LOCH-Class
Frigate ordered from Harland & Wolff at Belfast on 2nd February 1943 and
laid down as Job No J3373 (Yard Number 1246) on 28th December 1943. The ship
was launched on 23rd May 1944 as the 1st RN ship to carry the name. Build was
transferred to John Brown after launch and the ship was towed to Clydebank for completion.
Build was completed on 23rd October 1944 after fitting-out.
B a t t
l e H o n o u r
s
ATLANTIC 1945
H e r a l d i c D a t a
Badge: On a Field Red issuing from barry wavy White and Blue in base
a demi-lion White grasping a club
Gold.
(Note: Taken from the Arms of Wallace)
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.
Commissioned for service in 22nd Escort Group.
23rd Build
completion and commenced Acceptance Trials
Nominated for special trials with different design propellers on completion of
storing and other trials.
November Carried cut
comparison trials on different design propellers.
December Passage to
Tobermory
12th Commenced
work-up for operational service.
1 9 4 5
January
3rd On
completion took passage to join Group
Deployed with HM Sloops AMETHYST, HART, PEACOCK and STARLING for
anti-submarine search operations in Irish Sea and NW Approaches.
16th Shared
credit for sinking U482 with above ships in position 55-30N 05.53W using SQUID
and depth charges
(Note: U482 had torpedoed Escort Carrier THANE in Clyde estuary.
There were no survivors from the submarine.
See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp and HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR by
C
Blair.)
February Under
repair for weather damage sustained during deployment in NW Approaches.
March
17th
Rejoined Group for support duty and convoy defence inn Irish Sea and SW
Approaches
based at Milford Haven.
April Irish
Sea and SW Approaches deployment in continuation.
Nominated for service in East Indies after refit.
May Passage
to Cardiff for refit.
10th Taken
in hand for refit by Bailey at Cardiff.
June
Sustained damage in collision with tug at Cardiff and had to be docked.
July On
completion prepared for foreign service.
20th Took
passage to join East Indies Fleet.
28tih Sailed
for Alexandria from Gibraltar.
August Additional
Oerlikon mountings fitted at Alexandria to improve AA defence.
10th During
passage in Red Sea responded to Distress signal from HM Fighter Direction
Ship PALOMARES on fire in Red Sea
11th
Provided medical aid and embarked severely burned casualties.
12th Landed
casualties to Massawa.
15th At
Aden.
22nd Sailed
for Colombo from Aden.
29th At
Colombo.
September
2nd Joined
East Indies Fleet and nominated
for defence of Assault convoys for
Malayan coast landings.
(Operation ZIPPER - This had been delayed. See THE FORGOTTEN FLEET by
J
Winton. Final Report of Supreme Commander SEAC (HMSO) and BRITISH
INVASION FLEETS by J de Winser for information about all mercantiles and
warships
taking part.)
Deployed for escorted of follow-up convoys and landed SOE party on passage.
P o s t W a r N o t e s
HMS LOCH CRAGGIE was deployed at Singapore for support of military
operations in the Dutch East Indies against insurgents opposing return of Dutch
colonial rule and as Guardship at Morotai in the Moluccas
where Japanese prisoners of war were held before return to Japan. The ship
returned to Devonport in July 1946 and Paid-off. She was placed in Reserve until
being re commissioned in December 1950 as part of a programme to increase the
active Fleet after the start of war in Korea. She served with the 5th Frigate
Flotilla, Mediterranean Fleet until January 1953 when she returned to Reserve. Although
selected for modernisation this was not implemented and her equipment was preserved
at Liverpool in 1954. On completion she was transferred to the Reserve Fleet
Division at Gibraltar. Although offered for sale to the Portugal this was not
accepted and the ship remained laid-up at Gibraltar until placed on the
Disposal List in 1961. After being de-equipped the ship was sold in July 1963
for breaking-up in Lisbon by Dantops Leal and arrived
there in tow on 25th October 1963.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS
LOCH
CRAGGIE
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
29/03/45
|
unknown
|
HX 347
|
unknown
|
14/04/45
|
03/04/45
|
unknown
|
HX 348
|
unknown
|
20/04/45
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note on Convoys)