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LOCH Class
Anti-Submarine Frigate ordered from Harland and Wolff at Belfast on 2nd
February 1943 and intended to be built at Liverpool. this was later cancelled
and the ship was laid down on 30th May 1944 at Belfast as Admiralty Job Number
J3391 (YARD No, 1249) and was to be named LOCH LYDOCH. However .after a policy
change to meet the need for anti-aircraft escorts for service in the Far East
the contract was changed and completion to a revision design for the BAY Class
was required. She was launched as HMS ST AUSTELL BAY in 18th November 1944 as
the first Royal Navy ship to carry the name. Build was completed on 29th May
1945. See General Information . for details of design changes.
G e o g r a p h i c D a t a
Bay on south coast of Cornwall adjacent to town of ST AUSTELL
some 28 miles west of Plymouth.
Grid Reference: SX0650.
H e r
a l d i c D a
t a
Badge:
On a Field Red., a saltire couped ragulee Gold.
(Explanation:
Ship's suggestion from the saltire
used by the Town of St. Austell
M o t t
o
In omnia
promptus: 'Ready for anything'
M a n n
i n g D i v i s i
o n
Devonport
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 5
May
Contractor's trials.
5th
Commissioned for trials.
Commanding Officer: Lieut. Commander HJ Lee DSC, Royal Navy
29th Build
completion and commenced Acceptance Trials
(Note: Nominated for
service in East
Indies for Malayan landings and the Pacific
Fleet Train).
June On
completion of trials took passage to Devonport to prepare for foreign service.
to
(Note: Additional Oerlikon guns fitted to supplement AA defence)
July. Took
passage to Malta to work up for operational service..
August Deployed
as part of 33rd Escort Group, 66th Division with HM Frigates CARDIGAN BAY,
ST
BRIDES BAY and START BAY.
15th
Work-up suspended when Far East requirements lapsed.
Transferred to Gibraltar and took passage to join Gibraltar Local Flotilla
September. Deployed
with Flotilla at Gibraltar.
to
Carried out air-sea rescue and weather reporting duties in support of US
aircraft flights from
October Paris to
Azores.
November Returned to
Malta for patrol and Fleet duties in Adriatic with Flotilla.
Passage to Adriatic for Guardship duties at Trieste and Pola.
Arrived at Trieste in severe gale conditions.
1 9 4 6
January Adriatic
Guardship and patrol duties in continuation.
to R&R
periods in Venice.
February Returned
to Malta for Flotilla duties.
March Passage
to Gibraltar for refit.
25th Taken
in hand for refit by HM Dockyard Gibraltar.
April Under
refit
to
May
June
Carried out harbour trials
29th
Carried out post refit sea trials.
July On
completion took passage to resume Flotilla duties in Malta.
August Flotilla
re-designated 5th Escort Flotilla.
16th
Deployed in Aegean based at Phaleron Bay for Patrol in support of military.
Took Rear Admiral Talbot and Head of Military Mission (Lt Gen Clark) to Timos.
Damaged in collision after anchor dragged at Times.
Returned to Piraeus after call at Spetsai and repaired damage.
Greek Naval unrest evident.
26th Return
passage to Malta.
September Deployed in
Adriatic for patrol and Guardship duties at Pola.
New Commanding Officer: Commander M E Hardy RN.
October Following
visits to Naples, and Savona went to Civitta Vechia
(Note: In a tragic
accident one seaman was killed and others injured.
Italian port guards fired on a
lorry leaving docks area without
any authorising pass.
Funeral attended by local
civic authorities amid much distress within the
community.)
27th After
HM Destroyers SAUMAREZ and VOLAGE were mined in Corfu Straits on
26th October
took part in increased surveillance activities by Fleet units from
Malta.
November Deployed
with Flotilla in Malta.
December
4th
Deployed for surveillance and interception of ships carrying illegal immigrants
to Palestine
to
(Haifa Patrol).
29th Based
at Famagusta.
30th
Returned to Malta.
1 9 4 7
January Nominated
for further Haifa Patrol and took passage to Famagusta
24th Haifa
Patrol in continuation.
(Note: Among ships intercepted were ss FLYING ENTERPRISE and EMPIRE WELCOME.
(Later this ship achieved fame when wrecked in English Channel).
