla in
Malta.
1 9 5 1
January
Deployed with Flotilla in Malta.
February
Detached to relieve HMS LOCH SCAVAIG as
Guardship at Aqaba.
March
Returned to Malta
April
Deployed with Flotilla In Malta.
May
Maintenance period in Malta.
June
Took part with Flotilla in Fleet exercise and
visits programme including Fleet
to
July
at Marmarice, Turkey.
August
Took part in Exercise BEEHIVE.
September
Deployed with Flotilla at Malta.
to
October
November
Took part In Fleet exercise and including NATO
Exercise
SYMPHONIE
DEUX.
Visited French Riviera.
December
Deployed with Flotilla in Malta.
1 9 5 2
January
Under refit in Malta.
February
On completion deployed for detached service as
Guardship at Port Aid.
March
Deployed in Red Sea.
April
10th
Escorted ships of 120th Motor Minesweeper
Flotilla in Red Sea.
(Note: These ships were in passage to Singapore
and collected at Aden by
LOCH QUOICH.
May
Deployed as Guardship at Aqaba.
19th
Returned to Malta.
June
Deployed with Flotilla for Fleet exercises and
visits.
to
July
August
Deployed as Guardship at Pert Said.
September
Flotilla deployment in continuation.
Nominated for return to UK pending modernisation
October
Passage to UK.
31st
Paid-Off at Portsmouth and held in Reserve Fleet
prior to refit.
November
Laid-up at Portsmouth.
December
Approval given to de-store.
1 9 5 3
January
Preparing for modernisation by Charles Hill at
Bristol.
to
May
June
Under modernisation.
to
December
1 9 5 4
January
Under modernisation.
to
Malicious damage to electric cables. No RN
personnel involved.
October
Planned completion delayed.
November
Commissioned for Post refit trials.
December
Trials including weapon calibrations at
Portland.
Nominated for service in Persian Gulf.
1 9 5 5
January
Passage to Chatham on completion of trials.
February
Semi-tropicalised by HM Dockyard Chatham
to
March
April
19th
Commissioned for service.
Commanding Officer: Commander B M D L'Anson, RN
May
Passage to Malta to work-up.
June
Deployed in Malta for work-up with Mediterranean
Fleet.
July
Passage to Bahrain to relieve HM Frigate LOCH
ALVIE.
26th
Assisted RFA Tanker RFA WAVE KING with feed pump problems
near Bahrein.
(Note: RFA went to Mina-al-Ahmadi on completion
of repair.
Salvage awards were paid later.)
September
Deployed for patrol in Persian Gulf, based at
Bahrain.
to
October
November
Deployed for East Coast of India Patrol with
visit, to Rangoon.
to
December
1 9 5 6
January
Returned to Persian Gulf for duty at Bahrain.
to
March
took part in local exercises with ships based at
Bahrain.
April
Passage to UK to re-commission.
Paid -Off at Chatham
May
Under refit.
to
July
August
Re-commissioned at Chatham for service in
Persian Gulf.
Commanding Officer: Commander D G Roome MVO RN
Royal Marines detachment embarked, OCRM
Lieutenant Mottram RM
Post refit trials in Nore and prepared for
work-up at Portland.
September
Carried out Work-up and weapon trials at
Portland.
On completion deployed with Home Fleet and took
part in Exercise CUT LOOSE.
October
Took part in Home Fleet visits programme on
completion of CUT LOOSE.
Visited Flushing and spent seven days at Dieppe.
Returned to Chatham to prepare for foreign
service.
November
14th
took passage to Bahrain via Freetown and Cape of
Good Hope.
(Note: Passage via Indian Ocean necessary
because of closure of Suez Canal.)
Called at Gibraltar and Freetown.
December
Called at Simonstown and Mombasa.
Arrived at Bahrain as relief for HM Frigate LOCH
FYNE.
1 9 5 7
January
On completion of Maintenance Period carried out
Dhow Patrol in southern Gulf.
Visited Doha and Das Island.
February
Deployed for interception patrol off Batina
Coast prior to taking passage to Karachi
for Interim Docking.
(Note: Extensive hospitality was provided by the
British community.)
March
On completion of docking took passage from
Karachi to resume service at Bahrain.
April
Deployed for patrol in southern Gulf and
returned to Bahrain.
Carried out patrol in northern Gulf and paid
visit to Bushire.
Sailed to Mina al-Ahmadi for R&R visit and
returned to Bahrain.
May
Deployed for Batina coast patrol for
interception of Dhows,
Passage to Aden on release from patrol.
Visited Djibouti, French
Somaliland.
June
Returned to Aden and deployed for routine visit
to Kameran Island.
(Note: Kameran was a British possession
administered by the
Colonial authorities at Aden whose officials
visited regularly.)
