 Although principally employed for the use as a yacht by the CinC, "Surprise" was also deployed in its operational role as an anti-aircraft frigate.The archaic term "Despatch Vessel" was replaced by "Flag Frigate" in 1961.The ship was originally ordered from the Smiths Dock Company of South Bank, Middlesbrough on 25 January 1943 as the "Loch Carron".