LOCH-Class
Anti-Submarine Frigate ordered on 13th February 1943 from Swan
Hunter of Wallsend, Newcastle. She was
laid down on 2nd May 1944 as Job No J4840 (Yard Number 1790)) and
intended to be named HMS LOCH TORRIDON. The ship was launched on
13th January 1945 but by that date the requirement for LOCH CLASS
had lapsed and the ship was converted for use in the Far East as a
Depot Ship for Light Coastal Forces craft in the Far East. Build
completion was delayed by the changes needed for use in her new role
and she was not accepted into service till 10th October 1945, after
VJ Day. She commissioned as HMS WOODBRIDGE HAVEN and was the first
RN ship to carry the name. As there was then no need for a ship of
this type in the Pacific she was placed in Reserve at Harwich after
acceptance from the builder. See General Information for details of
design changes to the basic LOCH Class hull structure.
M a n n i n g
Divisions
Chatham
: 1946 to 1953
Portsmouth : 1955
till
centralised
G e o g r a p h
i c D a t
a
LOCH TORRIDON: Grid
Reference NG7560.
Sea Loch in Ross and
Cromarty.
WOODBRIDGE
HAVEN: Grid Reference TM2749. Estuary of River
Deben,
Suffolk.
H e r a l d
i c D
a t a
Badge: On a
Field Blue In front of an anchor White, a fleur-de-lys gold.
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
September
Pennant Number for visual signalling purposes changed to
P58.
October
Contractors trials.
10th Build completion and
commenced Acceptance Trials
11th Commissioned for
trials : 11 October
1945.
Commanding Officer : Commander K Gemmell, DSO, DSC RNVR
(30/08/45]
(Note : This officer was a well known MTB Flotilla
Commander 1940 -45).
November
Paid-off and reduced to Reserve status at Harwich.
December
Accepted into Reserve at Harwich.
1 9 4
6
January
Nominated for service as Despatch Vessel for Flag Officer,
Submarines and for use as a Submarine
to
Target Vessel during exercises and submarine training.
March
(Note : The workshop facilities and additional accommodation made
her suitable
for this type of
deployment.
Prepared for service.
April
10th Re-commissioned. Post
refit trials and prepared for service.
May
Deployed with 5th Submarine Flotilla at Portsmouth and
used by Flag Officer Submarines.
to
Took part in Submarine Command and Fleet exercises.
December
1 9 4
7
January
Under refit at Devonport.
to
Nominated for transfer to 3rd Submarine
Flotilla at Rothesay.
April
On completion of post refit trials took passage to
Rothesay.
May
Deployed with Flotilla for training and exercises in Clyde
area.
to
July
August
Visited Portsmouth September
Passage to Barrow for visit.
(Note :During visit sustained damaged in collision with HM Sloop
CYGNET.
Docked for repair at Barrow 15th
New Commanding Officer appointed : Lieut. Cdr .D A Mason, Royal
Navy.
(Later Vice Admiral, CB)
October
Under repair at Barrow.
6th On
completion resumed duties at Rothesay.
November
Deployment with Flotilla at Rothesay in continuation.
7th Passage to
Chatham for
electrical repair.
December
Resumed duties at Rothesay.
1 9 4
8
January
Deployment at Rothesay in continuation.
to
Withdrawn after damage to propeller shaft bearings.
February
Passage to Chatham
March
Under repair by Ml Dockyard, Chatham.
to
Resumed Flotilla duties at Rothesay on
completion of post repair trials.
June
July
Flotilla deployment in continuation.
Visited Barrow with
submarines.
August
Flotilla duties in continuation.
September
Flotilla duties at Rothesay and visit to Barrow with
submarines.
October
Flotilla duties at Rothesay and visit to Barrow with
submarines.
November
Flotilla duties at Rothesay in continuation.
December
Passage to Chatham for
refit
1 9 4
9
January
Under refit at Chatham.
to
February
March
18th On completion carried
out post refit trials.
Passage to Rothesay to resume duties with Flotilla.
April
Duties with Flotilla at Rothesay in continuation.
Visited Campbeltown with submarines.
May
Flotilla duties at Rothesay in continuation.
