LOCH-Class Twin Screw Fast Frigate ordered on 25th
January 1943 from Smiths Dock, Middlesbrough and laid down as Job Number 4777
(Yard Number 1129) on 25th October 1943.. The ship was launched on 25th April 1944 and the 1st
Royal Navy ship to carry the name. Build was completed on 7th November 1944.
She was adopted by the civil community of Hexham in the county of
Northumberland as replacement for HM Escort Destroyer TYNEDALE which had been
adopted in 1942 after a WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign, but sunk off
Bougie in December 1943. The ship was transferred to the Royal New Zealand Navy
in 1948 and renamed HMNZS HAWEA.
G e o g r a p h i c D a t a
Inland Loch in Argyll, NW of the Holy Loch and
Dunoon.
Grid Reference NS1391
B a t
t l e H o n o u r s
ATLANTIC 1945 - NORTH SEA
1945
Crest: None is recorded in the Official
List.
(Note: Many ships of the Class had
unofficial crests used during War Service.
M a n n i n g P o r t
Devonport
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 with 10th Escort Group in Western Approaches. Commanding
Officer: Lieut. Cdr. R C Freaker DSC* RNR.
November
7th - Build
completion and commenced Acceptance Trials.
On
completion of trials and storing took passage to Tobermory for work-up.
December
Work-up in
continuation.
Joined Group at Londonderry. Deployed with Group in Channel and SW Approaches for
anti-submarine patrol and support of convoy
escorts.
At Liverpool for maintenance and
leave.
1 9 4 5
January
Transferred to
Scapa Flow for anti-submarine operations in NW Approaches for interception of U-Boats on passage in Faeroes Iceland Gap. (Note: These patrols were assisted by ENIGMA
information about the movements of submarines
which had been decyphered by GCHQ and passed to the CinC Home Home Fleet. See BRITISH INTELLIGENCE IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR Ed.
Hinsley (HMSO) and
HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair.)
Deployed in NW Approaches with HM Frigates BAYNTUN,
BRAITHWAITE and sister ship HMS LOCH
DUNVEGAN.
February
3rd - In
conjunction with ships of Group sank U1279 NW of Shetlands in position 61.21N
02.00W
with SQUID Mortar after HEDGEHOG
attacks by HMS BAYNTUN and HMS BRAITHWAITE.
None
of the 48 crew survived. (See HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR and U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.)
7th - Returned
with Group to Scapa Flow to refuel.
14th - Took
part in sinking of U 989 North of Shetlands in Position 61.36N 01.35W with
ships of
Group by SQUID and HEDGEHOG. See
above references.
(Note: Only two of the crew survived
including the commander of the submarine.
Both
survivors died soon afterwards from shock, exposure and escape perils.). Ships of 9th Escort Group were also deployed during
this patrol).
17th - Took
part in sinking of U1278 North of Shetlands in position 61.32N o1.36W. None of the crew survived. See references.)
Returned to Liverpool after call at Londonderry on
completion of patrol. (Note: Captain
was awarded Bar to his DSC.)
March
Redeployed in
Channel and SW Approaches for patrol and support based at Plymouth and Portsmouth as Force 38.
Grounded
and damaged Asdic Dome. Under repair
at Portsmouth
.
New Commanding Officer appointed:
Lieut. Cdr. W Molness RNR
April
On completion
of repair resumed Channel and SW Approaches duties in Force 38. Carried out trials on new SONOBUOY submarine detection
equipment.
(For details of new weapons
introduced during 1944-5 see THE TORPEDOMEN by A Poland
and
SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann.)
May
Deployed for
anti-submarine defence, patrol and support duty in Western Approaches.
4th - Returned
to Londonderry.
Nominated for service in East Indies
Escort Force after refit.
23rd - Joined
Rosyth Command for support of Norwegian reoccupation (Operation DOOMSDAY).
Deployed with HM Frigates PAPUA, BAHAMAS and BAYNTUN.
June
Norwegian
support in continuation.
1st - Escorted
U2529 from Kristiansund to Loch Erribol.
(Note:
This U-Boat was to be destroyed as part of Operation DEADLIGHT.)
6th - Deployed
with escort for Convoy RN1 taking King Haakon of Norway to Oslo.
