LOCH-Class
Twin
Screw Frigate ordered from Charles Hill, Bristol
on 25th January 1943 and laid
down as Job Number J494 (Yard No 298 ) on 4th
January 1944. The ship was
launched by the Duchess of Beaufort on
3rd June 1944 and was the 1st RN
ship
to bear the name. Build completion date was 6th
October 1944. This ship was
adopted by the civil community of Hornchurch,
Essex to replace HM Destroyer HURRICANE
which was lost on 24th December 1943 and which
had been adopted after a
successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings
campaign in March 1942
G e
o g r a p h i
c D a t a
Inland
Loch in Inverness east
of Caledonian Canal
Grid
Reference: NH6127
B a t
t l e H
o n o
u r s
ENGLISH
CHANNEL 1945 - ATLANTIC 1945
H
e r a l d i
c D a t a
Badge:
On a Field barry
wavy of six White and Blue, in front of
three sprigs of yew, one in Pale and two in Saltire,
fructed
Proper, a cinque foil
White.
(Explanation: Based on the Arms and Badge of the Lovat
family who used to
own land in the vicinity.)
M
o t t
o
Persto et praest:
'I preserve and I excel'
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
September
Contractors
trials and commissioning for service in 2nd
Escort Group.
Commanding Officer: Lieut. Commander R T Horan
RNR.
October
6th
Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials
7th
Carried out sea trials in Bristol Channel
Passage to Tobermory on completion of trials and
storing.
8th
Commenced work-up for operational service at
Tobermory.
27th
Joined 2nd Escort Group at Liverpool for service
as Senior Officers ship.
Commander D E G Wemyss DSO, DSC RN joined as
Senior Officer.
(Note: Commander Wemyss had relieved the famous
Captain FJ Walker who died in
service earlier in 1944. This Group had an
unrivalled reputation.)
November
4th
Deployed with Group for anti-submarine
operations in NW Approaches
December
Anti-submarine operations in continuation.
1 9
4 5
January
Transferred with ships of Group for support of
convoys in English Channel.
Deployed in Channel based at Plymouth
February
Took part in operations during which U327 and
U1018 were
Group assisted by a US
Navy
LIBERATOR aircraft, in defence of Convoy BTC81
For details see U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp and
HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR by
C Blair.
March
SW Approaches and Channel deployment in
continuation.
Shared credit with HMS WILD GOOSE for the
sinking of U683 off Lands End in position
49.52N, 06.31W.
There were no survivors. See above references,
April
Deployed in NW Approaches and Irish Sea.
May
Nominated for foreign
service.
5th
Taken in hand for refit by build shipyard prior
to service
June
Under refit.
(Note: Ventilation system modified and
additional 20mm Oerlikon mountings fitted to
improve defence against close range air attack.
30th
Sailed to join Eastern
Fleet.
July
17th
At Aden after call at Gibraltar.
23rd
Arrived at Colombo for briefing.
August
25th
At Bombay.
September
Deployed for escort of military convoys for
landings in Malaya.
(Operation ZIPPER - For details see THE
FORGOTTEN FLEET by J. Winton ,
WAR WITH JAPAN and for information about all
mercantiles and warships taking part
BRITISH INVASION FLEETS by J de Winser.)
(Note: This operation had been delayed several
times due to problems in implementing the
PYTHON Scheme for the repatriation of long
serving personnel in SEAC and the
insistence of the USA. See reference
On release from ZIPPER took passage to Singapore
11th
Deployed for Shipping Control duties at
Singapore.
13th
Nominated for escort duties and support of
military operations in East Indies.
October
Deployed for escort of ships taking PoW and
internees from Java and Sumatra to
Singapore. See SEAGULLS IN MY BELFRY by C C
Anderson.
4th
At Batavia.
November
Escort and support duties in continuation.
15th
At Bangkok.
December
Escorted convoys from Batavia and Semarang.
22nd
Deployed at Singapore.
1 9
4 6
January
Singapore deployment for escort and support
duties in continuation.
February
Nominated for return to UK to Pay-Off and to
reduce to Reserve status.
13th
Took passage to Trincomalee.
17th
Arrived at Trincomalee after towing disabled
MMS19 to Port Blair, Andamans.
