LOCH-Class
Anti-Submarine Frigate ordered on 13th
February 1943 from Swan Hunter of Wallsend,
Newcastle. She was laid down on 2nd May
1944 as Job No J4840 (Yard Number 1790))
and intended to be named HMS LOCH
TORRIDON. The ship was launched on 13th
January 1945 but by that date the
requirement for LOCH CLASS had lapsed
and the ship was converted for use in
the Far East as a Depot Ship for Light
Coastal Forces craft in the Far East.
Build completion was delayed by the
changes needed for use in her new role
and she was not accepted into service
till 10th October 1945, after VJ Day.
She commissioned as HMS WOODBRIDGE HAVEN
and was the first RN ship to carry the
name. As there was then no need for a
ship of this type in the Pacific she was
placed in Reserve at Harwich after
acceptance from the builder. See General
Information for details of design
changes to the basic LOCH Class hull
structure.
M
a n n i
n g Divisions
Chatham
:
1946 to 1953
Portsmouth
: 1955 till centralised
G
e o g r a p h i
c D a t a
LOCH
TORRIDON:
Grid Reference NG7560. Sea
Loch in Ross and Cromarty.
WOODBRIDGE
HAVEN: Grid Reference
TM2749. Estuary of River
Deben, Suffolk.
H
e r a l d i
c D a
t a
Badge:
On a Field Blue In front of an anchor
White, a fleur-de-lys
gold.
S
u m m a r y
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
September
Pennant Number for visual signalling
purposes changed to P58.
October
Contractors trials.
10th
Build completion and commenced
Acceptance Trials
11th
Commissioned for trials : 11 October
1945.
Commanding Officer : Commander K
Gemmell, DSO, DSC RNVR (30/08/45]
(Note : This officer was a well known
MTB Flotilla Commander 1940 -45).
November
Paid-off and reduced to Reserve status
at Harwich.
December
Accepted into Reserve at Harwich.
1
9 4 6
January
Nominated for service as Despatch Vessel
for Flag Officer, Submarines and for use
as a Submarine
to
Target Vessel during exercises and
submarine training.
March
(Note : The workshop facilities and
additional accommodation made her
suitable
for this type
of
deployment.
Prepared for service.
April
10th
Re-commissioned. Post refit trials and
prepared for service.
May
Deployed with 5th Submarine Flotilla at
Portsmouth and used by Flag Officer
Submarines.
to
Took part in Submarine Command and Fleet
exercises.
December
1
9 4 7
January
Under refit at Devonport.
to
Nominated for
transfer to 3rd Submarine Flotilla at
Rothesay.
April
On completion of post refit trials took
passage to Rothesay.
May
Deployed with Flotilla for training and
exercises in Clyde area.
to
July
August
Visited Portsmouth
September
Passage to Barrow for visit.
(Note :During visit sustained damaged in
collision with HM Sloop CYGNET.
Docked for repair at Barrow 15th
New Commanding Officer appointed :
Lieut. Cdr .D A Mason, Royal Navy.
(Later Vice Admiral, CB)
October
Under repair at Barrow.
6th
On completion resumed duties at
Rothesay.
November
Deployment with Flotilla at Rothesay in
continuation.
7th
Passage to Chatham for electrical
repair.
December
Resumed duties at Rothesay.
1
9 4 8
January
Deployment at Rothesay in continuation.
to
Withdrawn after damage to propeller
shaft bearings.
February
Passage to Chatham
March
Under repair by Ml Dockyard, Chatham.
to
Resumed
Flotilla duties at Rothesay on
completion of post repair trials.
June
July
Flotilla deployment in continuation.
Visited
Barrow with submarines.
August
Flotilla duties in continuation.
September
Flotilla duties at Rothesay and visit to
Barrow with submarines.
October
Flotilla duties at Rothesay and visit to
Barrow with submarines.
November
Flotilla duties at Rothesay in
continuation.
December
Passage to Chatham for refit
1
9 4 9
January
Under refit
at Chatham.
to
February
March
18th
On completion carried out post refit
trials.
Passage to Rothesay to resume duties
with Flotilla.
April
Duties with Flotilla at Rothesay in
continuation.
Visited Campbeltown with submarines.
