Lewin of Greenwich Naval History & Forum

Rotoiti on sea trials prior to handing over to RNZN the following day.

Jim

Well I'm sure they will gain the best out of her , and achieve what they wanted .....

Loch Class Frigate HMNZS Rotoiti (Ex HMS Loch Katrine) pictured c1957.

Loch Class Frigates, HMNZS Hawea F422 (Ex HMS Loch Eck) pictured with sister HMNZS Rotoiti (Ex HMS Loch Katrine) at Yokohama on May 11th 1951.

Jackstay Transfer from Loch Class Frigate HMNZS Rotoiti to Carrier HMS Warrior during Operation Grapple in 1957...the woefully inadequate protection, in the form of white cotton "anti-flash" clothes and dark goggles, afforded to the crew members are telling...More than 50% of those present were to die from radiation-related cancers before reaching their 60th birthday. Many were present for the entire series of tests, culminating in the Grapple X explosion with a 1.2 megaton yield and never-before seen levels of harmful gamma radiation, which caused untold damage to the men present; and later to their children,a fact only admitted by the British Government in this century - after most of those affected had already died.

Loch Class Frigate HMNZS Hawea (Ex HMS Loch Eck) pictured in 1955.

Loch Class Frigate HMNZS Rotoiti (Ex HMS Loch Katrine) pictured at HMNB Devonport in 1949.