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Loch-class frigate

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General characteristics Royal Navy Ensign
Displacement: 1,435 tons
Length: 286 ft p/p,
307 ft 9 in o/a
Beam: 38 ft 6 in
Draught: 8 ft 9 in standard,
13 ft 3in full
Propulsion:

2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts

Speed: 20 kt (Alert and Surprise; 20.5 kt)
Range: 730 tons oil fuel, 9,500 nm at 12 kt
Complement: 114 (Depot ships; 120)
Armament:
  • 1 x QF 4 inch Mark V on 1 single mounting HA Mk.III**
  • 4 x QF 2 pounder Mk.VII on 1 quad mount Mk.VII
  • 4 x 20 mm Oerlikon A/A on 2 twin mounts Mk.V (or 2 x 40 mm Bofors A/A on 2 single mounts Mk.III)
  • up to 8 × 20 mm Oerlikon A/A on single mounts Mk.III
  • 2 x Squid triple barreled A/S mortars
  • 1 rail and 2 throwers for depth charges

The Loch class was a class of anti-submarine (A/S) frigate built for the Royal Navy and her allies during World War II. They were an innovative design based on the experience of 3 years of fighting in the Battle of the Atlantic and attendant technological advances.

Design

The Lochs were based upon the hull of the preceding River class with increased sheer and flare to improve seakeeping and modified to suit it to mass pre-fabrication, with sections riveted or welded together at the shipyard. Accordingly, as many curves as possible were eliminated, producing a noticeable kink in the main deck where the increased sheer forwards met the level abreast the bridge.

The fighting capability of the Loch class was a great jump forward, being based around the new Squid ahead-throwing A/S mortar. Previously, escorts had attacked with depth charges, requiring the attacking vessel to pass over the submerged submarine and drop warheads over the stern. Consequently, the ahead-looking ASDIC (sonar) set lost contact at the vital moment before the weapons were launched, allowing a skilled submarine commander to take successful evasive action. Squid, however, lobbed three 12 inch, 390 pound warheads up to 600 yards ahead of the launching vessel falling in a triangular pattern with sides of 40 yards. As the clockwork fuses detonated the warheads at a depth determined by the ships' ASDIC set, the Squid therefore attacked in full ASDIC contact for greater accuracy and lethality. Two mortars were carried, with the bombs set to explode at different depths in order to create a convergent pressure wave to crush the hull of a submarine. The first successful "kill" was by Loch Killin on July 31 1944, sinking U-333. Such was the utility of Squid that depth charge carriage was reduced to only 15, with a single rack and a pair of throwers being carried at the stern, resulting in a clear quarterdeck compared to the eight throwers, two racks and stowage for 100 plus charges in the Rivers.

The weapons outfit was completed with a single QF 4 inch Mark V gun forwards. An oversight in the River design had been to place the gun in the favourable position forward on the shelter deck, with the ahead throwing Hedgehog on the main deck, exposed to the worst of the seas breaking over the fo'c'sle, consequently this was reversed in the Lochs; the Squids being on the shelter deck behind protective bulwarks. For anti aircraft (A/A) defence, a quadruple mounting Mark VII QF 2 pounder was shipped aft along with up to 12 20 mm Oerlikon guns in 2 twin powered mounts Mark V in the bridge wings and 8 single pedestal mounts Mark III. Loch Arkaig, Loch Craggie, Loch Eck, Loch Glendhu, Loch Tralaig and the South African ships Good Hope, Natal and Transvaal carried single 40 mmm Bofors mounts in lieu of the twin Oerlikons.

In addition to the new weaponry, the Lochs also carried new sensors, in the form of Radar Type 277. This set utilised the cavity magnetron to transmit on centimetric wavelengths for target indication purposes, excelling at picking out small targets such as a submarine periscope or schnorkel from the surface clutter. The increased weight of the stabilised antenna array and the carriage of HF/DF at the masthead meant that a lattice mast was stepped in lieu of the traditional tripod or pole. Some vessels completed with Radar Type 271 or 272 and the associated "lantern" radome until Type 277 became available. ASDIC Type 144 was carried for search and attack functions with Type 147B used for depth finding.

