LOCH Class Anti-Submarine Frigate ordered from Charles Hill,
Bristol on 6th March 1943 and laid down on 8th June 1944 as Job No.J600 (Yard
No 300). She was to be named LOCH SWANNAY but after a policy change to meet the
need for anti-aircraft escorts for service in the Far East the contract was
changed the ship to be completed to a revised design. She was renamed VERYAN
BAY when launched by Mrs Charles Hill, wife
of the Chairman of the builders, on 11th November 1944 and was the first RN ship to carry this name. Completion date
was 13th May 1945. (See General Information for details of design changes to
the basic LOCH Class hull structure).
G e o g r a p h i c D a t a
Bay on South coast of Cornwall between Dodman Point and Nare Head
40 miles Plymouth.
Grid Reference:SW9640
H e r a l d i c D a t a
Badge: On a Field
per fess wavy Green and barry wavy of 4 white and blue,
An escallop white
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
Contractors trials
13th Build
completion and commenced Acceptance Trials.
15th
Commissioned for service.
Commanding Officer: Lieut. Cdr J S Brownrigg, DSC, RN.
Allocated for service in Far East with Pacific Escort Force on completion.
On
completion of trials and storing took passage to Tobermory.
June
Worked-up for operational service
Under repair in Glasgow.
Resumed work-up after repair.
July
On
completion of work-up took passage to Portland..
Carried out Weapon calibration and weapon firing trials at Portland.
Passage to Malta for further training.
August Carried
out further work-up with ships of Mediterranean Fleet.
September Took passage
to Singapore, via Aden.
October Joined
Pacific Escort force at Singapore.
November Passage from
Singapore to Hong Kong to join Escort Group
December Joined HM
Frigates BIGBURY BAY, WIDEMOUTH BAY and WHITESAND BAY
in
Group at Hong
Kong as part of
British Pacific Fleet.
1 9 4 6
January Deployed
with Group at Hong Kong and carried out Yangtse Patrol and in South China Sea.
to
(Note: This was established to provide protection for British flagged
mercantiles trading
February in Chinese
ports and subject to detention by communist forces.)
March
2nd
Passage to Subic Bay.
4th At US
Navy Base in Subic Bay, Philippines.
14th Took
return passage to Hong Kong
16th On
arrival placed in Quarantine
(Note: 60 of ship’s company were transferred to Hospital Ship.)
27th
Resumed Flotilla duties when released from Quarantine.
April
4th
Passage to Labuan.
8th
Arrived at Labuan
12th Sailed
from Labuan to Hong Kong a escort for Landing Craft (Tank)
(Note: This type of craft was used to carry firewood for sale to relieve a
shortage
in
the Colony.)
20th
Arrived at Hong Kong with Landing Craft.
26th
Passage to Sydney with calls at Thursday Island and Townsville.
May
16th
Arrived at Sydney
21st Taken
in hand for refit at HM Australian Dockyard, Cockatoo Island.
to
Oerlikon close range AA armament removed.
31st
June Under
refit
July
Carried out post refit trials on completion of dockyard work.
15th
Passage to Melbourne for visit.
17th Took
return passage to Sydney
23rd Sailed
from Sydney to carry out Pacific patrol.
31st At
Kuk, Solomon Islands
August Deployed
in Solomon Islands.
Embarked Governor, Solomon Islands for official visits
(Note: This was first visit by the Governor since VJ Day.
14th Took
passage to Port Moresby to refuel.
17th At
Port Moresby
18th Sailed
from Port Moresby to returned to Hong Kong
29th On
arrival resumed duties with Group
September
8th
Deployed for Formosan Strait Patrol
16th
Returned to Hong Kong.
Nominated for Guardship duty at Amoy
Deployed at Amoy
October
11th
Returned passage to Hong Kong from Amoy
12th
Arrived at Hong Kong.
14th Took
passage to Java for Guardship duties.
21st At
Batavia.
November Deployment
at Batavia for support of military operations against insurgents
in
continuation.