23rd - Taken in
hand for refit at Bristol at Charles Hill shipyard
July
Under refit.
August
Carried out
post refit harbour trials.
25th - After ammunitioning
took passage to Cardiff from Avonmouth for visit.
26th - Took
passage for foreign service from Cardiff.
30th - Sailed
from Gibraltar.
September
3rd - Sailed
from Malta.
8th - Suez
Canal Transit.
13th - Sailed
from Aden.
20th - At
Colombo and prepared for service in support of operations in East Indies. (Note: The end of hostilities in August did not
diminish the need for escorts. Apart from the
difficulties related to the repatriation of civilian and of dealing with the repatriation of military and civilian personnel, there
was significant opposition to to the
restoration of Dutch colonial rule by the indigenous population of the Dutch East Indies. To further complicate matters most the
ships' companies were serving for
'Hostilities only' and had little in the way enthusiasm for any further
service. This
made maintenance of morale a
continuous problem for Commanding Officers. See
SEAGULLS
IN MY BELFRY by CC Anderson).
26th - Took
passage from Colombo for Singapore with calls Padang, Penang and Port
Swettenham.
October
6th - Arrived
at Singapore.
8th - Sailed
for Batavia for support duties.
12th - At
Batavia.
18th - Took
passage to Singapore and escorted landing craft carrying personnel for
repatriation.
22nd - Arrived
at Singapore.
November
6th - Deployed
for repatriation support duties. Passage to
Brakit, Bintang Island from Singapore. Sailed
for Manokawi, Anamoa Island.
7th - At
Manowaki and took passage to Singapore.
8th - Returned
to Singapore.
9th - Sailed
for Sabang for Guardship and military support duties
11th - At
Sabang.
22nd - Took
passage with Landing craft from Sabang for return to Singapore.
25th - Arrived
at Singapore
December
New Commanding
Officer appointed: Lieut. Cdr. P J H Hoare.
7th - Took
passage from Singapore for Guardship and support duties in Java.
11th - Deployed
at Batavia.
13th - Passage
to Sourabaya.
14th - At
Sourabaya.
17th - Passage
to Bali Strait for patrol to intercept craft carrying weapons, personnel and
stores to
insurgents.
21st - Return
passage to Sourabaya.
23rd - At
Sourabaya for support of military.
1 9 4 6
January
Deployed at
Sourabaya
14th - Took
passage to Semerang.
15th - At
Semerang and took passage to Singapore.
Escorted
Landing Craft with RAPWI personnel.
21st - Arrived
at Singapore.
February
8th - Took
passage to Sourabaya to relieve HM Frigate LOCH SCAVAIG as Guardship. Media representatives were embarked to attend formal
surrender of Bali.
11th - Arrived
at Sourabaya
13th - Passage
to Samarang and return passage.
16th - At
Sourabaya.
22nd - Took
passage from Sourabaya to Bali for formal surrender ceremony. Senior Japanese military officers were embarked
23rd - Arrived
at Bali.
24th - Formal
surrender ceremony on Quarterdeck. (Note:
Senior British Representative was Colonel P Kemp, Royal Hussars who had been associated with military operations in the area during
WW2. The surrender had been offered to
Commanding Officer of HM Frigate LOCH SCAVAIG before relief but this was declined in order to ensure maximum attendance of
the media)
26th - Took
passage to return to Sourabaya
27th - At
Sourabaya
March
7th - Took
passage to Benoa, Bali
8th - At Benoa.
10th - Return
passage to Sourabaya.
11th - At
Sourabaya.
15th - Took
passage to Benoa with British Mission embarked.
16th - At
Benoa.
18th - Took
passage to Lombok with Mission for formal surrender.
At
Lombok with Mission.
21st - Sailed
from Lombok for Maccassar
22nd - At
Macassar
24th - Return
passage to Sourabaya
25th - At
Sourabaya.
27th - Took
passage from Sourabaya to Singapore on relief.
April
1st - Arrived
at Singapore.
8th - Took
passage to Batavia for Guardship duties with Landing Craft. (Note: These craft were to be used for supply of
stores to outlying islands).
13th - At
Batavia.
18th - Passage
to Sourabaya.
