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HMS Lowestoft
1961 – 1985
HMS Lowestoft, the last of the Rothesay class of anti submarine
frigates to be built, was commissioned at the Glasgow shipyard of
Alexander Stephen and Sons, on the 18th September 1961.
HMS Lowestoft was the seventh naval ship to bear the name of
the town.
Lord Nelson served as Lieutenant in the fourth Lowestoffe for
two years on first obtaining his commission.
The last named HMS Lowestoft had a displacement of 2,600 tons
a length of 370 feet and a breadth of 41 feet. Two shafts with a
total of 30,000-horse power gave her a speed in excess of 30
knots.
She had a complement of 15 officers and 220 men.
She combined excellent sea keeping qualities, modern gunnery
and anti-submarine weapons.
She served for 25 years and was a regular visitor to the port of
Lowestoft.
The Navy decided to use her to test a new class of torpedo – the
Tigerfish fired from the submarine HMS Conqueror, the torpedo
struck amidships and she subsequently came apart and sunk.
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