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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