HMS Loch Achray (K426)

HMS Loch Achray was a Loch-class frigate of the Royal Navy. She was built by Smith's Dock Co. Ltd. in South Bank-on-Tees and launched on 7 July 1944. After service in World War II, she was sold to the Royal New Zealand Navy and renamed HMNZS Kaniere (F426) in September 1948. After service in the Korean War, she was used as a training ship from 1957. She was sold in 1966 for breaking up in Hong Kong.

HMS Loch Achray
History
United Kingdom
Name: HMS Loch Achray
Namesake: Loch Achray
Ordered: 25 January 1943
Builder: Smiths Dock Co., Ltd.
Yard number: 1130
Laid down: 13 December 1943
Launched: 7 July 1944
Commissioned: 1 February 1945
Decommissioned: July 1946
Identification: pennant number K426
Honours and
awards:		 Atlantic, 1945
Fate: Sold to Royal New Zealand Navy, 7 September 1948
New Zealand
Name: HMNZS Kaniere
Namesake: Lake Kaniere
Acquired: 7 September 1948
Commissioned: 27 September 1948
Decommissioned: 1961
Reclassified: Training ship, 1957
Homeport: Auckland
Identification: pennant number F426
Motto:
  • Kia Maia
  • ("Be firm")
Honours and
awards:		 Korea, 1953
Fate: Sold for scrapping, September 1966
General characteristics
Class and type: Loch-class frigate
Displacement: 1,435 tons
Length:
  • 286 ft (87 m) p/p
  • 307 ft 3 in (93.65 m) o/a
Beam: 38 ft 6 in (11.73 m)
Draught:
  • 8 ft 9 in (2.67 m) standard
  • 13 ft 3 in (4.04 m) full
Propulsion:
  • 2 × Admiralty 3-drum boilers
  • 2 shafts
  • 4-cylinder vertical triple expansion reciprocating engines, 5,500 hp (4,100 kW)
Speed: 20 knots (37 km/h)
Range: 9,500 nautical miles (17,590 km) at 12 kt, 730 tons oil fuel
Complement: 114
Armament:
  • 1 × QF 4 inch Mark V on 1 single mounting HA Mk.III**
  • 4 × QF 2-pounder Mk.VII on 1 quad mount Mk.VII
  • 4 × 20 mm Oerlikon A/A on 2 twin mounts Mk.V
  • 8 × 20 mm Oerlikon A/A on single mounts Mk.III
  • 2 × Squid triple barrelled A/S mortars
  • One rail and two throwers for depth charges

HMS Loch Achray

After sea trials Loch Achray joined the 8th Escort Group in March 1945 for service in the Western Approaches. On 12 April, in the Irish Sea, the Group forced the German submarine U-1024 to the surface and engaged her with gunfire. The crew abandoned ship and the U-boat was taken in tow after being boarded, but sank the next day.[1]

After the German surrender in May 1945 Loch Achray took part in "Operation Deadlight", escorting surrendered German U-boats from Scapa Flow to Loch Ryan.[1]

In September 1945 Loch Achray joined the East Indies Escort Force in the Indian Ocean in supporting military operations and assisting with returning liberated prisoners of the Japanese to Singapore. The ship returned to Portsmouth in July 1946, and was placed in reserve.[1] In 1948, she was part of a lot of six Loch-class frigates refitted and sold at a combined cost of £232,750 to New Zealand.

HMNZS Kaniere

Kaniere was commissioned in Portsmouth, England on 27 September 1948, and arrived in Auckland, New Zealand in January 1949, joining the 11th Frigate Flotilla. Patrols and exercises occupied her until November 1951 when she was put in reserve.[1]

Recommissioned in November 1952, she joined the United Nations Naval Task Group based at Sasebo, carrying out her first patrol along the west coast of Korea in April 1953. She remained there after the declaration of the cease-fire in August, finally returning to Auckland in April 1954. In September the warship joined the 3rd Frigate Squadron, Far East Fleet, based at Singapore, as part of the Commonwealth Strategic Reserve. She was detached to UN support duties off Korea, based at Sasebo, from October 1954 until May 1955, and returned to Auckland in July. After a refit she rejoined the 3rd Frigate Squadron in March 1956, once again being engaged in UN support duties from June to July.[1]

From October 1956 until April 1957 Kaniere helped address the Malayan Emergency off Borneo, returning to Auckland in June to refit. Kaniere was then assigned as a training ship, taking part in exercises, training cruises and port visits.[1]

On 17 November 1958, Kaniere towed the coaster Port Waikato, which had engine failure near the Chatham Islands, to Port Lyttelton.

On 3 August 1959 Kaniere collided with the ferry Makora in dense fog off Devonport.

The ship was decommissioned in 1961, and served as a harbour training ship until 1965. Kaniere was sold for scrapping in 1966.[1]

Decommissioning and fate

On 18 January 1967 Kaniere was paired with her sister ship Rotoiti and towed by the tug Daisy to Hong Kong for breaking up.

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References
Notes
  1. Mason, Geoffrey B. (1999). Smith, Gordon (ed.). "HMS Loch Achray, frigate". naval-history.net. Retrieved 10 March 2010.
Bibliography


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