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H . M . S . W
H I T E S A N D B A Y ( K 6 3 3 )
LOCH Class Anti-Submarine Frigate ordered from Harland and Wolff at Belfast on
11th May 1943 and laid down on 8th August 1944 as Admiralty Job Number J3932 (
Yard Number 621)and w as to be named LOCH LUBNAIG.
Owing to a policy change to meet the need for anti-aircraft escorts for service
in the Far East a revision was design change was made on 5th October 1944. The
ship was launched on 16th December that year as HMS WHTESAND
BAY and was the first Royal Navy ship to carry this name. Build completion date
as an Anti-aircraft Frigate was 30th July 1945. See General Information for
details of changes made to the basic LOCH Class hull structure.
G e o g r a p h i c D a t a
Bay to NW of Rame Head,
Cornwall
Grid Reference: SX3751
B a t t l e H o n o u r
KOREA 1950-53
H e r a l d i c D a t a
Badge : On a Field Blue, a boar's head erased White, tongued Red
(Explanation : From
the Arms of the Lords Mount Edgecumbe who have owned
land near the Bay)
M a n n i
n g D i v i s i o n
Devonport
S u m m a r y o
f S e r v i c
e
1 9 4 5
July
Contractors trials and commissioned for service with Pacific Escort Force
30th Build
completion and commenced Acceptance Trials.
Commanding Officer : Lieut. Cdr. B C Longbottom RN.
August Passage to
Tobermory to work-up for operational service
September On completion
of work- took passage to Portland for weapon calibration and firing trials.
(Note: Requirement for service with Pacific Escort Force confirmed after VJ Day.
Deployed at Portsmouth and prepared for foreign Service
October
5th Took
passage to Malta with sister ship HMS BIGBURY BAY.
15th Carried
out exercises with ships of Mediterranean Fleet before leaving for Hong
Kong
to
join Flotilla.
November
7th Sailed
from Malta with HMS BIGBURY BAY.
23rd On
arrival at Colombo detached from HMS BIGBURY BAY.
December Joined Flotilla
at Hong Kong.
Deployed in South China Sea.
24th Visited
Labuan.
Extensive hospitality from Australian Army unit.
(Note
: These troops were guarding Japanese POW waiting passage to Japan.
During this period one source records loss of an anchor but no details
of date
or
exact place were traced)
1 9 4 6
January Passage to
Hong Kong from Borneo.
(Note
: The assistance given to HM Minesweeper JEWEL for repair may have been in this
period, but no details are known. The ship also acquired a motor boat from the
Australian
Army
which was taken to Hong Kong).
Deployed for patrol and trade defence including escort of colliers from French
Indo China
to
Hong Kong.
Visited Labuan, Borneo.
February Passage from
Labuan to Hong Kong.
4th Arrived
at Hong Kong.
10th Deployed
in South China Sea for trade protection.
11th At Port
Campha, French Indo China.
Visit
arranged to coal mine.
March Escort
duties in continuation.
Visited Haiphong.
(Note
: French-Indo China was being infiltrated by Chinese communist forces and leave
was
restricted due to the unstable political conditions).
April Passage
to Auckland, New Zealand for refit
May Called at
Townsville, Australia on passage.
27th Taken in
hand for refit at Auckland.
June Under
refit.
July Carried
out post refit trials on completion of dockyard work.
Passage to Hong Kong.
August
1st At
Vila, New Hebrides.
19th Arrived
at Hong Kong after call at Port Moresby to refuel.
Resumed patrol and escort duties with Flotilla.
September Deployed for
escort and patrol duties in Formosa Straits.
30th At Amoy.
October Formosa
Strait Guardship and trade protection duties in continuation.
14th At Hong
Kong.
November Deployed in
South China Sea.
Passage to Singapore.
December At Singapore.
Under
repair at Singapore.
1 9 4 7
January Passage to
Hong Kong to rejoin Flotilla.
February Deployed at
Hong Kong for trade defence and patrol duties.