Frigates deployed for this unpalatable task were fitted with special protective
screens
to
deflect missiles thrown from ships boarded).
February Haifa
Patrol in continuation.
March Nominated
for special operation
Took passage to Aden
Deployed with HM Frigate WIDEMOUTH BAY at Men and assisted with escort of AFD22
and AFD35 under tow to Malta by seven tugs (Operation SNOW WHITE)
April
Operation SNOW WHITE in continuation.
May
17th On
completion of SNOW WHITE carried out Boiler cleaning in Malta.
June
Deployed at Piraeus for Haifa Patrol.
July
Deployed for patrol and Guardship duties in Adriatic.
August
7th
Returned to Malta.
18th
Passage to Trieste for Adriatic patrol and Guardship duties at Pola.
September Deployed for
Haifa Patrol.
October Under
refit in Malta.
to
December
1 9 4 8
January
Deployed on Haifa Patrol in eastern
Mediterranean.
to (See
above Note).
April
Pennant Number for visual signalling purposes changed to F634
May
Maintenance and routine docking on return to Malta
June
Resumed Flotilla duties and took part in Fleet Visits and Exercise programme.
to Deployed in
Aegean for Haifa patrol
duties.
September
November Eastern
Mediterranean duties with Flotilla in continuation.
Visited Mykoni, Rhodes, Leros, Santorin and Suda Bay.
18th
Passage to Malta from Phaleron Bay.
24th Took
part in Flotilla exercises.
December Flotilla
deployment in continuation.
1 9 4 9
January
9th
Passage to Famagusta for duties in eastern Mediterranean.
18th Return
passage to Malta with HM Frigate ST BRIDES BAY.
25th Took
part in Flotilla exercises.
February
12th
Passage to Port Said with HM Sloop PEACOCK.
18th
Deployed as Guardship at Aqaba.
23rd Local
dignitary embarked for firing demonstration.
March
1st Took
passage to Famagusta from Aqaba.
4th
Deployed in eastern Mediterranean.
12th
Passage to Port Said.
24th Took
passage from Port Said for Malta with HMS PEACOCK.
25th
Diverted to Famagusta for tow of Landing Craft (Tank).
29th
Passage to Malta with landing craft in tow.
April New
Commanding Officer: Commander NJ Scarlett-Streatfield
4th
Arrived in Malta and resumed Flotilla duties.
20th Took
part in Flotilla exercises till 30th April.
May
4th Took
part in Flotilla and Fleet exercises.
16th
Passage to Phaleron Bay for patrol and visits programme.
18th
Visited Volos, Salonika and Lemnos.
to
31st
June 1st Eastern
Mediterranean patrol and visits in continuation.
to
Visited Piraeus, Syros, Mykonis, Navarino, Sada Bay and Fhaleron Bay.
17th
18th
Passage to Malta from Navarino.
20th Met HM
Frigate MOUNTS BAY for exercises before entry into Malta,
21st
Resumed Flotilla duties.
July
4th
Passage to Navarino.
8th Took
part in Mediterranean Fleet exercises.
14th
Passage to Malta after Fleet Regatta.
On
arrival took passage to Gibraltar.
19th Taken
in hand for refit by HM Dockyard, Gibraltar.
August Under
refit.
1st
Routine docking.
Ships company visited Malaga.
September Carried out
post refit trials.
14th
Passage to Tangiers for visit.
22nd
Returned to Gibraltar for repair of defects.
On
completion took passage to Aranci Bay to rejoin Flotilla.
28th
Visited Bone with HM Sloops PEACOCK AND MERMAID.
October
4th
Visited Bizerta with HM Sloops PELICAN, MAGPIE and MERMAID.
Berthed in French Naval Base.
10th
Passage to Malta with HMS PELICAN and carried out exercises
12th
Returned to Malta.
November
Flotilla exercises in continuation at
Malta.
29th Beam
Stores Replenishment at Sea trials with HM Royal Fleet Auxiliary BULAWAYO.
(Note: This trial included 'alongside' replenishment for stores.
Beam refuelling was not carried cut.
December
2nd Took
part in Exercise SWIFT with Flotilla including HMS VERYAN BAY, HMS MERMAID
and HM Frigate SURPRISE.
4th
Passage to Trieste for Adriatic patrol and Guardship duty.