New Commanding Officer appointed : Lieut Cdr P G Lachlan MBE
RN.
June
Flotilla duties at Rothesay in continuation.
(Note : During the period 1949-50 used for support of experimental
trials on captured
U-Boat using HTP fuel)
July
.
Flotilla duties at Rothesay in continuation.
25th Captain HF Bone DSO*,
DSC* RN, Captain 3rd Submarine Flotilla assumed
Command.
(Note: HM Submarine Depot Ship MONTCLARE was under
refit)
August
Flotilla deployment at Rothesay in continuation.
to
September
October
9th Deployed
at Londonderry
with Flotilla for Joint Anti-Submarine School exercises.
14th Returned to
Rothesay.
November
Deployed at Rothesay for Flotilla duties.
to
December
1 9 5
0
January
Complement reduced due to temporary manning shortages
Rothesay deployment with Flotilla in continuation.
February
Rothesay deployment with Flotilla in continuation.
to
March
April
Under refit at Chatham
May
7th On
completion of post refit trials resumed duties at
Rothesay.
June
4th Deployed
with Flotilla for Flag Officer Submarines Sunroer(?) War (Exercise SWX5).
17th On completion of
SWX5 resumed
duties at Rothesay.
July
Deployed at Londonderry
with Flotilla for Joint Anti-Submarine School exercises.
Passage to Chatham.
August
2nd Leave period and
under refit at Chatham
September
Under refit
21st On completion
of post refit trials resumed duties at Londonderry with
Flotilla.
October
Londonderry
duties in continuation.
to
November
December
Deployed at Rothesay with Flotilla.
Passage to Chatham for
Leave.
23rd Malicious damage
suspected when sand found in Steering Engine.
1 9 5
1
January
Resumed Flotilla duties continuation.
Visited Portland with
submarines
February
Deployed at Rothesay with Flotilla.
(Note: During this period further malicious damage discovered in
Anchor Winch).
March
Docking and essential defect repair at Chatham.
21st New Commanding
Officer, Lieut Cdr B C Longbottom RN appointed.
April
Under repair.
May
On completion resumed duties with Flotilla at Rothesay.
June
Took part in Flag Officer Submarines Summer War (Exercise
SW6).
July
Deployed with Flotilla at Rothesay.
August
Leave and refit at Chatham
September
Deployed for Home Fleet exercises with Flotilla.
Passage to Portland from
Rothesay.
Took part in visits with submarines to Karlskrona and Copenhagen.
(Note : HM Submarine Depot Ship MONTCLARE and HM Destroyer ZAMBESI
in company.)
October
Deployed with Flotilla at Londonderry for JASS
exercises.
November
Deployed with Flotilla at Rothesay.
December
Passage to Chatham for leave
period.
7th Court
martial for sabotage offences.
Able Seaman Thomas Willetts found guilty on 6 charges.
Sentenced to 2 years 6 months imprisonment and dismissed the
Service.
(Note : Subject to confirmation).
1 9 5
2
January
Passage to Rothesay to resume duties with Flotilla.
February
Rothesay deployment in continuation.
March
Passage to Chatham for Leave
period and refit.
31st New Commanding
Officer, Lieut. Cdr A d'E T Sangster RN appointed.
April
Under refit
to
May
June
Passage to Rothesay to resume duties with Flotilla after post refit
trials.
June
Deployed at Rothesay with Flotilla.
to
August
September
Flotilla duties including exercises with Home Fleet and visits to
Lerwick and Aberdeen
with
to
HM Depot Ship MONTCLARE and submarines.
October
November
Deployed at Rothesay and Londonderry with
Flotilla.
December
Passage to Portsmouth for
repair
.
Under repair and Leave period.
1 9 5
3
January
Resumed duties at Rothesay with Flotilla.
31st Deployed to
assist disabled ferry PRINCESS VICTORIA adrift in Irish
Sea during
a
violent storm.
(Note : Ferry had sunk by the time rescue vessels had reached scene
of disaster.
Only 44 survived out of 176 persons on board.
Rescue operations severely limited rescue work.)
February
Rothesay deployment in continuation.
to
Passage to Chatham for routine
docking and essential defect repair.