6th Took
part in Fleet exercises with HM Frigates BLACK SWAN, AMETHYST, VERYAN
BAY
and BIGBURY BAY.
March Joined 1st
Escort Flotilla, British Pacific Fleet.
Nominated for transfer to 5th Frigate Flotilla, Mediterranean Fleet.
(Note
: HMS VERYAN BAY, HMS BIGBURY BAY and HMS WIDEMOUTH BAY from
the
Pacific were also transferred for Palestine patrol duties)
22nd Took
passage to Singapore with the other ships being transferred
28th At
Singapore.
April Passage
to Malta.
3rd At
Trincomalee.
12th At Aden.
18th Suez
Canal transit.
22nd Joined 5th
Frigate Flotilla.
New
Commanding Officer : .Lieut. Cdr R F C O'Sullivan joined.
May At Malta
and prepared for new duties.
(Note
: Special modifications made for protection of personnel, Boarding Ramps and
protective nettings fitted.
Shore
training for Boarding Parties.
Boiler cleaning was also carried out.
31st Took
passage for first Palestine Patrol.
June Palestine
Patrol in continuation.
16th Returned
to Malta.
(Note
: During this period intercepted ships suspected of running blockade with
illegal
immigrants on passage between
Sicily and Palestine
coast.
Amongst ships intercepted was PRESIDENT COOLIDGE.
Intercepted ships were
taken to
Famagusta).
July Flotilla
duties for Palestine Patrol in continuation.
August Boiler clean
at Malta.
20th Deployed
for interception patrol based at Haifa.
September On relief
returned to Malta and taken in hand for repair.
October Under
repair.
to Post
repair trials and prepared for return to Flotilla duties.
November
December Deployed at
Malta with
Flotilla.
1 9 4 8
January Carried out
Flotilla duties and exercises in Malta.
February Deployed for
Haifa patrol.
R&R
in Beirut.
(Note
: Because of the volatile political situation in Palestine leave had to be
restricted and
libertymen asked to remain in groups of 3 or over).
March Returned to
Malta on relief
and rejoined Flotilla.
April Deployed
at Trieste for Guardship duties.
May Rejoined
Flotilla in Malta.
to Taken
in hand for refit by HM Dockyard, Malta.
June New
Commanding Officer : Lieut. Cdr. J V Brothers appointed.
Pennant Number for visual signalling purposes changed to F633.
July Carried
out post refit trials.
7th Rejoined
Flotilla.
Took
part in Mediterranean Fleet 2nd Summer Cruise Programme.
Visited Corfu and Bari.
(Note
: Ship carried Olympic Torch from
Corfu to Bari as part of its journey from
Greece
to
London for the Olympic Games).
August At Argstoli
for Regatta and vlsted Bone and Tunis.
12th Returned
to Malta.
September Deployed with
Flotilla and visited Sfax and Sorrento.
Nominated for transfer to America
and West Indies Station.
20th Took
passage from Malta.
24th At
Gibraltar.
27th Took
passage to Madeira.
30th At
Madeira
October
2nd Took
passage to Horta, Azores.
5th At Horta
and sailed same day.
9th
Hurricane warning and high wind speeds.
14th Arrived
at Bermuda.
Leak
in A/S Compartment.
November At Bermuda.
19th Took part
in Squadron exercises.
27th On
completion took passage for Antigua.
December
1st Arrived
at Antigua.
10th Embarked
Governor for visit to Basseterre.
11th Returned
to Antigua with Governor.
20th Took
passage to St. Kitts.
21st Passage
to Basseterre and later St John.
Returned to Antigua.
1 9 4 9
January At Antigua.
to Visited
Basseterre, St Kitts and Guadaloupe.
February Governor was
embarked on some occasions.
(Note : During this period it is possible that
the ship was deployed as Guardship for
Bacteriological Defence Trials being carried out
by HM Landing Ships
NARVIK and BEN LOMOND.
These trials were Classified and no public
announcement or record is available
at the Public Record Office, Kew).
March
1st Visited
Monserrat with Governor.