May
Flotilla duties at Rothesay in
continuation.
New Commanding Officer appointed : Lieut
Cdr P G Lachlan MBE RN.
June
Flotilla duties at Rothesay in
continuation.
(Note : During the period 1949-50 used
for support of experimental trials on
captured
U-Boat using HTP fuel)
July
.
Flotilla duties at Rothesay in
continuation.
25th
Captain HF Bone DSO*, DSC* RN, Captain
3rd Submarine Flotilla assumed
Command.
(Note: HM Submarine Depot Ship MONTCLARE
was under refit)
August
Flotilla deployment at Rothesay in
continuation.
to
September
October
9th
Deployed at Londonderry with Flotilla
for Joint Anti-Submarine School
exercises.
14th
Returned to Rothesay.
November
Deployed at Rothesay for Flotilla
duties.
to
December
1
9 5 0
January
Complement reduced due to temporary
manning shortages
Rothesay deployment with Flotilla in
continuation.
February
Rothesay deployment with Flotilla in
continuation.
to
March
April
Under refit at Chatham
May
7th
On completion of post refit trials
resumed duties at Rothesay.
June
4th
Deployed with Flotilla for Flag Officer
Submarines Sunroer(?) War (Exercise
SWX5).
17th
On completion of SWX5 resumed duties at
Rothesay.
July
Deployed at Londonderry with Flotilla
for Joint Anti-Submarine School
exercises.
Passage to Chatham.
August
2nd
Leave period and under refit at Chatham
September
Under refit
21st
On completion of post refit trials
resumed duties at Londonderry with
Flotilla.
October
Londonderry duties in continuation.
to
November
December
Deployed at Rothesay with Flotilla.
Passage to Chatham for Leave.
23rd
Malicious damage suspected when sand
found in Steering Engine.
1
9 5 1
January
Resumed Flotilla duties continuation.
Visited Portland with submarines
February
Deployed at Rothesay with Flotilla.
(Note: During this period further
malicious damage discovered in Anchor
Winch).
March
Docking and essential defect repair at
Chatham.
21st
New Commanding Officer, Lieut Cdr B C
Longbottom RN appointed.
April
Under repair.
May
On completion resumed duties with
Flotilla at Rothesay.
June
Took part in Flag Officer Submarines
Summer War (Exercise SW6).
July
Deployed with Flotilla at Rothesay.
August
Leave and refit at Chatham
September
Deployed for Home Fleet exercises with
Flotilla.
Passage to Portland from Rothesay.
Took part in visits with submarines to
Karlskrona and Copenhagen.
(Note : HM Submarine Depot Ship
MONTCLARE and HM Destroyer ZAMBESI in
company.)
October
Deployed with Flotilla at Londonderry
for JASS exercises.
November
Deployed with Flotilla at Rothesay.
December
Passage to Chatham for leave period.
7th
Court martial for sabotage offences.
Able Seaman Thomas Willetts found guilty
on 6 charges.
Sentenced to 2 years 6 months
imprisonment and dismissed the Service.
(Note : Subject to confirmation).
1
9 5 2
January
Passage to Rothesay to resume duties
with Flotilla.
February
Rothesay deployment in continuation.
March
Passage to Chatham for Leave period and
refit.
31st
New Commanding Officer, Lieut. Cdr A d'E
T Sangster RN appointed.
April
Under refit
to
May
June
Passage to Rothesay to resume duties
with Flotilla after post refit trials.
June
Deployed at Rothesay with Flotilla.
to
August
September
Flotilla duties including exercises with
Home Fleet and visits to Lerwick and
Aberdeen with
to
HM Depot Ship MONTCLARE and submarines.
October
November
Deployed at Rothesay and Londonderry
with Flotilla.
December
Passage to Portsmouth for repair
.
Under repair and Leave period.
1
9 5 3
January
Resumed duties at Rothesay with
Flotilla.
31st
Deployed to assist disabled ferry
PRINCESS VICTORIA adrift in Irish Sea
during a
violent storm.
(Note : Ferry had sunk by the time
rescue vessels had reached scene of
disaster.
Only 44 survived out of 176 persons on
board.
Rescue operations severely limited
rescue work.)
February
Rothesay deployment in continuation.
to
Passage to Chatham for routine docking
and essential defect repair.
