WWII Frigates

The Frigate returned to the RN in the 20th century in the form of the River Class Corvette late in 1941. Although they carried the Corvette Pennent "K" they so differed from the Flower Class that the old term of Frigate was coined and stuck.

The River Class was designed with the hard won lessons of the early years of war, they were longer and broader than the Flower, designed specifically to operate in the worst the Atlantic could throw at them, to be able to escort all the way across, and to be able to turn fast, a crucial skill in fighting both U-Boats and aircraft.

The main features that defined a Frigate were: twin screws, easy to build and long range. The basic hull form of the River would be used in a large number of Anti-Submarine ships built both in Britain and abroad, the same philosophy of the Flower was employed: nothing fancy, the ship could be assembled in any moderate sized ship yard and employed reciprocating machinary instead of turbines.

The war in the Atlantic started the day the war started with the sinking of the Liner Athena, it was fought to the last day of the war. Getting a convoy through was not just about sinking U-Boats, it was as much forcing them down until the convoy got clear. In 1941 the need was for long range ships that could cruise with a convoy, sprint out and lay patterns of depth charges, kills were a bonus but most kills were done by Hunter-Killer groups and aircraft closer to the U-Boat homes. The first 20th century Frigates were born of dire necessity and owed nothing to subtlety.

River Class Frigate

An impressive 151 River Class ships were built between 1941 and 1944. These changed hands and were swapped about so much that it is difficult to put an exact number on how many actually flew the White Ensign, but 67 seems reasonable.

They are often known as “Commonwealth” ships due the large numbers operated by Canada, Australia, South Africa and also the Free French, Dutch and even the USA.

Designed specifically for trans Atlantic convoy escorts they saw action in some of the fiercest conflicts in that ocean. They mainly replaced the destroyers that were being used as escorts.

The ship was designed to be a cheaper and quicker to build replacement to the Black Swan Sloops. From the outset it was intended to be produced in Canada as well as Britain and it was a Canadian Officer, Vice Admiral Nelles, who was stationed in Britain, who proposed the design be designated as a Frigate.

The essential design of the River was a double Flower, twin sets of the same machinary in a larger hull, apart from range and manouverability this also allowed a greater depth charge load and better defensive armament.

Displacement: 1,370 tons, 1,830 full load
Length: 301 ft overall, Bream: 36.5 ft, Draught: 13ft
Complement: 140
Machinary: 2 Shaft 4 cyl triple expansion Reciprocating and 2 three drum admiralty boilers, 5,500 IHP (Cam, Chelmer, Ettrick, Helmsdale and Tweed were fitted with twin turbines giving 6,500 SHP)
Speed: 19 knots (20.5 in turbine ships)
Armament: 1x 4" gun (twin on some later ships), 1 x 12 Pdr, up to 10 x 20mm guns, Hedgehog 24 load spigot mortar, 150-200 depth charges, 4 throwers and rack.

The list below covers only British built or serving ships. Some odd goings on make it difficult to assign ships, for instance some were built in Canada for the USN before the US entered the war, but were actually delivered to the RN, and yet the RN transferred a ship to the USN before they entered the war!

HMS Ballinderry, two upgrades to the Flower were put forward and accepted, the first, the River Class Frigate proved ideal, it was essentially a doubled up Flower with two engines. But the greater length restricted it to relatively larger ship yards, when the Squid entered service an attempt was made to adapt the Flower to it which was the Castle Class, but it proved inferior to an improved River Class hull which became the Loch Class. Although deliberatly built to lower than military specs the River served it's purpose well and was particularly welcomed by the Canadians who produced it in great numbers, The US bought some and donated them to Britain under Lend Lease until war with Germany seemed inevitable and they too realised the need for an Escort vessel that could be built in civilian yards.

HMS Aire, armament varied but British ships generally carried a 4" gun forward and either a 4" or a 12 Pdr aft as here. The main weapon system was the depth charges and the long low stern had been designed to provide a good delivery platform for them.

HMS Jed, the raised forward superstructure protected the gun from the ravages of the Atlantic winter seas, it shows the outdated thinking still in place, the Hedgehog was left on deck level, exposing the main ASW weapon to the elements.