13th
Original Deck Log for November lost overboard in bad weather.
16th
Visited Venice.
19th Return
passage to Malta.
1 9 5 0
January
11th Took
part in Fleet exercises including AA Firings, anti0submarine procedures, convoy
defence
to and
abeam replenishment
27th
February
2nd
Passage to Port Said with HMS MAGPIE.
8th
Passage from Suez Canal to Aqaba.
9th
Relieved HM Destroyer CHIVALROUS as Guardship at Aqaba.
March
6th Took
passage to Malta on relief at Aqaba.
12th On
arrival in Malta docked for refit period.
23rd
Undocked for special duty.
26th
Deployed in Gulf of Genoa for Air-Sea Rescue duty during Royal Flight taking HRH
Princess
Elizabeth to Malta.
April
Completed refit.
4th
Resumed Flotilla duties.
to Took
part in Flotilla and Fleet exercises.
26th
Detached from 5th Frigate Flotilla for loan service with Royal New Zealand Navy.
(Note: HMS VERYAN BAY and HMS ST AUSTELL BAY were exchanged with HMNZS
HAWEA and HMNZS TAUPO for 6 months).
Took passage with HMS VERYAN BAY for Auckland, New Zealand.
May
2nd Called
at Massawa in Red Sea.
10th Aden.
23rd At
Trincomalee.
27th Took
-passage from Trincomalee to Cocos Islands.
HMS VERYAN BAY detached.
30th
Crossing the Line ceremony.
June
2nd At
Cocos Islands.
5th
Passage from Cocos to Freemantle.
10th
Rendezvous with HMS VERYAN BAY.
12th At
Fremantle.
23rd At
Hobart. Open to visitors
and exchanged calls with civic authorities.
26th Took
passage to Auckland with HMS VERYAN BAY.
July
3rd
Arrived at Auckland and joined 11th Frigate Flotilla, RNZN.
15th
Passage to Port Lyttleton and Wellington.
24th
Returned to Auckland from Wellington.
Took part in exercises with HMNZ Cruiser BELLONA and HMS VERYAN BAY.
August
7th
Deployed with RNZN ships for exercises in Haukari Gulf.
HM
Submarine THOROUGH was deployed for anti-submarine serials.
15th On
completion took passage to Auckland with call at Port Fitzroy.
23rd Sailed
for South Pacific patrol with passengers and stores.
25th At
Raoul, Sunday Island in Kermadec Group.
26th
Passage from Raoul to Friendly Islands with call at Nuie Island.
September
1st
Crossed International Date Line and date not used.
2nd
Arrived at Nukualofi, Tonga.
Official calls exchanged with Prime Minister
.
Open to visitors.
5th Took
passage to Auckland with call at Raoul.
9th
Arrived at Auckland.
11th
Passage to Dunedin with calls at Napier and Wellington.
18th
Arrived at Dunedin and embarked stores for Macquarie Island.
22nd Took
passage to Macquarie Island in Southern Ocean (Position 54.23S, 159.26E)
25th
Disembarked stores and sailed for return passage to Auckland via west coast.
to
Calls made at Supper Cove (Dusky Sound) and Milford Sound.
30th
October
1st At
Westport.
Open to visitors.
4th
Resumed passage to Auckland with call at Whangaroa.
10th
Arrived at Auckland.
11th Took
part in exercises with HMS VERYAN BAY off Port Fitzroy.
20th On
completion of exercises at Auckland to prepare for return passage with HMS
VERYAN BAY
to
Embarked one Ton of cyanide for disposal on passage.
28th Took
passage to Cairns.
30th Dumped
poisonous material in Pacific Ocean during passage.
November
1st
Passage to Cairns, Queensland, Australia.
7th
Sailed for Singapore with call at Darwin.
14th
Exercised with aircraft during passage.
22nd Arrived
at Singapore.
26th Took
passage to Trincomalee.
December
3rd
Arrived at Trincomalee.
CinC East Indies visited ship.
8th
Sailed for Malta from Trincomalee with HM Boom Defence Vessel BARLANE.
18th At
Aden.
20th
Passage to Suez with call at Port Sudan. HMS BARLANE in tow.
29th Tow
slipped for canal transit.
30th
Passage to Malta towing HMS BARLANE.