Took passage from Aden to carry out Indian Ocean
patrol including
visit to Seychelles
Diverted from planned programme and took passage
to Trincomalee
after civil unrest in Ceylon.
July
Arrived at Trincomalee after rough passage.
Remained available in Ceylon at Trincomalee and
Colombo to provide
aid to civil authorities if required.
On release took passage to Bahrain to relieve HM
Frigate LOCH ALVIE.
(Note: HMS LOCH ALVIE had been retained in
Bahrain and on relief carried
out the patrol in Indian Ocean including visit
to Seychelles.
Heightened tension in Persian Gulf states had
required RN
warship for patrol in view of revolt in Oman.)
August
Deployed at Bahrain during local unrest and
landed Royal Marines
for shore support.
(Note: Royal Marines were replaced by troops of
Kings Shropshire
Light Infantry who had been sent from Kenya.)
10th
Despatched from Bahrain to assist disabled
mercantile anchored
off Jazirah Qais.
(Note: Jazirah Qais is an island 30 miles off
Persian coast and 100
miles west of the Straits of Hormuz.)
11th
On arrival took Italian ss ARAGONESE in tow to
Sitra, Bahrian.
12th
Arrived at Sitra with ARAGONESE.
(Note: Salvage awards were paid to ship’s
company in 1959.)
13th
Resumed patrol duties and took passage to join
HM Frigates LOCH
FADA and LOCH RUTHVEN deployed for Batina coast
patrols, based at
Khor Kuwai at entrance to Persian Gulf.)
(Note: Extensive Dhow search operations were
being carried out
to intercept craft taking weapons and personnel
for use by
rebel forces in Oman.)
September
20th
Returned to Bahrain from Batina coast.
24th
Deployed in northern Persian Gulf for patrol and
visited Basra.
October
8th
Returned to Bahrain after visit to Mina.
16th
took return passage to UK from Bahrain.
19th
At Aden.
20th
Called at Kameran Island and took passage to
Suez.
November
Passage in
Mediterranean
5th
Called at Gibraltar.
12th
Arrived at Chatham Paid-off for Extended refit.
(Note: During Atlantic passage a serious fire
occurred in No. 2 Boiler Room.
Blaze was
extinguished by ship’s company after oil fuel
supply
had been cut off by the brave
action of Stoker Petty Officer Robert
Barlow who was subsequently awarded
the British Empire Medal (Military Division).)
December
Deployed at Chatham and prepared for refit.
1 9 5 8
January
Transferred to Sheerness for refit by HM
Dockyard.
February
Taken in hand for refit.
March
Under refit
to
December
(Note: This was the last major refit carried out
by HM Dockyard at Sheerness
before its
closure in May 1960.)
1 9 5 9
January
Under refit
to
August
(Note: Extensive work was carried out to fit a
centralised air conditioning
system for
the whole of the forward structure.)
September
Commissioned for service in Persian Gulf.
Commanding Officer: Commander C B Armstrong RN
(P).
Royal Marines Detachment embarked.
Commenced sea trials after delay in completion
of dockyard work.
October
Sea Trials in continuation.
Further delays due to machinery problems.
November
22nd Sailed
for Portland from Sheerness for
work-up.
December
Work-up completion delayed by adverse weather
conditions..
12th
Sailed from Portland to Chatham for Leave
Period.
(Note: Work-up incomplete and to be resumed in
January 1960.
1 9 6 0
January
Completed work-up and prepared for foreign
service at Portsmouth.
February
3rd
took passage to Bahrain with rough passage in
Atlantic.
25th
Deployed at Aden for patrol off Somaliland aid visit to Berbera.
March
Passage to Bahrain arriving on 6th for
maintenance period,
17th
Deployed In southern Gulf for patrol and visited
Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
Took part in Exercise WINGED CHARIOT in Arabian
Sea.
(Note: HM Commando Carrier CENTAUR and HM
Destroyer LAGOS also took port.)
Minister of Defence (Mr Harold Watkinson)
visited ship at Bahrain.
April
5th
Arrived at Bahrain having given medical aid to
tanker VOLVATELLA during passage.
8th
Deployed on patrol and visited Doha.
May
Took part in Exercise KHARGEX II with HMS LOCH
INSH and
Iranian Navy ships at Kharg Island.
Took part in Exercise CASPEX V with ships of 9th
Frigate Squadron
and Amphibious Squadron. On completion took
passage to Karachi
routine docking.
June
Returned to Persian Gulf after delay in
completion due to Sonar Dome repair work
Visited Banda Abbas, Iran.
July
Deployed for patrol in southern Gulf and visited
Qeshm, Lingeh and Qai.
Arms found in dhow stopped during patrol with
HMS LOCH FADA.