20th - Deployed
at Sourabaya.
27th - Return
passage to Batavia.
29th - At
Batavia.
(Note: Interception patrol duties
during passages).
May
4th - Passage
to Semarang, Java.
5th - At
Semarang and return passage to Batavia.
6th - At
Batavia.
10th - Took
passage to Sourabaya.
12th - At
Sourabaya.
13th - Took
passage to Singapore with call at Palembang, Sumatra
17th - At
Palembang.
18th - Arrived
at Singapore.
Prepared for return passage to UK to
pay off into Reserve.
20th - Sailed
from Singapore to Colombo.
27th - Arrived
at Colombo.
In collision with HM Cutter
LANDGUARD
(Note: This ship was awaiting return
to US after Lend Lease service since 1940.)
June
Under repair
July
6th - Sailed
for Trincomalee to join HM Escort Carrier VENGEANCE and HMS LOCH CRAGGIE.
Returned to
Trincomalee.
17th - Took
passage from Trincomalee to UK.
25th - At Aden.
30th - Transit
of Suez Canal
August
8th - Took
passage from Gibraltar for Devonport with HMS LOCH CRAGGIE.
13th - At
Devonport to Pay off and reduce to Reserve.
September
After
de-storing and de-ammunitioning joined Reserve Fleet.
October to December
Laid-up at
Devonport.
1 9 4 7
In Reserve at
Devonport.
1 9 4 8
January to August
Sale to New
Zealand negotiated and price of £230,050 agreed.
Taken
in hand for refit before formal hand-over.
Pennant
Number for visual signalling purposes changed to F422.
September
Renamed HMNZS
HAWEA by Lady Burnett, wife of Admiral Robert Burnett,
Commander
in. Chief, Plymouth.
(Note: First choice of name was
MOANA).
H M N Z S H A W E A ( F 4 2 2 )
Five other LOCH Class Frigates were transferred to the RNZN at the same
time and were all given a new name. The choice of lakes in New Zealand was
particularly appropriate.
G e o g r a p h i c D a t a
Inland lake in South of Island. Position:44.30S 169-15E
120 miles NW of Dunedin in the Southern Alps.
B a t t l e H o n o u r s
KOREA 1951-53
H e r a l d i c D a t a
Badge: On a Field Azure in base three bars wavy, Argent, arising
therefrom a dexter
hand grasping a kotiate, Or.
(Note: This features a Kotiate and wavy lines representing the sea.
It is based on Maori history associated with Lake Hawea in the area of
which four tribes settled after having driven out their predecessors.
The weapon shown is usually made of whalebone or a hardwood Kauri,
common in New Zealand, with its leading edge ground to a sharp finish).
Motto
Kia Toa: 'Be brave'
D e t a i l s o f S e r v i c e
1 9 4 8
September
At Devonport.
Commanding Officer: Lieut. Cdr A C B Blomfield DSC** RN. Post refit
trials unsatisfactory and repair required.
October
3rd - Commissioned for service in Royal New Zealand Navy.
On completion
of repair took passage to Malta for work-up for operational service. Worked up with
three other LOCH Class Frigates being transferred to RNZN.
November
Work-up with Mediterranean Fleet in continuation.
22nd - Took passage for Auckland from Malta with sister ships, HM New
Zealand Frigates TAUPO, PUKAKI and KANIERE.
December
Passage through Red Sea and Indian Ocean to Singapore.
1 9 4 9
January
Passage from Singapore. Joined 11th Frigate Flotilla on arrival.
31st - New Commanding Officer appointed: Lieut. B H Clinkard.
February
Carried out first patrol in Pacific.
March to September
Deployed with Flotilla for training and Pacific patrol. Visits were
paid to Suva, Fiji and Samoa.
October to December
Paid off and taken in hand for extensive refit by RNZ Dockyard,
Auckland. Structural changes made to improve command and communications by
provision of an Operations Room. Escape scuttles fitted to lower messdecks. Shaft bearings
were replaced by new design. (Note: Similar changes had been made in RN LOCH Class
Frigates.)
1 9 5 0
January to February
Under refit.
New Commanding Officer appointed: Lieut. Cdr. TW Stocker, RN.
March
Re-commissioned. Carried out post refit trials.