1 9 5 1
January
4th Arrived
in Malta and rejoined Flotilla,
7th
Captain transferred to hospital.
(Note: First Lieutenant, Lt Cdr. J L Rathbone may have taken command).
9th Took
passage to Gibraltar for refit.
12th Taken
in hand for refit.
February Under
refit.
March
1st Carried out post refit
trials.
9th Took
passage from Gibraltar to Devonport with HM Frigate LOCH INSH.
Took part in Exercise STINKING FISH with Home Fleet ships on passage..
15th At
Devonport preparing for service in 7th Frigate Flotilla, Home Fleet.
April
9th
Re-commissioned.
Commanding Officer: Captain DC Ingram, CBE, DSC Royal Navy
Senior Officer, 7th Frigate Flotilla.
17th
Deployed with Home Fleet ships in search for missing submarine HMS AFFRAY.
19th Called
at Portland en passage from search area to return to Devonport.
25th Return
passage to Portland for work-up.
May Work-up
in continuation.
16th
Passage to Londonderry for anti-submarine exercises.
22nd On
completion passage to Fleetwood for official visit.
Open to visitors.
Calls exchanged with civic authorities.
27th Took
passage to join Home Fleet Convoy exercise in SW Approaches.
(Note: Phase 7 of Exercise PROGRESS.
Other ships taking part included HM Cruiser SWIFTSURE, HM Destroyer AGINCOURT
and HMS VERYAN BAY).
June
7th On
completion of PROGRESS visited Cherbourg with HMS VERYAN BAY.
9th
Sailed from Cherbourg for visit to St Austell Bay.
Open to visitors whilst at anchor.
12th On
completion resumed Home Fleet exercise after call at Devonport.
to
Deployed as Plane Guard and screen for HM Light Fleer Aircraft Carrier VENGEANCE
16th during
convoy defence exercise in Irish Sea with HMS VERYAN BAY.
(Note: Other ships taking part included HM Destroyers BATTLEAXE, BROADSWORD and
HM
Sloop STARLING).
17th Took
part in search for submarine off Loch Fyne with HMS VERYAN BAY.
(Note: Sonobuoys were used during this exercise).
20th
Passage to Portland with HMS VERYAN BAY.
21st
Carried out Weapon trials and Ranging at Portland.
25th Joined
Home Fleet Convoy Defence in North Sea and Channel (Exercise VELOX).
30th
Visited Swanage and open to visitors.
July
6th
Passage to Dartmouth and remained till 9th.
Open to visitors.
10th At
Hastings and anchored off shore.
Open to Visitors.
17th
Passage to Liverpool.
19th Joined
other Home Fleet ships for visit to Liverpool.
Open to visitors.
25th Took
passage to Devonport.
August Leave
period and took part in NAVY DAYS.
September
4th
Passage to Portland for further weapon trials.
8th Took
part in exercises with Home Fleet ships during passage to Kristiansund.
11th At
Kristiansund with Home Fleet ships.
Anchored off shore.
Calls exchanged with civic authorities.
14th
Carried out exercise with submarine of Royal Norwegian Navy.
16th Took
part in NATO Exercise NORSEMAN with Home Fleet ships.
20th On
completion visited Horten.
22nd Passage
to Oslo.
22nd At Oslo
Open to visitors.
24th
Passage to Invergordon with HM Frigate LOCH ALVIE.
27th
Carried out exercises at Invergordon with HM Frigates LOCH ARKAIG and LOCH
ALVIE.
October
1st
Passage from Invergordon to Londonderry for Fleet exercises.
11th Took
part in Home Fleet convoy defence Exercises ASSESS and GIBBON in Atlantic.
19th
Arrived at Gibraltar for further exercises.
November At Gibraltar
and deployed for Fleet and Flotilla exercises.
31st Took
passage to Lisbon
December At Lisbon
for visit.
3rd Took passage to
Plymouth with RFA FORT DUNVEGAN.
6th
Arrived Plymouth.
1 9 5 2
January
17th Passage
to Portland for daily exercise programme with other frigates.
February Portland
deployment in continuation.
(Note: Exercises included period in Irish Sea and NW Approaches.)
March Nominated
for service in America and West Indies.
1st
Passage from Rothesay to Plymouth.
3rd
Prepared for foreign service and leave period.
to
Routine docking and essential repairs.