Paid Official visit to Muscat.
August
Official visit to Doha after maintenance period
at Bahrain.
27th
Arrived at Bombay to join exercises with RIM
ships.
September
On completion of exercises return to Bahrain.
Film crew joined to make Recruiting Film 'First
Left Past Aden'.
Visited Mina-al-Ahmadi (Port of
Kuwait) before further patrol
off Qatar.
October
Self maintenance in Bahrain during which ship
visited by Lord Carrington (First Lord of the
Admiralty).
Took part in Exercise HALLMARK to prepare for
Exercise MIDLINK III
23rd
Passage to Karachi with HMS LOCH FADA to take
part in MIDLINK III
28th
Joined sea serials for MIDLINK III during which aircraft and a US
Navy submarine were used.
November
Exercise MIDLINK III in continuation. Phase 3 included convoy
defence serials.
Returned to Bahrain for Annual Inspection.
Annual Inspection with HMS LOCH FADA and HMS
LOCH RUTHVEN as consorts.
On completion carried cut patrol off Trucial
coast.
19th
Visited Doha.
December
Patrol in continuation with visits to Abu Dhabi
and Dubai.
After R&R at Bahrain visited Mina-al-Ahmadi
for Xmas period.
Film crew left ship.
27th
took passage from Bahrain for UK to
recommission.
1 9 6 1
January
On passage to UK with calls at Aden and
Gibraltar.
26th
Arrived at Chatham to Pay-Off and refit.
February
Under refit.
to
June
July
Re-commissioned for service with 9th Frigate
Squadron.
Commanding Officer: Commander D T Smith RN (N).
August
Worked-up at Portland.
to
September
Returned to Chatham to give leave.
October
Took passage to Aden with calls at Malta and
Tripoli.
November
Arrived at Bahrain.
Deployed for patrol in southern Persian Gulf.
December
Took part in local exercise.
At Mina-al-Ahmadi for Xmas
period.
.
1 9 6 2
January
Deployed for patrol and exercises based at
Bahrain.
Visited Doha.
February
Carried out Batina coast patrols.
Passage to Cochin with call at Bombay.
March
Returned to Bombay for routine docking.
April
On completion resumed patrol duties based at
Bahrain.
May
Took part in Exercise KARGEX at Kharg Island
with Iranian Navy.
June
Visited Abadan before return to Bahrain.
RM Detachment landed for Queens Birthday Parade.
Returned to Bahrain for Batina coast patrol with
visit to Muscat.
July
Took passage to Aden with stay at Banda Khairan
on the Omani
coast to carry out
Hydrographic Survey.
August
Arrived at Aden.
Visited Djibouti asked to carry out salvage
operation on ss MEDINA PRINCESS which
was
alongside with extensive flooding, possibly due
to disaffection of crew.
The attempt to control flooding was a total
failure as no details of pipe system were held
on board.
(Note: This mercantile was later taken to an
anchorage in the harbour.)
Returned to Aden to prepare for East African
visits.
Nominated for service at Singapore with 3rd
Frigate Squadron as relief for HMS
ST BRIDES
BAY.
(Note: Ship not to return to UK as planned and
ships company returned by air.)
September
Passage to Mombasa followed by calls at Tanga
and Dar-es -Salam.
October
Took passage to Singapore with call at Gan.
Paid off.
18th
Re-commissioned at Singapore for service with
Far East Fleet after refit.
Commanding Officer: Commander P D Nicol RN
(Note: New ship's company joined after
air-trooping flight from UK.)
November
Under refit.
December
Post refit trials on completion of dockyard
work.
1 9 6 3
January
Sea Trials and shakedown for operational
service.
February
Worked up in Singapore sea area with HM Frigate
ALERT as consort.
March
Passage to Hong Kong.
7th
Arrived at Hong Kong.
21st
Sailed to Labuan to relieve HM Frigate LLANDAFF
for patrol duty in support of military
operations
against Indonesian infiltration (KONFRONTASI
operations).
30th
After relief by HM Destroyer CAESAR returned to
Singapore.
April
4th
took passage to Gan for Guardship duty.
10th
Arrived at Gan.
During Guardship duty exercised periodically at
sea.
May
7th
Air Officer Commanding Far East Air Force
visited ship.
14th
took passage to Singapore.
16th
Gunnery Officer injured in diving accident.
22nd Major
mechanical defect with loss of use of Port
propeller due to broken shaft.
23rd
Arrived at Singapore using Starboard propeller
only
Emergency docking arranged. Ship's company
transferred to shore accommodation.
June
4th
Moved to dry-dock.
29th
Undocked.
July
Basin and sea trials unsatisfactory.
Departure for Borneo patrol delayed.
10th
Sailed for Labuan for patrol.
