H . M . S
. L O C H A C H A N A L T ( K 4 2 4 )
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.
R e c o r d o f
S e r v i c e
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
operations 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 WHTTAKER 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 Deployed for
convoy defence and anti-submarine patrol in English Channel with ships
to of
Group
March (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.
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 on arrival at
Auckland 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 Deployed
at Auckland
to
September
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 Carried out
visits programme prior to RNZN exercises in Bay of Islands.
to
April
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 Under refit
to
August
September Placed in
Reserve on completion of refit trials.
October Laid-up at
Auckland
to
December
1 9 5 2
January Laid-up
to
October
November Nominated for
service
December Re-commissioned
for service in 11th Frigate Flotilla.
1 9 5 3
January Worked-up
for operational service.
February Deployed in
New Zealand
waters for Flotilla duties.
to
Nominated for detached service with Far East Command based at Singapore.
August
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 Deployed in
North China Sea waters for trade protection and 'back-up' to UN in
Korea if
to
required.
March 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 Deployed
locally with 11th Frigate Squadron for flotilla duties based in Auckland
to
December
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 Deployed
with Squadron for trade protection, Korean coast Guardship and
to visits
to Japan for
exercises with US Navy ships.
December
1 9 5 6
January Return
passage to Hong Kong from Sasebo
February Took part in
Far East Fleet exercises and visited Bangkok.
March Deployed at
Singapore with
Squadron.
to
April
May Return
passage to Auckland with call at
Port Moresby.
June Resumed
deployment for 11th Frigate Squadron duties based at Auckland.
to
Nominated for routine docking and hull inspections,
October
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 HNZS 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 Deployed as
Weather Reporting Ship during Operation GRAPPLE at Christmas Island.
to (Note:
This duty was shared with HMNZS PUKAKI until August.
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 Deployed
with Squadron at Auckland
to
December
1 9 5 9
January
Auckland deployment in
continuation.
to
March
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 HQGUE 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 Under refit
to
December
1 9 6 1
January Carried out
harbour trials
to
February
March Refit
completed.
April
Re-commissioned and carried cut poet 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 Deployed at
Auckland.
to
October
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 Under refit.
to
Nominated for training ship duties.
February
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.
