HMSAS Natal
Natal fitting out, 5 March 1945
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| History | |
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 United Kingdom
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| Name: | Loch Cree |
| Ordered: | 13 February 1943 |
| Builder: | Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson, Wallsend |
| Laid down: | 18 October 1943 |
| Launched: | 19 June 1944 |
| Fate: | Transferred to the South African Navy, 1944 |
 South Africa
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| Name: | Natal |
| Namesake: | Natal Province |
| Completed: | 8 March 1945 |
| Acquired: | 1944 |
| Commissioned: | 1 March 1945 |
| Decommissioned: | 1972 |
| Out of service: | 15 March 1972 |
| Fate: | Sunk as a target, September 1972 |
| General characteristics (as built) | |
| Class and type: | Loch-class frigate |
| Displacement: |
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| Length: | 307 ft (93.6 m) |
| Beam: | 38 ft 7 in (11.8 m) |
| Draught: | 12 ft 4 in (3.8 m) |
| Installed power: |
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| Propulsion: |
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| Speed: | 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) |
| Range: | 9,500 nmi (17,600 km; 10,900 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) |
| Complement: | 114 |
| Sensors and processing systems: |
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| Armament: |
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HMSAS Natal (pennant number: K10) was one of three Loch-class frigates in the South African Navy (SAN). It was built as HMS Loch Cree (K430) for the Royal Navy during World War II, but was transferred to the SAN before completion in 1945 and renamed as HMSAS Natal. Just hours after finishing fitting out, the ship sank a German submarine off the coast of Scotland in early 1945. It was assigned convoy escort duties for the remaining few months of the war in Europe. Natal had her anti-aircraft armament reinforced for service in the Far East after arriving in South Africa in June. In September–October, the ship participated in the reoccupation of British Malaya before returning home the following month.
It was assigned to ferry troops home from Egypt afterwards and participated in the annexation of the Prince Edward Islands in late 1947. Together with her sister ships, Natal made port visits in Middle Africa in 1948. It was placed in reserve in 1953 and was converted into a survey ship during the mid-1950s. The ship participated in the 1957–58 International Geophysical Year and the 1962–63 International Indian Ocean Expedition. Natal was obsolete by 1972 and was sunk as a target that year.
Natal displaced 1,435 long tons (1,458 t) at standard load and 2,260 long tons (2,300 t) at deep load. The ship had an overall length of 307 feet (93.6 m), a beam of 38 feet 7 inches (11.8 m) and a mean deep draught of 12 feet 4 inches (3.8 m). It was powered by a pair of vertical triple-expansion steam engines, each driving one propeller shaft, using steam provided by two Admiralty three-drum boilers. The engines developed a total of 5,500 indicated horsepower (4,100 kW) which gave a maximum speed of 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph). The ship carried 730 long tons (740 t) of fuel oil that gave it a range of 9,500 nautical miles (17,600 km; 10,900 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph). Its main armament was a single 4-inch (102 mm) Mk V dual-purpose gun. Its anti-aircraft armament consisted of four 2-pounder (40 mm) Mk VIII "pom-pom" in a quadruple mount and six 20 mm (0.8 in) Oerlikon guns in two twin powered mounts and two single hand-operated mounts. For anti-submarine work, Natal was fitted with a pair of triple-barrelled Squid anti-submarine mortars and 15 depth charges delivered by one rail and two throwers. The ship was equipped with Type 144 and 147B ASDIC and a Type 277 surface-search radar. Its crew numbered 114 officers and ratings.
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