22nd Passage
to Amherst
23rd
At Amhurst
27th
Sailed from Trincomalee for UK
March
New Commanding Officer appointed: Lieutenant
Commander M J S Phillips.
Passage in Red Sea.
April
Passage to Portsmouth with call at Gibraltar.
Paid-Off on arrival at Portsmouth and commenced
reduction..
May
De-stored and reduced to Reserve status at
Portsmouth
June
On completion laid-up at Portsmouth
July
Laid-up at Portsmouth.
to
December
1 9
4 7 t o 1 9
5 0
Laid-up at Portsmouth.
1 9
5 1
Approved to be modernised (June).
Refit at Portsmouth transferred to Devonport
(Note: This was because of work on HM Aircraft
Carrier VICTORIOUS.)
Commencement of modernisation delayed due to
work on HM Battleship VANGUARD.)
1 9
5 2
Taken hand for modernisation but completion
delayed.
Nominated for service in 3rd Training Flotilla
as relief for HMS LOCH TRALAIG.
1 9
5 3
January
Under refit
to
February
March
Carried out post refit harbour and sea trials.
April
24th
Commissioned for service with 3rd Training
Flotilla with reduced complement.
Commanding Officer: Lieutenant Commander R AW
Pool RN
(Note: A survivor from HMS REPULSE)
May
Shakedown and prepared for operational service
June
Attended Coronation Review of the Fleet by HM
Queen Elizabeth II.
July
18th
Sailed from Portsmouth to join Flotilla.
20th
Joined 3rd Training Flotilla at Londonderry
August
Deployed for training duties with Flotilla.
to
Visited Cairn Ryan (November)
December
1 9
5 4
Training duties with Flotilla in continuation.
Visited Rothesay (January).
Under refit at Rosyth (September - November).
1 9
5 5
Training duties with Flotilla in continuation.
Damaged in collision with ss HECLA in Manchester
Snip Canal during visit.
Nominated for transfer to Reserve on relief
(July)
After refit to be Stand-By ship for Persian Gulf
service (November)
Returned to Portsmouth on relief by HM Frigate
TYRIAN.
1 9
5 6
Reduced to Operational Reserve status
(February).
Towed to Gibraltar for refit including
Semi-tropicalisation (April)
During refit selected to relieve HMS LOCH INSH
in Persian Gulf (December)
1 9
5 7
January
Under refit .
to
February
March
Commissioned for trials.
6th
Took passage to UK after post refit trials.
April
Prepared for operational service.
16th
Commissioned for General Service with Royal
Marines Detachment.
Commanding Officer: Commander W B Smith RN.
May
Deployed for Shakedown
June
Carried out work-up for operational service at
Portland.
July.
On completion deployed at Portsmouth.
August
Sailed for service in Persian Gulf
September
Deployed at Bahrain for patrol duties.
October
Bahrain service in continuation.
November
During patrol off Omani coast visited Muscat
Embarked stores and Medical supplies for Dubai
after cyclone.
December
Carried out patrol in northern Gulf area and
visited Bushire.
Xmas period at Mina-al-Amadi (Port of Kuwait).
1 9
5 8
January
Bahrain deployment in continuation.
February
Passage to Karachi for routine docking.
March
On completion resumed duties at Bahrain.
April
Deployed at Bahrain
(Note: Corporal Alan Francis Hedges RM killed
during detached duty in Oman with
RM Detachment against rebels.)
May
Sailed from Bahrain for Aden.
(Note: During commission over 200 Dhows were
intercepted
and searched for arms
and supplies
intended for insurgents.)
June
Deployed for visits to East African ports.
(Note: Visits included Mombasa.
Sailed for Aden before return to UK to
re-commission
July
Passage in Red Sea.
Deployed briefly at Aqaba as Guardship before
resuming passage
August
On arrival at Portsmouth Paid-Off.
Taken hand for refit by HM Dockyard.
September
Under refit.
October
21st
Re-commissioned for service in Persian Gulf.
Commanding Officer: Commander R L Eveleigh DSC
RN.
November
Carried out sea trials and shakedown.
December
Commenced work-up at Portland.