Nominated for transfer on loan
to 2nd Frigate Flotilla, Mediterranean Fleet with sister snip, HMZNS TAUPO. (Note: HM
Frigates ST AUSTELL BAY and VERYAN BAY were exchanged for service in 11th Frigate
Flotilla at Auckland).
22nd - Carried exercises with RNZN and RAN ships
including anti-submarine defence with HM
Submarine TELEMACHUS.
April
3rd - Took passage for Malta from Auckland with calls at Singapore and
Aden.
(Note: HMNZS TAUPO was in company.)
May to July
Joined Flotilla in Malta and deployed with Mediterranean Fleet for
Exercise and first Summer Cruise programme.
Took part in Fleet Regatta at
Marmarice, Turkey and won Whalers Cup.
August
Visited Messina.
September
Took passage with HMNZS TAUPO to return to New Zealand.
October
Passage from Singapore.
November
Rejoined 11th Frigate Flotilla.
December
Deployed at Auckland with Flotilla.
1 9 5 1
January
Deployed on Pacific patrol. Nominated for service in support
of military operations in Korea as relief for HMNZS TUTIRA. Prepared for
war service with UN Task Force off Korea.
February
Commanding Officer Lieut. Cdr. F N F Johnston RNZN.
8th - Sailed from Auckland to Kure, Japan with calls at Port Moresby and
Hong Kong.
March
Passage to Hong Kong. Official Crest approved by NZ Navy Board.
April
Passage to Kure.
26th - Arrived at Kure for duty with UN.
May
Deployed for convoy defence, patrol and bombardment duties off the west
coast of Korea.
18th - Bombarded gun position on west coast.
(Note: This was first occasion
that an RNZN ship fired on the enemy.)
20th - Covered landing by Royal Marines from HM Cruiser Ceylon on shore
installation.
Provided naval gunfire support during landing.
June to December
UN Deployment in continuation. (Note: During this period the
tasks included provision of navigational data for bombardment for
bombardment anchorages in Han River estuary for a total period of 23 days. In addition
the ship bombarded rail traffic and maintained a blockade to stop enemy supplies being
landed by sea.
A BBC film crew was embarked for a television documentary.)
1 9 5 2
January
UN duty in continuation. Carried cut bombardment of troop concentrations in Han
River and landed shore party to observe fall of shot.
February
Relieved by HMNZS ROTOITI. (Note: Ship had spent 73% of her tour of duty at sea.)
3rd - Took passage from Kure to New Zealand with call at Hong Kong.
9th - At Hong Kong on Accession Day for Queen
Elizabeth ,
(Note: During UN duties R&R periods spent at Kure. Dockyard
facilities were available in commercial Japanese shipyard. The main
operational base for all UN naval forces was at Sasebo, which was largely dominated by
US personnel.
March
Passage from Hong Kong.
8th - Arrived at Auckland.
(Statistics: 272 days at sea out of 371 days away from
New Zealand,
55,000 miles steamed, 21,000 rounds of ammunition expended. Awards:
Captain awarded DSC and later US Legion of Merit,
Engineer Officer Mentioned in
Despatches.)
25th - New Commanding Officer: Lieut. GR Herring RN.
April to June
Under refit and maintenance at Auckland.
New Commanding Officer
appointed: Cdr. G R Davis-Goff, DSC* RN.
July
Prepared for 2nd Tour of duty with UN.
7th - Re-commissioned.
August
4th - Took passage from Auckland to rejoin UN Task Group.
September
On passage via Hong Kong.
October
1st - Arrived at Sasebo to relieve HMNZS TAUPO.
2nd - Sailed for duty off west coast of Korea and deployed as Senior
Officer of Task Unit for patrol and bombardment duties.
November
Returned to Kure from patrol duties.
Visited by New Zealand Minister
of Defence at Kure.
Resumed patrol and bombardment support duties.
December
Deployment for UN west coast bombardment and patrol duties in
continuation.
25th - At Sasebo for Xmas
1 9 5 3
January to February
UN duties in continuation. Came under fire from shore battery which was returned. Detected
underwater contact which proved to be wreck.
(Note: No submarine activities were
recorded during UN duties).