April
May
Passage to Rothesay to resume duties
with Flotilla.
Prepared for Coronation Review and
visits programme.
June
Visited Isle of Man on passage to
Spithead.
Took part in Coronation Review.
July
Resumed duties at Rothesay.
Provided street lining party for Royal
visit to Greenock.
August
Leave period at Chatham.
September
Passage to Rothesay to rejoin Flotilla.
October
Deployed at Londonderry with Flotilla
for anti-submarine exercises.
to
November
December
On release from exercises took passage
to Chatham for Leave and refit.
1
9 5 4
January
Under refit
Docking delayed.
February
Under refit
to
Future deployment under consideration
June
July
To be reduced to Reserve status en
completion of refit
August
Carried out post refit trials
September. Reducing
to Reserve Status.
to
December
1
9 5 5
January
Accepted into Reserve at Chatham.
February
Selected for conversion for service as
Support Ship for Coastal Minesweepers.
(See Conversion Notes).
Nominated for service in Mediterranean.
1st
Commanding Officer, Captain RE Hutchins
DSC RN appointed.
(Also Captain, Minesweepers,
Mediterranean).
March
Under conversion at Chatham.
to
June
July
Post refit trials and prepared for
foreign service.
to
Manning Port Division changed to
Portsmouth.
August
Commissioned for duty with Mediterranean
Fleet.
(Note : This deployment was made to
provide support for military operations
in
Cyprus
area
where sea patrols were to be carried cut
by minesweepers
to prevent
smuggling of
weapons to terrorists).
September
9th
Took passage from Chatham to Malta.
Headquarters element of 40 Commando
Royal Marines embarked for passage.
19th
Joined 104th Minesweeping Squadron in
Malta.
October
Deployed for support of minesweepers
carrying patrols off Cyprus.
Based at Famagusta
November
Support duties in continuation and
visited Beirut for R&R.
Deployed with
Squadron during minesweeping
exercises.
December
Deployed in Malta with Squadron.
1
9 5 6
January
Deployed during minesweeping exercises
with Squadron in central Mediterranean
to
Visited Bizerta and Messina.
February
March
Deployed with Squadron in Malta
to
April
May
Deployed with Squadron during
minesweeping exercises in western
Mediterranean.
Visited Sardinia.
June
Deployed with Squadron in Malta
to
Prepared for operations against Egypt
after Suez Canal nationalised.
August
September
Deployed with Squadron in support of
operations in eastern Mediterranean.
New Commanding Officer, Captain J H
Walwyn OBE RN appointed.
(Also Captain, Inshore Flotilla,
Mediterranean.
Later Rear Admiral CB, OBE RN)
October
Took part in Suez operations for support
of Squadron.
to
Based at Famagusta. (Operation
MUSKETEER)
November
December
24th
Returned to Malta with Squadron on
release from MUSKETEER.
1
9 5 7
January
Deployed with Squadron in Malta.
February
Routine docking and essential repairs.
March
Deployed in support of Squadron during
minesweeping exercises in the western
Mediterranean.
Visited Monaco and La Spezia.
April
Deployed with Squadron in Malta.
May
Deployed for support of Squadron during
Anti-smuggling and gun-running Patrols
to
Deployed with Squadron for minesweeping
exercises. Based at Famagusta.
June
July
Under refit in Malta.
August
On completion of post refit trials
rejoined Squadron.
September
Deployed in support of Squadron during
minesweeping exercises in Adriatic.
Visited Trieste and Bari with snips of
Squadron.
October
Deployed in Malta with Squadron.
November
Deployed at Famagusta to support
minesweepers carrying out patrol duties
off
Cyprus
Visited Beirut for R&R.
22nd
Assisted in salvage of ss AFRICAN PRINCE
(Note: Salvage payments made in 1960
varied between £62 and £1.50).
December
Deployed with Squadron in Malta
1
9 5 8
January
Routine clocking and essential repair in
Malta.
to
Resumed Squadron support duties on
completion.
February
March
Deployed in support of ships of Squadron
during minesweeping exercises in western
Mediterranean.
Visited Gibraltar and Minorca.
31st
New Commanding Officer appointed:
Captain J S Dalglish CVO RN.
