BAY-Class Frigate
DUNDRUM BAY (K 427) converted during build at Blyth for use as Despatch Vessel for the CinC on the Far East Station. This name had previously been
used by 24 RN ships 4 of which were Sloops and the others not of significant
size.
B a t t
l e H o n o u r s
LEXINGTON Single
Ship Action 1777 - DOGGER
BANK 1781 - THE SAINTES 1782
- KOREA 1951
H e r a l d i c D a t a
Badge: On a Field Gold, on a mount
Green a stag at gaze Proper.
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 6
October
24th
Commissioned for service as Despatch Vessel.
Commanding Officer: Commander J N Garnett, DSC, RN (P).
November On completion
of trials and storing took passage to Singapore for use by CinC British
Pacific Fleet
29th
Arrived at Singapore.
December
Passage to join BPF at Hong Kong.
1 9 4 7
January Remained
in Hong Kong.
February Deployed
for visits by CinC with calls at Jesselton, Shanghai and Tsingtao in company
with HM Cruiser BELFAST.
24th
Returned to Hong Kong for docking.
March New
Commanding Officer appointed: Commander AAF Talbot DSO, RN.
(Later Vice Admiral Sir Arthur, KBE,
CBE, DSO*) At Singapore.
April
Deployed at Singapore
to
May
June
Deployed for Fleet Cruise programme
to
Visited Bangkok, Kuching and Kure.
July
Returned to Singapore.
August Passage to
Japan to visit BPF units.
to
Called at Tientsin, Inchon, Nagasaki and Yokohama.
September Returned via
Kure to Hong
Kong.
October Under refit
in Hong Kong
to New
Commanding Officer appointed: Commander R M Smeeton MBE RN.
November (Later Vice
Admiral Sir Richard KCB, MBE, FRAeS, DL
Passage to Singapore on
completion of trials
December Deployed at
Singapore.
1 9 4 8
January Deployed
at Singapore
(Note: Pennant Number for visual signalling purposes changed to K421 during
1948)
February
Deployed for Flag visit Programme
At
Saigon
March Carried
out Flag visit to Borneo
At
Brunei and Manila.
April Return
passage to Singapore.
May Flag
visit to Chinese ports including Nanking and Shanghai followed by call
to at
Kuching, Borneo
June (Note:
During this period British ships were being subjected to interference
by
Communist and Nationalist forces.
An
RN patrol was being maintained in the
Formosan Channel to protect British
flagged shipping trading in Chinese waters.
July
Sustained structural damage in Typhoon at Hong Kong and under repair in
HM
Dockyard
August On
completion took passage to Singapore.
September Far East
Station re-established and in future ALERT was to be used by CinC Far
East
and retained at Singapore for his use.
Docking period in Singapore.
October Deployed
operationally as a frigate in support of anti-terrorist operations by
military
forces.
Carried out patrol duty off east coast of Malay to intercept
craft providing assistance
to guerrillas.
November Resumed Flag
Frigate duty.
Passage to Hong Kong
December Returned to
Hong Kong.
1 9 4 9
January Under
refit in Singapore.
February Deployed
for Flag visit by Flag Officer Malayan Area to Jesselton and Kuching in
Borneo.
March Deployed
for Flag Visit to Shanghai and Nanking..
April Under
repair at Hong Kong.
May
Returned to Singapore.
June
Deployed at Singapore
July
Carried out Flag visit to Japan for calls at Kobe and Kure
(Note: Kure was used by US Navy as a Base for US warships in Japanese area).
August Under
repair at Singapore.
September Carried out
Flag visit to ports in Borneo including Jesselton, Sandakan and Kudat.
October Deployed
for Borneo visit programme.
11th
Returned to Singapore
November Deployed at
Singapore.
December Passage to
Hong Kong for refit.
1 9 5 0
January Under
refit in Hong Kong.
to
February
March Carried
out Flag visit Programme to Manila including call at US Navy Base in
Subic Bay.
April Under
refit at Singapore
New Commanding Officer appointed: Commander
R De L Brooke DSO, DSC*
May On
completion of trials took passage to Hong Kong.
