BIGBURY BAY
Shipbuildervessel built by
Hall, Russell & Company, Limited
(Aberdeen, Scotland, 1864 - 1992)
Shipownervessel built for
Admiralty
Date16 November 1944
Object NameFRIGATE
ClassificationsShip
Dimensionslength 286' x breadth 38' 6" x depth 17' 9"
Object numberABDSHIP002476
Keywords
Yard Number: 775
Subsequent Names: PACHEO PERIERA (1959)
Fate: Sold for breaking up 6 July 1970.
Propulsion: Steam
Description: Bay Class Frigate of prefabricated construction. Armament 2 x twin 4-inch, 2 x twin 40 mm Bofors AA , 2 x twin 20 mm Oerlikon AA , 1 x Hedgehog 24 barrel anti-submarine, 2 rails and 4 throwers for 50 depth charges
Owners:
1945: Royal Navy, pennant no. K606.
11/05/1959: sold to Portuguese Navy.
Commanding Officer:
04/1945: Acting Lt.Cdr. Geoffrey Penrose Dickinson Hall, DSC, RN
(still in command in October 1945 according to the Navy List.)
General History:
30/05/1944: Laid Down, as LOCH CARLOWAY (J. J. Colledge and Ben Wardlow (2006), 'Ships of the Royal Navy' (Chatham Publishing, London), p. 39)
16/11/1944: Launched
10/07/1945: Commissioned
Extracted from assorted local papers, British Newspaper Archive (dates given are of newspaper report):
23/04/1948: court martial of 3 ratings for deserting BIGBURY BAY at Beirut to join Arab Forces in Palestine.
07/07/1948: Arrived Istanbul on 4 days goodwill visit.
04/01/1949: To accompany cruiser GLASGOW on cruise (intended 3 months) which will include Falkland Islands, claimed by Argentina.
23/02/1950: 7 British scientists stranded for more than 2 years in Antarctica + rescued by SS JOHN BRISCOE were brought to Port Stanley, Falklands, by BIGBURY BAY
25/04/1950: On way home rescued 12 men from 35 ft. boat 63 miles from Bermuda (9 American Marines).
12/05/1950: Arrived Portsmouth yesterday from W. Indies after the longest post WWII service cruise of any warship to return to Portsmouth. She joined the Far Eastern fleet in February 1947 and took 13 Japanese war criminals from Kure to Hong Kong for trial. She was then transferred to Mediterranean fleet and in July 1948 joined America and W. Indies squadron. Her C.O., Lt. Commander G. R. P. Gooden has calculated that she has steamed 47,939 miles, visited 20 countries and 54 ports. She is to be refitted in Portsmouth dockyard.
03/10/1950: Sailed for W. Indies after recommissioning with new ship's company.
29/10/1951: Due Portsmouth tomorrow after year's service in W. Indies.
26/06/1952: Will drop anchor off Brighton tomorrow (Friday), remain till next Wednesday and be open to public. She has spent 3 years with America and W. Indies squadron, during which she has visited Canada, USA, Mexico, Venezuela, Brazil, Uruguay, Angentine, Falkland Islands, Antarctica and practically all W. Indian islands. Early summer 1951 travelled nearly 1000 miles up river Amazon to Manaos. Provided relief to Jamaica after devastating hurricane August 1951. Compliment of 180 under command of Commander A. W. F. Sutton.
21/02/1953: Arrived unexpectedly last night at Port of Spain, Trinidad and sailed again for Recife, Brazil, for orders. Commander could not answer whether it was anything to do with tension with Argentina over Deception Island in Artarctica.
03/10/1953: Left Bermuda unexpectedly believed bound for British Guiana. Was due to return to Britain after long tour of duty in Falkland Islands.
06/10/1953: Short stop Kingston, Jamaica, for refuelling and to take troops aboard.
07/10/1953: Arrived Georgetown, British Guaiana, ferried troops ashore from cruiser Superb.
19/10/1953: Loaded 2 companies of Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders from aircraft carrier IMPLACABLE, 1 company to Georgetown, other New Amsterdam.
09/11/1953: Arrived Portsmouth. While in British Guiana officers and petty officers went into jungle in search of big game, came back with live tortoise, named Horace.
02/08/1954: Tugs pulled her off sandbar near Rio de Janeiro.
04/02/1955: Officers and men cheered as they stood firm in downpour in Port of Spain, Trinidad, as Princess Margaret drove in state through capital. BIGBURY BAY to escort Royal Yacht Britannia as she takes the Princess on W. Indies tour.
05/03/1955: Princess Margaret a paid visit to BIGBURY BAY, anchored in Prince Rupert Bay, Dominica.
25/04/1955: Dropped anchor Spithead more than 24hrs ahead of schedule [to avoid effects of railway strike]. She is home from America and W. Indies station and has been commanded by Capt. H. C. Martell since 1954.
30/12/1957: Steaming from Persian Gulf to Colombo to assist rescue efforts in Ceylon floods.
19/01/1958: About to return to home port, Devenport, after 1 year absence.
22/04/1958: Has cancelled goodwill cruise of West Coast South African ports and will join the Indian Ocean command due to "changed orders".