Returned to Portsmouth for Leave.
1 9
5 9
January
Completed work-up.
February
Took passage to Persian Gulf.
March
Deployed for patrol duties in Persian Gulf based
at Bahrain.
to
June
July
Interim docking at Karachi.
August
On completion returned to resume patrol duties
at Bahrain.
September
Bahrain deployment for patrol in continuation.
to
October
November
Took part in multi-national CENTO Exercise in
Indian Ocean with HMS LOCH FYNE.
December
Deployed at Men.
1 9
6 0
January
Passage to UK with calls at Massawa and Port
Sudan.
February
On arrival at Devonport Paid off for refit.
March
Under refit
April
28th
Re-commissioned for service in Persian Gulf.
Commanding Officer Captain D P Law MBE, DSC RN.
May
Carried out harbour trials on completion of
dockyard work.
June
Carried out sea trials and commenced work-up at
Portland.
July
Work-up in continuation and returned to
Devonport on completion.
August
Prepared for foreign service.
18th
Took Passage to Aden.
24th
At Gibraltar.
September
18th
Arrived at Bahrain for patrol duties in Persian
Gulf.
October
Deployed in southern Gulf area with visits to
Dubai and Muscat.
21st
Assisted in salvage operation after fire on
Norwegian tanker mv POLYANA with HM
Survey Ship DALRYMPLE and HM Landing Ship
BASTION.
Took disabled ship in tow.
Later tow taken over by HMS DALRYMPLE.
(Note: Tanker had been severely damaged after an
explosion which killed 15 of
crew.
Fire-fighting parties boarded tanker which was
taken to Bahrein
.
Fires were not
extinguished until 29th.
Salvage payments were the largest made up to
that date
November
Deployed for Batina coast Dhow interception
patrol.
(Note: Lord Carrington, Civil Lord visited ship.
Royal Marines Detachment were landed for
Exercise MUDLARK with Sultan of
Oman Regiment.
Deployed at Kharg Island in northern Persian
Gulf for Exercise KHARGEX with ships of
Iranian Navy.
December
Visited Bushire before resuming patrol in
southern Gulf.
Xmas period at Mina.
1 9
6 1
January
Passage to Karachi for routine docking.
(Note: HMS LOCH FADA and HMS LOCH FYNE were in
company to attend visit to
Karachi by
HM Queen Elizabeth II.
Taken in hand for docking and refit.
(Note: During period at Karachi Somali ratings
were charged with smuggling of
gold worth
£13,000 and returned to Bahrain in HMS LOCH
FYNE)
February.
On completion of docking and refit joined
exercises with Pakistan Navy.
On release from exercises took passage to
Bahrain to resume duties.
25th
Arrived at Bahrain.
March
Deployed in northern Gulf and called at Mina-al
Ahmadi on return to Bahrain
21st
Carried out patrol in southern Gulf area.
April
Deployed at Bahrain and exercised with HMS LOCH
FYNE.
8th
During exercises despatch to assist rescue
operations after fire broke out in mv DARA
19 miles from Jazira Tumb (Position 25.55N,
55.13E).
Carried out fire-fighting operations with HMS
LOCH ALVIE and HMS LOCH FYNE.
9th
Towing attempt by HMS LOCH ALVIE failed. Weather
prevented further attempt to tow.
After tow established with Salvage Vessel SEA
SALVOR to take DARA to beach, the
mercantile increased list, turned over and sank.
(Note: Final death toll was 238.
As salvage failed no awards were made.
The British
India Shipping Company did later make payments
to the Welfare Funds
of these three LOCH Class Frigates.)
May
Annual Inspection by Flag Officer Middle East.
June
Flag Officer Middle East embarked and took
passage for Flag visits.
14th
At Mombasa
18th
At Sar-es Salaam
22nd At
Zanzibar
24th
Returned to to Mombasa,
27th. On
completion returned to Mombasa.
FOME Disembarked.
Ordered to proceed to Aden at full despatch.
(Note: This deployment was part of the increase
in RN presence in the Persian
Gulf
after the
threat to Kuwait by Iraq (Operation VANTAGE).)
July
Retained at Men pending arrival of HMS LOCH INSH
on Station.
