LOCH-Class Frigate originally ordered on 24th July
1942 from Henry Robb, Leith for completion as a RIVER-Class Frigate to be
named NAVER. The order changed for a Twin Screw Fast Frigate during 1943 and
ship laid down on 14th September 1943 as Job Number J11817 (Yard Number 342.
The ship was launched by Mrs AV Alexander, wife of the First Lord of the
Admiralty on 23rd March 1944 and build was completed on 11th August 1944. This
ship was sold to New Zealand in 1948 and renamed HMNZS PUKAKI. Details of her
service in the RN and the RNZN are included in this record.
B a t t l e H o n o u r s
ENGLISH CHANNEL 1945
H e r a l d i c D a t a
Only ships of this Class which
remained in service or re-commissioned
after 1950
were officially given Crests. Many which served during WW2
did have an
unofficial Badge, often having an
association with the Clan
of the area in which the namesake was
geographically placed.
D e t a i
l s o f W a r 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 3
September
23rd - Launched
by Mrs AV Alexander, wife of 1st Lord of the Admiralty.
1 9 4 4
February
Transfer to
Royal Canadian Navy for loan service arranged.
July
Contractors
trials
31st - Commissioned
into Royal Canadian Navy. Nominated for
service in 6th Canadian Escort Group.
August
11th - Build
completion and commenced Acceptance Trials in Forth area.
Took passage to Tobermory on completion of trials and
storing.
September
7th - On
completion of work-up for operational service joined Group at Londonderry for
convoy
defence and anti-submarine
operations in NW Approaches.
October
16th - During
deployment to intercept U-Boats on passage to Atlantic in Faeroes area
(Operation SJ)
U1006 detected on surface by radar
after it had been subjected to depth charge attack by HM Frigate ANNAN.
(Note:
Disabled submarine had fired an acoustic torpedo (T5) which had failed to hit
HMS
ANNAN because that ships was towing
FOXER device.
For details of development and use
of FOXER see SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann
and
THE TORPEDOMEN by A Poland.). Engaged and
sank U1006 with HMS ANNAN using main armament and close range weapons. (Note: Return fire caused 8 casualties on board HMS
ANNAN.
44 survivors from U1006 were rescued.
For details see U-BOATS DESTROYED by P
Kemp.)
November
2nd - Escorted
HM Tug EARNER with HM Frigate WHITTAKER in tow for passage in Belfast. (Note: HMS WHITAKER had sustained major structural
damage after an explosion of HEDGEHOG mortar
bombs. See references).
11th - Taken in
hand at Holyhead for modification to improve hull stiffening.
December
29th - On
completion of shipyard work resumed duty with Group at Belfast.
1 9 4 5
January
Transferred
with Group for convoy defence in English Channel based at Portsmouth. (Note: U-Boats fitted with SCHNORKEL equipment were
carrying out attacks on coastal shipping and
Atlantic convoys had been re-routed through English Channel as the threat of air attacks had been removed by allied
military operations in France.)
February to March
Deployed for
convoy defence and anti-submarine patrol in English Channel with ships of Group (For details of
operations in Channel see HOLD THE NARROW SEA by P Smith, ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C Barnett and HITLER'S U-BOAT
WAR by C Blair.)
April
6th - Canadian
Escort Group nominated for transfer to NW Atlantic Command of RCN.
8th - Transferred
with Group to Plymouth in continuation of Channel deployment
18th - Took
passage from Londonderry to Halifax.
May
3rd - Arrived
at Halifax for convoy defence duties with Group.
23rd - 6th
Canadian Escort Group disbanded .
29th - Took
passage from Halifax to return to UK manned by RCN personnel .
Ship nominated for reduction to Reserve status
June
5th - Arrived
at Sheerness to Pay Off.
20th - Accepted
into Reserve at Sheerness after de-storing
July
Formally
returned to Royal Navy. Laid up at
Sheerness.
August to December
Laid up at Sheerness
1 9 4 6 t
o 1 9 4 7
Laid up at
Sheerness.
1 9 4 8
February
Offered to
Royal New Zealand Navy with five other LOCH Class Frigates.