As with the previous wartime escort designs, mercantile machinery was adopted to speed construction, with a pair of 4 cylinder vertical triple expansion reciprocating engines. Loch Arkaig and Loch Tralaig were fitted with Parsons single reduction steam turbines to establish the feasibility of such an installation, but it was not possible to provide enough sets of turbines for all vessels. One advantage of the use of mercantile machinery was that it was instantly familiar to the mainly reservist and volunteer (RNR and RNVR) crews who manned these ships.

Service

Of the one hundred and ten vessels ordered, twenty-eight were completed in the frigate role, progressively entering service from 1944. Another two - Loch Assynt and Loch Torridon - were converted while building and completed as Coastal Forces Depot Ships, being renamed Derby Haven and Woodbridge Haven. Due to a growing need in 1944 for a version more specifically fitted for an anti-aircraft role with the British Pacific Fleet, twenty-six units were authorised for completion to a modified design labelled the Bay class frigate, and were renamed appropriately. A further fifty-four Loch class vessels were cancelled in 1945.

Of the twenty-eight Loch class frigates completed as such, Loch Achanalt, Loch Alvie and Loch Morlich were transferred to Canada in 1943, but retained their Royal Navy names and were returned after the end of the war; a fourth ship - Loch Fionn - was also earmarked for transfer but was retained by the Royal Navy as a Bay class frigate. Loch Ard, Loch Boisdale and Loch Cree were transferred to South Africa as Transvaal, Good Hope and Natal respectively on completion. In 1948, six vessels, including two of the ex-Royal Canadian Navy trio, were refitted from reserve and transferred to New Zealand. During the Korean War, the Royal Navy reactivated several vessels and transferred them to the Mediterranean where they released Ch class destroyers for war duties. In 1964 the Loch Insh was transferred to Malaysia.

Modifications

Loch Assynt and Loch Torridon were modified whilst under construction to depot ships for coastal forces, armed with a twin QF 4 inch Mark XVI on a single mounting Mark XIX forward and six single 20 mm Oerlikons. With the war in the Atlantic won by 1944, and a need forecast for additional fleet A/A escorts for the Royal Navy's increased Far Eastern commitments, twenty-six Loch class were redesigned and renamed (of which nineteen were completed) as Bay class anti-aircraft frigates.

In 1953, seven vessels were modernised; Loch Alvie, Loch Fada, Loch Fyne, Loch Insh, Loch Killisport, Loch Lomond and Loch Ruthven. The single 4 inch gun was replaced by the ubiquitous twin 4 inch mounting HA/LA Mark XIX and the A/A weaponry was standardised a single twin mounting Mark V and four single mounting Mark VII for the 40 mm Bofors gun, with a Simple Tachymetric Director shipped for the Mark V. Radar Type 277 was fitted with the new ANU antenna array. Loch Killisport sported a gunshield manufactured from GRP to test this material for suitability of constructing the housing of the new 4.5 inch gun Mark 8. Loch Fada paid off in 1967 and was used to test an early vertical launch variant of the new Sea Wolf missile.

Completed Ships

Royal Navy

1942 War Programme (4 ships):

1943 War Programme (26 completed including 2 modified as Coastal Forces Depot Ships):

Transferred Ships

Royal Canadian Navy

  • HMCS Loch Achanalt (K 424)
  • HMCS Loch Alvie (K 428)
  • HMCS Loch Morlich (K 517)

All three were returned to the Royal Navy in 1945.

South African Navy

  • HMSAS Good Hope (K 432) (ex- HMS Loch Boisdale). Expended as a breakwater in False Bay 12 December 1978.
  • HMSAS Natal (K 10) (ex- HMS Loch Cree). Survey ship 1957. Sunk as a target off the Cape 19 September 1972.
  • HMSAS Transvaal (K 602) (ex- HMS Loch Ard). Expended as a breakwater in False Bay 3 August 1978.

Royal New Zealand Navy

  • HMNZS Pukaki (ex- HMS Loch Achanalt). Broken up in January 1966 at Hong Kong.
  • HMNZS Kaniere (ex- HMS Loch Achray). Sold in 1966 for breaking up at Hong Kong.
  • HMNZS Rotoiti (ex- HMS Loch Katrine). Sold in November 1966 for breaking up at Hong Kong.
  • HMNZS Hawea (ex- HMS Loch Eck). Sold in September 1965 for breaking up in Hong Kong.
  • HMNZS Taupo (ex- HMS Loch Shin). Sold 15 December 1961 for breaking up.
  • HMNZS Kaniere (ex- HMS Loch Morlich). Sold 15 December 1961 for breaking up.