Ship	Penant	Launched	Notes
Adur	K269	22-8-1942	1-12-1942 To the US as Asheville, 1946 to Argentina as Hercules
Aire	K262	22-4-1943	Wrecked on Bombay Reef 20 Dec 1946 after being renamed Tamar, 89 men and one dog were rescued by the former HMS Bonaventure which had served as the X craft depot ship during the war.
Annan	K297	12-9-1942	1944 to Canada as Annan then USN as Natchez then Denmark 1945
Annan	K404	29-12-1943	1944 to Canada as Annan
Avon	K97	19-6-1943	To Portugal 1949
Awe	K526	28-12-1943	To Portugal 1949
Ballinderry	K255	7-12-1942	Scrapped 1961
Bann	K256	29-12-1942	To India 1945 as Tir, scrapped 1979
Barle	K298	26-9-1942	Built in Canada for USN, supplied to RN under Lend Lease, returned to US in 1946
Braid	K263	30-11-1943	Free French Navy as L'Aventure
Cam	K264	31-7-1943	Scrapped 1945
Chelmer	K221	27-3-1943	Torpedoed 11 Dec 1943, damaged beyond repair, scrapped 1957
Cuckmere	K299	24-10-1942	Built in Canada for the USN but supplied to RN under lend lease, torpedoed 11 Dec 1943, damaged beyond repair, returned to the US in 1946 after being welded back together.
Dart	K21	10-10-1942	Scrapped 1957
Derg	K257	7-1-1943	Scrapped 1960
Deveron	K265	12-10-1942	1945 To India as Dhanush, 1948 to Pakistan as Zulfiquar, scrapped 1983
Dovey	K523	14-10-1943	Originally named Lambourne, scrapped 1955 ??
Ettrick	K254	5-2-1943	1944 To Canada as Ettrick, scrapped 1953
Evenlode	K300	9-11-1942	Built in Canada for the USN, supplied to RN under lend lease, returned 1946
Exe	K92	19-3-1942	Scrapped 1956
Fal	K266	9-11-1942	To Burma 1948 as Mayu, sunk 1979
Findhorn	K301	5-12-1942	Built in Canada for the USN, supplied to RN under lend lease, returned 1946
Frome	K267	1-6-1943	1944 To Free French as L'Escarmouche
Glenarm	K258	8-3-1943	Feb 1944 renamed Strule, Sep 1944 To Free French as Croix de Lorraine
Halladale	K417	28-1-1944	Sold 1949
Helford	K252	6-2-1943	Scrapped 1956
Helmsdale	K253	5-6-1943	Scrapped 1956
Inver	K302	15-12-1942	Built in Canada for the USN, supplied to RN under lend lease, returned 1946
Itchen	K227	29-7-1942	Sunk 23 Sep 1943
Jed	K235	30-7-1942	Scrapped 1957
Kale	K241	24-6-1942	Scrapped 1957
Lagan	K259	28-7-1942	Torpedoed 20 Sep 1943, damaged beyond repair, scrapped 1946
Lochy	K365	30-10-1943	Scrapped 1956
Lossie	K303	29-4-1943	Built in Canada for the USN, supplied to RN under lend lease, returned 1946
Meon	K269	4-8-1943	To Canada as Meon
Monnow	K441	4-12-1943	1944 To Canada as Monnow, 1945 to Denmark
Mourne	K261	24-9-1942	Sunk 15 June 1944
Moyola	K260	27-8-1942	1944 To Free French as Tonkinois
Nadder	K392	15-9-1943	1944 to India as Shamsher, 1948 to Pakistan, sunk 1960
Nene	K270	9-12-1942	1944 To Canada as Nene, scrapped 1955
Ness	K219	30-7-1942	Scrapped 1956
Nith	K25	24-9-1942	Damaged by pilotless plane (Mistel) during D Day operations. 1948 to Egypt as the Domiat and sunk by HMS Newfoundland during the Suez Crises.
Odzani	K356	19-5-1943	Scrapped 1957
Parret	K304	29-4-1943	Built in Canada for the USN, supplied to RN under lend lease, returned 1946
Plym	K271	4-2-1943	Harbour Training 1948, scrapped 1952
Ribble	K251	23-4-1943	To the Netherlands as Johan Mautis van Nassau
Ribble	K525	10-11-1943	To Canada as Ribble
Rother	K224	20-11-1941	Scrapped 1955
Shiel	K305	26-5-1943	Built in Canada for the USN, supplied to RN under lend lease, returned 1946
Spey	K246	18-12-1943	1948 to Egypt
Swale	K217	11-9-1943	To South Africa as Swale, Scrapped 1955
Taff	K637	11-9-1943	Scrapped 1957
Tavy	K272	3-4-1943	Scrapped 1955
Tay	K232	18-3-1943	Scrapped 1956
Tees	K293	20-5-1943	Scrapped 1955
Teme	K458	11-11-1943	1944 To Canada as Teme damaged beyond repair 29/3/1945, scrapped 1946
Test	K239	30-5-1942	1946 to India as Neza, scrapped 1955
Teviot	K222	12-10-1942	1945 To South Africa as Teviot, returned to RN 1946, Scrapped 1955
Torridge	K292	16-8-1943	1944 To Free French as La Surprise
Towy	K294	4-3-1943	Scrapped 1956
Trent	K243	10-10-1942	1946 to India as Kukri, 1951 Indian Navy Survey vessel Investigator
Tweed	K250	24-11-1942	Sunk 7 Jan 1944
Usk	K295	3-4-1943	1948 to Egypt, scuttled 1956
Waveney	K248	30-4-1942	Scrapped 1957
Wear	K230	1-6-1942	Scrapped 1957
Windrush	K370	18-6-1943	1944 To Free French as La Decouverte
Wye	K371	16-8-1943	Scrapped 1955

Colony Class Frigate

One British built and one Canadian built River were loaned to the US Navy and the USN started their own building program, copying not only the design but the use of civilian yards. These were the Tacoma Class ships and designated Gunboats (PG) the Frigate designation (PF) was not adopted by the USN until 1943 and then only to ships slated for the RN. Most were crewed by Coast Guard personnel, they were found to be uncomfortably hot in warmer waters, of the 96 built 21 were loaned to the RN and later 28 to the Soviet Navy. It is not known what the American though of the British renaming them the Colony Class!