April
May
Passage to Rothesay to resume duties with Flotilla.
Prepared for Coronation Review and visits programme.
June
Visited Isle of
Man on passage to
Spithead.
Took part in Coronation Review.
July
Resumed duties at Rothesay.
Provided street lining party for Royal visit to Greenock.
August
Leave period at Chatham.
September
Passage to Rothesay to rejoin Flotilla.
October
Deployed at Londonderry
with Flotilla for anti-submarine exercises.
to
November
December
On release from exercises took passage to Chatham for
Leave and refit.
1 9 5
4
January
Under refit
Docking delayed.
February
Under refit
to
Future deployment under consideration
June
July
To be reduced to Reserve status en completion of refit
August
Carried out post refit trials
September. Reducing to Reserve Status.
to
December
1 9 5
5
January
Accepted into Reserve at Chatham.
February
Selected for conversion for service as Support Ship for Coastal
Minesweepers.
(See Conversion Notes).
Nominated for service in Mediterranean.
1st
Commanding Officer, Captain RE Hutchins DSC RN appointed.
(Also Captain, Minesweepers, Mediterranean).
March
Under conversion at Chatham.
to
June
July
Post refit trials and prepared for foreign service.
to
Manning Port Division changed to Portsmouth.
August
Commissioned for duty with Mediterranean Fleet.
(Note : This deployment was made to provide support for military
operations in
Cyprus
area
where sea patrols were to be carried cut by minesweepers to prevent smuggling of
weapons to terrorists).
September
9th Took
passage from Chatham to
Malta.
Headquarters element of 40 Commando Royal Marines embarked for
passage.
19th Joined 104th
Minesweeping Squadron in Malta.
October
Deployed for support of minesweepers carrying patrols off
Cyprus.
Based at Famagusta
November
Support duties in continuation and visited Beirut for
R&R.
Deployed with Squadron during
minesweeping exercises.
December
Deployed in Malta with
Squadron.
1 9 5
6
January
Deployed during minesweeping exercises with Squadron in central
Mediterranean
to
Visited Bizerta and Messina.
February
March
Deployed with Squadron in Malta
to
April
May
Deployed with Squadron during minesweeping exercises in western
Mediterranean.
Visited Sardinia.
June
Deployed with Squadron in Malta
to
Prepared for operations against Egypt after
Suez Canal nationalised.
August
September
Deployed with Squadron in support of operations in eastern
Mediterranean.
New Commanding Officer, Captain J H Walwyn OBE RN
appointed.
(Also Captain, Inshore Flotilla, Mediterranean.
Later Rear Admiral CB, OBE RN)
October
Took part in Suez operations for
support of Squadron.
to
Based at Famagusta. (Operation
MUSKETEER)
November
December
24th Returned to
Malta with
Squadron on release from MUSKETEER.
1 9 5
7
January
Deployed with Squadron in Malta.
February
Routine docking and essential repairs.
March
Deployed in support of Squadron during minesweeping exercises in the
western
Mediterranean.
Visited Monaco and La
Spezia.
April
Deployed with Squadron in Malta.
May
Deployed for support of Squadron during Anti-smuggling and
gun-running Patrols
to
Deployed with Squadron for minesweeping exercises. Based at
Famagusta.
June
July
Under refit in Malta.
August
On completion of post refit trials rejoined Squadron.
September
Deployed in support of Squadron during minesweeping exercises in
Adriatic.
Visited Trieste and
Bari with snips
of Squadron.
October
Deployed in Malta with
Squadron.
November
Deployed at Famagusta to support
minesweepers carrying out patrol duties off Cyprus
Visited Beirut for
R&R.
22nd Assisted in salvage of ss
AFRICAN PRINCE
(Note: Salvage payments made in 1960 varied between £62 and
£1.50).
December
Deployed with Squadron in Malta
1 9 5
8
January
Routine clocking and essential repair in Malta.
to
Resumed Squadron support duties on completion.
February
March
Deployed in support of ships of Squadron during minesweeping
exercises in western
Mediterranean.
Visited Gibraltar and
Minorca.
31st New Commanding
Officer appointed: Captain J S Dalglish CVO RN.
(Also Captain, Inshore Flotilla, Mediterranean.)
