H. M. S. L O C H T R A L A I G ( K 6 5 5 )
LOCH Class Twin Screw Frigate
ordered from Caledon SB at Dundee on 2nd February 1943 and laid down on 26th April 1944 as Job Number 11848
(Yard Number). The ship was launched on 12th February 1945 as the first RN ship
to bear the name. Build was completed
on 4th July 1945 after being fitted out in Troon, Ayrshire. This ship was the
second to be fitted with turbine
propulsion machinery. See General Information.
G e o g r a p h i c D a t a
Inland Loch in Argyllshire, Scotland
Grid Reference
NM8716
B a t t l e H o n o u r s
None
He r a l d i c D a t a
Crest None is recorded in the Official
List.
(Note.: Many ships of the Class had
unofficial crests used during War Service.)
D e t a i l s o
f S e r v i c
e
1 9 4 5
June At Troon
for fitting-out.
Commissioned for service.
Commanding Officer : Lt. Cdr. MS Wiork DSC
RNR
July
4th Build
completion and commenced Acceptance Trials
After
acceptance and storing ship took passage to Tobermory to work-up
August On completion
carried special machinery trials in Clyde.
(Note :
These were required to measure amount of noise made whilst using
the
propellers fitted during Build.
September Carried out
further Noise trials with new propellers.
Deployed for escort and tow of surrendered
U-Boats from Londonderry to Loch Ryan
prior to their destruction in Operation
DEADLIGHT.
October Deployed for
second escort of U-boats
Escorted merchant ship carrying ammunition from Cairnryan for scuttling in NW
Approaches.
November Nominated for
escort of a mercantile from Cairnryan for scuttling.
(Note :
This was not carried out because of Boiler defect caused during preparation for
sailing
Damage
was caused due to incorrect procedures
Taken
in hand for repair
December On completion
joined Training Flotilla at Londonderry.
1 9 4 6
January Deployed at
Londonderry for anti-submarine training.
to,
Commanding Officer :Lt. Cdr. AD Piper DSO, DSC RN (02/01/47)
March
April Under refit
at Devonport.
to
May
June Deployed at
Londonderry.
to
Commanding Officer : Lt. Cdr. V C F Clark DSC RN.
July
August Ship grounded
off Skipness Point in Sound of Bute
Taken
in hand for repair at Devonport
September Under repair
to (Note :
Special investigations carried out because of extent of damage.)
December
1 9 4 7
January Under repair
February On completion
of post re[air trials resumed training duties with Flotilla at Londonderry.
Commanding Officer : Lt. Cdr. A D Piper DSC RN
March Londonderry
deployment in continuation.
to.
June
July Attended
Review of Home Fleet by HM King George VI in Clyde
August Deployed at
Londonderry for training.
to
Commanding Officer : Cdr. N J Wagstaff RN
December
1 9 4 8
January Londonderry
training duties with Flotilla in continuation.
to Pennant
Number for visual signalling purposes changed to F655)
May
June Took part
in Home Fleet Exercise SW3with Flotilla
to Resumed
training deployed in release
July Nominated
for refit at Rosyth.
August Under refit
to (Note :
Extensive work undertaken included improvement of A/S facilities and fit
November of an Operations
Room.
December Resumed Flotilla
duties on completion of post refit trials.
1 9 4 9
January Deployed for
Training duties with Flotilla
Commanding Officer : Cdr. R S Blacker RN
February Sustained
significant damage in collision with Aberfoyle Light Beacon in Lough Foyle.
March Under repair
in Refit in Clyde commercial shipyard.
to (Note :
This was necessary since no dock was available in HM Dockyard at Rosyth.)
July Starboard
main propeller shaft and stern tube found to be misaligned but major repair
needed
was deferred until next routine docking.
Only
other essential work to enable ship to resume training was to be undertaken.)
August Resumed
Flotilla duties at Londonderry on completion of post repair trials.
to
December
1 9 5 0
January Deployed for
training duties at Londonderry with Flotilla
to Took part
in Home Fleet exercise and visits programme.
October
November Ran aground at
Garrison Point Sheerness and damaged Log Impeller .
to Continued
training deployment.
December Commanding
Officer : Cdr. RG Jenkins, OBE, DSC RN
1 9 5 1 t o 1 9 5 2
Training Flotilla deployment in continuation and took Part in Home Fleet
exercises and visits
(Note :
Ship visited Haugesund and Norhelmsund in Norway with LOCH ARKAIG in July 1951
and in
1952 Amsterdam and Copenhagen.)
Commanding Officer : Commander C K S Hoyle RN.
1 9 5 3
Nominated for reduction to Reserve status and took passage to Portsmouth.
Paid
off and de-stored before being laid up in Reserve Fleet.
F i n
a l P h a s e
HMS LOCH TRALAIG was
transferred to the Reserve Fleet at Hartlepool in
1954 and used as the headquarters ship for administration
and accommodation. She remained in Reserve until 1961 when placed on the
Disposal List. Sold to BISCO for demolition by P & W MacLellan
in 1964 she arrived at the breaker’s yard
in Bo’ness on the Forth in August that year.
