Naval History Homepage and Site Search

 

 

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

HMS LOCH KILLIN (K 391) - Loch-class Frigate

HMS Loch Killin (Navy Photos, click to enlarge)

return to Contents List   

 

LOCH-Class Twin Screw Frigate ordered from  Burntisland SB on 6th March 1943 and laid down as Job No J11854 (Yard Number 283) on 2nd June 1943. The ship was launched on 29th November 1943 and was the 1st RN ship to carry the name. Build completed on 12th April 1944, There had been distinct rivalry with sister ship HMS LOCH FADA being built as Lead Slip of the Class by John Brown at Clydebank. and which completed two days earlier. Both these ships were fitted with Radar Type 272 Mk5 in place of the improved Type 277 which was not available for fit during build. The SQUID anti-submarine mortar was fitted. (See General Information).

 

G e o g  r a p h i c   D a t a

Inland Loch  in Inverness

Grid Reference: NH5210

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

 

ATLANTIC 1944 - ENGLISH CHANNEL 1945 - BISCAY 1944 - ENGLISH CHANNEL 1945

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge: On a Field Barry indented of six White and Blue, a sprig of oak

fucted Proper.

(Explanation: The Loch is in, or near, Jacobite country.

The sprig of oak was one of the Jacobite emblems.

Near the Loch is Gorrogy Lodge, Garrogy probably means 'rough water'

hence the field to indicate this.)

 

 

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

 

April                       Contractors trials and commissioned for service in 2nd Escort Group.

                                Commanding Officer: Lieutenant Commander D Darling, DSC RANVR.

                12th        Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials

                24th        Sailed from Leith for Clyde for weapon trials on SQUID Mortar mountings.

 

May                        Carried out trials in Clyde area conducted by Underwater Research Establishment

                                at Fairlie.

                10th        Worked-up at Tobermory for operational service on completion of trials and storing.

 

June

                1st           Joined Group at Liverpool.

                10th        Deployed in SW Approaches for anti-submarine operations based at Plymouth.

                                (Note: These were intended to prevent U-Boats entering Channel for attacks on warships,

                                assault convoys and escorts during Normandy landings

                                (Operation NEPTUNE - See OPERATION NEPTUNE by K Edwards. LANDINGS IN

                                NORMANDY, June 1944 (HMSO) and for information about all mercantiles and

                                warships taking part.

 

July

                2nd         Returned to Liverpool.

                18th        Resumed operations in Channel.

                31st         Shared credit with HM Sloop STARLING for sinking U333 SW of Scillies in position 49.39N

                                07.28W.

                                There were no survivors from U333.

                                (Note: For details see U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.

                                This was the first U-Boat to be sunk using the SQUID Mortar and the 538th claimed.

                                U-BOATS DESTROYED is at variance with other sources.)

 

August                  Bay of Biscay deployment in continuation.

                6th          Sank U736 in position 47.19N 04.16W, W of St Nazaire

                                19 survivors were rescued.

                                (See above reference which claims this was the 1st SQUID sinking)

                9th          Took part with Group and 53 Squadron RAF LIBERATOR aircraft attacks en U608.

                                in position 46.30N 03.087W SW of St Nazaire.

                                All crew of 51 rescued after submarine had been forced to surface and scuttle.

                11th        Took part in attacks on U385 which was later sunk by a SUNDERLAND aircraft of 641

                                Squadron

                                RAF. See above reference.

                13th        Returned to Liverpool and taken in hand for repair to propeller damaged during attacks on

                                U736.

                                Transferred to 17th Escort Group.

                20th        Passage to Scapa Flow to join Group after repair.

                21st         Deployed in NW Approaches and North Sea.

                                (Note: Patrols between Faeroes and Norwegian coast were carried out by several Escort

                                Groups to intercept U-Boats on passage to the Atlantic.

                                These were very successful. See SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann,)

 

September             Anti-submarine operations in NW Approaches in continuation.

                14th        In Clyde for leave.

                27th        Resumed operations in NW Approaches based at Scapa Flow.

 

October                  NW Approaches deployment in continuation.

                26th        Returned to Clyde.

 

November

                10th        Resumed operations with Group based in Scapa Flow.

 

December

                4th          Returned to Clyde for leave and replenishment.

                                Nominated for detached service for anti-submarine support in Channel.

 

1 9 4 5

 

January                  Deployed for Channel convoy escort and support.

                5th          In collision with HM Trawler QUADRILLE and sustained structural damage.

                                Towed HMS QUADRILLE to Portsmouth

                7th          Under repair.

                25th        Passage to resume operations in NW Approaches with calls at Belfast and in Clyde.

 

February                Deployed in NW Approaches with 17th Escort Group.

                6th          Detached for service in Channel area with Forces 125 and 126.

                8th          Deployed in Channel.

                19th        Passage to Clyde to rejoin Group.

 

March

                3rd          Resumed operations in NW Approaches based at Scapa Flow.

 

April                       Transferred to Plymouth with Group for support duty in Channel.

                11th        Deployed with HM Frigate CRANSTOUN and BURGES of Group for support of Channel

                                Convoy traffic.

                                (Note: Atlantic convoys had been re-routed through English Channel.)

                13th        Sank U1063 off Start Point in position 50.08N 03.52W.

                                Submarine was attacked by gunfire and with depth charges.

                                17 of U1063 crew were rescued

 

May

                26th        Returned to Clyde.

 

June                        Nominated for transfer to Rosyth Escort Force for escort of convoys to Norway.

                                (Note: Norwegian nationals were embarked for return to Norway.)

                16th        Passage to Rosyth to join Rosyth Escort Force.

                17th        Norwegian re-occupation support commenced.

                                (Note: Visits were paid to Stavanger, Bergen and Trondheim.)

                22nd       New Commanding Officer: Lieut. Cdr. C W Hancock RNVR appointed).

 

July

                1st           Returned to Rosyth.

                                Nominated for reduction to Reserve

 

August                  Deployed as Guardship at Rosyth.

 

September             Passage to Dartmouth to Pay-Off.

 

October                  Completing de-storing at Dartmouth

 

November

                7th          Accepted into Reserve Category B.

 

Po s t   W a  r   N o t e s

 

HMS LOCH KILLIN was transferred to Plymouth when Dartmouth Sub-Division closed. During refit in London the ship was damaged when a dry dock was flooded accidentally in March 1949. Although she was nominated for modernisation this was cancelled in June 1951 . The ship transferred to Reserve Fleet Sub-Division at Penarth in June 1956 and placed on the Disposal List on 12th April 1960. After sale to BISCO for demolition by J Cashmere of Newport the ship was towed to the breaker's yard on 24th August 1960.

 

back to Contents List
or Naval-History.Net

revised 15/12/10
further editing and formatting is required