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)