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SERVICE HISTORIES of ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS in WORLD WAR 2
by Lt Cdr Geoffrey B Mason RN (Rtd) (c) 2005

HMS LOCH TRALAIG (K 655) - Loch-class Frigate

HMS Loch Ruthven, sister-ship (Navy Photos/Bryan Woodford, click to enlarge) return to Contents List   
 

LOCH Class Twin Screw Frigate ordered from Caledon SB at Dundee on 2nd February 1943 and laid down on 26th April 1944 as Job Number 11848 (Yard Number). The ship was launched on 12th February 1945 as the first RN ship to bear the name. Build was completed on 4th July 1945 after being fitted out in Troon, Ayrshire. This ship was the second to be fitted with turbine propulsion machinery. See General Information.

 

G e o g r a p h i c   D a t a

Inland Loch in Argyllshire, Scotland

Grid Reference  NM8716

 

B a t t l e  H o n o u r s

None

 

He r a l d i c   D a t a

Crest None is recorded in the Official List.

(Note.: Many ships of the Class had unofficial crests used during War Service.)

 

 

D e t 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 5

 

June                        At Troon for fitting-out.

                                Commissioned for service.

                                Commanding Officer: Lt. Cdr. MS Wiork DSC RNR

 

July

                4th          Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials

                                After acceptance and storing ship took passage to Tobermory to work-up

 

August                  On completion carried special machinery trials in Clyde.

                                (Note: These were required to measure amount of noise made whilst using

                                the propellers fitted during Build.

 

September             Carried out further Noise trials with new propellers.

                                Deployed for escort and tow of surrendered U-Boats from Londonderry to Loch Ryan

                                prior to their destruction in Operation DEADLIGHT.

 

October                  Deployed for second escort of U-boats

                                Escorted merchant ship carrying ammunition from Cairnryan for scuttling in NW Approaches.

 

November              Nominated for escort of a mercantile from Cairnryan for scuttling.

                                (Note: This was not carried out because of Boiler defect caused during preparation for sailing

                                Damage was caused due to incorrect procedures

                                Taken in hand for repair

 

December              On completion joined Training Flotilla at Londonderry.

 

1 9 4 6

 

January                  Deployed at Londonderry for anti-submarine training.

to,                           Commanding Officer: Lt. Cdr.  AD Piper DSO, DSC RN (02/01/47)

March

 

April                       Under refit at Devonport.

to

May

 

 

June                        Deployed at Londonderry.

to                            Commanding Officer:  Lt. Cdr. V C F Clark DSC RN.

July

 

August                  Ship grounded off Skipness Point in Sound of Bute

                                Taken in hand for repair at Devonport

 

September             Under repair

to                            (Note:  Special investigations carried out because of extent of damage.)

December

 

1 9 4 7

 

January                  Under repair

 

February                On completion of post repair trials resumed training duties with Flotilla at Londonderry.

                                Commanding Officer: Lt. Cdr. A D Piper DSC RN

 

March                    Londonderry deployment in continuation.

to.

June

 

July                         Attended Review of Home Fleet by HM King George VI in Clyde

 

August                  Deployed at Londonderry for training.

to                            Commanding Officer: Cdr. N J Wagstaff RN

December

 

1 9 4 8

 

January                  Londonderry training duties with Flotilla in continuation.

to                            Pennant Number for visual signalling purposes changed to F655)

May

 

June                        Took part in Home Fleet Exercise SW3 with Flotilla

to                            Resumed training deployed in release

July                         Nominated for refit at Rosyth.

 

August                  Under refit

to                            (Note: Extensive work undertaken included improvement of A/S facilities and fit

November              of an Operations Room.

 

December              Resumed Flotilla duties on completion of post refit trials.

 

1 9 4 9

 

January                  Deployed for Training duties with Flotilla

                                Commanding Officer: Cdr. R S Blacker RN

 

February                Sustained significant damage in collision with Aberfoyle Light Beacon in Lough Foyle.

 

March                    Under repair in Refit in Clyde commercial shipyard.

to                            (Note: This was necessary since no dock was available in HM Dockyard at Rosyth.)

July                         Starboard main propeller shaft and stern tube found to be misaligned but major repair

                                needed was deferred until next routine docking.

                                Only other essential work to enable ship to resume training was to be undertaken.)

 

August                  Resumed Flotilla duties at Londonderry on completion of post repair trials.

to

December

 

1 9 5 0

 

January                  Deployed for training duties at Londonderry with Flotilla

to                            Took part in Home Fleet exercise and visits programme.

October

 

November              Ran aground at Garrison Point Sheerness and damaged Log Impeller .

to                            Continued training deployment.

December              Commanding Officer: Cdr. RG Jenkins, OBE, DSC RN

 

1 9 5 1    t o    1 9 5 2

 

                                Training Flotilla deployment in continuation and took Part in Home Fleet exercises and visits

                                (Note: Ship visited Haugesund and Norhelmsund in Norway with LOCH ARKAIG in July 1951

                                and in 1952 Amsterdam and Copenhagen.)

                                Commanding Officer: Commander C K S Hoyle RN.

 

1 9 5 3

 

                                Nominated for reduction to Reserve status and took passage to Portsmouth.

                                Paid off and de-stored before being laid up in Reserve Fleet.

 

 

F i n a l   P h a s e

 

HMS LOCH TRALAIG was transferred to the Reserve Fleet at Hartlepool in 1954 and used as the headquarters ship for administration and accommodation. She remained in Reserve until 1961 when placed on the Disposal List. Sold to BISCO for demolition by P & W MacLellan in 1964 she arrived at the breaker’s yard  in Bo’ness on the Forth in August that year.

 

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