(Also Captain, Inshore Flotilla,
Mediterranean.)
April
Deployed in support of minesweepers
carrying out patrols off Cyprus.
Based at Famagusta
Provided support during minesweeping
exercise..
May
Deployed in western Mediterranean for
support of Squadron during exercises.
Visited Naples with ships of Squadron.
June
Exercise support in continuation.
Visited Majorca.
July
Deployed in Malta with Squadron.
Prepared for support of Squadron during
exercises in Red Sea..
August
Passage to Aden with Squadron
Carried out minesweeping exercises on
passage.
September
Deployed at Aden.
Passage to Aqaba and carried out
exercises on passage.
Passage to Malta with Squadron.
October
Deployed at Malta with Squadron.
November
Deployed in support of ships of Squadron
during minesweeping exercises in the
to
central Mediterranean.
December
Visited Civitaveccia and Benghazi with
Squadron.
1
9 5 9
January
Under refit in Malta
to
March
April
Resumed support duties with Squadron on
completion of post refit trials
May
Deployed in support of Squadron during
minesweeping exercises in the western
Mediterranean.
to
Visited Gibraltar, Palma, Majorca and La
Spezia.
June
July
Took part with ships of Squadron in
Exercise DRAGEX in eastern
Mediterranean.
Visited Izmir, Turkey with ships of
Squadron,
August
Deployed in support of ships of Squadron
during minesweeping exercises off coast
of Sicily.
Visited Augusta with ships of Squadron.
16th
New Commanding Officer: Captain A T F G
Griffin RN appointed.
(Also Captain Inshore Flotilla,
Mediterranean.
Later Admiral Sir Anthony GCB RN).
September
Deployed in Malta with Squadron.
October
Nominated for service at Singapore for
support of 104th Minesweeping Squadron
being
transferred to Far East Station.
21st
Took passage from Malta for Singapore.
November
On passage with six CMS of Squadron with
calls at Aden, Bombay and Colombo.
December
Joined Far East Station as part of
Inshore Flotilla, Far East.
(Note : Two more CMS joined Squadron
after arrival).
1
9 6 0
January
Deployed at Singapore in support of
Squadron.
to
February
March
Deployed in support of 104th and 120th
Minesweeping Squadrons during series of
joint
exercises in South China Sea.
Visited Hong Kong with minesweepers.
April
Deployed at Singapore in support of
Squadron.
Carried out first trials in Far East of
Pilotless Target Aircraft for gunnery
firings by surface
ships.
May
Deployed for
support of minesweepers during patrols
of North
Borneo.
Visited Sandakan.
Provided support for minesweepers during
Fleet Exercise DRAGNET.
June
Exercise support in continuation.
Visited Bangkok with Fleet units.
13th
Stood by tug MISS EUROPA towing mv LAKE
BURNABY which had grounded 100 miles
NE of Sandakan.
Continued passage to Singapore after
arrival of tug AMBASSADOR.
Taken in hand for refit at Singapore.
29th
New Commanding Officer, Captain D L
Davenport OBE RN appointed.
(Also Captain Inshore Flotilla, Far
East.
Later Rear Admiral CB, OBE RN.)
July
Under refit.
to
November
December
Post refit trials and prepared for
operational support duties.
1
9 6 1
January
Visited Penang before support of
Squadron ships during minesweeping
exercises in Malacca
Strait with Royal Malayan Navy.
February
Deployed in support of Squadron during
exercises of NE coast of Malaya.
Flag of CinC, FES worn during MS104
exercises off Pulau Tioman.
(Note :Sir Clifford Jarrett new
Secretary of the Admiralty visited
ship.)
March
Deployed at Hong Kong for support of
Squadron during local exercises.
Return passage with Squadron ships to
Singapore.
April
Deployed at Singapore in support of
Squadron.
May
Deployed in support of ships of Squadron
during minesweeping operation.
(Note: This was to clear Balabak Strait
(Paitan Bay) of mines laid by RAAF in
WW2 in
order to expand timber export from
British North Borneo.)
Support of MS104 and MS120 lasted 2-3
weeks
.
No mines found but the
channels were
widened and confirmed they were safe
for
future use.
US Navy minesweepers also involved for 3
days.
