H .  M .  S .   L O CH   C R A G G I E   ( K 6 0 9 )

 

LOCH-Class Frigate ordered from Harland & Wolff at Belfast on 2nd February 1943 and laid down as Job No J3373 (Yard Number 1246) on 28th December 1943. The ship was launched on 23rd May 1944 as the 1st RN ship to carry the name. Build was transferred to John Brown after launch and the ship was towed to Clydebank for completion. Build was completed on 23rd October 1944 after fitting-out.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

 

ATLANTIC  1945

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge : On a Field Red issuing from barry wavy White and Blue in base

a demi-lion White grasping a club Gold.

(Note : Taken from the Arms of Wallace)

 

D e t a i l s   o f   S e r v i c e

 

1 9 4 4

 

October                  Contractors Trials.

                                Commissioned for service in 22nd Escort Group.

                23rd        Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials

                                Nominated for special trials with different design propellers on completion of

                                storing and other trials.                      

 

November              Carried cut comparison trials on different design propellers.

 

December              Passage to Tobermory

                12th        Commenced work-up for operational service.

 

1 9 4 5

 

January

                3rd          On completion took passage to join Group

                                Deployed with HM Sloops AMETHYST, HART, PEACOCK and STARLING for

                                anti-submarine search operations in Irish Sea and NW Approaches.

                16th        Shared credit for sinking U482 with above ships in position 55-30N 05.53W using SQUID

                                and depth charges

                                (Note : U482 had torpedoed Escort Carrier THANE in Clyde estuary.

                                There were no survivors from the submarine.

                                See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp and HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR by

                                C Blair.)

 

February                Under repair for weather damage sustained during deployment in NW Approaches.

 

March

                17th        Rejoined Group for support duty and convoy defence inn Irish Sea and SW Approaches

                                based at Milford Haven.

 

April                       Irish Sea and SW Approaches deployment in continuation.

                                Nominated for service in East Indies after refit.

 

May                        Passage to Cardiff for refit.

                10th        Taken in hand for refit by Bailey at Cardiff.

 

June                        Sustained damage in collision with tug at Cardiff and had to be docked.

 

July                         On completion prepared for foreign service.

                20th        Took passage to join East Indies Fleet.

                28tih       Sailed for Alexandria from Gibraltar.

 

August                  Additional Oerlikon mountings fitted at Alexandria to improve AA defence.

                10th        During passage in Red Sea responded to Distress signal from HM Fighter Direction

                                Ship PALOMARES on fire in Red Sea

                11th        Provided medical aid and embarked severely burned casualties.

                12th        Landed casualties to Massawa.

                15th        At Aden.

                22nd       Sailed for Colombo from Aden.

                29th        At Colombo.

 

September

                2nd         Joined East Indies Fleet and nominated for defence of Assault convoys for

                                Malayan coast landings.

                                (Operation ZIPPER - This had been delayed. See THE FORGOTTEN FLEET by

                                J Winton. Final Report of Supreme Commander SEAC (HMSO) and BRITISH

                                INVASION FLEETS by J de Winser for information about all mercantiles and warships

                                taking part.)

                                Deployed for escorted of follow-up convoys and landed SOE party on passage.

  

P o s t   W a r    N o t e s

 

HMS LOCH CRAGGIE was deployed at Singapore for support of military operations in the Dutch East Indies against insurgents opposing return of Dutch colonial rule and as Guardship at Morotai in the Moluccas where Japanese prisoners of war were held before return to Japan. The ship returned to Devonport in July 1946 and Paid-off. She was placed in Reserve until being re commissioned in December 1950 as part of a programme to increase the active Fleet after the start of war in Korea. She served with the 5th Frigate Flotilla, Mediterranean Fleet until January 1953 when she returned to Reserve. Although selected for modernisation this was not implemented and her equipment was preserved at Liverpool in 1954. On completion she was transferred to the Reserve Fleet Division at Gibraltar. Although offered for sale to the Portugal this was not accepted and the ship remained laid-up at Gibraltar until placed on the Disposal List in 1961. After being de-equipped the ship was sold in July 1963 for breaking-up in Lisbon by Dantops Leal and arrived there in tow on 25th October 1963.