LOCH Class Anti-Submarine Frigate ordered from Harland
and Wolff at Belfast on 2nd February 1943 and laid down on 26th April 1944 at
Belfast as Admiralty Job Number J3917 (Yard Number 1259)..She was to be named
LOCH FRISA, 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 was
completed to a revision design and she was renamed as WIDEMOUTH BAY on 5th
October 1944 when launched on 19th October that year as the first Royal Navy
ship to carry this name. Completion date as a BAY Class Anti-aircraft Frigate
was 13th April 1945. (See General Information for details of design changes to
the basic LOCH Class hull structure). She was the
first BAY Class frigate to complete build.
G e o g r a p h i c D a t a
Bay on north coast of Cornwall three miles
south of Bude.
Grid
Reference: SX2002
H e r a l d i c D a t a
Badge: On a Field bary wavy of six White and Blue Talbot’s
head erased Black,
collared Blue.
M a n n i n g D i v i s i
o n
Chatham
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
March Contractors
trials
Commissioned for service
Commanding Officer: Lieutenant J H Macalister RNR
Nominated for service in British Pacific with British Fleet Train (Task Force
112)
(For
details of Fleet Train see THE FORGOTTEN FLEET by John Winton).
30th Commenced
First of Class Trials
April
1st
Completed First of Class Trials
(Note: Speed trial data 19.27 Knots. 183 Revs. 5474 IHP.)
13th Build
completion and commenced Acceptance Trials.
15th Passage
to Portland for ranging and weapon trials.
On
completion took passage to Tobermory to work-up for operational service.
May Worked-up
at Tobermory.
June On
completion prepared for foreign service.
July
Took passage for Indian
Ocean with calls at Gibraltar and Malta.
Deployed in Mediterranean.
August After VJ Day
during passage allocated for service with Pacific Escort Force.
Passage from Colombo to British Forward Base at Manus, Admiralty Islands with
call at Darwin.
F a r E a s t S t a t i o n S e
r v i c e 1 9 4 5 t o 1 9 4 7
September Passage from
Manus to Hong Kong.
21st
Joined Pacific Escort Force at Hong Kong.
Deployed with Task Group at Shanghai for support of repatriation operations
.
(Note: Commanding Officer promoted to Lieut. Cdr, RNR).
October Carried
out patrol and escort duties in Formosa Straits.
(Note: British mercantile traffic was being threatened by Chinese craft).
November Support of
repatriation in continuation
to
(Note: Other ships involved included HM Cruiser Belfast and HM Sloop BLACK
SWAN.)
December
1 9 4 6
January Deployed
with Escort Force at Hong Kong.
Escorted mercantile traffic in South China Sea.
New Commanding Officer, Lieut. Cdr. E R Barker-Smythe RNVR appointed.
February South
China Sea patrol and escort duties in continuation.
12th
Resumed Formosa Straits patrol and escort duty.
Called at Kure during deployment.
March Return
passage to Hong Kong.
On
arrival prepared for passage to Australia for interim refit.
18th Passage
to Darwin.
25th At Darwin
30th
Passage to Sydney.
April Taken
in hand for refit by HM Australian Dockyard, Sydney.
May On
completion of post refit trials took passage to Melbourne for visit.
13th At
Melbourne.
23rd
Passage to Sydney
24th At
Sydney and prepared for return passage to Hong Kong
June
Passage to Darwin.
6th At
Darwin.
10th
Passage to Hong Kong with calls at Labuan, Borneo and Subic Bay, Philippines.
July
Rejoined Escort Force at Hong Kong.
Deployed as Guardship at Satow for patrol and escort duty in Formosa Straits.
Nominated for shore military support and repatriation duty in Dutch East Indies.
(Note: Ships of Pacific Escort Force were deployed as Guardship and also
escorted landing craft
taking repatriated prisoners and internees to
Singapore (RAPWI).
August
8th
Passage to Singapore for service in Dutch East Indies
13th
Arrived at Singapore.
14th
Passage from Singapore to Batavia for Guardship and support duties.
17th At
Batavia, Java as relief for HM Sloop WHIMBREL.
Commenced Guardship duties.
September Transferred
to 2nd Escort Flotilla when Pacific Escort Force renamed
Guardship and support duties in Tanjong Priok in continuation
28th
Despatched for support duty at Palembang, Sumatra.