31st
April At
Devonport,
Refit and preparation in continuation.
May
1st New
Commanding Officer: Captain The Earl Cairns RN joined.
(Later HM Marshall of the Diplomatic Corps, Rear Admiral, GCVO).
19th
Carried out sea trials and shakedown cruise.
21st At
Portland for weapon trials and firings.
Carried out Anti-submarine exercises with HM Frigate BIGBURY BAY.
June
3rd On
completion of exercises returned to Devonport.
4th Took
passage to join Flotilla at Bermuda.
15th
Arrived at Bermuda.
Prepared for duty as Guardship in Falklands as relief for HMS VERYAN BAY.
Embarked Royal Marines for passage to Port Stanley.
25th Took
passage to Trinidad.
July
2nd Sailed
from Trinidad to Falklands with call at Rio de Janeiro.
(Note: Met HMS VERYAN BAY at Rio de Janeiro).
24th
Arrived at Port Stanley and disembarked Royal Marines.
August
10th
Deployed for patrol and took stores to mv PHILOMEL
(Note: 7 gallons of rum reported lost in bilges !).
13th
Returned to Port Stanley.
15th
Deployed for patrol with calls at San Carlos and Ajax Bay.
20th
Salvaged converted trawler GOLDEN CHANCE wrecked in Falkland Sound.
(Note: The 85 ton vessel owned by Colonial Development Corporation of Port
Stanley)
22nd
Returned to Port Stanley.
September
1st
Deployed for patrol with calls at Darwin, Goose Green, San Carlos and Bonner
Bay.
6th
Returned to Port Stanley.
14th
Passage to Speedwell Sound.
16th After
arrival at Port Stanley returned to Speedwell Sound. to assist HMS PROTECTOR
which had propulsion problems.
17th Took
HMS PROTECTOR in tow to Port Stanley.
28th
Deployed for patrol with calls at Fox Bay and Albermarle.
October Patrol in
continuation.
6th
Returned to Port Stanley after calls at Weddell Island., New Island. and Hill
Cove.
13th
Visited Blanco Bay for 4in weapon firings.
14th At
Port Stanley.
to
Royal Marines with stores and baggage embarked.
24th
Prepared for return passage to Bermuda via west coast of South America.
25th Took
passage to Puerto Matt, Chile.
30th At
Chilean Naval Base, Puerto Maitt.
November
3rd Took
passage to Valparaiso, Chile and anchored off shore.
5th Met
HM Cruiser SHEFFIELD at Valparaiso.
Royal Marines disembarked.
Took passage to Antofagasta, Chile.
8th Began
official visit to Antofagasta Naval Base.
Exchanged calls with naval and civil authorities.
Open to visitors.
12th Took
passage to Callao, Peru.
15th
Anchored off shore at Callao. Illuminated ship.
19th Took
passage to Kingston, Jamaica via Panama Canal and call at Ecuador.
25th
Transit of Panama Canal.
28th
Refuelled in Kingston and took passage to Nassau.
30th At
Nassau to carry out hydrographic survey task
December
2nd Survey
duty at Cay Sal. R&R Party landed.
6th
Returned to Nassau.
7th
Passage to Bermuda.
10th Met HM
Cruiser SUPERB for gunnery firings.
11th At
Bermuda.
(Note: Wireless Office key lost overboard and recovered by diver).
1 9 5 3
January
1st At
Bermuda.
to
(Note: Board of Inquiry re cable cutting occurrence on HMS BIGBURY BAY
11th
12th Took passage for visits to
Caribbean ports. HMS
BIGBURY BAY in company
Carried cut exercises with HMS SUPERB.
16th HMS
BIGBURY BAY detached to assist mv CENTURION.
19th At
Kingston for fuel and took passage to San Juan, Puerto Rico.
22nd At San
Juan.
26th
Passage to Trinidad.
28th At
Trinidad.
February
2nd Took
passage to Port of Spain and searched unsuccessfully for Darien Rock using
sonar equipment.
4th At
Port of Spain.
6th Paid
visit to Georgetown, British Guiana
11th Took
passage to Grenada.
13th At St
Georges, Grenada.
Official exchange of calls with Administrator.
17th Took
passage to Barbados.