The main differences were a pole mast as opposed to Tripod on the British version and three 3" guns. Delivery was delayed due to inherent problems with the engines fitted and Destroyer Escorts built in military yards outstripped Frigate construction, most did not become available until 1944 so the class played little part in the Battle of the Atlantic and were loaned to allies for the invasion of Japan.

Displacement 1,430 tons, 2,415 full load
Length 304 ft overall,, Beam: 37ft 6", Draft: 13ft 9"
Range: 9,500 miles at 12 knots
Complement: 180 (214 wartime)
Speed: 20 knots
Armament: 3x 3" guns, 4 x 40mm AA, 9 x 20mm, Hedgehog, 8 depth charge throwers, 2 racks, number carried unknown.

All 21 may have been built at Walsh-Kaiser Emergency Ship Yard in Providence, Rhode Island, a yard built just for the war effort and which was closed down after the war. Dates given are Delivery, building and launch dates are not supplied on the Walsh-Kaiser records so it is possible they were actually built elsewhere and Walsh-Kaiser only acted as the point of delivery. Walsh-Kaiser notes only that they were delivered to Britain in 1944 so the delivery date may refer to either date of delivery to Walsh-Kaiser or delivery to the RN.

The aquirement of these ships, which were outdated by British standards in 1944, may seem odd in retrospect; but it was a widely held belief in the Admiralty that the Germans were planning a return in force to the Atlantic using their new high speed U-Boats, however in the event the invasion of France and the bombing of U-Boat construction yards prevented the renewed assault on the convoys. Their arrival also released more capable ships from convoy duty to protecting the invasion.

HMS Caicos, the Colony Class mounted three 3" guns, two to the bow and the engines and fittings were to American standards, but otherwise there was little difference between the River and the Colony.

HMS Seychelles, between the funnel and the aft 3" are the tubs for the twin 40mm AA guns. The ships were not regarded by the Americans as suitable for the Pacific theatre of operations, unfairly comparing their performance to Escort Destroyers (DEs), those not loaned to Britain and Russia were manned by Coastguard personnel and used as coastal anti-submarine patrols on the Atlantic shore.

Ship	Penant	Delivery	Notes
Hallowel / Anguilla	PF72 / K500	15-10-1943	Returned 1946, scrapped 1949
Hammond / Antigua	PF73 / K501	4-11-1943	Returned 1946, scrapped 1947
Hargood / Ascension	PF74 / K502	24-11-1943	Returned 1946, scrapped 1947
Hotham / Bahamas	PF75 / K503	6-12-1943	Returned 1946, scrapped 1947
Halsted / Barbados	PF76 / K504	18-12-1943	Returned 1946, scrapped 1947
Hannam / Caicos	PF77 / K505	31-12-1943	Returned 1946, sold to Argentina as Santisima Trinidad, renamed Comodoro Augusto Laserre, scrapped 1970
Harland / Cayman	PF78 / K506	20-1-1944	Returned 1946, scrapped 1947
Harnam / Dominica	PF79 / K507	25-1-1944	Returned 1946, scrapped 1947
Harvey / Gold Coast	PF80 / K584	5-2-1944	Renamed Labuan, returned 1946, scrapped 1947
Holmes / Hong Kong	PF81 / K585	12-8-1944	Renamed Tobago, returned 1946, sold to Egypt 1947, scuttled in Suez Crises 1956
Hornby / Montserrat	PF82 / K586	31-8-1944	Returned 1946, scrapped 1947
Hoste / Nyasaland	PF83 / K587	31-7-1944	Returned 1946, scrapped 1947
Howett / Papua	PF84 / K588	25-7-1944	Returned 1946, sold to Egypt 1947, scuttled in Suez Crises 1956
Pilford / Pitcairn	PF85 / K589	6-7-1944	Returned 1946, scrapped 1947
Pasley / St Helena	PF86 / K589	19-2-1944	Returned 1946, scrapped 1947
Patton / Sarawak	PF87 / K590	18-7-1944	Returned 1946, scrapped 1947
Pearl / Seychelles	PF88 / K592	27-6-1944	Returned 1946, scrapped 1947
Phillimore / Sierra Leone	PF89 / K593	16-3-1944	Renamed Perim, returned 1946, scrapped 1947
Popham / Somaliland	PF90 / K594	24-6-1944	Returned 1946, scrapped 1947
Peyton / Tortola	PF91 / K595	15-5-1944	Returned 1946, scrapped 1947
Prowse / Zanzibar	PF92 / K596	21-6-1944	Returned 1946, scrapped 1947

Captain Class Frigate

In 1941 with the U-Boat war very much going against Britain the US were asked if they could produce an economic deep ocean anti-submarine ship. Work had already taken place on these lines, based on studies of British Escort ships in service and construction began late in 1941, the ships were designated British Destroyer Escorts (BDE), the RN classed them as Frigates and ordered fifty at once, followed by another one hundred.