(Note: This was due to opposition to renewal of Dutch colonial rule.)
9th
Sailed from Batavia to Cheribon.
10th
Arrived at Cheribon
(Note: During stay the Brutish Representative, Lord Killearn met Indonesian
political representatives for discussion relating to future independence.)
13th Return
passage to Batavia.
29th Sailed
from Batavia for Singapore with General Mansergh of British Garrison.
(Note: Last RN Guardship at Batavia.
Ships company eligible for the Naval General
Service Medal (SE Asia Clasp).
December
7th
Arrived at Singapore.
13th Sailed
from |Singapore as escorted HM Landing Craft (HQ) 100 during passage to
Subic Bay for return to US Navy.
(Note: LCHQ was being returned from RN service under Lend Lease.)
20th
Passage from Subic Bay ro Hong Kong.
1 9 4 7
January Deployed
with Flotilla for local patrol and exercises with BPF ships.
Escort Group and Fleet duties in continuation.
(Note: Fleet units taking part included HM BERMUDA, HM Light Fleet Aircraft
Carriers
GLORY and VENERABLE with destroyers and frigates of BPF.
February Deployment
at Hong Kong for Group and Fleet duties.
22nd Took
passage to Japan for official visit by BPF units
March
1st At
Yokohama
14th Took
passage to Kure
16th At
Kure.
21st
Transferred to Mediterranean Fleet.
26th Prepared for passage to Malta.
29th Sailed
from Hong Kong for Singapore.
April
4th At
Singapore.
6th Took
passage to Malta with calls at Trincomalee and Aden.
27th
Transit of Suez Canal.
Mayl Passage
in Mediterranean
2nd Joined
2nd Escort Flotilla on arrival in Malta.
5th New
Commanding Officer, Captain RS Wellby, DSO, RN.
(Later Rear Admiral, CB, DSO).
15th
Deployed for Palestine patrol and surveillance of immigrant traffic on passage
to Palestine.
Took passage to Leghorn for surveillance of ss PRESIDENT WRAFIELD.
17th At
Leghorn
29th
Passage to Malta
31st
Arrived in Malta
June
4th
Passage to Piraeus for surveillance of immigrant traffic.
6th At
Piraeus.
10th
Passage from Piraeus to Malta with call at Corfu.
(Note: First RN ship to visit since mining of HM Destroyers SAUMAREZ and VOLAGE
in
Corfu Channel in October 1946).
18th
Arrived in Malta
Nominated for refit at Gibraltar
19th
Passage to Gibraltar.
23rd Taken
in hand for refit by HM Dockyard, Gibraltar.
July Under
refit
31st
Carried out post refit trials on completion of dockyard work.
August Deployed
in western Mediterranean before returned to Malta.
(Note: Carried out surveillance of mercantiles off North African coast.)
15th
Arrived in Malta
28th Sailed
from Malta for Palestine Patrol based at Haifa
September
1st
Deployed at Haifa for surveillance and interception of immigrant ships.
October Haifa
deployment in continuation.
4th R&R
period at Beirut
7th
Resumed patrol deployment.
13th Took
passage to Malta on relief
Nominated for Guardship at Trieste
November Passage to
Trieste
Deployed as Adriatic Guardship at Trieste.
(Note: British garrison was maintained at Trieste.)
December Adriatic
Guardship duty in continuation.
1 9 4 8
January Adriatic
Guardship duty at Trieste in continuation.
15th Took
passage to Malta on relief
18th
Resumed Flotilla duties on arrival in Malta.
22nd
Deployed for Flotilla exercises in Malta area.
to
31st
February Deployed
in Malta
10th
Carried local exercises.
19th
Present in Malta during visit by HRH The Duke of Gloucester.
22nd Taken
in hand for refit.
(Note: Pennant Number for visual signalling purposes changed to F651.)
March Under
refit
.
(Note: Training carried out for Palestine Patrol duties.)
Carried out port refit trials
April
5th On
completion of sea trials took passage for patrol duty in Red Sea.