June
Deployed for Flag visit Programme to Japan and call at US Navy in Okinawa
after visits to Tokyo, Otaru, Ominatu and Kure.
(Note: Announcement of UN intervention made after leaving Okinawa.)
July. On
arrival at Singapore deployed operationally for Malayan Coast patrol to
provide naval gunfire support of military anti-terrorist operations.
August Detached
for use by Flag Officer, 2nd in Command, Far East Station as RN HQ
to ship
for ships operating with UN off Korea and based at Sasebo, Japan.
September
October
16th
Relieved by HMS LADYBIRD (Ex mercantile ss WUSUEH) which had been
converted for use as RN HQ ship at Sasebo..
Returned to Singapore with call in Hong Kong.
November Deployed
operationally on coastal patrol duties off Malaya.
to
Commanding Officers: Lieut. Commander N R Turner RN
December
1 9 5 1
January
Continued operational deployment.
February Reverted
to Flag Frigate role
28th Took
passage to Hong Kong
March Visited
Sandakan and Kuching in Borneo.
April
Returned to Singapore.
May
Deployed at Singapore.
June
Periodic operation deployment for Malayan Coast patrol duty.
July
Resumed Flag Frigate role.
August Routine
Docking and Underwater Fittings inspection at Singapore.
September Deployed for
Flag Visit to British Naval units operating under UN Command off
Korea. Japan.
Temporarily deployed with UN Task Group
and carried out support bombardment
operation off west coast Korea.
October On release from UN
duties took return passage to
Singapore.
November Passage to
Hong Kong
December Passage to
Singapore
New Commanding Officer appointed. Commander J R L Moore, DSC, RN
Passage to Hong Kong.
1 9 5 2
January Passage
to Saigon for visit by CinC.
17th
Diverted to assist ss TAIKENSHAN which had run aground on the north reef of
Paracel Islands.
Towage proved impossible due to weather conditions and
the stranded ship broke her
back.
Two European officers and 62 Asiatic crew
were rescued and transferred to the
tug PRINCE SALVOR which had been summoned for towing operation.
February Deployed
at Saigon
On
return to Singapore deployed operationally on West Coast Malaya patrol.
March Under
refit at Singapore
to
April
May
Remained in Singapore area on completion of post refit trials.
June
Deployed periodically off Malayan coast to assist
military operations...
to
During patrol bombarded terrorist positions..
August
September On release
from operational deployment for patrols on West Coast of Malaya, reverted
to
Flag Frigate role and took passage to Australia.
October
3rd
Present at Montebello off the north west coast of Western Australia for British
A-Bomb
test
(Note: The 15Kt weapon was detonated in the hull of HM Frigate
PLYM.
(Operation HURRICANE - Part of HAVOC Series of tests).
Returned to Singapore on completion.
New Commanding Officer appointed: Commander H A Luard DSC RN
(Later Rear Admiral GCB, DSC)
November Visited
Saigon before operational deployment for patrol off west Coast of Malaya..
December Deployed at
Singapore.
1 9 5 3
January Flag
visit to Hong Kong and returned to Singapore (2/53)
February Return
passage to Singapore.
March Deployed
at Singapore.
to
April
May Under
refit at Singapore.
June On
completion of post refit trials deployed operationally for coastal patrols.
New Commanding Officer appointed: Commander E B Ashmore DSC RN
(Later Rear Admiral, GCB, DSC)
July
Operational deployment off East and West coasts of Malaya
Called at Tioman, Kota Baru and Penang.
September
Resumed Flag Frigate role.
October Deployed for
Flag visit to Bangkok, Hua Hin and
Saigon.
November On return from
Flag visit deployed in Singapore area.
to
December
1 9 5 4
January Passage to
Hong Kong
Visited Macao.
February Took return
passage to Singapore..
March Deployed at
Singapore.
April Passage
to Hong Kong.
May Returned
to Singapore for
operational deployment
Deployed for East Coast Malaya Patrol.