However before the first was delivered the US found itself at war and in urgent need of their own escorts. The BDE became the Evarts Class (DE) and with reluctance 1 in 5 were released to the RN. The Evarts were diesel powered, the first such major ships in the RN, a second class were steam turbine driven, the Buckley Class, but the RN kept the same Class name, a total of 78 were delivered to the RN, a total of 563 were completed, with many more cancelled at the war's end.

The Captain Class cost about half that of a fleet destroyer and remained in demand throughout the war, the USN took delivery of a total of six sub classes, but only the Evarts and Buckley were delivered to the RN.

The USN ships carried torpedoes, but these were not fitted on the RN ships to make room for extra depth charges. The living conditions on the ships also came as something of a culture shock to the RN with dining halls, bunks, laundries and countless other luxuries. These were ruthlessly ripped out, more bewilderingly so was the excellent gyro compasses, replaced with standard magnetic ones and the superb 20mm AA gun mountings were replaced with the inferior British model.

Even so, accomodation on the ships was far superior to RN ships, and went in no small way to force the changes in living conditions that gripped the RN post war. More on that elsewhere.

The ships were prefabricated and assembled at the shipyard for fitting out (this technique was observed with great interest by the RN). The original design speed of 24 knots was lost when demand for the V12 General Motors diesels rocketed with the outbreak of war for the US. The fit was reduced from eight to four, dropping speed down to 19 knots, while this was acceptable to the British the American Navy were not happy, they regarded the ship as a pocket destroyer, not a convoy escort. To overcome this the Buckley Class were fitted with a Steam plant which needed the length and beam increased, but the speed was brought back up to 24 knots.

The ships were not good sea keepers, they rolled hard and heavy, apart from the discomfort this has a very big effect on the ship as a weapon platform. The pre-fabrication of the ships was to have a big impact on future Escort development in the RN, and the deisel system would be toyed with again, but the hull design was not used in further ship building, instead the River would be developed further.

Evarts (Captain Class Type 1):

Length: 289.5 ft overall, Beam: 35 ft, Draught: 9 ft fully loaded
Displacement: 1,360 tons fully loaded.
Range: 5,000 miles at 15 knots with 126 tons of fuel
Speed: 19 knots
Armament: 3 x 3" guns, 7 x 20mm Oerlikon (some carried an extra 20mm or 40mm twin ), Hedgehog, four depth charge throwers, four sets of rails at the stern, British models carried ready use rails in place of torpedoes and a load of over 200 charges in total.
Type SL radar on all, SA air radar on some, 128D or 144 sonar in retractable dome.

Buckley (Captain Class Type 2):

Length: 306 ft overall, Beam: 36.5 ft, Draught: 11 ft overall
Displacement: 1,800 tons fully loaded
Range: 5,500 miles at 15 knots with 350 tons of fuel
Speed: 24 knots
Weapon and sensor fit as per the Evarts.

HMS Tyler, the hull form of the American ships differed markedly from British designs in that the bow raked gradually down to the stern, British ships usually had a step down amidships.

HMS Essington, down the waists are double height depth charge stowages which were fited in place of torpedo tubes on the US version. The aft 3" gun has an AA unit mounted over it, this varied between a twin 20mm and a twin 40mm.

USS Buckley, the torpedo tubes cab be seen between the funnel and the aft AA gun mount.

HMS Hargood, showing the smooth hull lines of the US designed and built ship. The small destroyers were in huge demand with all the allies.