29th
Deployed at Palembang, Sumatra as Guardship
October Palembang
duty in continuation.
10th
Embarked Indian troops for passage down river to embark in mercantile ss TALMA.
13th Whilst
Guardship at Palembang, a Jetty Sentry, Able Seaman Brown killed by a sniper.
14th
Embarked Dutch naval officers.
Carried out reconnaissance of insurgent at OEPANG.
Returned to Palembang without having any return fire
15th
Funeral of AB Brown.
27th
Embarked troops and nurses for transfer to Hospital Ship KARAPARA at river
mouth.
Escorted KARAPARA to Singapore.
28th
Arrived at Singapore.
(Note: Naval General Service Medal (Clasp SE Asia) awarded for service in
Dutch East
Indies.)
November
2nd
Passage from Singapore with HM Sloop BLACK SWAN as escort to 14 BYMS to Subic
Bay,
Philippines for return to US Navy.
(Note: These had been transferred to RN under Lease Lend.)
5th Took
over tow of BYMS2007 from HMS BLACK SWAN.
(Note: This vessel had broken down and tow had fouled screw of HMS BLACK SWAN.
10th
Arrived at Subic Bay after slow passage with towing problems.
12th
Embarked crews of BYMS for passage to Hong Kong.
13th Took
return passage to Hong Kong with HM Sloops HART and BLACK SWAN.
15th
Arrived at Hong Kong.
16th Became
Senior Officer’s ship, 2nd Escort Flotilla BPF(?)
New Commanding Officer: Captain C W Greening Royal Navy joined.
25th Taken
in hand for routine docking and repair at Aberdeen Dry Dock.
December Under
repair.
1 9 4 7
January On
completion resumed Flotilla duties.
Deployed for local patrol.
Nominated for detached service in Japan to carry out patrol duty in Inland Sea
New Commanding Officer, Lieut. Cdr. J S Kerans, RN joined.
February
1st Took
passage for Kure from Hong Kong
7th
Arrived at Kure after delay by heavy weather during passage.
(Note: HM Indian Sloop GODAVERI and HM Destroyer COCKADE present.)
9th Took
passage to Mitsuhama.
10th At
Mitsuhama.
11th Took
passage to Komatsushima.
12th At
Komatsushima.
15th Took
passage to Yokohama after several snowfalls
Carried out Full Power Trial.
Secured to buoy off Yokohama.
(Note: HM Cruiser GAMBIA and HM Australian Destroyer ARUNTA in harbour.)
18th
Deployed for patrol.
24th
Boarded US LST035 and searched.
March Inland
Sea deployment in continuation.
3rd Took
passage from Yokohama to Kure with HMS GAMBIA.
5th
Arrived at Kure with HMS GAMBIA.
(Note: Commonwealth warships used this port for R&R and for repair.
10th
Took passage from Kure for Sasebo.
12th
Arrived at Sasebo.
(Note Main US naval base was at Sasebo)
20th
Nominated for transfer to Mediterranean Fleet with HM Frigates VERYAN BAY,
WHITESAND
BAY and BIGBURY BAY to reinforce Palestine Patrol..
21st Took
passage from Sasebo for Hong Kong.
25th
Arrived Hong Kong after rough passage.
26th
Prepared for passage to Mediterranean.
31st
Passage to Singapore.
April
5th
Arrived at Singapore.
6th Took
passage with HMS VERYAN BAY for Trincomalee.
12th At
Trincomalee and refuelled
Sailed on completion for Aden with HMS VERYAN BAY.
(Note: Ship required for escort duty of Floating Docks under tow during passage
from Port
Tewfik, Egypt (Operation SNOW WHITE).
HM
Light Fleet Carrier GLORY in harbour)
. 20th
Transferred officer to ASCANIA.
22nd Arrived
at Aden.
23rd Took
passage from Men to Suez.
M e d i t e r r a n e a n F l e e
t S e r v i c e 1 9 4 7 to 1 9 4 8
27th
Escorted 6 tugs towing AFD 26, AFD 35 and AFD 36 from Port Tewfik.
29th
Passage with AFD to Malta with HMS ST AUSTELL BAY.
(Note: Speed of advance 4 knots.)