10th
Transit of Suez Canal completed
11th
Deployed in Read Sea with visits to Wejh and Massawa.
to
30th
May Red Sea
deployment in continuation.
8th
Sailed from Port Sudan and visited Kumfida and Jeddah.
to On
relief in Red Sea patrol took passage to Malta
20th
Deployed in Malta with Flotilla.
21st
Sailed for Malta from Port Said on relief.
25th
Resumed Flotilla duties in Malta.
June Took
part in Fleet visits and exercise programme.
July
Deployed for Palestine patrol as relief for HM Frigate WIDEMOUTH BAY.
August Returned
to Malta and deployed with Flotilla.
September Deployed for
Palestine patrol duties based in Cyprus.
Routine docking and maintenance in Malta on return.
October
9th
Resumed Flotilla duties on completion.
Took passage to Tripoli, Libya.
13th Took
part in Fleet Exercise ARCTURUS
(Note: This included landings at Zuara.)
18th Return
passage to Malta
27th
Deployed for Fleet exercises.
November
3rd Took
passage to Trieste for Guardship duty.
6th
Deployed as Guardship at Trieste
18th
Passage to Venice for R&R.
Calls exchanged with civic and military authorities.
22nd Resumed
Guardship duty at Trieste.
December
7th Took
passage to Malta on relief.
10th
Resumed Flotilla duties in Malta.
13th New
Commanding Officer: Captain HCN Rolfe, Royal Navy.
(Note This was first appointment for a Sea Command for an Aviation specialist.)
1 9 4 9
January
Complement of Boy ratings joined for training.
11th Took
part in Flotilla exercises.
18th
Passage to Port Said for Guardship duty at Aqaba
25th Called at Port Tewfik
27th At Aqaba as Guardship.
to
Visit by Local Nadir.
31st
February Aqaba
deployment in continuation.
8th
Refuelled at Port Tewfik and returned to Aqaba.
19th On
relief by HM Frigate ST AUSTELL BAY took passage to Malta.
27th
Resumed Flotilla duties in Malta.
March Deployed
for Flotilla duties in Malta.
3rd Took
part in local exercises.
23rd
Routine docking for hull inspection.
29th On
completion rejoined Fleet exercises.
April
Deployed in Malta
14th Took
part in local exercise
15th New
Commanding Officer appointed
Captain GT Lambert, DSC
19th Took
passage to Trieste for Guardship duty.
22nd Arrived
at Trieste.
May
19th
Passage to Venice
22nd At
Venice with HM Battleship VANGUARD for Royal visit by HRH Princess Margaret.
(Note: As the battleship could not berth alongside, the Princess embarked for
the short
passage. The Mainbrace was spliced during the visit and the ship was used to
take
and collect Libertymen from HMS VANGUARD.
24th Took
return passage to Malta.
26th Resumed
Flotilla duties on arrival in Malta.
June Deployed
at Malta for
Flotilla and Fleet exercises
July Took
part in 1st Summer Fleet visits
and exercise programme.
8th At
Navarin for Fleet Regatta.
14th Detached
and took passage to Aqaba for Guardship duty.
22nd At Port
Tewfik
26th Sailed
for Aqaba
27th Relieved
HM Destroyer CHIVALROUS as Guardship at Aqaba.
August Deployed at
Aqaba as Guardship
8th Carried
out patrol in Red Sea.
15th Returned
to Aqaba
19th Sailed
from Aqaba for Malta on relief by HMS CHILDERS.
21st Passage
from Port Said
(Note: Branch Pipe for water system lost overboard and steering failure during
passage.)
25th Arrived
in Malta.
28th Board of
Inquiry convened in Malta.
29th Took
passage to Gibraltar for refit.
September
2nd Taken in
hand for refit at Gibraltar
October Under refit
25th Carried
out post refit trials
28th Passage
to Malta to resume Flotilla duties.
November
1st Resumed
Flotilla duties on arrival in Malta.