March
4th - During patrol provided naval gunfire support to garrison on
Yang-Do island after landing by enemy troops. Controlled air strikes and under
shore lire.
Later in month supported Guerrilla raid on mainland and again came under
return fire which
was avoided by making smoke and varying speed whilst manoeuvring.
April
Deployed for support bombardment in Han River area. Relieved off
west coast by HMNZS ROTOITI.
May
UN deployment in continuation.
Took passage to Hong Kong for
R&R.
June
2nd - Took part in Hong Kong Coronation Day Parade in ANZAC Park with
contingent from
HMNZS KANIERE.
Returned to Japanese water for visit to Beppu. On completion
resumed UN patrol duties off west coast.
11th - After arrival in patrol area deployed for evacuation of personnel
from islands north of planned cease fire line.
Bombarded shore targets and
escorted junks carrying civilian refugees.
July
West coast deployment in continuation.
23rd - Hostilities ceased but remained in UN service,
August
Took passage to return to New Zealand with call at Hong Kong.
29th - Arrived at Auckland. (Statistics: Mileage steamed
during Tour - 38,000.)
September
Taken in hand for refit.
October to December
Under refit.
New Commanding Officer: Lieut Cdr, J P Tuiloch RNZN.
1 9 5 4
January
Carried out post refit trials and re-commissioned.
February
Rejoined 11th Frigate Flotilla Nominated for Pacific islands
patrol and visits.
Took passage from Auckland.
March
Deployed for Pacific patrol with calls at Suva, Ocean Island and Nuie.
April
Returned to Auckland.
May
Visited Dunedin with ships of Flotilla
June to July
Deployed-at Auckland for Flotilla duties.
August
Visited Fiji with ships of Flotilla.
September
Visited Wellington with Flotilla.
October
Deployed with Flotilla and visited ports in South Island.
November
Visited Chatham Island.
December
Deployed at Auckland.
1 9 5 5
January
Deployed at Auckland.
February to March
Deployed for training duties and visited ports in South Island and
Australia.
April
Taken in hand for refit at Auckland.
May to June
Under refit.
July
Carried out post refit trials.
August
Deployed for Pacific patrol with visit to Suva.
29th - New Commanding Officer appointed: Lieut Cdr R T Hale RNZN
September
Deployed for training duties and visited ports in South Island.
October
Training deployment in continuation with visits to Australian ports.
November
Deployed for Pacific patrol and visited Suva.
December
Deployed for visits to Wellington and ports in South Island.
1 9 5 6
January
Deployed at Auckland.
February to July
Under refit at Auckland.
New Commanding Officer appointed: Lieut. C D W J Brown
RNZN
August
Carried out post refit trials
September to October
Deployed for patrol in SW Pacific and visited Chatham Island and
Dunedin.
November
Deployed at Auckland. Prepared for ceremonial duties prior to Royal visit.
Nominated for
reduction to Reserve status.
December
Part of escort for HM Royal Yacht BRITANNIA with HRH The Duke of
Edinburgh embarked.
On release took passage to Bluff, South Island.
20th - Escorted HMNZ Antarctic Support Ship ENDEAVOUR from Bluff during
passage to Southern
Ocean with HMNZS PUKAKI. (Note: HMNZS ENDEAVOUR was taking Sir Edmund Hilary
and members of the Trans-Antarctic Expedition to make a trans-polar
crossing as part of the International Geophysical Year.)
Before arrival
at McMurdo Sound had to detach because of the danger presented to hull by pack ice.
Carried out
oceanographic measurements during inward and outward passages.
1 9 5 7
January
Return passage from Southern Ocean to Auckland.
February
Paid-off and reduced to Operational Reserve after de-storing.
F i n
a l P h a s e
HMNZS HAWEA
was used as a Harbour Training ship at Auckland until placed on the Disposal
List.. The ship was sold for demolition in September1965 and taken in tow to the
breaker’s yard at Hong Kong . This name was later
used for an RNZN Patrol Craft built in UK.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS
LOCH
ECK
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
04/03/45
|
unknown
|
HX 342
|
unknown
|
19/03/45
|
21/04/45
|
22/04/45
|
OS 124KM
|
25/04/45
|
27/04/45
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note on Convoys)