June Resumed
Flag Frigate role on release from operational duty.
July Under
refit at Singapore
August New
Commanding Officer appointed: Commander DA Dunbar-Nasmith DSC RN.
(Later Rear Admiral, CB, DSC, DL)
(Note: Court martial of rating charged with attempting to strike an officer and using
insulting language. Plea of Guilty made and offender sentenced to 9 months detention
at a Military Prison in
Kuala Lumpur.
September Under refit.
October On
completion of post refit trials took passage for Flag visit to Sourabaya,
Indonesia
with call at
Bali.
Passage to Port Darwin and visited
Timor and
Sandakan
Return passage to Hong Kong.
Deployed at Hong Kong.
1 9 5 5
January Passage to
Singapore
February Deployed for
Flag visit to Cocos Island and Xmas
Island, Indian Ocean with call at
Penang.
March Carried out
Flag visit to Bangkok.
On
return to Singapore
carried out routine docking period at Singapore.
April Carried
out Flag visit to RN units serving with UN off Korea.
to On
passage called at Hong Kong.
July Flag
visit included calls at Inchon,
Sasebo and Kure.
(Note: At Inchon, party from ship was taken to sites of British military actions
during
Korean War.)
Returned to Hong Kong.
August Under refit
at Hong Kong.
to
October
November Passage to
Singapore on
completion of post refit trials.
December Deployed at
Singapore.
1 9 5 6
January
2nd
Re-commissioned.
Commanding Officer: Commander R F Buller RN.
Carried out Shakedown cruise and work-up with visits to Port Swettenham and
Penang
February Visited
Bangkok and Borneo.
March Flag
visit to Atomic Tests Area at Montebello.
April
Deployed at Maralinga Test site.
May Return
passage to Singapore from Montebello.
June
Deployed at Singapore.
to
July
August
Passage to
Montebello to attend test of
atomic fission weapon.
(Operation BUFFALO).
September Attended
test of ONE TREE and MARCO weapons.
On
completion of tests took passage to Hong Kong after call at Onslow, Western
.
Australia. New Commanding Officer appointed: Commander EF Hamilton-Msikle (sic)
MBE RN. Passage to Japan for Flag visit.
October Flag visit
to Tokyo, Yokosuka and Kobe with calls at
Inchon and Chinhae in Korea
before return to Kure.
Passage to Singapore with
call at Hong Kong.
November Embarked Flag
Officer Malayan area for West coast Malaya cruise.
December Passage to Hong
Kong.
1 9 5 7
January Passage
to Singapore with call at Manila.
February Took
passage from Singapore to Hong Kong for refit.
March Under
refit at Hong Kong.
April On
completion of post refit trials embarked CinC for passage to Christmas Island
for
H
Bomb Test (Operation GRAPPLE)
Passage via Guam and Manus.
May
15th
Present at first H-Bomb Test (Operation SHORT GRANITE)
Took passage to Singapore on completion of Test.
Called at Labuan on passage
June
Returned to Singapore and prepared to re-commission.
July
Re-commissioned.
Commanding Officer: Commander Sir Peter Anson Bt RN
(Later Rear Admiral Sir Peter Bt, CB)
August Deployed
for work-up and visited Port Swettenham
to
September
October Deployed
for Flag visit to Rangoon.
November Passage to
Hong Kong for routine docking period.
December Return
passage to Singapore.
1 9 5 8
Photos courtesy of Tom Parry who served on her
1958-60
January Carried
out Flag Cruise to Penang , Malacca and Bangkok..
Passage to Bangkok to take part in multi-national SEAC exercises
February Deployed
at Saigon and Saigon and Nhom Penn.
Took part exercises in Gulf of Siam
March Return
passage to Singapore on completion.
April
Deployed for Flag Visit to Japan and Korea. with calls at
Hong Kong, Yokohama and Tokyo Kobe
followed by visit to the UN Operational area
on
West coast Korea including calls at Chinhae and Inchon.