March
Sale agreed. Ship to be refitted before transfer
April
Awaiting refit
May
19th - Taken in
hand for refit by HM Dockyard, Sheerness.
June
Under refit
July
Carried out
post refit harbour and sea trials
August
6th - On
completion took passage to HM Dockyard Chatham for formal transfer to RNZN.
September
13th - Formal
transfer and renamed HMNZS PUKAKI by Mrs H V P McClintock wife of the Captain Superintendent, Sheerness Dockyard. (Note: All ships transferred were named after lakes in
New Zealand.
Initial name selected for the ship
was MANPOURI in Southland , New Zealand but
this
was changed to Pukaki a lake in Otago Province.)
Pennant
Number for visual signalling purposes changed to F424 to conform with changes made for all RN ships after WW2.
S e r v i c e a s
H M N Z S
P U K A K I
October
15th - Sailed for Malta from Portland with three other RNZN LOCH Class
Frigates.
Commenced work-up in Malta with ships of Destroyer Command,
Mediterranean Fleet.
November
Work-up in continuation,
December
Passage to New Zealand
1 9 4 9
January
On arrival at Auckland joined 11th Frigate Flotilla after passage via Singapore.
February
Deployed at Auckland
March
Carried out patrol in Pacific with calls at Suva and Samoa.
April
Returned to Auckland.
May
Carried out exercise programme with ships of Flotilla.
June
to
September
Deployed at Auckland
October
Passage to Australia for joint RAN/RNZN exercises. Carried out
exercises.
November
Returned to Auckland after visit to Hobart.
December
Deployed at Auckland.
1 9 5 0
January
Local deployment in continuation.
February to April
Carried out visit programme prior to RNZN exercises in Bay of Islands.
May
Deployed for Pacific patrol with calls at Suva and Ocean Is.
June
Returned to Auckland after visits to Tabiteuea, Fanafuti and Suva.
25th - Placed at the disposal of the UN Forces in Korea.
July
3rd - Sailed for Sasebo via Hong Kong with sister HMNZS TUT1RA.
August
Arrived at Sasebo to join UN naval command.
Deployed for escort duties
between Japan and Korea with Task Group 96.5.
September
Transferred to Task Group 90.7 for support of landings by US 1st Marine
Division
at Inchon.
October
Rejoined Task Group 96.5 for protection of minesweeping operations prior
to the
landings at Wonsan of east coast of Korea.
On release deployed for escort
of assault convoys.
26th - Detached for R&R period at Kure.
November
Relieved on station by HMNZS ROTOITI and took passage to Auckland with
call at
Hong Kong..
December
Nominated for refit prior to reduction to Reserve.
3rd - Arrived at Auckland
1 9 5 1
January
Taken in hand for refit by HMNZ Dockyard, Auckland.
February to August
Under refit
September
Placed in Reserve on completion of refit trials.
October to December
Laid-up at Auckland
1 9 5 2
January to October
Laid-up
November
Nominated for service
December
Re-commissioned for service in 11th Frigate Flotilla.
1 9 5 3
January
Worked-up for operational service.
February to August
Deployed in New Zealand waters for Flotilla duties. Nominated for
detached service with Far East Command based at Singapore.
September
Transferred for duty at Singapore.
21st - Sailed for Far East Station.
October
Passage with calls at Sydney and Singapore.
November
10th - Arrived at Singapore for service with 4th Frigate
Squadron.
December
Squadron deployment based in Hong Kong.
1 9 5 4
January to March
Deployed in North China Sea waters for trade protection and back-up to
UN in Korea if
required.
Returned to Hong Kong for routine maintenance and R&R.
April
29th - In company with HM Destroyer CONCORD obtained release of British
ss INCHUVLA
in Formosa Straits after detention by Chinese Nationalist warship.
May
Transferred to Singapore for anti-terrorist operations.
June
Deployed at Singapore for support of military operations and patrol.
July
During deployment with HM Frigate OPOSSUM carried out bombardment on
terrorist
position on west coast of Malaya with support from Army aircraft
August
Relieved in Squadron by HMNZS KANIERE and took passage to Auckland.