3rd
Took passage to UK after HMS LOCH INSH arrived.
August
4th
At Gibraltar.
8th
Arrived at Devonport
Took passage to Rosyth for refit
Paid-Off and taken in hand by HM Dockyard,
September
Under refit
21st
Re-commissioned for service in Persian Gulf as
Senior Officer 9th Frigate Squadron.
Commanding Officer: Captain P S Beale RN
October
Carried out post refit trials.
November
Carried out Shakedown during passage to Portland
for work-up.
December
Work-up for operational service at Portland
.
Returned to Portsmouth for Xmas Leave.
1 9
6 2
January
Under repair at Portsmouth before return to
work-up.
On completion took passage to Portland
February
Resumed Work-up.
March
Prepared for foreign service at Portsmouth
Took passage to Aden.
April
Deployed at Aden and visited Mogadicio.
May
Passage to Bahrain and commenced Persian Gulf
duties.
to
Carried out patrol in southern Gulf and visited
Lingeh and Charbarah.
June
Deployed with HMS LOCH LOMOND and Iranian
warships in Northern Persian Gulf
(Exercise KHARGEX)
On completion took passage to Karachi for
routine docking.
July
Under refit and maintenance at Karachi.
August
Resumed Persian Gulf deployment at Bahrain.
to
Dhow intercepted was found to be carrying arms
and explosives with a rebel Qmani
September
on board.
Visited Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
Took part in Amphibious Warfare exercise
(DUFFEL) with HMS BULWARK off Sharjah
October
Southern Persian Gulf patrol and Flotilla
exercises.
Prepared for Fleet exercises.
November
Took passage to Karachi for Exercise MIDLINK 5.
Deployed with other ships of Squadron in
Multi-national CENTO Exercise (MIDLINK 5)
December
On completion of MIDLINK 5 took passage to
Mombasa for East African visits.
Visited Zanzibar and Pemba.
Returned to Mombasa for Xrnas period.
1 9
6 3
January
2nd
Passage to Aden arriving on 8th.
11th
Flag Officer Middle East (FOME) embarked for
Flag visit to Djibouti, French Somaliland.
12th
At Djibouti returning with FOME
14th
Took return passage to Aden..
17th
Sailed with FOME embarked for Flag visit to
Massawa.
19th
At Massawa FOME visited Ethiopian Naval Academy.
Emperor of Abyssinia present.
22nd
Ceremonial departure from Massawa.
23rd
Arrived at Aden.
FOME disembarked.
Sailed for visit to Berbera.
24th
At Berbera.
27th
Return passage to Aden.
31st
Arrived at Aden to prepare for return passage to
UK.
February
At Aden for Accession Day ceremonies.
(Note: US warship present.)
8th
Took passage for Port Sudan.
12th
At Port Sudan.
15th
Took passage to Malta.
18th
Transit of Canal
22nd At
Malta
March
2nd
Arrived at Devonport without stay at Gibraltar.
12th
Paid-off and commenced destoring.
F
i n a l
P h a s e
HMS LOCH RUTHVEN was put on the
Disposal List and approval given for demolition
in May 1963. The ship was
de-equipped in 1964 and sold to BISCO in
November 1966 for demolition by Davies
and Ann at Plymouth. She was towed to the
breaker’s yard later in the year.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT
MOVEMENTS of HMS LOCH RUTHVEN
by
Don Kindell
These
convoy lists have not been cross-checked with
the text above
|
|
|
|
|
Date
convoy sailed
|
Joined
convoy as escort
|
Convoy
No.
|
Left
convoy
|
Date
convoy arrived
|
|
|
|
|
|
28/11/44
|
30/11/44
|
ONS
037
|
01/12/44
|
21/12/44
|
19/12/44
|
unknown
|
HX
327
|
unknown
|
02/01/45
|
23/01/45
|
unknown
|
HX
334
|
unknown
|
06/02/45
|
25/01/45
|
31/01/45
|
MKS
079G
|
02/02/45
|
02/02/45
|
18/02/45
|
unknown
|
HX
339
|
unknown
|
03/03/45
|
07/03/45
|
09/03/45
|
ON
289
|
10/03/45
|
25/03/45
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)