15th
Embarked Platoon of Internal Security Police.
27th
Deployed at Tawau.
29th
During patrol of Tawau with Gurkhas embarked air
conditioning broke down.
August
2nd
Sailed for Hong Kong.
6th
Arrived Hong Kong
15th
Embarked passengers including Gurkhas, Royal
Artillery and locally entered Chinese
Stewards for
SEA DAY demonstrations.
19th
Sailed for Singapore
24th
Arrived at Singapore.
September
1st
took passage to Gan for Guardship duty.
7th
Arrived at Gan
10th
Deployed for burial of Able Seaman Dallas who
had died during period at Gan.
23rd
Carried out exercises at sea returning on 26th.
30th
took passage with passengers for Seychelles.
October
4th
Arrived at Seychelles.
7th
Return passage to Gan.
13th
Sailed for Singapore.
18th
Arrived at Singapore after exercises on passage
with HM LOCH KILLISPORT.
30th
Sailed for Kuching with military personnel
embarked.
31st
Arrived at Kuching.
November
2nd
Deployed for patrol on passage to Tawau.
25th
Sailed from Tawau for Hong Kong after extensive patrol
activities. Several native
craft
(KUMPITS) were intercepted and searched.
30th
Arrived at Hong Kong.
December
4th
Sailed for Singapore after exercises.
9th
Arrived at Singapore to recommission.
New ships company arrived by air.
16th
Re-commissioned for further service in 3rd
Frigate Squadron, Far East Fleet.
Commanding Officer Commander B L Spark RN.
19th
Took part in Fleet exercises off Singapore.
29th
Sailed for Penang arriving on 31st.
1 9 6 4
January
2nd
took passage for Fleet exercises.
11th
Passage from Can to Colombo.
13th
At Colombo with ships of Far East Fleet for
Official Visit by CinC Far East.
17th
took passage for Fleet exercises.
24th
Arrived at Singapore on completion of exercises.
February
4th
took passage to Labuan for patrol duties.
29th
On completion of patrol duty sailed for Hong
Kong.
March
4th
Arrived at Hong Kong.
9th
Sailed for Singapore for refit and docking.
13th
Arrived at Singapore.
April
24th
Resumed Flotilla duties and took passage to Gan
for Guardship duty.
May
1st
Visited Male.
2nd
Relieved HM Destroyer CAMBRIAN as Guardship.
7th
Visited Male. British Representative took
passage to Gan for return to UK.
20th
Visited Seychelles returning to Can on 29th.
June
15th
Visited Male
19th
took passage to Singapore arriving on 26th.
July
3rd
Sailed for Hong Kong for Fleet exercises.
8th
Arrived at Hong Kong with defective Port Engine.
9th
Under repair at Hong Kong.
17th
took passage to Manila arriving on 20th.
24th
took passage from Manila for Borneo patrol duty.
27th
Deployed for patrol based at Tawau.
August
Borneo patrol duty in continuation.
21st
Arrived at Singapore on completion of patrol
duty.
September
9th
took part in Fleet exercises.
13th
Carried out patrol off east coast of Malaya.
16th
At Singapore.
21st
Deployed with HMS LOCH FADA for Malayan coast
patrol and exercises.
28th
Returned to Singapore after calls at Tumpat,
Dungun and Kuantan.
October
2nd
took part in Flotilla exercises.
9th
Deployed of west coast of Malaya.
10th
Machinery repairs on Starboard engine took 7
hours.
12th
took passage to Hong Kong arriving on 17th.
27th
Returned to Singapore.
November
4th
Sailed from Singapore with Paying-Off Pennant
flown.
11th
Arrived at Gan to refuel resuming passage on
12th.
19th
At Aden.
28th
Suez Canal transit.
December
7th
At Gibraltar.
13th
Arrived at Portsmouth.
19th
Paid -Off.
Miles steamed in last Commission - over 40,000.
F
i n a l
P h a s e
HMS LOCH LOMOND
was placed on the Disposal List in February
1965 and remained at Portsmouth until
1967 when she was taken to Chatham to be
de-equipped prior to Sale. The ship was
sold in 1968 to BISCO for demolition by.
Metal Industries and arrived in tow the
breaker’s yard
in at Faslane on
7th October that year.
Addendum
CONVOY
ESCORT MOVEMENTS
of HMS LOCH
LOMOND
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
18/01/45
|
unknown
|
HX
333
|
unknown
|
01/02/45
|
|
23/02/45
|
unknown
|
HX
340
|
unknown
|
10/03/45
|
|
29/03/45
|
unknown
|
HX
347
|
unknown
|
14/04/45
|
|
18/04/45
|
unknown
|
HX
351
|
unknown
|
03/05/45
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)