3rd Returned
to Antigua.
11th Passage
to Barbados for exercises.
Leading Seaman fell overboard and was recovered.
(Note
: During passage took part in exercises with H M Canadian Aircraft Carrier
MAGNIFICENT, HM Cruiser Jamaica, HM
Canadian Cruiser ONTARIO and
HM
Canadian Destroyer ATHABASKAN..
Deployed as Planeguard
HM
Cruiser GLASGOW of A&WI Squadron also involved)
18th Return Passage to Antigua.
20th At
Antigua.
22nd Took
passage to Guantanamo for joint RN/RCN/USN exercises.
25th Joined
HMS GLASGOW, HMS BIGBURY BAY and other ships for exercise programme.
(Note
: Daily serials included defence of convoys against aircraft and submarine
attack,
Gunnery firings and Night Encounter).
April On
completion of exercises took passage to Bermuda.
2nd At
Bermuda.
Deployed for Flotilla exercises off
Bermuda with HM Frigates BIGBURY BAY, HM Sloops
SNIPE, SPARROW
and HM Submarine TUDOR.
14th Station
Leave granted.
May
4th
Taken in hand for routine docking at
Bermuda.
20th Undocked
and prepared to resume Flotilla duties.
June Deployed
with Flotilla at Bermuda.
29th Took part
in Sea Inspection of HMS BIGBURY BAY.
July
4th Took
part in local exercises.
Annual Inspection.
Transferred to 4th Frigate Flotilla,
Far East.
19th Passage
to Colon, Panama.
24th Transit
of Panama Canal ands visited Balboa. ,
26th Took
passage to Pearl Harbour.
August
9th At Pearl
Harbour.
Shore
visits arranged.
12th Sailed
from Pearl Harbour for Hong Kong.
19th
Encountered heavy weather conditions.
28th Joined
Flotilla on arrival at Hong Kong.
September
7th Rating
fell overboard and recovered.
8th Present
when HM Frigate AMETHYST returned from Yangtse incident.
12th Deployed
for "Y" Patrol trade protection duties.
14th Escorted
Greek mercantile ss HELLAS off Yangtse estuuary.
19th At
Shaweishan with HM Destroyer CONSTANCE.
Deployed as Guardship off Shaweishan.
Carried out patrol duties.
October Guardship
duty in continuation.
1st Patrol
off Sadelle Is.
3rd Took
passage to Hong Kong.
8th Arrived
at Hong Kong.
12th Took part
in local defence exercise (ALADDIN).
18th Sailed
for Yangtse Guardship duties.
23rd Relieved
HM Frigate MOUNTS BAY after delayed by heavy weather on passage.
28th Return
passage to Hong Kong with call at Foochow.
31st Arrived
at Hong Kong.
November
3rd Took
part in Flotilla Exercises with HM Frigates MOUNTS BAY, CARDIGAN BAY and
ST
BRIDES BAY.
(Note
: Serials included Bombardment in Mirs Bay, Convoy Defence and Replenishment
from
RFA BROWN RANGER).
9th Carried
out local patrol off Hong Kong.
22nd Drafts
joined from UK and some left ship for return to UK.
30th Took part
in Fleet exercises with HM Light Fleet Aircraft Carrier TRIUMPH, HMS ALERT
(CinC's Despatch Vessel) and
HMS ST BRIDES BAY.
Deployed for aircraft warning picket duty in Night Encounter.
December Fleet Exercise
in continuation.
1st Rescued
pilot from HMS TRIUMPH
Returned to harbour on completion of exercises.
5th
Took part in local exercises
till 7th.
8th Prepared
for refit. Slips company to be moved ashore to HMS TAMAR.
9th Taken in
hand for refit by HM Dockyard, Hong Kong.
24th Entered
drydock.
1 9 5 0
January Under refit.
10th Undocked.
17th
Ammunitioned ship
18th Resumed
Flotilla duties.
20th Carried
out Flotilla exercises off Hong Kong.
21st
Recovered body of Signal rating from HMS JAMAICA in harbour.
