Bay-class frigate

Class overview
NameBay class
Builders
Operators
Preceded byLoch class
In commission1945–1971
Completed26
General characteristics
TypeFrigate
Displacement
  • 1,600 long tons (1,626 t) standard
  • 2,530 long tons (2,571 t) full
Length
  • 286 ft (87 m) p/p
  • 307 ft 3 in (93.65 m) o/a
Beam38 ft 6 in (11.73 m)
Draught12 ft 9 in (3.89 m)
Propulsion2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, 2 shafts, 4-cylinder vertical triple expansion reciprocating engines, 5,500 ihp (4,100 kW)
Speed19.5 knots (36.1 km/h; 22.4 mph)
Range724 tons oil fuel, 9,500 nmi (17,600 km; 10,900 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Complement
  • Frigates: 157
  • Despatch vessels: 160
  • Survey ships: 133
Sensors and
processing systems
Armament

The Bay class was a class of 26 anti-aircraft (A/A) frigates built for the Royal Navy under the 1943 War Emergency Programme during World War II (one of which was cancelled and six completed as despatch vessels or survey ships). They were based on the hulls of incomplete Loch class anti-submarine (A/S) frigates.

In 1959 and 1961, four frigates of the class (Bigbury Bay, Burghead Bay, Morecambe Bay and Mounts Bay) were transferred to the Portuguese Navy. Between 1966 and 1968, based in Mozambique, these ships were part of the Portuguese naval deterrent force against the Royal Navy Beira Patrol which was trying to enforce sanctions against Rhodesia. In 1966 the Portuguese Navy also bought the survey vessel Dalrymple which served until 1983.