18th At
Barbados with HM Cruiser DEVONSHIRE (Cadet Training ship) and HM Frigate ENARD
BAY for visit by HRH Princess Margaret on 20th.
20th Fired
21 Gun Salute.
24th Took
passage to Guadaloupe.
28th At
Pointe a Pitre.
Calls exchanged with Governor.
March
2nd Took
passage to Antigua and met HMS DEVONSHIRE and HMS ENARD BAY.
4th Passage
to Barbuda.
6th Return
passage to Antigua.
9th Took
passage to Jamaica with call at Tortola.
14th Passage
to Jamaica from Tortola.
17th
Arrived at Kingston.
19th
Embarked Sir Hugh Foot and Lady Foot for official visit by Governor to Grand
Cayman.
20th At
Grand Cayman. Open to visitors.
23rd Took
passage to Nassau with Governor and Lady Foot embarked.
31st
Religious Service on board following death of HM Queen Mary, Queen Mother.
Forty, One Minute Gun Salute provided
Governor attended.
April
1st Carried out hydrographic
soundings at Green Cay.
4th
Passage from Green Cay to Bermuda.
7th
Arrived at Bermuda.
11th New
Commanding Officer: Commander B C Ward, DSC* RN.
(Note: Board of Enquiry held on board).
May
1st
Sailed from Bermuda to search for missing dinghy off Bermuda with HM Submarine
ANDREW and Canadian frigate.
3rd
Dinghy found with crew.
5th Took
passage for visit to Portsmouth, New Hampshire and Halifax Nova Scotia.
Exercised on passage with HMS ANDREW.
9th At
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
13th Took
passage to Halifax, Nova Scotia.
15th At
Halifax.
19th Return
passage to Bermuda
22nd Arrived
at Bermuda.
26th Took
part in joint RN/RCN anti-submarine exercises
off
Bermuda with HMS ANDREW.
to
31st
June At
Hamilton for Coronation ceremonies.
4th
Prepared for return passage in HM Dockyard, Bermuda.
7th Took
passage to UK with HM Frigate MORECAMBE BAY.
18th
Arrived at Devonport to re-commission for further service in West Indies.
July
7th Taken
in hand for refit by HM Dockyard, Devonport.
30th
Entered drydock.
August Under
refit
September Commissioned
for service.
21st
Advance party joined for new commission.
October Carried
out harbour trials.
26th
Commenced Sea trials.
30th Party
of WRNS on board during sea trials.
Took passage to Portland for work-up.
November Worked-up.
11th Took
passage to Devonport to embark Royal Marines for passage to Bermuda.
(Note Royal Marines later landed in Falklands. See below).
12th Took
passage to Bermuda.
23rd
Arrived at Bermuda.
24th
Deployed off Bermuda for Air-Sea rescue duty during Royal flight.
25th
Provided street lining party during Royal visit.
(Note: Royal family were joining ss GOTHIC at Bermuda for Commonwealth tour).
December
2nd
Programmed departure for Falkland Islands duty cancelled because of requirements
for
international
meeting in Bermuda.
(Note: President Eisenhower and M Bidault of France were attending).
5th
Provided ceremonial guard.
28th Sailed
from Bermuda for Falklands.
1 9 5 4
January
1st At
Puerto Rico
Open to Visitors.
Exchanged calls with US Navy authorities.
7th At
Port a Prince.
19th At San
Salvador.
Exchanged calls with Brazilian naval authorities.
23rd At Rio
de Janeiro.
Open to visitors.
February
1st Took
passage from Rio de Janeiro to Port Stanley.
7th
Arrived at Port Stanley to relieve HM Sloop NEREIDE.
20th
Deployed for patrol
24th At
Deception Island, South Shetlands.
Chilean warships present.
March
3rd
Carried out surveillance of movements of Chilean and Argentine warships.
Calls made at Moon Bay, Paradise Island and Malchior Island.
11th
Returned to Port Stanley.
16th
Passage to South Georgia with call at Deception Island.
17th
Machinery problem caused temporary loss of steam.
24th At
Grytviken.
26th Return
passage to Port Stanley.
29th
Arrived at Port Stanley
April At
Port Stanley.
Anchor watch required during frequent gales.
Present when new Governor arrived
May
3rd
Sailed for patrol to Fox Bay.
