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BAY Class Anti-Aircraft Frigate
initially ordered from Smiths Dock Co Ltd at
Middlesbrough
on 25th
January
1943
for build as a LOCH Class Anti-submarine
Frigate to be named LOCH CARRON.
This was
changed
in 1944 for completion as a BAY Class AA
Frigate. Laid down on 21st April 1944
as Job No J4788
she
was launched as GERRANS BAY
on 14th March 1945.
However, after the end of hostilities in 1945,
it
was
announced that the ship would be completed for
use as a Despatch Vessel by the
Commander-in-Chief,
Mediterranean
Fleet
and renamed HMS SURPRISE. Fourteen RN ships
had previously borne
the name (SURPRIZE or SURPRISE) since it was
introduced in 1745 for a 6th Rate, built at
Beaulieu. It was last used for
the steel yacht RAZSVET seized from Russia
in 1918 and commissioned for use as a Despatch
Vessel in 1918 Renamed SURPRISE in 1920 the
ship was
sold to a private owner in 1923 and retained
the name. When hired
for
use as an Auxiliary Patrol Yacht in December
1939 she once again became HMS
SURPRISE. On 28th
February 1942 she was lost after
catching fire and capsizing at Lagos,
Nigeria.
Build completion of this ship
as
a Despatch Vessel was on 7th
September 1946.
B
a t t l e
H o n o u r s
DOGGER
BANK 1781 - HERMIONE Action (?) -
CHINA
1856-60
- BELGIAN COAST
1917 - ATLANTIC 1941-42
- NORTH SEA 1942
H
e r a l d i
c
Da t a
Badge: On a Field White, An ancient galley,
Black.
M
o t t o
Sola
Nobilitas Virtus:
'Valour
is the only true nobility'
D
e t a i l
s 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
August
Contractors trials
September
9th
Carried out Acceptance Trials
Commissioned for service as CinC Mediterranean
Despatch Vessel
Commanding Officer Commander N Lanyon, DSC RN
Took passage to Malta.
October
Deployed with ships of the Mediterranean Fleet
for exercise and visits.
to
November
Visits were paid to Rhodes, Salonika and
Argostoli
December
Under refit in Malta
1 9 4 7
January
On completion resumed service and paid visit
to Kavalla,
Greece.
Commander NEG Roper, DSC RN appointed in
command.
February
Returned to Malta
March
Took part in Mediterranean Spring Cruise
Programme
to
April
Visits included Gibraltar, Algiers and Bizerta.
May
Visited Benghazi
June
Took part in Mediterranean Fleet 1st Summer
Cruiser Exercise and Visits Programme.
to
July
Visits included Nauphlia, Greece and Vatika Bay.
August
Deployed in Malta
September
Took part in Mediterranean Fleet 2nd Summer
Cruise Exercise and Visits Programme
to
October
Visits included Gibraltar, Tangiers, French Riviera, Aranci Bay and Mitylene.
November
Deployed in Malta.
December
Carried out Visit to Trieste, Italy
(Note: Ships of the Mediterranean Fleet were
deployed as Guardship at Trieste.)
1 9 4 8
January
Under refit by HM Dockyard, Malta
to
February
March
Deployed in Eastern Mediterranean before
taking part in Mediterranean Fleet Spring
to
April
Cruise and exercise Programme, including
visits to Algiers, Gibraltar and Tangiers
May
Deployed at Malta.
Took part in Mediterranean Fleet 1st Summer
Cruiser Exercise and Visits Programme
June
Visits during Cruise included Nauphlia and
Argostoli
Returned to Malta.
July
Deployed in Malta.
to
August
September
Took part in Mediterranean Fleet 2nd Summer
Cruise Exercise and Visits Programme.
to
October
Visits included Bizerta, Naples, Aranci Bay, French Riviera and
Messina.
November
Under Routine Docking and repair of essential
defects by HM Dockyard, Malta.
December
Deployed in Malta.
1 9 4 9
January
Deployed in Northern Adriatic including visit
to Trieste.
February
Deployed in Malta.