14th Carried
out exercises with HM Submarine SOLENT.
25th Annual
Inspection by Flag Officer (Destroyers).
December
2nd Deployed
with Flotilla in Exercise SWAT.
7th Took
passage from Malta for Guardship duty at Aqaba
12th Refuelled
at Port Tewfik.
17th Deployed
at Aqaba as Guardship in place of HMS CHEVRON.
1 9 5 0
January Guardship
at Aqaba in continuation
Returned to Malta on relief
February Deployed
at Malta and took part in Fleet exercises.
March Interim
refit and docking in Malta
April
Transfer for Loan service with RNZN approved.
11th Took
part in local exercises with HM Sloop PELICAN and HM Destroyer CHIEFTAIN.
15th New Commanding Officer JFR Crews, GM RN
(Note: Commander Crews was awarded the George Medal in 1945.
The citation reads ‘For gallantry in saving lives in an air raid on the city of
Plymouth’.
17th
Deployed for local exercises.
27th
Passage to Auckland with HMS ST AUSTELL BAY.
(Note: These two ships were being exchanged with HMNZ Frigates HAWEA and
TAUPO, LOCH Class ships transferred to RNZN.)
May
1st
Transit of Suez Canal.
6th At
Massawa with HMS ST AUSTELL BAY.
10th At
Aden with HMS ST AUSTELL BAY.
23rd At
Trincomalee.
27th
Detached from HMS ST AUSTELL BAY and made independent passage to Christmas
Island.
June
3rd At
Christmas Island
9th
Rejoined HMS ST AUSTELL BAY.
12th At
Fremantle.
23rd At
Hobart, Tasmania.
26th Took
passage to Auckland with HMS ST AUSTELL BAY
July
3rd
Arrived at Auckland and joined 11th Frigate Flotilla, RNZN
15th
Passage to Nelson.
18th
Official visit to Nelson.
Exchanged calls with civic authorities.
Open to visitors.
21st Met
HMS ST AUSTELL BAY during passage to Wellington
22nd At
Wellington
Open to visitors
24th
Passage to Auckland with HMS ST AUSTELL BAY
Took part in exercises with HM New Zealand Cruiser BELLONA.
27th At
Auckland
RNZNR ratings joined for training.
August
1st Took
part in anti-submarine exercises with HMNZ Frigate ROTOITI off
Port Fitzroy.
3rd Leave
Period at Auckland
Visited ports in South Island.
11th At
Mercury Bay
Open to Visitors from Waitangi
14th At
Port Abercrombie
15th Took
part in exercises in Hauraki Gulf with RNZN ships.
18th Return
passage to Auckland.
24th
Passage to Lyttleton, South Island.
26th At
Lyttleton.
Calls exchange with civic authorities
Open to visitors
September
4th
Return passage to Auckland.
6th At
Auckland
8th
Passage to Gisburn.
9th
Struck jetty on arrival at Gisburn.
Open visitors.
15th
Passage to Wellington
16th At
Wellington with HMS ST AUSTELL BAY.
Open to visitors
19th Took
passage to Campbell Island with stores
26th At
Campbell Island.
29th Return
passage to Wellington with calls on west coast of South Island.
Calls made at Bluff and Revolver Bay
October Passage
on west coast
1st
Calls made at Anchorage Arm, Dagas Sound, Shoal Cove, Caswell Sound
to and
Milford Haven.
6th
7th At
Wellington
9th
Passage to Auckland
11th Took
part in exercises off Port Fitzroy with HMS ST AUSTELL BAY.
13th
Deployed in Hauraki Gulf for exercises with RNZN ships
20th
Prepared for return passage to Malta at Auckland.
28th Sailed
with HMS ST AUSTELL BAY for return passage.
November
5th At
Cairns, Australia.
7th
Passage to Singapore with call at Darwin for fuel.
22nd At
Singapore
26th
Passage to Trincomalee with HM Boom Defence Vessel BARBERRY in tow.
