HMS Morecambe Bay was a anti-aircraft frigate of the British Royal Navy, named after Morecambe Bay on the north western coast of England. In commission from 1949 until 1956, she saw active service in the Korean War, and was sold to Portugal in 1961 to serve as NRP Dom Francisco de Almeida until 1970.
Construction
The ship was originally ordered from William Pickersgill & Sons Ltd. of Southwick, Sunderland, on 19 January 1943 as the Loch Heilen. However, the contract was then changed, and the ship was laid down on 30 April 1944 to a revised design as a Bay class. Admiralty Job No. J4802 (Yard No. 266) was launched as Morecambe Bay on 1 November 1944. Work on the ship was suspended in August 1945 after the cessation of hostilities, and she ship was laid up at the builder's yard. Finally, in 1948, the ship was towed to the shipyard of J. Samuel White at Cowes, where she was completed.
Service history
Malaya
Morecambe Bay was commissioned on 22 February 1949 under the command of Lieutenant-Commander K.R.S Leadley. However, post-war demobilisation meant that there was a shortage of personnel, and it was not until July that she had her full complement. In August she was detailed to serve with the Far East Fleet under the command of Commander C.C.B. Mackenzie, and sailed for Malta in September. She exercised with Mediterranean Fleet ships in October, before sailing to Singapore, arriving on 21 November to join the 4th Frigate Flotilla (later the 4th Frigate Squadron) in patrols and anti-insurgent operations on the coast of Malaya during the Malayan Emergency. She served until scrapped in September 1970.