April
Deployed in support of minesweepers carrying out patrols off
Cyprus.
Based at Famagusta
Provided support during minesweeping exercise..
May
Deployed in western Mediterranean for support of
Squadron during exercises.
Visited Naples with ships of
Squadron.
June
Exercise support in continuation.
Visited Majorca.
July
Deployed in Malta with
Squadron.
Prepared for support of Squadron during exercises in Red
Sea..
August
Passage to Aden with
Squadron
Carried out minesweeping exercises on passage.
September
Deployed at Aden.
Passage to Aqaba and carried out exercises on passage.
Passage to Malta with
Squadron.
October
Deployed at Malta with
Squadron.
November
Deployed in support of ships of Squadron during minesweeping
exercises in the
to
central Mediterranean.
December
Visited Civitaveccia and Benghazi with
Squadron.
1 9 5
9
January
Under refit in Malta
to
March
April
Resumed support duties with Squadron on completion of post refit
trials
May
Deployed in support of Squadron during minesweeping exercises in the
western Mediterranean.
to
Visited Gibraltar,
Palma, Majorca and La Spezia.
June
July
Took part with ships of Squadron in Exercise DRAGEX in eastern
Mediterranean.
Visited Izmir, Turkey with ships of
Squadron,
August
Deployed in support of ships of Squadron during minesweeping
exercises off coast of Sicily.
Visited Augusta with ships of
Squadron.
16th New Commanding
Officer: Captain A T F G Griffin RN appointed.
(Also Captain Inshore Flotilla, Mediterranean.
Later Admiral Sir Anthony GCB RN).
September
Deployed in Malta with
Squadron.
October
Nominated for service at Singapore for support of
104th Minesweeping Squadron being
transferred to Far East Station.
21st Took passage
from Malta for
Singapore.
November
On passage with six CMS of Squadron
with calls at Aden, Bombay
and Colombo.
December
Joined Far East Station as part of Inshore Flotilla, Far
East.
(Note : Two more CMS joined
Squadron after arrival).
1 9 6
0
January
Deployed at Singapore in support of
Squadron.
to
February
March
Deployed in support of 104th and 120th Minesweeping Squadrons during
series of joint
exercises in South China
Sea.
Visited Hong Kong with
minesweepers.
April
Deployed at Singapore in support of
Squadron.
Carried out first trials in Far East of Pilotless Target Aircraft
for gunnery firings by surface
ships.
May
Deployed for support of minesweepers
during patrols of North
Borneo.
Visited Sandakan.
Provided support for minesweepers during Fleet Exercise
DRAGNET.
June
Exercise support in continuation.
Visited Bangkok with Fleet
units.
13th Stood by tug MISS
EUROPA towing mv LAKE BURNABY
which had grounded 100 miles
NE of Sandakan.
Continued passage to Singapore after arrival
of tug AMBASSADOR.
Taken in hand for refit at Singapore.
29th New Commanding
Officer, Captain D L Davenport OBE RN appointed.
(Also Captain Inshore Flotilla, Far
East.
Later Rear Admiral CB, OBE RN.)
July
Under refit.
to
November
December
Post refit trials and prepared for operational support
duties.
1 9 6
1
January
Visited Penang before
support of Squadron ships during minesweeping exercises in
Malacca
Strait with Royal Malayan Navy.
February
Deployed in support of Squadron during exercises of NE coast of
Malaya.
Flag of CinC, FES worn during
MS104 exercises off Pulau Tioman.
(Note :Sir Clifford Jarrett new Secretary of the Admiralty visited
ship.)
March
Deployed at Hong Kong for
support of Squadron during local exercises.
Return passage with Squadron ships to Singapore.
April
Deployed at Singapore in support of
Squadron.
May
Deployed in support of ships of Squadron during minesweeping
operation.
(Note: This was to clear Balabak Strait (Paitan
Bay) of mines laid by RAAF in WW2 in
order to expand timber export from British North
Borneo.)
Support of MS104 and MS120 lasted 2-3 weeks
.
No mines found but the channels were widened and confirmed they were
safe for
future use.
US Navy minesweepers also involved for 3 days.