Ship	Penant	Launched	Notes
Bayntum	BDE1 / K310	27-6-1942	1945 returned to the US, sold for scrap 1947
Bazeley	BDE2 / K311	27-6-1942	Returned to the US 1945, sold for scrap 1946
Berry	BDE3 / K312	23-11-1942	Returned to the US 1946, stricken from the list same year, fate unknown
Blackwood	BDE4 / K313	23-11-1942	15-6-1944 sunk by torpedo, 57 killed
Burgess	BDE12 / K347	26-1-1943	Returned to the US 1945, sold for scrapping 1946
Wintle / Capel	DE266 / K470	22-4-1943	26-12-1944 sunk by torpedo, 80 killed
Dempsey / Cooke	DE267 / K471	22-4-1943	Returned to the US 1946, sold for scrap 1947
Duffy / Dacres	DE268 / K472	19-5-1943	Returned to the US 1946, sold for scrap same year
Eisner / Domett	DE269 / K473	19-5-1943	Returned to the US 1946, sold for scrap 1947
Drury	BDE46 / K316	24-7-1942	Returned to the US 1945, sold for scrap 1946
Gillette / Foley	DE270 / K474	19-5-1943	Returned to the US 1945, sold for scrap 1946
O'Tool / Gardiner	DE274 / K478	8-7-1943	Returned to the US 1946, sold for scrap the same year
Fleming / Garlies	DE271 / K475	19-5-1943	Returned to the US 1945, sold for scrap 1947
Reybold / Goodall	DE275 / K479	8-7-1943	29-4-1945 sunk by torpedo, 61 killed, last RN ship sunk in European waters during WWII, scuttled by gunfire from HMS Anguilla
George / Goodson	DE276 / K480	8-7-1943	26-6-1944 torpedoed, damaged beyond repair, scrapped 1947
Herzog / Gore	DE277 / K481	8-7-1943	Returned to the US 1946, sold for scrap same year
Lovering / Gould	DE272 / K476	4-6-1943	1-3-1944 sunk by torpedo, 124 killed
Sanders / Grindall	DE273 / K477	4-6-1943	Returned to the US 1945, sold for scrap 1946
Hoste	DE521 / K566	24-9-1943	Returned to the US 1945, sold as scrap 1946
Inglis	DE525 / K570	2-11-1943	Returned to the US 1946, sold for scrap 1947
Inman	DE526 / K571	2-11-1943	Returned to the US 1946, sold for scrap the same year
Tisdale / Keats	DE278 / K482	17-7-1943	Returned to the US 1946, scrapped the same year
Trumpeter / Kempthorne	DE279 / K483	17-7-1943	1945 returned to the US, scrapped 1946
Kingsmill	DE280 / K484	13-8-1943	Returned to the US 1945, sold for scrap 1947
Lawford	DE516 / K514	13-8-1943	8-6-1944 hit by glider bomb during invasion and sunk, 21 killed,
Lawson	DE518 / K516	13-8-1943	Returned to the US 1946, sold for scrap 1947
Loring	DE520 / K565	30-8-1943	What a fine name for a ship! Returned to the US 1947 and sold for scrap
Louis	DE517 / K515	13-8-1943	Returned to the US 1946, sold for scrap the same year
Manners	DE523 / K568	24-9-1943	26-1-1945 torpedoed, 43 killed, damaged beyond repair, scrapped 1947
Moorsom	DE522 / K567	24-9-1943	Returned to the US 1945, sold as scrap 1946
Mounsey	DE524 / K569	24-9-1943	2-11-1944 torpedoed, 11 killed, rebuilt, returned to the US 1946, scrapped same year
Lindsay / Pasley	DE519 / K564	30-8-1943	Returned to the US 1945, sold for scrap, date unknown
Type 2 (Buckley)
Oswald / Affleck	DE71 / K462	30-6-1943	26-12-1944 torpedoed, damaged beyond repair, 9 killed. Sold to Portugese merchant navy, rebuilt and served as Nostra De La Luz from 1954 to 1970?
Hamon / Aylmer	DE72 / K463	10-7-1943	Adopted by "Boy's Own Paper", 1945 returned to the US, sold for scrap 1947
McAnn / Balfour	DE73 / K464	10-7-1943	Returned to US 1945, sold for scrap 1946
Bull / Bentinct	DE52 / K314	3-2-1943	Returned to the US 1946, sold for scrap same year
Ebert / Bentley	DE74 / K465	17-7-1943	Returned to the US 1945, sold for scrap 1947
Eisele / Bickerton	DE75 / K466	26-7-1943	22-8-1944 torpedoed, 37 killed, scuttled by torpedo from the Vigilant
Liddle / Bligh	DE76 / K467	31-7-1943	Yes, named after the same Captain Bligh of the Bounty! Returned to the US 1945, sold for scrap 1946
Straub / Braithwaite	DE77 / K468	31-7-1943	Returned to the US 1945, scrapped, date unknown
Bullen	DE78 / K469	7-8-1943	6-12-1944 sunk by torpedo, 55 killed
Donaldson / Byard	DE55 / K315	6-3-1943	Returned to the US 1945, sold for scrap 1946
Byron	DE79 / K508	14-8-1943	Returned to the US 1945, sold for scrap 1947
Formoe / Calder	DE58 / K349	27-3-1943	Returned US 1945, sold for scrap 1948
Conn	DE80 / K509	21-8-1943	Returned to the US 1945, sold for scrap 1948
Reeves / Cosby	DE94 / K559	20-10-1943	Returned to the US 1946, sold for scrap same year
Cotton	DE81 / K510	21-8-1943	Returned to the US 1945, sold for scrap, date unknown.
Cranstoun	DE82 / K511	28-8-1943	Returned to the US 1945, sold for scrap 1947
Cubitt	DE83 / K512	11-9-1943	Returned to the US 1946, sold for scrap 1947
Curzon	DE84 / K513	18-9-1943	Returned to the US 1946, sold for scrap 1946
Dakins	DE85 / K550	18-9-1943	25-12-1944 mined, damaged beyond repair, sold for scrap 1947
Deane	DE86 / K551	25-9-1943	Returned to the US 1946, sold for scrap 1946
Lamons / Duff	DE64 / K352	22-5-1943	30-11-1944 mined, 3 killed, damaged beyond repair, scrapped 1947
Thomas J Gary / Duckworth	DE61 / K351	1-5-1943	Returned to the US 1945, sold for scrapping 1946
Ekins	DE87 / K552	2-10-1943	15-4-1945 mined, damaged beyond repair, sold for scrap 1947
Essington	DE67 / K353	19-6-1943	Returned to the US 1945, sold as scrap 1947
Fitzroy	DE88 / K553	1-9-1943	Returned to the US 1946, sold for scrap same year
Reynolds / Halstead	DE91 / K556	14-10-1943	11-6-1944 torpedoed, 21 killed, damaged beyond repair, sold for scrap 1947
Hargood	DE573 / K582	18-dec-1943	Returned to the US 1946, sold for scrap 1947
Holmes	DE574 / K581	18-12-1943	Returned to the US 1945, sold as scrap 1947
Hotham	DE574 / K583	21-12-1943	Used as a power station in Singapore post war, then to Hong Kong as a station ship, returned to the US 1956 and scrapped the same year
Narborough	DE569 / K578	27-11-1943	Returned to US 1946, sold for scrap same year
Redmill	DE89 / K554	2-10-1943	27-4-1945 torpedoed, 24 killed, damaged beyond repair, sold for scrap 1947
Retalick	DE90 / K555	9-10-1943	Returned to the US 1945, sold as scrap 1946
Riou	DE92 / K557	23-10-1943	Returned to the US 1946, sold for scrap 1947
Rowley	DE95 / K560	30-10-1943	Returned to the US 1945, sold for scrap 1946
Rupert	DE96 / K561	31-10-1943	Returned to the US 1946, sold for scrap same year
Rutherford	DE93 / K558	23-10-1943	Returned to the US 1945, sold for scrap 1946
Seymour	DE98 / K563	1-11-1943	Returned to the US 1946, sold for scrap same year
Spragge	DE563 / K572	16-10-1943	Returned to the US 1946, sold for scrap 1947
Stayner	DE564 / K573	6-11-1943	Returned to the US 1945, sold as scrap 1947
Stockham	DE97 / K562	31-10-1943	Returned to the US 1946, sold for scrap 1948
Thornborough	DE565 / K574	13-11-1943	Returned to the US 1947, sold as scrap same year
Torrington	DE568 / K577	27-11-1943	Returned to the US 1946, sold for scrap same year
Trollope	DE566 / K575	20-11-1943	5-7-1944 torpedoed, damaged beyond repair, 65 killed, scrapped 1951
Tyler	DE567 / K576	20-11-1943	Returned to the US 1945, sold for scrap 1946
Whitaker	DE571 / K580	12-12-1943	1-11-1944 torpedoed, 79 crew killed, damaged beyond repair, scrapped 1944
Waldegrave	DE570 / K579	4-12-1943	Returned to the US 1945, sold as scrap 1948