May
7th
Arrived at St Paul's Bay, Malta with AFD's.
8th
Refuelled and deployed in continuation as escort for AFD 26 and 36 to Gibraltar.
11th Hove
to in Hurricane Force winds.
Convoy scattered.
13th Convoy
re-assembled after location by ship’s radar.
17th At
Gibraltar and AFD's left in dockyard for future disposal
. 23rd Took
passage to Malta with HM Submarine STATESMAN.
27th
Arrived back in Malta and joined 5th Frigate Flotilla.
(Special Note: Painted ship at sea in unsuitable weather conditions
.
This created serious indiscipline later.
Discontented ratings alleged petty restrictions and insensitive
practices over several months.
Board of Inquiry to be convened to examine the circumstances.
29th Taken
in hand in No 2 Dry Dock for refit after fumigation.
June Under
refit at Malta.
(Note: Special crew training arranged for boarding parties. Structural changes
made for
future deployment on Palestine Patrol.
These included fitting of boarding ramps and wire protection around bridge and
upper deck positions against missiles thrown from immigrant ships when
intercepted).
July On
completion of post refit trials resumed Flotilla duties.
15th Took
passage for Haifa Patrol.
19th
Arrived at Haifa.
Relieved HM Fleet Minesweeper ROWENA at Jaffa.
20th
Deployed on interception patrol.
26th
Deployed with HM Destroyer CHIVALROUS and HM Fleet Minesweeper PROVIDENCE.
Shadowed immigrant ship.
27th
Intercepted mercantile EMPIRE SHELTER.
28th
Escorted EMPIRE SHELTER which had been boarded by party from HMS PROVIDENCE.
29th
Arrived at Famagusta, Cyprus with EMPIRE SHELTER.
took passage to Haifa to resume patrol duty.
30th
Relieved HMS ROWENA for patrol.
August Palestine
Patrol in continuation.
6th On
relief by HMS ROWENA took passage to Beirut for R&R.
11th
Relieved HMS ROWENA on patrol.
16th Took
passage to Haifa after relief by HMS ROWENA.
(Note: Naval General Service Medal (Clasp: Palestine) awarded for Haifa Patrol
service).
Board of Inquiry held relating to earlier incidents (See above)
. 17th Took
passage to Famagusta.
18th
Arrived at Famagusta.
19th
Passage to Haifa as escort for ss EMPIRE COMFORT and ss EMPIRE REST.
20th On
arrival deployed as relief for HMS ROWENA and took passage to patrol area.
22nd Ordered
to return to Malta and took passage.
27th
Arrived at Malta.
September Taken in
hand for Docking and essential defects at Malta.
Court Martial held as recommended by Board of Inquiry.
(Note: Commanding Officer and First Lieutenant dismissed ship.
Lieut. Commander JS Kerans later achieved fame in the AMETHYST incident.
It
could be assumed that the appointment of this officer to command HM Frigate
AMETHYST after the death of her captain in action with Communist forces in the
Yangtse River was due to his local availability in Nanking, rather than his past
record).
Leading Stoker sentenced to 90 days, disrated and lost GC Badge.
New Captain and 1st Lieut. replaced.
Commanding Officer Lieut. Cdr. DGD Hall-Wright joined.
On
completion deployed with 5th Frigate Flotilla in Malta.
(Note: Reports from members of ship's company establish that there was a notable
change in morale as a result of the court martial ).
October Deployed
with Flotilla and took part in Fleet programme of exercises and visits in
eastern
to
Mediterranean and Malta exercise areas.
December Visited
Phaleron Bay and Istanbul.
Return passage to Malta.
1 9 4 8
January Docking
and maintenance in Malta.
Resumed Flotilla duties on completion.
February Took part
in Fleet Spring cruise and exercises.
Visited Ajaccio and Aranci.
March Deployed
for Palestine Patrol based at Haifa with R&R at Beirut.
April Deployed in eastern
Mediterranean for patrol.
Visited Benghazi
May
Deployed at Haifa for Palestine Patrol duties.
June
Deployed in Malta.
Routine maintenance and boiler cleaning.
July
Resumed duties in eastern Mediterranean.
New Commanding Officer: Lieut. Cdr A L Harper, RN.
Visited Cyprus.
Nominated for service in Home waters.