30th Carried
out Flotilla exercise in Junk Bay.
February
1st
Exercised locally.
7th Carried
out exercises with HM Frigates MORECAMBE BAY and CARDIGAN BAY.
14th Carried
cut local exercises.
20th Deployed
in Long Bay for exercise.
21st Took
part in RN/USN Anti-submarine Exercise RICKSHAW with US Navy Submarine
USS
SEADOG and Fleet
units.
28th Passage
to Subic Bay with HMS CARDIGAN BAY.
March Carried out
exercises on passage with US Navy warship.
3rd At Subic
Bay.
6th Took
part in joint RN/USN exercises locally.
8th At Subic
Bay.
10th Carried
out further joint exercises.
Detached on completion for passage to
Sarawak with HMS CARDIGAN BAY.
14th At Sibu.
17th Took part
in shore parade.
Sailed for Singapore.
20th Arrived
at Singapore.
22nd Passage to
Port Swettenham.
23rd At Port
Swettenham.
24th Return
passage to Singapore.
25th At
Singapore.
27th Deployed
for patrol off east coast of Malaya in support of shore military operations
against
terrorists with
HM Motor Launch 3506.
31st At
Trengganu.
April Patrol
duties in continuation.
2nd
Investigated Junk movements to prevent supply of arms to terrorists
3rd Passage
from Puala Tioman to Singapore.
4th At
Singapore.
5th Deployed
for west coast patrol in support of shore operations.
7th At
Penang.
11th Passage
to Malacca.
12th At
Malacca.
13th Passage
to Tioman for duty on east coast patrol.
16th Returned
to Singapore from Kuantan.
17th At
Singapore.
27th Took
passage from Singapore to Hong Kong.
May
3rd Arrived
at Hong Kong
12th Deployed
for local patrol off Hong Kong.
15th Took part
in Fleet exercises with HM Frigates MOUNTS BAY, MORECAMBE BAY
and
ST BRIDES BAY.
27th (Note :
Serials included Tow, Bombardment, Convoy Defence, Manoeuvring ,gunnery
night
and day firings against surface targets).
Annual Inspection.
28th Took
passage from Hong Kong for trade protection in Formosa Straits.
31st Deployed
off Yangtse estuary near Amoy.
June
2nd Return
passage to Hong Kong to collect draft.
3rd At Hong
Kong.
4th Resumed
patrol off Amoy.
10th Return
passage to Hong Kong.
11th Prepared
for refit
Two
0.38 pistols missing.
26th Docked.
July Under
refit.
Undocked.
31st Refit
completed and swung for compass variation.
August Nominated for
detached service with UN off Korea.
1st Resumed
Flotilla duties.
2nd Deployed
for local exercises with HMS ST BRIDES BAY and HMS MOUNTS BAY.
4th
Anti-aircraft firings.
8th
Anti-submarine and bombardment exercises.
15th Night
firings and Night Encounter exercises.
20th Took
passage to Sasebo, Japan to join British UN Task Group.
24th Joined UN
command at Sasebo.
28th Escorted
convoy to Pusan, South Korea
29th Returned
to Sasebo.
30th Escorted
convoy to Pusan.
September Took part in
Inchon Assault landings (Operation CHROMITE).
Landed and re-embarked combined USMC and RM Commando landings at Kusan.
(Note
: This was a diversionary operation).
Deployed with Task Group 90.7 for blockade duty.
24th New
Commanding Officer Commander AN Rowell appointed
October UN duty in
continuation.
Escorted 4 Japanese minesweepers in approaches to Haeju.
November UN duties in
continuation for blockade and escort.
December Returned to
Hong Kong.
1 9 5 1
January Deployed
with Flotilla at Hong Kong.
February Passage to
Singapore for
support duties off Malayan coasts.
March Deployed at
Singapore for
support of anti-terrorist operations.
Motor
Launches manned by Malayan RNVR were controlled during searches inshore.
towed
Motor Launch to Singapore after she had stranded on uncharted reef.