5th
Returned to Port Stanley.
(Note: During period at Port Stanley in early 1954 the Captain was married to
a
British lady working at Port Stanley).
14th Took
part in exercises at sea with HM Patrol Vessel PROTECTOR.
25th Took
passage for visits to ports in Uruguay.
June
1st 200
mile passage up Uruguay River.
2nd At
Fray Bentos.
Open to visitors
Provided guard at wreath laying ceremony.
8th At
Paysandu.
Open to visitors
Provided guard at wreath laying ceremony.
18th
Arrived at Port Stanley with stores and mail embarked before leaving Montevideo.
30th On
relief by HM Frigate BIGBURY BAY took passage for return to Bermuda along
the Pacific
coast of South
America.
RM
Detachment left at Port Stanley.
July
Passage through Straits of Magellan
2nd At
Punta Arenas, Chile.
6th Took
passage to Valparaiso via Passo Victoria, English Narrows and Darwin Channel.
12th At
Valparaiso for official visit to Chilean Navy.
(Open to visitors.)
17th Took
passage to Callao,
22nd At
Callao for official visit to Peruvian Navy.
27th Took
passage to Guayaquil.
31st
Anchored off port on arrival.
August
1st
Alongside at Guayaquil.
4th .Took
passage to Kingston, Jamaica.
7th
Transit of Panama Canal.
10th At
Kingston.
16th
Passage to Bermuda.
Two Soldiers embarked for passage
21st
Arrived at Bermuda.
23rd Board
of Inquiry on board.
(Note: This was held after loss of ship’s pay accounting documents during
passage from
Port Stanley.)
September
7th Took
passage for calls in New England, USA.
10th At Bar
Harbour, Maine.
11th Put to
sea during Hurricane situation.
12th
Returned to harbour. Open to Visitors.
17th At
Portsmouth, New Hampshire with HMS SHEFFIELD
Exchanged calls with US Navy and civil authorities.
23rd
Passage to New London, Connecticut.
24th At New
London.
Calls exchanged with US Navy authorities.
Open to visitors.
Underwater fittings inspected by divers.
29th At New
Haven, Connecticut.
Open to visitors.
October
5th Took
passage to Bermuda.
8th At
Bermuda.
11th Annual
Inspection
November Self
maintenance at Bermuda.
8th Basin
Trial.
15th Took
passage to return to Plymouth.
26th Arrived
at Plymouth for refit and recommissioning.
(Note: The First Lieutenant during this commission was John Harvey-Jones
Sir John left the Navy soon afterwards to work for ICI.
After
retiring as the Chairman of
ICI he became well known as a media
personality. He died in January 2008)
December Under refit by
HM Dockyard, Devonport.
1 9 5 5
January Under
refit.
New Commanding Officer: Commander H C J Shand DSC RN joined.
February Under
refit.
March Took part
in Shore Landing Party Exercise WIDDECOMBE FAIR.
April Refit
work in continuation.
May
Commissioned for service on America and West Indies Station.
2nd Began
sea trials.
5th
Visited St Austell Bay and anchored offshore.
Open to visitors.
9th Sea
trials abandoned due to machinery defects
20th
Carried out Basin trial.
28th Open
to visitors during NAVY DAYS.
June At
Devonport.
to
Dockyard work still in hand.
September Open to
visitors in July NAVY DAYS.
October Extensive
machinery trials and further sea trials
25th
Finally completed post refit trials.
(Note: The significant problems during this refit delayed deployment)
November Prepared for
foreign service at Devonport and Leave Period,
5th
Shakedown prior to period of work-up and weapon trials at Portland.
17th
Returned to Devonport prior to leaving for foreign service
Junior ratings joined ship.
Royal Marines embarked for passage.
29th Took
passage to Bermuda via Azores.
Experienced rough weather at times.
December
10th
Arrived at Bermuda.
Paintwork refurbished and underwater sonar fittings checked.
1 9 5 6
January
9tth Took
Passage to Montego Bay.
14th
Carried out exercises with HM Frigate MORECAMBE BAY.
19th
Visited Kingston, Jamaica.
Calls exchanged with civil authorities and Governor.
23rd Took
passage for visits in Caribbean.
24th
Official visit to Dominican Navy at Cuidad Trujillo, Dominica.