August Prepared
for return to UK.
11th Took
passage from Malta for Chatham.
September At Chatham
and prepared for service in Fishery Protection Squadron.
to
October
F i s h e r y P r o t e c t i o
n S e r v i c e
November
1st
Joined Fishery Protection Squadron.
Deployed for Fishery Protection Patrol in English Channel.
Visited Nantes.
December Fishery
Patrol in continuation in Irish Sea.
Visited Dublin Bay, North Shields and Grimsby
Returned to Hull for Leave Period.
1 9 4 9
January Became
Senior Officer's ship Fishery Protection Squadron
3rd New
Commanding Officer:
Captain A H Thorold OBE, DSC RN
(Later Sir Anthony, Bt.).
(Captain, Fishery Protection and Senior Officer 4th Frigate Flotilla)
14th Sailed
from Hull for Fishery Protection Patrol.
Visited Grimsby, North Shields, Rosyth, Aberdeen, Invergordon and Douglas.
February Fishery
Patrol in continuation in Irish Sea.
Visited Fleetwood.
Passage to Norwegian coastal waters.
Visited Tromso.
On
return passage called at Aberdeen, North Shields and Grimsby.
March Returned
to Hull.
Deployed in North Sea and English Channel.
Visited Grimsby, Ostend and Boulogne.
April At
Portsmouth for Docking and Leave Period.
May Resumed
Fishery Protection duties in English Channel.
to
Visited Le Havre and St Helier (CI), Plymouth and Portland.
June Patrol
in continuation in Irish Sea.
Visited Swansea, Milford Haven, Dublin, Fleetwood and Douglas
Nominated for reduction to Reserve status at Sheerness.
July
Fishery Patrol in continuation.
19th At
Sheerness.
Paid Off and commenced reduction to Reserve status
August Accepted
into Reserve and laid up in Sheerness Division, Reserve Fleet.
to
December
1 9 5 0
Laid-up at Sheerness
1 9 5 1
January Laid-up at
Sheerness
to
March
April Nominated for service with
Home Fleet
Taken in hand for refit by HM Dockyard, Sheerness
May Under
refit for service and docked in Floating Dock.
31st
Commissioned for trials.
June Under
refit.
18th
Undocked.
25th New
Commanding Officer Captain W J Lambe CVO, OBE joined.
(Senior Officer 4th Training Flotilla)
29th
Accepted from Refit. Commissioned for service in 4th Training Flotilla, Home
Fleet.
July
4th
Ammunitioned.
5th
Carried out post refit trials including completion of Full Power Trial..
6th Took
passage to Rosyth
7th
Joined Flotilla
4 t h T r a i n i n g F l o t
i l l a S e r v i c e 1 9 5 1 t o 1 9 5 3
24th Took
passage for Invergordon.
(Note: Employed as Training Ship for Seaman ratings including Boys).
25th At
Invergordon.
28th Return
passage to Rosyth.
August Deployed
for visits programme and training exercises in North Sea
4th
Visited Bergen.
13th
Embarked Mr Clement Atlee and Mrs Atlee at Oslo for return passage after they
had visited HM
King Haakon of Norway.
took passage to Rosyth.
14th
Arrived at Rosyth.
September
1st
Visited Leith with HM Frigate ENARD BAY of Flotilla.
Open to Visitors during stay.
Children's Tea Party for orphans.
5th
Returned to Rosyth.
27th Took
passage from Rosyth to Loch Ewe with HMS ENARD BAY.
29th
Deployed at Loch Ewe for exercises with HM Frigates ENARD BAY and LARGO BAY.
October
4th
Return passage to Rosyth.
6th
Arrived at Rosyth.
9th Took
part in exercises with HM Cruiser SWIFTSURE off west coast Scotland.
(Note: Convoy Defence Exercises ASSESS and GIBBON with Home Fleet ships).
Boy Seamen (Ex HMS ST VINCENT embarked).
13th
Returned to Rosyth.
20th Passage to Aberdeen for visit.
21st Open
to Visitors.
24th Return
passage to Rosyth.
Board of Inquiry held on board
November Deployed at
Rosyth.
7th Took
passage for training cruise in North Sea and Channel.
9th At
Portsmouth.
12th At
Portland for Weapon Calibration, DG Ranging and A/S Exercises.