September
28th - Arrived at Auckland after call at Port Moresby.
October to December
Deployed locally with 11th Frigate Squadron for flotilla duties based in
Auckland
1 9 5 5
January
Squadron deployment in continuation
February
Attended Waitangi ceremonies
March
Re-commissioned for loan service with Far East Fleet.
April
Worked-up for operational service.
May
Carried out exercises with RAN ships during passage to Singapore.
June
Joined 4th Frigate Squadron in Far East Fleet.
July
Deployed at Hong Kong
August
Deployed at Sasebo for Korean Guardship duty, trade protection and
visits.
September
Deployed at Hong Kong.
October to December
Deployed with Squadron for trade protection, Korean coast Guardship and visits to
Japan for exercises with US Navy ships.
1 9 5 6
January
Return passage to Hong Kong from Sasebo
February
Took part in Far East Fleet exercises and visited Bangkok.
March to April
Deployed at Singapore with Squadron.
May
Return passage to Auckland with call at Port Moresby.
June to October
Resumed deployment for 11th Frigate Squadron duties based at Auckland. Nominated for
routine docking and hull inspections.
November
Docking period at Auckland.
December
Deployed with HMNZS HAWEA for escort of HM Yacht BRITANNIA during visit
by
HRH The Duke of Edinburgh to Chatham Island.
On release from Royal Escort
took passage with HMNZS HAWEA as escort for New
Zealand Support Ship HMNZS
ENDEAVOUR during initial; stage of journey to McMurdo
Sound in Antarctica. (Note: HMNZS
ENDEAVOUR was taking Sir Edmund Hilary for trans-polar crossing.)
27th - After crossing Antarctic Circle returned to Dunedin because of
dangers presented by pack-ice.
1 9 5 7
January
Deployed at Auckland.
February
Took part in RNZN exercises in Hauraki Gulf.
March to August
Deployed as Weather Reporting Ship during Operation GRAPPLE at Christmas
Island.
(Note: This duty was shared with HMNZS PUKAKI until August.)
Returned to
Auckland and docked for routine inspections.
September
Took part in joint RNZN/RAN exercises.
Visited Sydney.
October
Deployed at Christmas Island for further GRAPPLE Weather Ship duties. (Note: Shared
duty with HMNZS PUKAKI.)
November
Passage to Auckland.
December
Took part in joint. RNZN/RAN exercises off Australia.
1 9 5 8
January
Passage to Auckland.
February
Deployed with 11th Frigate Squadron at Auckland and Docking Period.
March
Took part in RNZN Fleet exercise programme.
April
Passage to Christmas Island for GRAPPLE test meteorological duty. (Note: Shared
duty with HMNZS ROTOITI until May.)
May
Return passage to Auckland with calls at Manihiki and Danger Island.
19th - Arrived at Auckland.
June
Deployed at Auckland.
July
Passage to Christmas Island for GRAPPLE test meteorological duty. (Note: Shared
duty with HMNZS ROTOITI. Visited Suva and returned to Christmas Island.)
August
Meteorological duties for GRAPPLE in continuation.
September
Return passage to Auckland.
October to December
Deployed with Squadron at Auckland.
1 9 5 9
January to March
Auckland deployment in continuation.
April
Nominated for detached for service with Far East Fleet.
May
Passage to Sydney.
June
Passage to Singapore from Sydney with call at Townsville.
July
Deployed at Singapore.
August
Took part in SEATO Exercise JET59 with British,
September
Escorted damaged destroyer HMS HOGUE to Singapore from Trincomalee. (Note: HMS
HOGUE had collided with Indian Cruiser MYSORE and sustained major damage
which was later found beyond economic repair.)
October
Deployed at Singapore.
November
Visited Hong Kong.
December
Took part in major Far East Fleet exercise programme off Western
Australia.
1 9 6 0
January
Passage to Singapore with call at Sourabaya.
February
Took part in SEATO exercise JET 60.
March
Visited Hong Kong and Japanese ports including Kobe.
April
Return passage to Singapore with call at Hong Kong.
May
Released from Far East Fleet detachment and took passage to Auckland. Visited Port
Moresby and Suva.
