Dates: 1944 - 1963

LOCH Class Anti-submarine Frigate ordered from Smiths Dock. Middesbrough on 23rd January 1943 and laid down on 7th August 1944 as Job No 4790 to be named HMS LOCH EIL.In 1944 the order was changed for build as an Anti-aircraft Frigate. The ship was launched on 15th May 1944 as HMS HERNE BAY but work was suspended on 26th September 1945. It was intended that the ship be completed by J.S. White at Cowes to satisfy a Sale to Belgium but this proposal was abandoned early in 1946 and the ship was towd to Chatham. Approval for her conversion for use as a Survey Ship was given in July 1946 and this work was taken in hand by HM Dockyard Chatham in July 1946. In common with the other three Ex LOCH Class frigate hulls also to be converted the name chosen was that of a notable British hydrographer William Dampier (1652 – 1715. He was renowned as a pirate, buccaneer, privateer. and navigator. This ship spent the whole of her service based at Singapore until transferred to Reserve in 1968.

Memories of HMS Dampier

HMS Dampier, in 1959
Written by Alan Worth
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"I have good memories of the Dampier it was a good ship the Skipper was fair and we had a good bunch of lads. I remember the butcher Henry Melton who used to come into the galley, and my mate who was an AB Peter Burrows, I still have the Ships Magazine called End Of Line, end of Commission 1958/60. I can still remember some of the runs ashore even after 50 years. I remember crossing the line on the 22nd of October 1959, I was one of the three mermaids I am not sure who the other two were."

Forces Reunited Forum Posts involving HMS Dampier

"HMS Dampier 1965-1966"

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"hms finisterre hms dampier anyone remember me "

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