March
Took part in Mediterranean Fleet Spring Cruise
and Exercise Programme.
to
April
Visits were paid to Oran, Tangiers, Algiers,
Phillipville, Genoa, Cannes and Marseilles
Commander A H C Gordon-Lennox appointed in command.
May
Returned to Malta and under repair.
Sailed with Mediterranean Fleet for exercises
in
Eastern Mediterranean.
June
Took part in 1st Mediterranean Fleet Summer
Cruise Exercise and Visits Programme.
Places visited included Navarin for Fleet
Regatta, and Patras
July
Returned to Malta.
August
Carried out Flag visit to Izmir,
Trieste and Venice.
September
Took part in Mediterranean Fleet 2nd Summer
Cruiser exercise and Visits Programme.
Visits paid to Aranci Bay and French Riviera
October
Returned to Malta
to
November
Taken in hand for refit by HM Dockyard,
Malta.
December
Deployed in Malta after refit.
1 9 5 0
January
Carried out Flag Visit in Red Sea including Port Sudan, Jeddah and
Aqaba
(Note: Mediterranean Fleet maintained a
Guardship at Aqaba.)
February
Deployed at Malta for Self Maintenance
March
Took part in Joint Home and Mediterranean
Fleet exercises in western
Mediterranean with calls at Palma Bay , Majorca and Anzio,
Italy
April
Took part in Mediterranean Fleet Spring Cruise
Exercise and visits Programme.
Visits paid to Pantellaria, Algiers,
Mers-el-Kebir, Gibraltar, Tangier, Toulon and Cannes
May
Returned to Malta.
Involved in collision with ss REGINALD KERR
and docked for repair.
June
Carried out Flag visits to Alexandria,
Beirut, Famagusta and Athens.
July
Joined ships of Mediterranean Fleet for Fleet
Regatta at Marmarice, Turkey.
Returned to Malta.
August
Carried out visits to Tripoli and Taranto.
September
Took part in Mediterranean Fleet 2nd Summer
Cruiser exercises and made
Flag visits to Tangiers, Gibraltar, French
Riviera and St Florent, Corsica.
October
Returned to Malta.
Commander IG Steel, MVO RN appointed in
command.
November
Deployed at Malta
December
Carried out visit to Athens and returned to
Malta.
1 9 5 1
January
Under refit by HM Dockyard Malta
February
On completion took part in Mediterranean Fleet
Spring Cruise Programme.
Visited Gibraltar and joined Combined Home Mediterranean Fleet Exercises.
March
Passage from Gibraltar for visit to Algiers.
April
Returned to Malta from Algiers.
Visited Tripoli and returned to Malta before
passage to Jeddah for Flag visit.
Returned to Malta.
May
Routine docking in Malta.
Visited Athens,
Taranto, Taormina and Capri.
Returned to Malta.
June
Visits paid to Trieste,
Taranto, Corinth Canal, Spetia,
Milos and Marmarice.
July
Passage to Malta from Marmarice.
Deployed in Malta
August
Passage to Larnaka and Port Said.
(Note: Visit to Port Said was for CinC to
discuss with military GOC the intended
abrogation by Egypt of the Treaty between
Britain and Egypt.
September
Passage from Port Said to Cyprus and returned
to Malta.
Flag visit to Istanbul with call at Thasos.
Returned to Malta.
October
Took part in NATO Exercise SYMPHONIE DEUX
Visited Golfe Juan, Cannes, Hyres,
Villefranche and Cannes with Flag Officer
(Destroyers)
November
Under repair at Syracuse.
Returned to Malta.
December
Under repair in Malta by HM Dockyard.
1 9 5 2
January
Passage to Gibraltar.
Under refit by HM Dockyard at Gibraltar
February
Passage to Malta.
March
Visited Naples
Took part in Fleet Exercises.
April
Returned to Malta.
Visited Athens on completion of
Self-Maintenance
(Note: Visit for unveiling by King of the
Hellenes of British and Commonwealth
war Memorial on ANZAC Day. HM King visited
ship during the stay.)
Returned to Malta
May
Visited Gibraltar
Return passage to Malta.