(Note: HMS ST AUSTELL BAY was in company and towing HMS BARLANE.
December
3rd At
Trincomalee.
8th
Sailed from Trincomalee with HMS BARBERRY in tow and in company with
HMS ST AUSTELL BAY towing HMS BARBERRY
25th At
Port Sudan
29th Tows
slipped for Suez Canal transit
31st
Resumed tow and sailed from Port Said for Malta.
1 9 5 1
January
4th
Arrived in Malta with HMS ST AUSTELL BAY and rejoined Flotilla.
10th Took
part in EXERCISE WILEX 14 with Mediterranean Fleet ships
(Note: These included HM Cruisers LIVERPOOL and GAMBIA.
Delivered mail to ships involved.)
11th
Deployed with Flotilla for exercises
to
(Note: Involved in search for waterlogged boat containing ratings from
31st HM
Sloop MERMAID.
February Under
refit by HM Dockyard, Malta
to
Nominated for transfer to 7th Frigate Flotilla, Home Fleet on completion.
March
April
Carried out post refit trials on completion of dockyard work
7th
Attended Review of Mediterranean Fleet ships by HRH Princess Elizabeth,
13th Took
passage to Plymouth
21st
Arrived at Plymouth
Paid-off.
May
Re-commissioned for service in 7th Frigate Flotilla
8th
Deployed at Portland for weapon calibration and ranging.
12th
Passage to Invergordon to take part in Home Fleet exercises.
14th Home
Fleet exercises.
(Note: Serials included anti-submarine procedures and Night Encounter.)
30th At Rosyth.
June
2nd Took
part in Home Fleet convoy defence exercise during passage to
Cherbourg.
7th At
Cherbourg.
9th
Passage to Penzance for visit.
10th At
Penzance
Open to visits
12th
Resumed Home Fleet convoy defence exercise in English Channel.
16th
Deployed in NW Approaches for Fleet exercise.
20th
Deployed in English Channel in continuation.
21st
Carried out exercises with HMS ST AUSTELL BAY off Portland.
25th Took
part in Exercise VELOX
29th
Deployed for Flotilla exercises.
30th
Passage to Swanage for visit.
July
1st At
Swanage
Open to Visitors
5th
Passage to Portland for further exercises.
12th
Routine docking at Devonport
August Leave
Period and self refit
September
Passage to Portland for exercises
12th
Passage to Holyhead for visit.
13th At
Holyhead
Calls exchanged with civic authorities
Open to visitors
19th
Passage to Londonderry for anti-submarine exercises.
30th
Deployed for Joint Anti-Submarine Exercises in NW Approaches.
October
Londonderry deployment in continuation.
11th Took
part in Home Fleet Exercise ASSESS with Flotilla.
to
Deployed with HM Frigates LOCH ARKAIG, LOCH INSH, LOCH FADA
18th and ST
AUSTELL BAY for anti-submarine exercises during passage to
Gibraltar
19th
Arrived at Gibraltar with Home Fleet ships.
29th
Deployed for local exercises.
November At Gibraltar
with ships of Flotilla
Annual Inspection.
17th
Passage to Plymouth with HM Frigates LOCH KILLISPORT and LOCH INSH.
December Under refit
by HM Dockyard Plymouth.
1 9 5 2
January Under
refit
Nominated for service in West Indies on completion of refit.
New Commanding Officer: Commander R Horncastle, RN
February Carried
out post refit trials on completion of dockyard work.
Prepared for service in West Indies.
7th
Passage to Bermuda.
18th
Arrived at Bermuda.
(Note: Visits Programme by ships of West Indies Squadron cancelled due to
death of HM King George VI.
Nominated for Guardship duty in Falklands.
Royal Marines Detachment from HM Cruiser SHEFFIELD joined for passage
to
Port Stanley.
March Passage
to Port Stanley, Falklands
Calls made at Rio de Janeiro and Montevideo.
Relieved HM Frigate BURGHEAD BAY on arrival.