Loch Class Frigate

The Loch Class Frigate arrived late in the war and as such did not have as much impact as it should have done. It was a revolution in Anti Submarine Warfare, designed with bitter years of experience. Rushed into service for the anticipated last battle of the Atlantic it had an immediate impact, one ship, the Natal, detecting and destroying a U-Boat while still on sea trials.

With invasion of Europe now inevitable massive supplies were being shippied across the Atlantic ready for it, allied intelligence were painfully aware that the Germans planned to cut the link with a new breed of U-Boats which would not be vulnerable to air attack while transitting to and from patrol areas. Then too there was the spectre of a massacre off the beaches with U-Boats penetrating the invasion force screens and slaughtering troops before they could disembark their ships.

The design was based on the River still, but with changes to the hull and superstructure to allow it to be pre-fabricated much as the American Evarts Class had shown. Metal work was kept simple to allow factories not even normally associated with ship building to be able to contribute: rail and bridge foundries for instance.

76 were laid down, but many were converted on the slips to an AA version - The Bay Class - as the need shifted from ASW to AA, the rest were cancelled as the war came to an end.

The Loch was built around a new weapon: The Squid mortar, already being fitted to the Castle Class it was proving a fierce weapon in conjunction with the new sonar sets, and new magnetron based radars were coming on line, all this equipment needed space, an odd corner of the charthouse was no longer enough, equipment space had to be built into the ship.

In one major respect were the Loch Class defficient: speed. At 20 knots they were considered fast for an escort vessle, but it was not fast enough for the new submarines being constructed. Two ships: Loch Arkaig and Loch Tralaig were fitted with steam turbines but the remainder remained reciprocating engines.