16th
Passage to Harwich from Portland.
17th At
Harwich.
21st
Return passage to Rosyth.
22nd Arrived
at Rosyth.
27th Took
passage from Rosyth to Scapa Flow.
28th At
Scapa Flow.
December Return
passage to Rosyth
Deployed at Rosyth.
1 9 5 2
January Deployed
at Rosyth.
February
8th Deployed
at Rosyth.
9th Provided
Guard for Proclamation Ceremony in
Edinburgh
13th Took part
in Flotilla exercises in Forth area.
On
completion returned to Rosyth.
19th Escorted
ss BRETAGNE to Tyne with HM King Haakon of Norway embarked for visit.
Carried out training exercises.
21st Returned
to Rosyth.
28th Annual
inspection by Flag Officer, Scotland.
March
1st Took
passage to Devonport to join Fleet exercises.
2nd Arrived
at Devonport.
4th Sailed
for Gibraltar as escort for Motor Minesweepers.
7th Took
shelter at Rio Del Barque from heavy weather conditions
8th Resumed
passage.
9th Towed
MMS1579 after machinery failure.
11th Arrived
at Gibraltar.
14th Took
passage from Gibraltar to return to Rosyth.
25th Arrived
at Rosyth.
(Note: Training exercises were carried out carried out on passage)
28th Embarked
Flag Officer Scotland for visit to Aberdeen.
April Return
passage to Rosyth and taken in hand for refit.
May Under
refit.
June
6th
Undocked.
9th Carried
out Basin Trial.
11th
Carried out post refit sea trials
12th
Carried out Full Power Trial
Result:18knots with 180 Revs.
18th Took
passage from Rosyth to Harwich.
19th
Arrived at Harwich.
22nd Joined
Home Fleet ships at Sheerness for Exercise CASTANETS.
(Notes: Serials included Convoy Defence, Weapon Firings and Minesweeping).
24th
Returned to Rosyth.
25th
Carried out Flotilla Anti-Submarine exercises with HM Frigate BIGBURY BAY and
HM
Submarine
ALLIANCE.
26th
Deployed for Air-Sea Rescue duty during Royal Flight.
29th Took
passage from Rosyth to Lerwick.
July
1st
Arrived at Lerwick.
Open to Visitors.
Fire in No 1 Boiler Room.
2nd Took
passage from Lerwick to Sanderf jord, Norway.
(Note: Located on west bank of entrance to Oslo Fjord)
4th Heavy
weather experienced before arrival at Sanderf jord.
At
Sanderfjord.
Open to Visitors.
8th Took
passage to Rosyth.
Exercised with SHACKLETON aircraft and HMS LARGO BAY during passage.
11th
Arrived at Rosyth.
14th New
Commanding Officer: Captain G D Pound DSC RN joined.
24th Took
passage from Rosyth to Thurso.
25th At
Thurso
Open to Visitors.
27th Took
passage to Tobermory with call at Lyness.
28th
Anchored off Tobermory.
31st Took
return passage to Rosyth.
August At Rosyth.
Nominated for Air Sea Rescue Station duties during Royal Flight.
September
1st Took
up ASR duty in North Sea east of Forth Estuary.
2nd
Deployed at Rosyth.
11th
Provided Guard for visit by US Admiral to HM Dockyard, Rosyth.
14th Took
part in NATO Convoy Defence Exercise in North Sea.
18th
Returned to Rosyth on completion. Passage to Invergordon. Returned to Rosyth.
19th Took
passage from Rosyth to join Fleet exercises.
25th
Returned to Rosyth.
October
3rd Took
passage from Rosyth to join Home Fleet exercises.
4th
Returned to Rosyth
5th
Deployed for training exercises in Forth area.
12th Took
passage to Lyness
13th
Diverted to assist trawler ST ROWAN on rocks at St Johns Point.
Arrived at Lyness.
14th At
Lerwick with Flag Officer Scotland, Rear Admiral J H F Crombie CB, DSO RN
15th
Passage to Aberdeen with Flag Officer Scotland embarked.
16th
Arrived at Aberdeen. Rear Admiral Crombie disembarked.
Official visit to Aberdeen.
Open to visitors (1,328 recorded in Deck Log).
20th Took
passage from Aberdeen to Invergordon.