April
Deployed at Port Stanley as Guardship
to
(Note: Collected penguins for Vancouver Zoo.)
June These
were to be taken to Montevideo for air passage to Canada.)
Sailed from Port Stanley
July
2nd
Relieved by HMS ST AUSTELL BAY at Rio de Janeiro
August Deployed
in West Indies for Flotilla duties and exercises.
to
September
October Relieved
in Squadron by HMS BIGBURY BAY
20th Sailed
for Plymouth with HMS BURGHEAD BAY.
29th
Arrived at Plymouth.
(Statistical Note: Steamed 26,000 miles since January 1952.)
November Under refit
at Devonport
to
Paid-off
December
1 9 5 3
January Under
refit
to
February
March
5th
Re-commissioned for service in 7th Frigate Squadron, West Indies as Senior
Officer
in
relief for HM Sloop SNIPE
Commanding Officer: Captain RGW Hare, OBE RN
Carried out post refit trials and prepared for foreign service
April Royal
Marines Detachment embarked.
9th
Passage to Bermuda .
30th
Arrived at Bermuda
May
Prepared for provision of Guard for Coronation ceremonial at Kingston, Jamaica
25th
Passage to Kingston for Coronation ceremonies.
29th
Arrived at Kingston.
June
2nd Took
part in Coronation celebrations during which Station Colour was trooped.
3rd Took
passage to Antigua
6th At
Antigua
8th
Passage to Barbados
9th At
Barbados for Queens Birthday
Guard landed.
12th
Passage to Grenada
13th At
Grenada
16th
Passage to Puerta Caballo, Venezuela
18th At
Puerto Caballo.
22nd Passage
to Trinidad
23rd At
Trinidad
24th Took
passage to Recife, Brazil after refuelling.
July
3rd At
Recife
Calls exchanged with civil and military authorities
Open to visitors
7th Took
passage to Montevideo.
10th
Encountered bad weather conditions.
14th At
Montevideo.
18th
Passage to Port Stanley as relief for HMS BIGBURY BAY
22nd Arrived
at Port Stanley.
Royal Marines landed.
August
24th
Deployed for patrol with calls at Speedwell Settlement, Port Stevens and New
Island
28th Return
passage to Port Stanley from New Island.
September
14th
Deployed for patrol with calls at Ajax Bay, San Carlos and Fox Bay.
18th Return
passage to Port Stanley.
October At Port
Stanley
14th Took
passage to Bermuda.
21st At
Rio de Janeiro.
27th At Recife
29th
Passage to Trinidad.
November
5th At
Trinidad
14th
Passage to Kingston
19th
Embarked troops at Kingston for passage to Bermuda.
20th
Deployed for Air-Sea Rescue duties in position 27.50N 70W during Royal Flight to
Bermuda from UK.
(Note: Royal Family were to embark in ss GOTHIC for Commonwealth Tour.)
27th
Arrived at Bermuda.
December
3rd Deployed
at Hamilton for ceremonial duties during visit of French and US Leaders
for
meeting with British Prime Minister for three Power discussions.
4th Provided
Street Lining Party and ceremonial Guards
11th Returned
to Bermuda dockyard.
18th Annual
Inspection by CinC.
1 9 5 4
January
9th Took
passage to Nassau and exercised with HMS BURGHEAD BAY
11th HMS
BURGHEAD BAY detached
13th
Arrived at Nassau.
14th Began
hydrographic survey at Green Bay for proposed new moorings
16th At
Nassau
19th
Passage to Palm Beach, Florida
21st At
Palm Beach.
Open to visitors. 3,400 recorded in Deck Log.
26th
Passage to Jacksonville.
27th At
Jacksonville
Calls exchanged with civil authority and US Navy
February
1st Took
return passage to Bermuda and prepared for return passage to UK.
4th
Arrived at Bermuda
8th
Sailed from Bermuda to Plymouth
18th
Arrived at Plymouth.
March
Paid-off and taken in hand for refit by HM Dockyard Devonport.