Displacement: 1,435 BRT
Length: 307 ft 4" overall, Beam: 38.5 ft, Draught: 13 ft 4" full load
Speed: 20 knots, Range: 9,500 miles at 12 knots, 730 tons oil
Complement: 114
Armament: 1 x 4" gun, Quad 2 Pdr Pom-Pom, 2 twin 20mm Oerlikon or 2 single 40mm Bofors, up to 8 single 20mm Oerlikons, 1 depth charge rail, 2 throwers, 2 trible barrelled Squid 12" Mortars.

Radar type 271 or 272 was still fitted to the earlier ships, but 277 was becoming available. Sonar 144 and 147B provided search and targeting for the Mortar, for the first time providing depth information which greatly increased the chances of a kill by setting the mortars or depth charges to the correct depth rather than "best guess."

The Mortars were fixed and fired forward so the ship had to steer to aim, something that the Castle's were proving to have difficulty with, the mortars fired a pattern designed to detonate above and below the submarine and crush it with converging shock waves.

HMS Loch Killin, top of the mast is the early 271/272 radar with the distinctive lantern cupola. The forecastle has been extended further aft before breaking to the stern. The forad gun has now reversed positions with the ASW weapon, the Squids are tucked into the raised forad superstructure now out of way of heavy seas.

Loch Flynn, showing 277 radar, the quad pom-pom on the stern and much upgraded AA systems are as a result of the increasing shift of war to the Barents Sea and the Russian convoys which were subject to near constant air attack.

Loch Killisport post war, The Loch Class were the ultimate submarine hunters of WWII and their design would heavily influence post war development in the Royal Navy. Note that here the depth charges have gone, the Squid is more than enough. The 4" has been upgraded to a twin mount. This shot is a rare one in that the Squids can be seen aft of the turret, usualy they are shrouded in canvas.

