| Navy | The Royal Navy |
| Type | Frigate |
| Class | Colony |
| Pennant | K 588 |
| Built by | Walsch-Kaiser Co., Inc. (Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.A.) |
| Ordered | 10 Jun 1943 |
| Laid down | 7 Sep 1943 |
| Launched | 10 Oct 1943 |
| Commissioned | 25 Jul 1944 |
| End service | |
| History | Returned to the USN on 13 May 1946. HMS Papua is not listed as active unit in the October 1945 Navy List |
| Former name | USS Howett PF-84 |
Commands listed for HMS Papua (K 588)
Please note that we're still working on this section
and that we only list Commanding Officers for the duration of the Second World War.
| Commander | From | To | |
| 1 | Lt.Cdr. Eric Hope Lynes, RD, RNR | Apr 1944 | 26 Jan 1945 |
| 2 | A/Lt.Cdr. Charles William Leadbetter, RNR | 26 Jan 1945 | 27 May 1945 |
| 3 | A/Lt.Cdr. Geoffrey William McGuiness, RNR | 27 May 1945 | mid 1945 |
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Notable events involving Papua include:
27 Sep 1944
HMS Upright (Lt. J.A.L. Wilkinson, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Bermuda with HMS Papua (Lt.Cdr. E.H. Lynes, RD, RNR) and HMS Perim (T/A/Lt.Cdr. N.J.T. Mosarrat, RNVR). (1)
12 Dec 1944
HMS Upshot (Lt. A.J. Boyall, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS Pheasant and HMS Papua (Lt.Cdr. E.H. Lynes, RD, RNR). (2)
4 Feb 1945
German U-boat U-1014 was sunk in the North Channel east of Malin Head, in position 55°17'N, 06°44'W, by depth charges from the British frigates HMS Loch Scavaig (Lt.Cdr. C.W. Hancock, RNR), HMS Nyasaland (T/A/Lt.Cdr. J. Scott, DSC, RNVR), HMS Papua (A/Lt.Cdr. C.W. Leadbetter, RNR) and HMS Loch Shin (Cdr. J.P. de W. Kitcat, RN).
20 Apr 1945
At Loch Alsh, HMS Trespasser (Lt. L.E. Herrick, DSC, RN) and HMS Tactician (Lt.Cdr. L.N.A. Jewell, DSC, MBE, RN) conducted A/S exercises with HMS Philante (Cdr. M.J. Evans, OBE, RN) and ships from Escort Group 23 which were most likely the following; HMS Loch Gorm (Lt.Cdr. R. Johnston, RNR), HMS Loch Scavaig (T/A/Lt.Cdr. C.W. Hancock, RNR), HMS Montserrat (A/Lt.Cdr. F.A.J. Downer, DSC, RNR), HMS Nyasaland (T/A/Lt.Cdr. J. Scott, DSC, RNVR) and HMS Papua (A/Lt.Cdr. C.W. Leadbetter, RNR). (3)
17 May 1953
HMS Papua, as the Egyptian ship Misr was sunk in a collision. (4)
Sources
- ADM 173/19286
- ADM 173/19302
- ADM 173/19808 + ADM 173/19975
- Personal communication
ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.