R&R period at Sandakan during
operation with notable hospitality from
British Community
.
Visited Subic Bay, Luzon Island in
Philippines with ships of Squadron on
completion of
clearance work.
July
Routine docking at Singapore.
August
Carried out Diplomatic visit to
Sourabaya, Java with 4 ships of
Squadron.
Exchanged calls and had sporting
fixtures with Indonesian Navy;
Ship open to visitors.
(Note: This was the last formal visit to
Indonesia before KONFRONTASI began in
December 1962.)
September
Deployed in support of Squadron at
Singapore.
Visited Jesselton, North Borneo),
Kuching and Sibu, Sarawak.
(Note: Governor of Sarawak, Sir William
Goode on board during stay at Kuching.
Visit to Sibu, 150 miles up Rajang
River, first by RN ship for 50 years
October
Deployed in support of Squadron ships
during minesweeping exercises off
Borneo.
Visited Hong Kong and Tai Po in New
Territories.
November
Provided support to ships of Squadron
during major SEATO minesweeping exercise
in Gulf
to
of Siam.
December
Based at Sattahip, Eastern Thailand.
(Note: US and Royal Thai Navies took
part.)
On completion visited Bangkok.
(Note: Party of 150 went to War Grave
Cemeteries at KANCHANABURI and
CHUNGKAI.)
Visited NHA TRANG in South Vietnam.
Prepared for passage to India with ships
of Inshore Flotilla.
Towed disabled Indonesian trading vessel
to Malacca.
Spent Xmas at Penang.
1
9 6 2
January
Passage to Colombo with call at Madras.
Passage to Cochin to collect four
minesweepers of Royal Indian Navy.
Passage to Trincomalee with ships of
Inshore Flotilla and RIN minesweepers.
Joined ships taking part in Exercise
JET62 at Trincomalee.
February
Provided support to minesweepers during
Multi-National Exercise in the Malacca
Strait
off
Port Dickson (Exercise MONIJET - Part of
larger Exercise JET62).
(Statistical Note: Total Distance
steamed on return Singapore - 5,100
miles.)
17th
New Commanding Officer, Captain J M
Townley RN appointed.
(Also Captain, Inshore Flotilla, Far
East.)
March
Provided support to ships of Squadron
during minesweeping exercises off Borneo
Visited Manila with ships of Squadron.
April
Deployed at Hong Kong with Squadron.
May
Taken hand for refit on return to
Singapore.
June
Under refit.
to
July
August
On completion of post refit trials
rejoined Inshore Flotilla.
Provided support during minesweeping
exercises in Gulf of Siam.
Visited Saigon.
Deployed for patrol off North Borneo.
September
Provided support during minesweeping
exercise off east coast of Malaya.
(Operation PAULA TIOMAN).
October
Passage to Hong Kong
Squadron. Visited Subic Bay.
November
Visited Bangkok and party went to
British War Graves Commission cemetery
December
Deployed at Singapore with Flotilla.
5th
(Note: Indonesian insurgency commenced
in Borneo.).
Embarked troops for passage to Brunei.
Deployed in support of military
operations in Borneo.
1
9 6 3
January
Deployed with Flotilla in support of
operations in Borneo.
Carried out interception patrols and
landed RM Commando unit.
February
Routine docking and emergency defect
repair at Singapore.
March
Deployed for support of Flotilla off
Borneo.
Carried cut interception patrols.
April
Passage to Hong Kong for final visit and
R&R.
Resumed support duties off Borneo.
May
Returned to Singapore and relieved by
HMS MANXMAN as Support Ship for Inshore
Squadron, Far East.
June
Nominated for reduction to Reserve on
arrival in UK.
Took passage to Portsmouth via Gann and
Aden.
July
Passage through Mediterranean with call
at Gibraltar.
11th
Arrived at Portsmouth to Pay-off.
August
Reducing to
Reserve status at Portsmouth.
to
De-stored and Laid-up
December
F
i n a
l P h a s e
HMS
WOODBRIDGE HAVEN remained in Reserve
Fleet at Portsmouth until 1965 when she
was sold to BISCO for demolition by
Hughes Bolcow
The ship arrived in tow at the breaker’s
yard in Blyth on 12th August 1965.