(Note: This visit include attendance at celebration of 338th anniversary of the
foundation of the Imperial Japanese Navy by Will Adams who, after being
shipwrecked, in Japan, is
credited with introducing western scientific principles to
Japan. CinC laid a wreath at his tomb.)
RN
and Commonwealth warships were mainly deployed on west coast of Korea.
May Visited
Sasebo and Chinhae before taking passage to Manila.
Passage from Manila to Hong Kong..
June Under
refit in Hong Kong
to
July
August Took
passage to Singapore from Hong Kong on completion of post refit trials.
September Deployed for
Visit to Borneo
(Note: Visit including Kuching, Jesselton, Sandakan and Brunei.
October Carried
out visits to communities in Indian Ocean visits programme
to
(Note: This was arranged after closure of East Indies Station.)
November Visited
Colombo, Trincomalee, Madras, Calcutta and
Chittagong.
Returned to Singapore.
December Passage to
Hong Kong for routine docking and for re-commissioning.
15th
Re-commissioned
Commanding Officer: Commander W H Hoyle RN
Returned to Singapore after docking.
1 9 5 9
January Deployed
at Singapore
to
February
March Passage
to Hong Kong for visit by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh.
Deployed as part of escort for HM Yacht BRITANNIA on departure from Hong Kong.
April
Carried out Flag visit to
Rangoon and returned to Singapore.
May
Deployed for Flag cruise off East Coast of Malaya.
June
Passage to Hong Kong.
July
Returned to Singapore for refit
August Under
refit.
September Took passage to
Hong Kong on completion of post refit trials.
October Deployed for
Flag visit to Yokohama with call on passage at
Kure.
Returned to Hong Kong via Sasebo.
November Deployed for
Flag visit to Mekong and Nhon Penn.
December Took passage to
Australia and
New Zealand for Flag visit and called
at Cairns and
Brisbane to embark CinC.
Deployed at Sydney and took passage to Wellington, New Zealand.
Arrived at Wellington after rough passage through Tasman Sea.
1 9 6 0
January Passage
to Brisbane to disembark CinC.
Docked at Brisbane for repair to propeller shaft..
Took return passage to Singapore.
February Passage to
join SEAT Exercise JET 60 in Indian Ocean based at Trincomalee.
Match On
completion of JET 60 carried out Flag visit to Vizgapatam, Calcutta and
Chittagong.
April Return
passage to Singapore.
May Passage
to Hong Kong for Fleet exercises.
Return passage to Singapore to recommission
23rd
Re-commissioned at Singapore
Commanding Officer: Commander J M de M Leathes RN.
June Under
refit.
to
August
September Carried out
Flag visit to Borneo with calls at Jesselton, Brunei and Kuching.
Conducted exercises with Far East Fleet ships.
October Carried
out Flag visit to Bangkok, Saigon and Nhom Penn
Attended annual Water Festival at Nhom Penn and gave firework display.
November Return
passage to Singapore with call at Hong Kong.
December Carried out
Flag visit to Calcutta and Vizgapatan.
Returned to Singapore and deployed in Malayan area.
On
completion of local deployment took passage to Hong Kong.
1 9 6 1
January Passage
to Singapore for routine docking period.
February Passage to
Colombo prior to joining SEAT Exercise JET61 in Indian Ocean
Visited Gan
during passage
March Took part in
JET 61 with Indian, Pakistan and
commonwealth warships of Eastern Fleet.
On
completion took return passage to Singapore.
April
Deployed on West Coast of Malaya and called at Port Dickson , Port Swettenham
and
Penang.
May Passage
to Hong Kong prior to Flag visit to Yokohama and Kobe.
June On
completion took passage to Singapore with call at Hong Kong.
July Under
refit at Singapore
August
16th
Commissioned at Singapore
Commanding Officer: Commander G Y Temple RN
September Post refit
harbour and sea trials.
October Flag visit
to Borneo and Manila.
Called at Labuan.
November Continued Flag
visit with calls at Jesselton and Sandakan..
December Visited Manila
and returned to Singapore via Hong Kong.
1 9 6 2
January Flag
visit to Bangkok and Sihanoukville.