June
Paid Flag visit to Adriatic and took part in Mediterranean Summer Cruise Exercise
to
July
Programme with calls at Taranto,
Venice, Trieste, Navarin
(Regatta), Athens,
Istanbul,
Port Said, Tel Aviv and Haifa
August
Passage to Malta with call at Beirut.
Self Maintenance Period in Malta,
Commander RAM Henley, LVO, DSC RN appointed in Command.
September
Flag visit to Toulon
Visited Villefranche, Naples, Aranci Bay,
October
Passage to Algiers before return to Malta.
Deployed at Malta and prepared for return
passage to UK.
Sailed from Malta to Portsmouth with call at
Gibraltar.
November
Passage from Gibraltar to Portsmouth for refit and
conversion.
December
Under conversion by HM Dockyard, Portsmouth
for use as Royal Yacht during
Review of the Fleet by HM Queen Elizabeth II
at
Spithead in June 1953.
Taken in hand for refit and conversion by HM
Dockyard, Portsmouth.
1 9 5 3
January
Under conversion
to
March
For details see Appendix.
April
Post Refit trials in Channel.
Deployed at Portsmouth
May
Deployed at Portland to prepare for Royal
Review service and to carry out calibrations.
June
Passage to Solent
15th
Took part in Coronation Review by HM Queen
Elizabeth II
(Note: All Members of ship’s company were
awarded Coronation Medal)
20th
On release took passage to resume service in
Malta.
(Note: Royal Crest fitted in front of Bridge
structure was retained as a permanent
feature to commemorate service in place of
Royal Yacht at the Review.)
July
Deployed at Malta and took part in
Mediterranean Fleet Cruise Programme
Visits included Ponti Melos, Vatika Bay,
Athens, Istanbul,
Iraklion and Suda Bay
(Note: During visit to Istanbul President of
Turkey was embarked and taken to
Yalova in Sea of Marmora.)
Returned to Malta.
August
Deployed for Flag visits:
Villefranche, Castellomare, Gozo, Heralion and
Athens.
(Note: Sir Anthony Eden was embarked at
Villefranche for cruise at invitation of
CinC.)
Commander RAM Hennessey, KCVO, DSC RN appointed in Command
September
Returned to Malta for self maintenance.
Passage to Navarin to take part in Fleet
Regatta.
Returned to Malta.
October
Visited Cyprus
November
Deployed for Flag visit to Massawa and Aqaba
with HM Cruiser GLASGOW.
(Note: During visit to Aqaba King Hussein of
Jordan embarked and later transferred
by Jackstay to HMS GLASGOW.)
Return passage to Malta
December
Routine Docking and essential defects by HM
Dockyard.
1 9 5 4
January
Under repair.
to
February
March
Took part in Mediterranean Fleet Spring Cruise
Exercise and Visits programme.
Visits paid to Toulon and Naples.
April
Return passage to Malta
to
May
Under self maintenance
Commander GC Leslie, OBE RN appointed in
Command.)
June
Took part in Mediterranean Fleet 1st Summer
Cruise Programme and Exercises.
and
July
Visits included Port Empidicle, Palermo,
Lipari Is., Leghorn, Corsica,
Bizerta and Lampedusa. Returned to Malta
August
Deployed in Malta
Took part in 2nd Mediterranean Fleet Summer
Cruise Exercise and Visits Programme
Flag visit to Benghazi and visited Tripoli and
Port Kinsala
September
Flag visits to Palma Bay,
Split, Yugoslavia, Sibensk,
Korcola Is and Dubrovnik
to
October
with calls at Calvi Corsica,
November
Returned to Malta.
Deployed in Malta
December
Visited Naples and Catania.
1 9 5 5
January
Under refit by HM Dockyard, Malta.
to
February
March
Took part in Mediterranean Fleet Spring Cruise
and Exercise Programme.
to
April
Visited Naples, Villefranche, Tangier,
Gibraltar for joint exercises with
Home Fleet and Algiers on return passage to
Malta
May
Self Maintenance in Malta.
June
Took part in Mediterranean Fleet 1st Summer
Cruise and Exercise Programme
Visited Istanbul,
Alexandria, Larnaka and
Marmarice for Regatta.
