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SERVICE HISTORIES of ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS in WORLD WAR 2

by Lt Cdr Geoffrey B Mason RN (Rtd) (c) 2003

HMS STURDY  (H 28) -  Old S-class Destroyer
including Convoy Escort Movements

HMS Stronghold, sister-ship (Navy Photos/Mark Teadham, click to enlarge)

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S-Class Destroyer ordered in 1917 from Scotts of Green under the 1917 - 18 Programme in the 12th Order with HM Destroyers STRENUOUS and STRONGHOLD. The ship was launched on 25th June 1919 as the first 1st RN ship to carry the name. Build was completed in 1920 and she was fitted for use as a minelayer when required. After some service in the operational Fleet she was reduced to Reserve and brought forward in 1939 before the outbreak of war.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r

 

ATLANTIC  1939

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge: On a field Silver. a Pine tree proper

 

Motto

'Strong to endure'

 

 

D e t a i l s   o f   W a r    S e r v i c e

 

(for more ship information, go to Naval History Homepage and type name in Site Search)

 

 

1 9 3 9

 

August                  Preparation for foreign service at Hong Kong.

 

September             Deployed in Mediterranean having been diverted during passage to Hong Kong to

                                join Local Flotilla

                                Carried out contraband control duty.

 

October                  Mediterranean patrol in continuation.

to                            Transferred for escort of Atlantic convoys.

December

 

1 9 4 0

 

January                  Atlantic and Mediterranean patrol and convoy defence in continuation.

to May

 

June                        Transferred to Western Approaches for Atlantic convoy escort duty.

                                Part of Escort for Convoy HG53 from Gibraltar to Cape Finisterre.

 

July                         Deployed on Atlantic convoy defence.

to September

 

October

                18th        Joined Atlantic Convoy HX73 from Halifax to UK with H M Destroyer WHITEHALL,

                HM Minesweeper JASON, HM Corvettes HIBISCUS, HELIOTROPE, COREOPSIS

                and ARABIS, HM Trawlers LADY ELSA, BLACKFLY and ANGLE.

                Dutch submarine O.21 was also part of the escort as an ‘experiment' for attack on

                commerce raiders.

                19th        Under attack by group of U-Boats during which 12 merchant ships were sunk and two

                damaged, representing 24.5% of the convoy.

                (Note: This disastrous event highlighted the failure of the escort and resulted in a

                drastic re-appraisal of techniques - See THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC

                by D MacIntyre and U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC (HMSO).

                30th        Ran aground on Isle of Tiree and wrecked

 

Special Note

 

This name was carried forward for the second time on 22nd September 1943 when HM Submarine STURDY was launched at Birkenhead by Cammell Laird shipyard. This submarine was deployed  in the Indian Ocean and added the Battle Honour  MALAYA 1945 for use by successors in the future.

 


 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS STURDY

by Don Kindell

 

These convoy lists have not been cross-checked with the text above

 

 

 

 

 

Date convoy sailed

Joined convoy as escort

Convoy No.

Left convoy

Date convoy arrived

 

 

 

 

 

13/06/40

13/06/40

HG 034F

19/06/40

19/06/40

15/10/40

15/10/40

OB 229

18/10/40

18/10/40

18/10/40

19/10/40

HX 079

unknown

23/10/40

25/10/40

25/10/40

OL 009

27/10/40

27/10/40

15/10/40

30/10/40

SC 008

30/10/40

31/10/40

         

(Note on Convoys) 

 

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