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BAY Class
Anti-Aircraft
Frigate initially ordered on 6th March 1943
for build as a LOCH Class Anti-submarine
Frigate, but for
which the ordered was changed in 1944.
Originally to have been named LOCH ARKLET she
was laid down on
31st August 1944 and launched as START BAY by
Harland and Wolff at Belfast on 15th February
1945. First RN ship to carry this name she was
completed on 6th September 1945 after the end
of hostilities
with Japan.
G
e o g r a p h i c L o c a t i o n
Grid
Reference: SX8444. Bay 6 miles south of
Dartmouth, Devon
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 Gold, in base barry wavy of 4 Blue
and white, 3 piles conjoined in base Red.
Explanation: From
the Arms
of Sir Guy de Bryan KG, standard bearer to
Edward III at Calais.
The tower of the
collegiate Chantry
founded by Sir Guy is near Slapton on Start
Bay.
M
a n n i n g P o r t
Portsmouth
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
February
Contractors Trials and commissioned for
trials.
(Note: Ship was intended to join the Pacific
Fleet and to prepare for foreign service
Commanding Officer: Lieut. Cdr. R C Dumas.
15th
Build Completion and commenced Acceptance
Trials.
June
On completion of trials including weapons
completed storing for service.
July
Took passage to Portsmouth.
August
Deployed at Portsmouth.
20th
Intended for service with British Pacific
Fleet was changed and allocated for service
in 66th Division of Escorts, Mediterranean
Fleet
September
6th
On completion of trials. weapon testing,
storing and calibrations took passage to
Tobermory to work-up for operational service.
October
Passage to Portsmouth on completion of work-up
and prepared for foreign service.
November
Sailed for Malta to join 66th Division.
Detached at Gibraltar and deployed for local patrol duties.
December
Gibraltar deployment in continuation.
1
9 4 6
January
Passage to Malta and took part in training
exercises with ships of Destroyer Command.
February
Carried out patrol duties in western
Mediterranean with visits to Gibraltar and
Catania.
16th
Passage to Malta.
March
Deployed in Malta.
Nominated for Guardship duty at Trieste.
(Note: Trieste was being used by allied forces
including army units as a forward base.)
7th
At Catania, Sicily
April
Passage to Trieste for Guardship duty.
12th
Arrived at Trieste for support as required and
carried out local patrol and exercises in
May
Guardship duty in continuation.
(Note: Carried out patrol and support of
military garrison as required.)
June
Adriatic deployment
18th
Visited Pola on the Adriatic coast of Italy
July
Return passage to Trieste
1st
At Trieste.
8th
Returned to Malta.
21st
Embarked British troops in Malta for passage
to Piraeus.
25th
At Piraeus.
Carried out patrol in eastern Mediterranean
for interception of ships taking illegal
immigrants to Palestine. See Naval Staff
History Record published in 2002.)
August
1st
Visited Syros in the Greek Cyclades.
22nd
Visited Khios.
On relief took passage to Malta.
September
Joined newly formed 5th Frigate Flotilla,
Mediterranean Fleet based in Malta.
Carried out further interception patrol.
26th
Visited Nauphlia,
Greece.
28th
Visited Cape
Arnauti
30th
Nominated for return to UK and to reduce to
Reserve status.
October
6th
Passage from Cape Arnauti to Famagusta,
Cyprus
8th
Passage to Limassol.
12th
Arrived in Malta to prepare for passage to UK.
16th
Sailed from Malta to Pay-off
26th
Sailed from Gibraltar for Portsmouth
30th
Arrived at Portsmouth
November
Paid-off and destored prior to reduction to
Reserve status
December
Accepted into Reserve Fleet at Portsmouth.
F
i n a l P h
a s e
HMS START BAY
remained in
Reserve until 1958 during which time she
refitted at Southampton in 1948 and her
armament was
preserved with other upper deck equipment .
The ship was brought forward to
attend the
Coronation Review at Spithead in 1953 as part
of the Reserve Fleet. However her
armament equipment was not
restored for use. Following this duty she
carried out visits to ports and communities
on the south coast and in Wales. Her Pennant
Number for visual signalling
purposes had been changed to F604 in May 1948.
She then returned to lay-up in
the Reserve Fleet at Portsmouth and did
not recommission for full service. Placed on
the Disposal List in 1958 as part
of the reduction in the number of ships
required to be kept in
reserve.
This frigate was
sold to BISCO for breaking-up by J Cashmore
and arrived in tow at the breaker’s
yard in Newport, Glamorgan
on 22nd July
1958.
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