3rd New Commanding Officer
Commander L R P Lawford DSC RN joined.
April Under
refit.
to
Re-commissioned for service on West Indies and South American Station.
May
June
Carried out post refit trials.
Royal Marines detachment embarked.
July
Carried cut Weapon Trials and exercises at Portland.
3rd
Passage to Torbay for visit with HM Destroyers TYRIAN and HM Frigate BROCKLESBY.
5th
Resumed Portland firings and exercises
Two monocular sights missing from X mounting.
22nd Board
of Inquiry held on board.
26th
Returned to Plymouth to prepare for foreign service.
August
3rd Took
passage to Bermuda.
7th
Diverted to land Royal Marine for hospital treatment at Cobh, Eire.
17th
Arrived at Bermuda
September
4th Took
passage from Bermuda to Port Stanley for Guardship duties.
8th At
Antigua
Open to visitors
15th At
Trinidad to refuel.
18th At
Georgetown, British Guiana.
Open to visitors
17th At
Belem, Brazil for visit to Brazilian naval base.
Calls exchanged with Brazilian naval authorities.
October Passage
to Salvador, Brazil
5th At
Salvador
Open to visitors
11th At Rio
de Janeiro
Open to visitors
16th Took
passage to Port Stanley.
23rd On
arrival relieved HMS BIGBURY BAY as Guardship.
(Note: Significant increase in the number of threats being made by Argentine
and Chilean
warships to activities by British whaling ships was taking place.)
Landed Royal Marines
November
20th Embarked
Settlement mail and prepared to take Governor of Falklands to
South Georgia
21st Took
passage to Deception Island to embark Governor.
24th Embarked
Governor.
Sailed for Potters Cove
25th Delivered
protest to Argentine base at Potters Cove.
Took
passage to Signy, Inaccessible Island.
27th Governor
and Staff disembarked
30th Sailed
from Signy with Governor, civil Staff
December
1st At
Grytviken, South Georgia.
4th Passage
to Leith with mail.
8th Returned
to Port Stanley with Governor, civil staff and mail.
10th Governor
disembarked on arrival at Port Stanley.
1 9 5 5
January Argentine
and Chilean activities giving rise to concern.
2nd Royal
Marines embarked.
3rd Took
passage to Deception Island .
7th
Delivered Protest to Argentine warships and to Chilean Base.
to
13th
14th
Delivered Protest to Argentine base on Ardley Peninsula.
Carried out 4in armament practice firings on departure.
15th
Remained in South Shetlands area.
17th Took
passage to Port Stanley.
19th
Governor and Royal Marines disembarked,
February
2nd Royal Marines embarked
3rd Took passage for patrol in South Georgia.
8th At
Grytviken
16th Return
passage to Port Stanley.
20th At
Port Stanley
24th CinC
AWI arrived flying his flag in HM Cruiser SUPERB.
27th
Prepared for return passage to Bermuda on arrival of HM Frigate BURGHEAD BAY.
March
2nd Took
passage to Punta Arenas, Chile
4th At
Punta Arenas.
Calls exchanged with civil and naval authorities.
Open to visitors
8th At
Puerto Montt, Chile
14th At
Antofagasta, Chile.
Calls exchanged with military authorities.
Open to visitors.
25th At
Mollendo Peru
Guard landed to take part in local parade.
31st At
Libertad, Ecuador
April
Passage to Bermuda with Panama Canal Transit.
At
Bermuda.
Carried out routine maintenance and self refit.
May
Deployed at Bermuda for exercises and visits programme.
to
July
August Passage to
Plymouth to refit and re-commission.
On
arrival Paid-off and taken in hand for refit by HM Dockyard Devonport.
September Under refit
by HM Dockyard Devonport.
(Note: Extensive changes were made to communications outfit and additional
ballast
provided to improve
stability)
October Under
refit.
15th
Re-commissioned for further service with 7th Frigate Squadron.
New Commanding Officer: Commander J Bitmead RN
November Under refit
to
December
1 9 5 6
January Carried
out post refit harbour trials.