Carried out bombardment near Port Dickson.
April Malayan
coast patrol in continuation.
Bombarded terrorist positions near Port Swettenham.
May Deployed
off Borneo for anti-piracy patrols.
Visited Jesselton and Sandakan.
June Passage
to Sasebo for 2nd UN operational tour.
Relieved HM Canadian Destroyer SIOUX in Task Group 95.22 off Wonsan.
Deployed off east coast for patrol and bombardment duties.
July
Deployed with British Task Group off west coast of Korea.
Carried out survey work with other British and Commonwealth ships in Han River.
August Passage to
Hong Kong.
to Resumed
Flotilla duties.
September
October Passage to
Sasebo for 3rd operational UN Tour.
Deployed for patrol off west coast of Korea.
Carried out bombardments in Han River.
November UN patrol and
bombardment duties in continuation,
December .During west
coast patrol duty supported military operations in Haeju estuary.
Carried out bombardment in Han River.
1 9 5 2
January UN duties
off west coast of Korea in continuation.
Flag
Officer 2nd in Command, Far East Station visited ship during patrol.
February Resumed
Flotilla deployment.
25th New
Commanding Officer: Commander M W B Craig-Waller, DSC* appointed.
March Flotilla
duties in continuation.
April Passage
to Sasebo for 4th UN operational tour.
to
Deployed with allied Task Group off west coast of Korea.
June Carried
blockade, patrol and support bombardment duties.
July Passage
to Hong Kong to resume Flotilla duties.
August Prepared for
refit and took passage to Singapore.
September Under refit.
to
October
November Carried out
post refit trials and deployed at Singapore.
December Deployed with
Flotilla for exercises and local patrol duties.
1 9 5 3
January Flotilla
deployment in continuation.
February Passage to
Sasebo to resume UN duties for 5th operational tour.
Deployed off west coast of
Korea
for patrol and support bombardments.
March West coast
duties in continuation.
Under
fire from mainland in Sokto area.
April UN duties
off west coast in continuation.
May Passage to
Hong Kong for maintenance and to attend Coronation Day ceremonials.
June
2nd At Hong
Kong for Coronation Day
July Resumed
Flotilla duties at Hong Kong.
6th Annual
Sea Inspection by SO 4th Frigate Flotilla.
8th Annual
Harbour Inspection.
13th Passage
to Sasebo to resume UN duties.
14th Officer
of the Watch Logged for altering course without Captain's approval.
Carried cut Full Power Trial.
17th At
Sasebo.
18th Passage
to Haeju estuary to assist in planned withdrawal of
ROK Guerillas.
19th Deployed
with Task Unit 95.1.6.
23rd Deployed
on patrol in POLKA Extension.
25th Korean
Armistice declared.
Supervision of withdrawals in continuation in Haeju area.
Deployed with US Navy Patrol craft for evacuation.
(Korean War Statistics
Mileage steamed - 67,000. Fuel used - 13,500 tons)
August UN duties off
west coast with TU95.1.6 in
Passage to Sasebo to resume UN duties in continuation.
Passage to Kure for R&R.
September
1st At Kure
New
Commanding Officer: Commander M E Lashmore, DSO, OBE, DSC.
3rd Passage
to Sasebo
6th Relieved
HMNZ Frigate KANIERE as Guardship off Yong Pyong Do and as SO
Task
Unit 96.16.
(Note
: During period as Guardship replenished from RFA WAVE CHIEF and
exercised with USS PTARMIGAN).
18th Relieved
by HM Destroyer CONSTANCE and took passage to
Sasebo.
20th At
Sasebo.
September
25th Sailed
from Sasebo for Hong Kong and carried out surveillance patrol in Formosa
Straits for observation of Chinese naval activities.
October
1st Arrived
at Hong Kong for maintenance period.
7th Deployed
for Formosa Straits Patrol
to
Escorted Merchant ships during threat from Chinese Gunboat PC41.
14th
15th At Hong
Kong
28th Took part
in local exercises (Exercise FOLIAGE).