Routine docking at Singapore on return.
February On
completion took passage to take part in Exercise JET 62 in Indian Ocean.
Called at Keppel Harbour and Chittagong.
Involved in collision at Chittagong.
March Visited
Madras before joining Exercise JET 62.
On
completion of JET62 took passage to Singapore with call at Langkawi Island off
Northern Malaya.
Passage to Hong Kong.
April
Passage to Subic Bay for joint RN/USN exercises and visit to USN Base.
May On
completion of exercises returned to Singapore with call at Manila.
Passage to Hong Kong for Flag visit to Japan.
June Called
at Toba, Wakayema and Tokyo.
Returned to Singapore.
July
Visited Penang and directed RN Exercise FOTEX for ships of Far East Fleet.
August Under
refit in Singapore
September On
completion carried out post refit trials at Singapore..
October Passage
to Labuan.
November Returned to
Singapore.
Passage to Hong Kong.
December Deployed
operationally as HQ ship at Brunei after start of confrontation with
Indonesia. (KONFRONTASI).
Passage to Hong Kong on relief and returned to Singapore.
Notes on KONFRONTASI
Resumed Frigate role when the
Brunei rebellion took place in December 1962. This heralded the long period of
Confrontation with Indonesia. Troops and supplies were embarked to support the
military operations against terrorist forces. Additionally the ship provided a
communications link and was occasionally deployed with other ships of the 3rd
Frigate Squadron for patrol duty off Borneo based at Tawau en the NE coast
1 9 6 3
January
Re-commissioned at
Singapore
Commanding Officer: Commander J M Jessop RN.
Carried out Worked-up with Fleet units in Singapore area.
February Routine docking before
passage to Colombo
March Took part in SEATO
Exercise in Indian Ocean with Indian, Pakistan and commonwealth
warships (Note: Called
at Trincomalee between serials.)
April Deployed
operationally for patrol off west coast of Malaya to intercept Indonesian
craft attempting to land in
Malaya.
During patrol
called at Penang, Port Swettenham and Port Dickson.
May Took part
in RN/USN Exercise SEA SERPENT in South China Sea.
Called at Manila between serials.
June Passage
to Japan for Flag
visit.
Calls made at
Nagasaki and Wakayama.
July
Continued visit programme with calls at Argowan and Tokyo.
Passage to Singapore.
Carried out Flag visit to Bangkok.
August Under refit
at Singapore.
to
September
October Deployed
operationally in Borneo in support of KONFRONTASI operations against
Indonesian infiltrations.
Based
at Labuan and Tawau.
3rd Embarked
a Gurkha detachment for passage to Subu in Sarawak
Whilst preparing 'scare charges' for use against underwater attack,
one charge
exploded injuring four
ratings.
November Took passage to
Hong Kong on relief.
December Returned to
Singapore after
maintenance period in Hong Kong.
Deployed for Flag Visit to
Colombo and Cochin.
with call at Gan during passage.
(Note: Gan was used as a staging point for aircraft during Indian Ocean transits.)
1 9 6 4
January Carried out Flag Visit
to Colombo and Cochin
Deployed at
Colombo
Passage from
Colombo to Cochin
Took return
passage from Cochin to Singapore and called at Gan.
February On arrival at Singapore
docked in commercial shipyard for emergency repair.
(Note: This
must have been for examination of underwater fitting or defect arising
during passage
from Gan.)
March Deployed for
participation in SEATO Exercise JET64 in Indian Ocean and returned to
Singapore between serials
for matters arising from exercises or shore training..
Final
Phase
Approval to Pay-off in UK had been given
during 1963 and ship took passage to Plymouth on 10th April 1964. Calls were made at Gan,
Aden and Gibraltar during passage. Ship arrived on 18th May and Paid-off at
Devonport. After being reduced to Reserve status she
was laid up in the Reserve Fleet until 1971 when placed on the Disposal List.
Sold to BISCO for demolition by TW Ward at Inverkeithing the ship arrived in
tow at the breaker’s yard during October that year.
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