Name	New Name(s)	Where Built	Launched	Pennant No.	Post War
HMS Loch Achanalt	HMNZS Pukaki Sep 1948	Henry Robb Ltd. Leith	23-Mar-1944	K424 F424	To Canada 1944 - 1945. To New Zealand 1948. Scrapped in 1966
HMS Loch Achray	HMNZS Kaniere Sep 1948	Smith's Dock Co.Ltd. South Bank-on-Tees	07-Jul-1944	K426 F426	To New Zealand 1948. Scrapped in 1967.
HMS Loch Alvie	None	Barclay Curle & Co. Ltd., Glasgow	14-Apr-1944	K428 F428	To Canada 1944 - 1945. Scrapped in 1965
HMS Loch Ard	HMSAS Transvaal	Harland & Wolff Ltd., Govan, Glasgow	02-Aug-1944	K602	To South Africa, Sunk as an artificial reef in False Bay (1977?)
HMS Loch Arkaig	None	Caledon S.B. & Eng. Co. Ltd., Dundee	07-Jun-1945	K603 F603	Scrapped in 1960
HMS Loch Boisdale	HMSAS Good Hope	Blyth SB & DD Co. Ltd.,	05-Jul-1944	K432	To South Africa, Scrapped 1978
HMS Loch Craggie	None	Harland & Wolff Ltd., Govan, Glasgow	23-May-1944	K609 F609	Scrapped 1963
HMS Loch Cree	HMSAS Natal	Swan Hunter & W. R. Ltd Wallsend	05-Jul-1944	K10	Converted to a Survey Ship for the South African Navy, sunk as a target 1972
HMS Loch Dunvegan	None	Charles Hill & Sons Ltd., Bristol	25-Mar-1944	K425 F425	Scrapped 1960
HMS Loch Eck	HMNZS Hawea Oct 1948	Smith's Dock Co Ltd South Bank on Tees	25-Apr-1944	K422 F422	To New Zealand 1948. Scrapped in 1966
HMS Loch Fada	None	John Brown & Co Ltd Clydebank	14-Dec-1943	K390 F390	Trial ship for Seawolf in 1968-69, scrapped 1970. (First and Last Loch Class Ship)
HMS Loch Fyne	None	Burntisland SB Co.Ltd Fife	24-May-1944	K429 F429	Scrapped 1970
HMS Loch Glendhu	None	Burntisland SB Co.Ltd Fife	18-Oct-1944	K619 F619	Scrapped in 1944
HMS Loch Gorm	None	Harland & Wolff Ltd., Govan	08-Jun-1944	K620 F620	Sold 1961
HMS Loch Insh	Royal Malayan Navy 1964	Henry Robb Ltd. Leith	10-May-1944	K433 F433	Malaysia 1964
HMS Loch Katrine	HMNZS Rotoiti July 1949	Henry Robb Ltd. Leith	21-Aug-1944	K625 F625	Sold to NZ 1949, scrapped 1967
HMS Loch Killin	None	Burntisland SB Co.Ltd Fife	29-Nov-1943	K391 F391	Scrapped 1960
HMS Loch Killisport	None	Harland & Wolff Ltd., Belfast	06-Jul-1944	K628 F628	Scrapped in 1970
HMS Loch Lomond	None	Caledon S.B. & Eng. Co. Ltd., Dundee	19-Jun-1944	K437 F437	Scrapped in 1968
HMS Loch More	None	Caledon S.B. & Eng. Co. Ltd., Dundee	03-Oct-1944	K639 F639	Scrapped in 1963
HMS Loch Morlich	HMNZS Tutira April 1949	Swan Hunter& W. R. Ltd Wallsend	25-Jan-1944	K517 F517	To Canada 1944 - 1945. To New Zealand 1949. Scrapped in 1961
HMS Loch Quoich	None	Blyth SB & DD Co. Ltd.,	02-Sep-1944	K434 F434	Scrapped in 1957
HMS Loch Ruthven	None	Charles Hill & Sons Ltd., Bristol	03-Jun-1944	K645 F645	Scrapped in 1966
HMS Loch Scavaig	None	Charles Hill & Sons Ltd., Bristol	09-Sep-1944	K648 F648	Scrapped in 1963
HMS Loch Shin	HMNZS Taupe Sep 1948	Swan Hunter& W. R. Ltd Wallsend	23-Feb-1944	K421 F421	To New Zealand 1948. Scrapped in 1961
HMS Loch Tarbert	None	Ailsa SB Co. Ltd., Troon	19-Oct-1944	K431 F431	Scrapped in 1959
HMS Loch Tralaig	None	Caledon S.B. & Eng. Co. Ltd., Dundee	12-Feb-1945	K655 F655	Scrapped in 1963
HMS Loch Veyatie	None	Ailsa SB Co. Ltd., Troon	08-Oct-1945	K658 F658	Scrapped in 1965
HMS Loch Achilty	HMS St. Bride's Bay	Harland & Wolff Ltd., Belfast	16-Jan-45	K600 F600	Bay Conversion, scrapped 1962
HMS Loch Arklet	HMS Start Bay	Harland & Wolff Ltd., Belfast	15-Feb-45	K604 F604	Bay Conversion, scrapped 1958
HMS Loch Arnish	HMS Tremadoc Bay	Harland & Wolff Ltd., Belfast	29-Mar-45	K605 F605	Bay Conversion, scrapped 1959
HMS Loch Assynt	HMS Derby Haven	Swan Hunter& W. R. Ltd Wallsend	14-Dec-44	K438	Completed as a Depot Ship Derby Haven, sold to Iram 1949
HMS Loch Bracadale	HMS Enard Bay	Smith's Dock Co. Ltd., South Bank-on-Tees	31-Oct-44	K435 F435	Bay Conversion, scrapped 1957
HMS Loch Carloway	HMS Bigbury Bay	Hall, Russell & Co Ltd., Aberdeen	16-Nov-44	K606 F606	Bay Conversion, sold to Portugal 1959
HMS Loch Carron	HMS Gerrans Bay HMS Surprise	Smith's Dock Co. Ltd., South Bank-on-Tees	14-Mar-45	K436 F436	Bay Conversion but completed as Despatch vessel HMS Surprise instead, scrapped 1965
HMS Loch Coulside	HMS Padstow Bay	Henry Robb Ltd. Leith	24-Aug-45	K608 F608	Bay Conversion, scrapped 1959
HMS Loch Eil	HMS Herne Bay HMS Dampier	Smith's Dock Co. Ltd., South Bank-on-Tees	15-May-45	K611 A303	Bay Conversion completed as Survey vessel HMS Dampier, sold to Portugal 1966
HMS Loch Fionn	HMS Largo Bay	William Pickersgill & Sons Ltd., Sunderland	03-Oct-44	K423 F423	Bay Conversion, scrapped 1958
HMS Loch Frisa	HMS Widemouth Bay	Harland & Wolff Ltd., Belfast	19-Oct-44	K615 F615	Bay Conversion, scrapped 1957
HMS Loch Garasdale	HMS Wigtown Bay	Harland & Wolff Ltd., Belfast	26-Apr-45	K616 F616	Bay Conversion, scrapped 1959
HMS Loch Glass	HMS Luce Bay HMS Dalrymple	William Pickersgill & Sons Ltd., Sunderland	12-Apr-45	K427 A302	Bay Conversion completed as Survey vessel HMS Dalrymple, sold to Portugal 1966
HMS Loch Harport	HMS Burghead Bay	Charles Hill & Sons Ltd., Bristol	03-Mar-45	K622 F622	Bay Conversion, sold to Portugal 1959
HMS Loch Heilen	HMS Morecambe Bay	William Pickersgill & Sons Ltd., Sunderland	01-Nov-44	K624 F624	Bay Conversion, sold to Portugal 1961
HMS Loch Kilbernie	HMS Mounts Bay	William Pickersgill & Sons Ltd., Sunderland	08-Jun-45	K627 F627	Bay Conversion, sold to Portugal 1961
HMS Loch Laxford	HMS Cardigan Bay	Henry Robb Ltd. Leith