Return passage to Malta
July
Deployed in Malta
August
Flag visit to Lampedusa,
Took part in Mediterranean Fleet 2nd Summer
Cruise and Exercise Programme.
Visited Venice.
September
Visited Tremiti and Taranto on return passage
to Malta.
October
Visited Cyprus.
Commander CBH Wake Walker RN appointed in Command
November
Under refit by HM Dockyard Malta.
to
December
1 9 5 6
January
Under refit
February
Deployed in Malta
March
Took part in Mediterranean Fleet Spring Cruise
and Exercise Programme.
Visited Toulon,
Leghorn and Civitavecchia
April
Return passage to Malta.
Deployed in Malta.
May
Flag Visits to Istanbul, Cyprus and Libya.
June
Deployed in Malta
to
July
August
Routine docking and essential defects in
Malta.
Visited Cyprus.
September
Deployed in Malta.
October
Flag visit to Naples.
November
Under refit by HM Dockyard, Malta
to
December
1 9 5 7
January
Flag visit to Naples.
February
Deployed in Malta.
March
Took part in Mediterranean Fleet Spring Cruise
and Exercise Programme.
Deployed at Gibraltar for joint exercises with Home Fleet.
Visited Toulon, Civitavecchia and Algiers with
CinC.
Returned to Malta.
April
Commander MS Oliphant appointed in Command.
Routine docking and essential repair in Malta
May
Deployed for exercises off Malta.
to
June
Made Flag Visit to Izmir and Istanbul with
call at Tobruk on return passage
to Malta.
July
Deployed in Malta
August
Visited Venice, and Split
Returned to Malta
September
Visited Naples
October
Visited Barcelona
November
Under refit by HM Dockyard, Malta
to
December
1 9 5 8
January
Deployed in Malta
February
Took part in Mediterranean Fleet Spring
Cruiser Exercise and Visits Programme.
to
March
Visited made to Algiers, Civitavecchia with
CinC, Izmir and Cyprus.
April
Deployed in Malta
May
Visited Toulon and Tripoli
Routine Docking and essential repairs in Malta
June
Visited Izmir and Suda Bay
July
Visited Cyprus
August
Deployed in Malta.
September
Flag Visit to Algiers and Porto Empedocle
Sicily.
Commander DNA Cox appointed in Command.
October
Flag Visit to Barcelona and Port Mahon,
Returned to Malta.
November
Under refit by HM Dockyard, Malta.
to
December
(Note: Court martial in Malta during November
for three ratings.)
1 9 5 9
January
Under refit
to
February
March
Deployed in Malta
April
Visited Naples
(Note: Archbishop of
Malta was embarked for passage to visit
Rome.)
May
Deployed in Malta
Passage to Minorca for Flag Visit.
June
Visited Port Mahon, Calvi and Nice
Took Part in Exercises SARDEX and WHITEBAIT.)
First Lord of the Admiralty visited ship on
16th
July
Flag Visit to Istanbul and Athens. with calls
at Itea and Ithica
Returned to Malta.
August
Visited Augusta an d carried out Self
Maintenance in Malta on return.
September
Flag visit to Sicily and Split.
October
Visited Barcelona,
Toulon and Gibraltar
November
Visited Tobruk
December
Under refit by HM Dockyard Malta.
(Note: Replacement by TRIBAL Class Frigate
under consideration.)
1 9 6 0
January
Under refit.
February
On completion of post refit trials resumed
duties in Malta.
March
Deployed in Malta
April
Passage to Cyprus
Commander WS Scott appointed in Command
May
Deployed in Cyprus
Return passage to Malta
Flag Visit to Tobruk
(Note: King Idris visited ship with full
ceremonial)
June
Passage from Tobruk to Haifa with call in
Cyprus.
Return passage to Malta with call at Suda Bay, Crete.
July
Deployed in Malta
Passage to Naples to collect Cardinal Louis
Muench for visit to
Malta and escorted by three Coastal
Minesweepers.
August
Deployed in Malta and attended ceremonies in
St Pauls Bay to mark the
anniversary of the Shipwreck of St Paul.