31st Deployed
for Formosa Straits Patrol. Army passengers on board.
November Patrol off
Foochow in continuation.
7th Returned
to Hong Kong
11th Deployed
for Formosa Straits patrol.
18th Returned
to Hong Kong on completion.
29th Taken in
hand for refit at Hong Kong.
Ships
company accommodated ashore.
December Under refit
1 9 5 4
January
Under refit
to
February
March Post Refit
Trials
3rd Weapon
sea trials.
5th Carried
out Full Power Trial.
8th Resumed
Flotilla duties.
9th Took
part in local exercises.
15th Deployed
for Formosa Straits patrol during passage to
Kure.
21st At Kure
26th Passage
to Sasebo.
2?th Passage
to Pang Yong Do from Sasebo.
29th Relieved
HM Canadian Destroyer HAIDA as Guardship in Task Unit 95.1 (?)
Deployed off west coast of
Korea
for patrol and Guardship duty.
April Guardship
duty in continuation.
9th Relieved
by HM Destroyer COCKADE and took passage to Fukka for R&R visit.
11th At Fukka.
15th Took
passage for Formosa Strait patrol with call at Sasebo.
20th Arrived
at Hang Kong.
26th Took part
in local exercises.
30th Passage
to Singapore in company with HM Frigate CARDIGAN BAY and HM
Despatch Vessel ALERT.
May Carried
out exercises on passage.
5th Arrived
at Singapore.
11th Deployed
as escort for RFA FORT ROSALIE for passage to Penang.
(Note
: Depth Charges were being dumped for Armament Depot at Singapore).
16th At Penang
with HMS CARDIGAN BAY.
19th Passage
to Singapore.
21st At
Singapore.
23rd Embarked
Malayan RNVR personnel for sea training.
24th Deployed
for exercises based at Puala Tioman.
28th Returned
to Singapore.
June At
Singapore.
Nominated for return to UK to
recommission.
(Note
: This was part of changes made as a result of reduction in length foreign
service
Commissions to 18 months instead of 30 months).
3rd Annual
Inspection.
5th Took
passage to Jesselton, Borneo.
8th At
Jesselton for Queen's Birthday ceremonial.
12th Took
passage to Hong Kong.
Exercised on passage with HMS CARDIGAN BAY.
16th At Hong
Kong.
July At Hong
Kong.
Prepared for return to UK.
8th Sailed
for Singapore with HM Frigate MOUNTS BAY.
13th Arrived
at Singapore and prepared for passage to UK to recommission.
14th Flag
Officer Malaya addressed ship's company.
15th Took
passage to Colombo with HMS MOUNTS BAY.
(Note
: Diverted on passage to assist after a mercantile had been collided with an
Indonesian Landing Craft.
Indonesian Patrol Boat taken to scene.
21st At
Colombo.
22nd Took
passage to Aden with HMS MOUNTS BAY.
31st At Aden.
August
1st
Passage through Red Sea.
5th
Transit of Suez Canal.
10th At
Malta.
13th
Passage to Gibraltar with MS MOUNTS BAY.
17th At
Gibraltar.
19th Sailed
from Gibraltar for Portsmouth.
24th
Arrived at Portsmouth.
September Leave
Period.
7th New
Commanding Officer : Cdr. D N Forbes joined.
15th
Re-commissioned for General Service Home/West Indies.
22nd Took
passage for Portland and carried out trials.
24th At
Portland..
October Worked-up
for operational service at Portland.
November Prepared for
Home Fleet service.
Future deployment under review.
December Paid off and
Reduced to Reserve at Devonport.
F i n a l P h a s e
HMS WHITESAND
BAY was placed in Category III Reserve and laid-up at Rosyth
without preservation or maintenance. The ship's company was transferred to HM
Frigate LOCH KILLISPORT then refitting at Chatham.
Late in 1955 she was placed on the Disposal List and sold to BISCO for breaking-up at Charlestown. near Rosyth by Metal
Industries. The ship arrived in tow at the Forth on 13th February 1956.
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