Provided Guard at wreath laying ceremony.
Open to visitors.
31st At St
Thomas, Virgin Islands.
Exchanged calls with US Navy authorities.
Open to visitors..
February
3rd At
Basseterre, St Kitts for official formal visit.
Accession Day Royal Salute fired.
8th At
Scarborough, Tobago.
Overnight leave granted to leading ratings and above.
Open to visitors.
15th
Passage to Georgetown with call at Port of Spain, Trinidad.
(Note: HM Cruiser KENYA present at Port of Spain.).
18th At
Georgetown, British Guiana.
Open to visitors
Talk by Captain on new centralised drafting to replace Port Divisions.
24th At New
Amsterdam, British Guiana.
Open to visitors, 2,600 recorded in Deck Log.
(Note: Two Warrant punishments awarded including imprisonment.)
March
1st At
Kingstown, St Vincent.
Anchored for 1 day before berthing.
Exchanged calls with civil authority.
Open to visitors. 1050 recorded in Deck Log.
6th At
Pointe a Pitre, Grand Terre, Guadeloupe.
Open to visitors.
Refinery visit arranged.
10th At
Punta Garden.
Open to visitors.
14th At
Maracaibo, Venezuela.
Open to visitors, 581 recorded in Deck Log.
Children’s party provided.
Oilfield visit to La Conception arranged.
Provided guard for wreath laying ceremony.
20th Took
passage to Montego Bay with call at Kingston, Jamaica for fuel.
24th Took
passage to Bermuda
29th
Arrived at Bermuda.
April At
Bermuda.
14th
Provided Ceremonial Guard at local Tattoo.
23rd
Carried out anti-submarine exercise with HM Cruiser QUEBEC (RCN) and HM
Submarine
to
AMBUSH
25th
26th
Passage to Norfolk, Virginia USA and carried out further exercises
28th
Arrived at Norfolk for joint RN/RCN/US Navy exercises.
May
1st Took
part in joint exercises including convoy defence and night encounter
. to
(Exercises NEW BROOM).
5th (Note: HM Canadian Aircraft Carrier MAGNIFICENT took part.
9th Took
passage to Baltimore, Maryland with HM Frigate MORECAMBE BAY for visit.
10th At
Baltimore after Chesapeake Bay transit.
to
Exchanged calls with US Navy and civil authorities.
14th
Captain interviewed on local TV.
Took part in Armed Forces Day Parade
Open to visitors. 1735 visitors recorded in Deck Log.
Visit to Washington, DC arranged.
15th
Passage to Charleston, South Carolina.
17th At
Charleston.
22nd Took
passage to return to Bermuda with HMS MORECAMBE BAY.
26th At
Bermuda.
June
Provided Guard for Queen's Birthday celebration.
Took part in sea inspection of HMS MORECAMBE BAY off Bermuda.
11th Took
part in Exercise HOURGLASS with HM Frigates MORECAMBE BAY, WAKEFUL,
ROEBUCK and WHIRLWIND.
(Note: Major international assembly including ships of Home Fleet, Canadian and
Dutch
warships.
Exercise included anti-submarine serials with RN and US Navy submarines).
27th On
completion returned to Bermuda.
Commander Shard, promoted Captain.
July
Prepared for patrol and visits programme to USA, Newfoundland and Canada.
9th
Commenced visit programme and carried out joint exercises with HMS MORECAMBE BAY
and HMS BIGBURY BAY before detaching for passage to Rhode Island
13th At
Providence, Rhode Island USA.
19th At
Province Town, East Rhode Island, USA
24th Sailed for Bar Harbour, Maine USA
25th At Bar
Harbour.
30th Sailed
for Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada.
31st At
Saint John
August
3rd
Sailed for Gaspe, Quebec Province.
6th At
Gaspe.
10th Sailed
for Comerbrook, Newfoundland.
12th At
Comerbrook.
15th Took
passage to Plymouth to Pay-off.
24th
Paid-off and reduced to Reserve status.
F i n a l P h a s e
HMS ST AUSTELL BAY was laid-up
in the Reserve Fleet at Plymouth until 1959 when she was placed on the Disposal
List. Sold to BISCO
for demolition by Shipbreaking Industries and arrived
in tow at the the breakers yard at Charlestown near Rosyth on 5th July 1959.
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