Took part in Mediterranean Fleet 2nd Summer
Exercise and Visits programme.
Flag visit to Izmir.
September
Visits to Marmarice and Milos
Return passage to Malta.
October
Passage to Cagliari for Flag visit
Passage from Cagliari to Ajaccio for Flag
visit.
Passage to Malta.
Passage from Ajaccio to Taranto for Flag
visit.
Returned to Malta and taken in hand for refit
by HM Dockyard.
November
Under refit.
to
December
1 9 6 1
Special
Note
Revised future policy to retain ship in use as
Flag Frigate as long
as possible without Long Refit. Armament to be
placed in state of
preservation and complement reduced to 80.
All subsequent visits were for CinC and not
for exercises by ship.
January
Under refit
to
February
March
Resumed Flag Frigate deployment on completion
of post refit trials
April
Took part in Exercise MEDFLEET INVICTA
Visited Tripoli and returned to Malta.
Passage to Cagliari to attend at Royal Visit
to Mediterranean
(Note: Waited on HM Yacht BRITANNIA at
Cagliari.
HM Queen Elizabeth II on board at
Cagliari prior to visit to
Italy.
Admiral Charles Lambe knighted on board.)
Assisted in clearance of wire from port
propeller of BRITANNIA
At Catania.
May
Visited Patros and Athens.
Returned to Malta
Escorted HMY BRITANNIA from Venice with
HRH The Duke of Gloucester
embarked for visit to Athens to open Common
War Graves Memorial.
June
Flag Visit to Barcelona and Monaco
Returned to Malta
(Note: Prior to departure for passage to Genoa
with CinC Admiral Sir Charles Lambe
was taken by whaler manned by crew of five
Admirals to join ship in Grand
Harbour from Custom House, Valetta.)
Passage to Genoa for change of command of
Mediterranean Fleet.
Admiral Holland-Martin embarked for return
passage to Malta.
July
Passage from Malta to Naples for Flag Visit.
Passage from Naples to Algiers for Flag visit.
Return passage to Malta
August
Deployed at Malta for self maintenance
September
Visited Messina and returned to Malta.
Visited Suda Bay, Nauphlia,
October
Visited Athens and Sciathas
Return passage to Malta.
November
Visited Cyprus
On return to Malta taken in hand for refit by
HM Dockyard.
December
Under refit
1 9 6 2
January
Under refit
to
February
March
Took part in Mediterranean Fleet Exercises and
visits Programme.
Visited Toulon.
April
Visited Villefranche, La Spezia, Civitavecchia
and Naples.
Return passage to Malta.
Passage to Tunis
May
Return passage from Tunis to Malta.
Passage from Malta for visit to Gibraltar.
June
Deployed at Gibraltar
Called at Palma during return passage to
Malta.
Deployed at Malta for self maintenance.
On completion took passage to Naples.
Commander PA Bence-Trower RN appointed in
Command.
July
Visited Naples
Return passage to Malta
Visited Corfu, Venice and Taranto.
Return passage to Malta
August
Deployed at Malta
September
Passage to Syracuse for visit.
Return passage to Malta.
October
Deployed in Eastern Mediterranean with visits
to Haifa, Limasol and Beirut.
November
Passage to Rhodes and returned to Malta.
Visited Homs, Libya
Deployed to attend Exercise SPANEX in western
Mediterranean.
Visited Cartagena
December
Return passage to Malta on release from SPANEX
Deployed at Malta for self maintenance
1 9 6 3
January
Routine Docking and essential defects in HM
Dockyard,
Malta
February
Took part in Mediterranean Fleet Spring
Cruiser Exercise and Visits Programme.
Visits paid to Gibraltar and Malaga
March
Return passage to Malta.
April
Passage to Leghorn followed by visits to
Naples and Palermo.
Return passage to Malta.
Under self maintenance in Malta.
May
Visited Tobruk, Benghazi and Tripoli.
Returned to Malta
Took passage to Toulon for visit.
On completion visited St Raphael
June
Continued visits programme at Monaco, Elba and
Lipari
Return passage to Malta.
July
Visited Dubrovnik, Venice and Ancona.
