LOCH-Class Twin
Screw Frigate ordered from
Burntisland SB
on 6th March 1943 and laid down as Job No J11854 (Yard Number 283) on 2nd June 1943. The ship was launched on
29th November 1943 and was the 1st RN ship to carry the name. Build completed on
12th April 1944, There had been distinct rivalry with sister ship HMS LOCH FADA
being built as Lead Slip of the Class by John Brown at Clydebank. and which completed two days
earlier. Both these ships were fitted with Radar Type 272 Mk5 in place of the
improved Type 277 which was not available for fit during build. The SQUID
anti-submarine mortar was fitted. (See General Information).
G e o g
r a p h i c D a t a
Inland Loch
in Inverness
Grid
Reference: NH5210
B a t t
l e H o n o u r s
ATLANTIC 1944 - ENGLISH CHANNEL 1945 - BISCAY 1944 - ENGLISH CHANNEL 1945
H e r a l d i c D a t a
Badge: On a Field Barry indented of
six White and Blue, a sprig of oak
fucted Proper.
(Explanation: The Loch is in, or near, Jacobite country.
The sprig of oak was one of the Jacobite
emblems.
Near the Loch is Gorrogy Lodge, Garrogy probably means 'rough water'
hence the field to indicate this.)
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 4
April Contractors trials and commissioned for service in
2nd Escort Group.
Commanding Officer: Lieutenant Commander D
Darling, DSC RANVR.
12th Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials
24th Sailed from
Leith for Clyde for weapon trials
on SQUID Mortar mountings.
May Carried
out trials in Clyde area conducted by Underwater Research Establishment
at
Fairlie.
10th
Worked-up at Tobermory for operational service on completion of trials and
storing.
June
1st
Joined Group at Liverpool.
10th
Deployed in SW Approaches for anti-submarine operations based at Plymouth.
(Note: These were intended to prevent U-Boats entering Channel for attacks on
warships,
assault convoys and escorts during Normandy landings
(Operation NEPTUNE - See OPERATION NEPTUNE by K Edwards. LANDINGS IN
NORMANDY, June 1944 (HMSO) and for information about all mercantiles and
warships taking part.
July
2nd
Returned to Liverpool.
18th
Resumed operations in Channel.
31st
Shared credit with HM Sloop STARLING for sinking U333 SW of Scillies in position
49.39N
07.28W.
There were no survivors from U333.
(Note: For details see U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.
This was the first U-Boat to be sunk using the SQUID Mortar and the 538th
claimed.
U-BOATS
DESTROYED is at variance with other sources.)
August Bay of
Biscay deployment in continuation.
6th Sank
U736 in position 47.19N 04.16W, W of St Nazaire
19
survivors were rescued.
(See above reference which claims this was the 1st SQUID sinking)
9th Took
part with Group and 53 Squadron RAF LIBERATOR aircraft attacks en U608.
in
position 46.30N 03.087W SW of St Nazaire.
All crew of 51 rescued after submarine had been forced to surface and scuttle.
11th Took
part in attacks on U385 which was later sunk by a SUNDERLAND aircraft of 641
Squadron
RAF. See above reference.
13th
Returned to Liverpool and taken in hand for repair to propeller damaged during
attacks on
U736.
Transferred to 17th Escort Group.
20th
Passage to Scapa Flow to join Group after repair.
21st
Deployed in NW Approaches and North Sea.
(Note: Patrols between Faeroes and Norwegian coast were carried out by several
Escort
Groups to intercept U-Boats on passage to the Atlantic.
These were very successful. See SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann,)
September
Anti-submarine operations in NW Approaches in continuation.
14th In
Clyde for leave.
27th
Resumed operations in NW Approaches based at Scapa Flow.
October NW
Approaches deployment in continuation.
26th
Returned to Clyde.
November
10th
Resumed operations with Group based in Scapa Flow.
December
4th
Returned to Clyde for leave and replenishment.
Nominated for detached service for anti-submarine support in Channel.
1 9 4 5
January Deployed
for Channel convoy escort and support.
5th In
collision with HM Trawler QUADRILLE and sustained structural damage.
Towed HMS QUADRILLE to Portsmouth
7th Under
repair.
25th
Passage to resume operations in NW Approaches with calls at Belfast and in
Clyde.
February Deployed
in NW Approaches with 17th Escort Group.
6th
Detached for service in Channel area with Forces 125 and 126.
8th
Deployed in Channel.
19th
Passage to Clyde to rejoin Group.
March
3rd
Resumed operations in NW Approaches based at Scapa Flow.
April
Transferred to Plymouth with Group for support duty in Channel.
11th
Deployed with HM Frigate CRANSTOUN and BURGES of Group for support of Channel
Convoy traffic.
(Note: Atlantic convoys had been re-routed through English Channel.)
13th Sank
U1063 off Start Point in position 50.08N 03.52W.
Submarine was attacked by gunfire and with depth charges.
17
of U1063 crew were rescued
May
26th
Returned to Clyde.
June
Nominated for transfer to Rosyth Escort Force for escort of convoys to Norway.
(Note: Norwegian nationals were embarked for return to Norway.)
16th
Passage to Rosyth to join Rosyth Escort Force.
17th
Norwegian re-occupation support commenced.
(Note: Visits were paid to Stavanger, Bergen and Trondheim.)
22nd New
Commanding Officer: Lieut. Cdr. C W Hancock RNVR appointed).
July
1st
Returned to Rosyth.
Nominated for reduction to Reserve
August Deployed
as Guardship at Rosyth.
September Passage to
Dartmouth to Pay-Off.
October Completing
de-storing at Dartmouth
November
7th Accepted
into Reserve Category B.
Po s t W a r N o t e s
HMS LOCH KILLIN was transferred to Plymouth when Dartmouth
Sub-Division closed. During refit in London the ship was damaged when a dry
dock was flooded accidentally in March 1949. Although she was nominated for
modernisation this was cancelled in June 1951 . The
ship transferred to Reserve Fleet Sub-Division at Penarth in June 1956 and
placed on the Disposal List on 12th April 1960. After sale to BISCO for demolition
by J Cashmere of Newport the ship was towed to the
breaker's yard on 24th August 1960.