Ex-Royal Navy vessels, transferred from 1948.

Royal Malaysian Navy

  • Hang Tuah (ex- HMS Loch Insh). Sold to break up in 1977.

Cancelled 54 ships (Royal Navy)

  • HMS Loch Affric (K 601) from Ailsa Shipbuilding, Troon.
  • HMS Loch Clunie (K 607) from Ailsa Shipbuilding, Troon.
  • HMS Loch Ericht (K 612) from Ailsa Shipbuilding, Troon.
  • HMS Loch Erisort (K 613) from Barclay Curle, Glasgow.
  • HMS Loch Garve (K 617) from Hall Russell.
  • HMS Loch Griam (K 621) from Swan Hunter.
  • HMS Loch Harray (K 623) from Smith's Dock.
  • HMS Loch Ken (K 626) from Smith's Dock.
  • HMS Loch Kirbister (K 629) from Swan Hunter.
  • HMS Loch Linfern (K 631) from Smith's Dock.
  • HMS Loch Linnhe (K 632) from William Pickersgill.
  • HMS Loch Lyon (K 635) from Swan Hunter.
  • HMS Loch Minnick (K 637) from Smith's Dock.
  • HMS Loch Nell (K 641) from Henry Robb.
  • HMS Loch Odairn (K 642) from Henry Robb.
  • HMS Loch Ossian (K 643) from Smith's Dock.
  • HMS Loch Ryan (K 646) from William Pickersgill.
  • HMS Loch Scrivain (K 649) from William Pickersgill.
  • HMS Loch Tanna (K 652) from Blyth Dry Dock.
  • HMS Loch Tilt (K 653) from William Pickersgill.
  • HMS Loch Urgill (K 656) from Blyth Dry Dock.
  • HMS Loch Vennacher (K 657) from Blyth Dry Dock.
  • HMS Loch Watten (K 659) from Blyth Dry Dock.
  • HMS Loch Awe from Harland & Wolff.
  • HMS Loch Badcall from William Pickersgill.
  • HMS Loch Caroy from William Pickersgill.
  • HMS Loch Doine from Smith's Dock.
  • HMS Loch Creran from Smith's Dock.
  • HMS Loch Earn from Charles Hill.
  • HMS Loch Enoch from Harland & Wolff.
  • HMS Loch Eye from Harland & Wolff.
  • HMS Loch Eyenort from Harland & Wolff.
  • HMS Loch Glashan from Smith's Dock.
  • HMS Loch Goil from Harland & Wolff.
  • HMS Loch Hourn from Harland & Wolff.
  • HMS Loch Inchard from Harland & Wolff.
  • HMS Loch Kirkaig from Harland & Wolff.
  • HMS Loch Kishorn from Henry Robb.
  • HMS Loch Knochie from William Pickersgill.
  • HMS Loch Laro from Harland & Wolff.
  • HMS Loch Lurgan from Harland & Wolff.
  • HMS Loch Maberry from Hall Russell.
  • HMS Loch Ronald from Harland & Wolff.
  • HMS Loch Sheallah from Harland & Wolff.
  • HMS Loch Shiel from Harland & Wolff.
  • HMS Loch Skaig from Smith's Dock.
  • HMS Loch Skerrow from Charles Hill.
  • HMS Loch Stemster from Harland & Wolff.
  • HMS Loch Stenness from Smith's Dock.
  • HMS Loch Striven from Harland & Wolff.
  • HMS Loch Sunart from Harland & Wolff.
  • HMS Loch Swin from Harland & Wolff.
  • HMS Loch Tummell from Harland & Wolff.
  • HMS Loch Vanavie from Harland & Wolff.

See also

Bibliography

  • British and Empire Warships of the Second World War, H T Lenton, Greenhill Books, ISBN 1-85367-277-7
  • Royal Navy Frigates 1945-1983, Leo Marriot, Ian Allan, 1983, ISBN 0-7110-1322-5
  • Uboat.net article on Loch class frigates
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