Return passage to Malta
August
Visited Piraeus, Greek islands and Rhodes
Return passage to Malta
September
Visited Argostoli and attended Fleet exercises
Returned to Malta
October
Attended NATO Exercise TRIPLEX WEST.
Visited Izmir and Istanbul.
Return passage to Malta with call at Itea.
November
Under refit by HM Dockyard, Malta
to
December
1 9 6 4
January
Visited Naples
February
Return passage to Malta for self maintenance.
Attended NATO Exercise EARLY BIRD
March
On completion of EARLY BIRD took passage to
Naples.
Return passage to Malta
April
Carried out visits programme to Barcelona,
Ibiza, Gibraltar and Toulon
Return passage to Malta
May
Carried out visits programme to Itea, Athens,
Istanbul, Izmir and Skiathos
Returned to Malta
June
Visited Argostoli (for Fleet Regatta)
Returned to Malta
Commander J H N Cox RN appointed in Command.
July
Visited Tobruk, Benghazi and Tripoli.
August
Returned to Malta
Passage to Favigana, Sicily and later visit to
Augusta.
Called at Gozo during return passage to
Malta.
September
Carried out final visits to La Spezia,
Civitavechia, Naples, Lipari and Messina
to
October Returned
to Malta.
November
Passage to Gibraltar for final visit.
Called at Tangiers on return passage to Malta.
Final Visit to Monaco and returned to Malta
Prepared for paying-off on return to UK
December
5th
Sailed from Malta to UK
9th Called
at Gibraltar during passage
12th Arrived
at Portsmouth.
1 9 6 5
January
Paid-off and commenced de-storing.
F i n a
l P h a s e
HMS
SURPRISE was placed on the Disposal List and
sold to BISCO for breaking-up by P & W
McLellan and Bo’ness where she arrived in tow
from Portsmouth for demolition on 29th June
1965. No other warship has since been deployed
for use by the CinC Mediterranean as a Flag
Frigate.
A p p e n d i x
1
C o m ma n d e r
s - i n - C h i e
f M e d i t e r r a n e a
n F l e e t
Date
of
Name and Rank
Appointment
14/
2/48
Admiral Sir Algernon Willis
15/10/49
Admiral Sir Arthur J Power
15/10/50
Admiral Sir John H Eldelston
15/5/52
Admiral of the Fleet The Earl Mountbatten of
Burma.
10/2/54
Admiral Sir Guy Grantham
11/1/57
Admiral Sir Ralph AB Edwards
10/11/57
Admiral Sir Charles E Lambe
3/2/59
Admiral Sir Alex N C Bingley
30/6/61
Admiral Sir Derek Holland-Martin
2/2/64
Admiral Sir John G Hamilton
A p p e n
d i x
2
N o t e
s o n u s
e o f H M
S S u r p r i s e a
s a F l a
g F r i g a t e
In January
1961 the
category of Despatch Vessel was replace by
Flag Frigate. No change in the type
of warship used was made at that
time
The
original
conversion involved removal of the after twin
4in mounting and its replacement
by accommodation. This was needed for
use of CinC’s
staff for offices and sleeping quarters
when the Flag Officer was embarked.
Because HM
Royal
Yacht BRITANNIA was under construction at the
time of the Coronation Review in
June 1953 a substitute vessel
was required. HMS SURPRISE was selected and
returned to Portsmouth for further
changes by HM Dockyard. The
twin 4in mounting in B position was replaced
by a special viewing position to
be used by her Majesty during
the ceremonial on 15th June 1953.
In the
Chronology the
term Flag Visit is used when the CinC, or in
some cases another Flag Officer
from the Mediterranean Fleet
was embarked for an official visit to places
in the Mediterranean area or for
formal visits to ships of the Fleet
during exercises.
Although
principally
employed for the use as a yacht by the CinC
and his family, HMS SURPRISE did
take part in Fleet exercises in
its operation role as an Anti-aircraft
Frigate. The ship was also deployed for
support of the civil power or as
Guardship.
This ship
spent the
whole of her service in the Mediterranean
except for the period under
conversion prior to use at the Coronation
Review.
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