23rd Ships company moved on board from Barracks.
26th Carried out sea trials.
February
5th On
completion took passage to Portland.
5th
Worked-up at Portland for operational service
Carried out weapon calibration, firings and exercises and calibration
24th On
completion to passage to Devonport to prepare for foreign service.
(Note: British presence in South Atlantic essential in case advantage was taken
by
Argentina or Chile during the current Middle East Suez crisis.)
March
12th Took
passage to Bermuda
24th
Arrived at Bermuda.
On
arrival nominated for Falklands Guardship and patrol duties.
April
4th
Passage from Bermuda to Port Stanley as relief for HM Patrol Ship PROTECTOR.
(Note: Routed with calls at ports on west coast of South America)
9th At
Kingston, Jamaica
14th
Transit of Panama Canal.
20th
Relieved HMS PROTECTOR during visit to Callao, Peru.
27th At
Antofagasta, Chile.
May
5th At
Talahuano, Chile
12th
Passage of Magellan Strait
14th At
Punta Arenas
17th
Arrived at Port Stanley.
Deployed for local patrol and exercises.
June
Nominated for visits to Atlantic ports
4th Took
passage to Rio Grande del Sol.
9th At
Rio Grande del Sol.
15th At
Vittoria
21st At
Santo
Local leave granted
27th Took
return passage to Port Stanley.
July
4th
Returned to Port Stanley,
8th Prime
Minister broadcast on Suez crisis.
Deployed on South Shetland Patrol.
August Prepared
for programme of Official Visits to Brazilian ports.
Took passage from Port Stanley
10th At
Puerto Belgrano
Calls exchanged with Brazilian Naval authorities.
14th
Brazilian Admiral visited ship.
16th At Mar
del Plata
20th
Passage of 190 miles up-river to Rosario
22nd At
Rosario.
29th At
Montevideo, Uruguay
September
4th
Passage to Port Stanley from Montevideo.
(Note: Mail and stores had been embarked during stay.)
8th
Arrived at Port Stanley
10th
Deployed at Port Stanley for local patrol and exercises.
26th
Prepared for visits to ports in southern Argentina.
28th Took
passage to Rio Gallagos.
October
1st At
Rio Gallagos
5th At
San Julian.
11th At
Port Stanley
13th
Prepared for return passage to Bermuda.
17th Sailed
from Port Stanley to Santos, Brazil.
19th
Transferred to South Atlantic Station.
25th At
Santos
November
1st At
Recife, Brazil
5th
Sailed to Simonstown from Recife to join South Atlantic Station..
19th
Arrived at Simonstown.
28th Took
passage for visits programme to East African ports.
30th At
East London.
December
7th At
Inhambane, Mozambique
14th At
Port Elizabeth.
18th Took
passage from East London to Simonstown
20th Arrived
at Simonstown
Local
Leave granted
Nominated for reduction to Reserve and to return to UK
1 9 5 7
January Nominated
for visits to ports in SW Africa during return passage to
UK
19th Sailed
for Lobito, Portuguese West Africa (Angola)
25th At Lobito
31st At Boma,
Belgian Congo (Zaire)
February
2nd Passage
up Congo River to Matadi, Belian
8th At
Libreville, French Equatorial Africa.
11th At Sao
Thome Island, Gulf of Guinea (Portuguese colony)
15th At Lagos,
Nogeria.
21st At
Monrovia, Liberia.
25th At Freetown
(Note: Flag of CinC South Atlantic worn)
28th Took
passage from Freetown to Plymouth
March
11th Arrived
at Plymouth and Paid-off
12th De-stored
and commenced reduction to Reserve status.
F i n a l P h a s e
HMS VERYAN BAY remained Laid-up in the Reserve Fleet at Plymouth
until 1959 when placed on the Disposal List. The ship was
sold to BISCO for demolition by Metal Industries and arrived in tow at the breaker’s yard in Charlestown near Rosyth on 1st July 1959.
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