June
Rejoined 11th Frigate Squadron at Auckland.
July
Deployed at Auckland.
Paid-off
August
Taken in hand for extended refit at Auckland.
September to December
Under refit
1 9 6 1
January to February
Carried out harbour trials
March
Refit completed.
April
Re-commissioned and carried out post refit trials. Post refit
trials programme suspended to give aid to civil power at Tarawa in Gilbert and
Ellice Islands.
May
Returned to Auckland from Tarawa.
Prepared for detached service at
Singapore with Far East Fleet.
June
Passage to Singapore with calls at Sydney and Cairns.
July
Arrived at Singapore. Passage to Hong Kong
August
Returned to Singapore.
September
Deployed with Squadron at Singapore and visited Penang. Took part in
exercises at Langkawi.
October
Deployed at Singapore with Squadron.
November
Passage to Hong Kong.
December
Deployed at Hong Kong for Squadron and Fleet exercises.
1 9 6 2
January
Passage to Japan for visits and exercise programme. Visited Beppu,
Yokohama and Kobe.
February
Return passage to Singapore with call at Hong Kong.
March
Took part in SEATO Exercise JET61 after docking at Singapore.
April
Deployed at Hong Kong. Return passage to Singapore.
May
Took part in Fleet exercise programme.
Visited Manila. Return passage
to Auckland with call at Darwin.
June
Passage from Darwin with calls at Brisbane and Taranaki.
July
Rejoined Squadron at Auckland.
August
Took part in RNZN Fleet exercises.
September to October
Deployed at Auckland.
November
Carried out Pacific Islands patrol and visits programme. Called at Suva
and Raoul.
December
Deployed at Auckland. Nominated for refit.
1 9 6 3
January to February
Under refit.
Nominated for training ship duties.
March
Carried out post refit harbour and sea trials.
April
Worked-up and prepared for training duties.
May
Deployed for patrol and visits during training of new-entry ratings. Visited Raoul,
Apia and Fakaofa.
June
Return passage from Fakaofa to Auckland with calls at Islands and Suva.
July
Deployed for training programme and called at Gisbum, Wellington and
Wanganui.
Took part in RNZN exercises at Wellington.
August
Deployed for training cruise. Visited Chatham Island,
Lyttleton, Picton and Wellington.
September
Passage from Auckland for joint RNZN/RAN exercises. Called at
Sydney and Jervis Bay.
October
On completion of exercises in Sydney area returned to Auckland with call
at Launceston.
November
Deployed at Auckland and docked for routine hull inspections,.
December
Deployed at Auckland. Nominated for support of US Operation DEEP FREEZE. (Note: This
American operation was to maintain a continuous air supply to bases in
Antarctica.
RNZN ships shared this duty for spells of 10 days).
1 9 6 4
January
Deployed for weather ship and air sea rescue duty in Southern Ocean (60
Deg S.)
February
R&R break at Dunedin and resume DEEP FREEZE duty.
March
Returned to Auckland on release from DEEP FREEZE.
April
Deployed at Auckland and visited Tamanga.
May
Passage to Sydney to take part in joint RNZN/RAN exercises.
June
Visited Newcastle and Brisbane.
July
Returned to Auckland.
August
Deployed at Auckland
September
Prepared for DEEP FREEZE support duty.
October
Deployed in position 60 Deg. S. for weather-ship and air sea rescue
duties.
Rest and Recreation
at Lyttleton.
November
DEEP FREEZE deployment in continuation. R&R at Dunedin. Passage to
Auckland on release from DEEP FREEZE.
December
Resumed DEEP FREEZE duties.
1 9 6 5
January
DEEP FREEZE duties in continuation
R&R at Dunedin.
February
DEEP FREEZE duties ended and returned to Auckland via Dunedin.
March
Future deployment under discussion.
Deployed at Auckland.
April
Under refit prior to reducing to Reserve
May
Paid off and Reduced to Reserve.
F i n a l P h a s e
HMZNS
PUKAKI was placed on the Disposal List and sold in October 1965 for
demolition.. The ship was
towed to
Hong Kong and scrapped in January 1966.