R&R period at Sandakan during
operation with notable hospitality from British Community
.
Visited Subic Bay,
Luzon Island in
Philippines
with ships of Squadron on completion of
clearance work.
July
Routine docking at Singapore.
August
Carried out Diplomatic visit to Sourabaya, Java with 4 ships of
Squadron.
Exchanged calls and had sporting fixtures with Indonesian Navy;
Ship open to visitors.
(Note: This was the last formal visit to Indonesia
before KONFRONTASI began in
December 1962.)
September
Deployed in support of Squadron at Singapore.
Visited Jesselton, North
Borneo), Kuching and
Sibu, Sarawak.
(Note: Governor of Sarawak, Sir William
Goode on board during stay at Kuching.
Visit to Sibu, 150 miles up Rajang River, first
by RN ship for 50 years
October
Deployed in support of Squadron ships during minesweeping exercises
off Borneo.
Visited Hong Kong and
Tai Po in New
Territories.
November
Provided support to ships of Squadron during major SEATO
minesweeping exercise in Gulf
to
of Siam.
December
Based at Sattahip, Eastern
Thailand.
(Note: US and Royal Thai Navies took part.)
On completion visited Bangkok.
(Note: Party of 150 went to War Grave Cemeteries at KANCHANABURI
and
CHUNGKAI.)
Visited NHA TRANG in South
Vietnam.
Prepared for passage to India with ships of
Inshore Flotilla.
Towed disabled Indonesian trading vessel to Malacca.
Spent Xmas at Penang.
1 9 6
2
January
Passage to Colombo with call at
Madras.
Passage to Cochin to collect
four minesweepers of Royal Indian Navy.
Passage to Trincomalee with ships of Inshore Flotilla and RIN
minesweepers.
Joined ships taking part in Exercise JET62 at
Trincomalee.
February
Provided support to minesweepers during Multi-National Exercise in
the Malacca Strait off
Port Dickson (Exercise MONIJET - Part of larger Exercise
JET62).
(Statistical Note: Total Distance steamed on return Singapore -
5,100 miles.)
17th New Commanding
Officer, Captain J M Townley RN appointed.
(Also Captain, Inshore Flotilla, Far
East.)
March
Provided support to ships of Squadron during minesweeping exercises
off Borneo
Visited Manila with ships of
Squadron.
April
Deployed at Hong Kong with
Squadron.
May
Taken hand for refit on return to Singapore.
June
Under refit.
to
July
August
On completion of post refit trials rejoined Inshore
Flotilla.
Provided support during minesweeping exercises in Gulf of
Siam.
Visited Saigon.
Deployed for patrol off North
Borneo.
September
Provided support during minesweeping exercise off east coast of
Malaya.
(Operation PAULA TIOMAN).
October
Passage to Hong Kong
Squadron. Visited Subic
Bay.
November
Visited Bangkok and party went
to British War Graves Commission cemetery
December
Deployed at Singapore with
Flotilla.
5th (Note:
Indonesian insurgency commenced in Borneo.).
Embarked troops for passage to Brunei.
Deployed in support of military operations in Borneo.
1 9 6
3
January
Deployed with Flotilla in support of operations in Borneo.
Carried out interception patrols and landed RM Commando
unit.
February
Routine docking and emergency defect repair at Singapore.
March
Deployed for support of Flotilla off Borneo.
Carried cut interception patrols.
April
Passage to Hong Kong for
final visit and R&R.
Resumed support duties off Borneo.
May
Returned to Singapore and relieved
by HMS MANXMAN as Support Ship for Inshore
Squadron, Far
East.
June
Nominated for reduction to Reserve on arrival in UK.
Took passage to Portsmouth via Gann and
Aden.
July
Passage through Mediterranean with call at
Gibraltar.
11th Arrived at
Portsmouth to
Pay-off.
August
Reducing to Reserve status at
Portsmouth.
to
De-stored and Laid-up
December
F
i n a l P h a s
e
HMS
WOODBRIDGE HAVEN remained in Reserve Fleet at Portsmouth until 1965
when she was sold to BISCO for demolition by Hughes Bolcow
The ship arrived in tow at the breaker’s yard in Blyth on
12th August 1965.