21st
Joined in Home Fleet North Sea exercises at Invergordon.
23rd
Returned to Rosyth.
November At Rosyth.
School children visited ship.
5th
Passage to Hartlepool.
6th
Official visit to Hartlepool
Open to visitors on three days.
Church Parade during visit.
10th Return
passage to Rosyth.
(Note: Court Martial at Rosyth).
20th Took
passage from Rosyth with HMS LARGO BAY for training exercises.
21st At
Invergordon.
22nd At
Scapa Flow.
25th
Carried out Flotilla exercises.
Returned to Rosyth on completion.
December Deployed at
Rosyth
1 9 5 3
January Deployed
at Rosyth for sea training in Forth area.
31st
Passage to Hartlepool with HMS LARGO BAY.
February
1st At
Hartlepool with HMS LARGO BAY.
3rd
Return passage to Rosyth. Exercised with HMS LARGO BAY.
5th
Deployed at Rosyth for local training exercises.
27th Took
passage to Invergordon.
March Deployed
for training.
1st At
Invergordon.
3rd At
Lyness.
4th At
Invergordon.
took part in Flotilla exercises including Tow.
6th
Return passage to Rosyth
7th
Carried out sea training in Forth area.
10th School
children embarked for day excursion.
17th
Passage to Invergordon with HMS LARGO BAY for training
Director Naval Training Rear Admiral Richmond embarked.
Admiral transferred at sea to HMS LARGO BAY.
18th At
Invergordon for training.
23rd Return
passage to Rosyth with HMS LARGO BAY.
24th
Deployed at Rosyth.
April Rosyth
deployment in continuation.
May
3rd Took
passage with HMS LARGO BAY for training exercises. At Loch Ewe.
5th At Loch Ewe
9th At
Lerwick.
Open to visitors.
13th Sailed
from Lerwick for Norwegian coast.
14th
Visited Odda.
Open to visitors.
19th Return
passage to Rosyth.
21st
Deployed at Rosyth.
Annual Inspection.
29th Took
passage to Dundee for official visit.
30th Open
to visitors (Over 2,000 recorded in Deck Log).
June At
Dundee.
2nd
Floodlit after nightfall for Coronation Day celebrations.
4th Took
passage for official visit to Newcastle.
5th At
Newcastle.
Formal calls exchanged with Lord Mayor.
Open to visitors (5,543 recorded in Deck Log).
9th Took
passage to Spithead for Coronation Review by HM Queen Elizabeth II.
11th
Arrived at Spithead.
15th
Present at Review and took part in Firework Display after nightfall.
Ship Floodlit.
16th
Passage to Rosyth.
18th
Arrived at Rosyth.
Provided Street Lining Party for Royal Visit to Edinburgh.
26th Took
passage to Blyth arriving same day.
2?th At
Blyth.
Open to Visitors 2,013 recorded in Deck Log).
30th Took
passage for training exercises.
July
Deployed for training exercises.
2nd At
Tobermory.
5th At
Loch Ewe.
7th
Passage to Lyness with Flag Officer Scotland embarked.
took passage to Wick after Flag Officer disembarked.
18th At
Wick for official visit
Open to Visitors (1,600 recorded in Deck Log).
11th
Passage to Aberdeen for official visit arriving same day.
Calls exchanged with civic authorities.
Open to visitors (1624 recorded in Deck Log)
14th Return
passage to Rosyth.
15th At
Rosyth for Navy Days and open to visitors.
20th
Deployed for training exercises.
22nd At
Thurso.
26th At
Lerwick.
29th Return
passage to Rosyth.
30th At
Rosyth and prepared for final visit prior to paying off into Reserve.
31st Took
passage to Kiel. August
August
2nd At
Kiel after transit of Kiel Canal
Open to visitors.
Calls exchanged with shore authorities.
Return passage to Rosyth.
September Passage to
Chatham to Pay-off and reduce to Reserve status.
Paid off into Reserve Fleet, Chatham.
F i n
a l P h a s e
HMS WIDEMOUTH BAY remained at Chatham in Reserve and was placed on
the Disposal List in 1957 as a part of
the Defence Review. She was sold to BISCO for breaking up by Bolcow and arrived in tow at
the breaker’s yard
in Blyth on 23 Nov 1957.
|