HMNorS Stord, sister-ship (Navy Photos, click to enlarge)

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S or SAVAGE-Class Destroyer ordered from Cammell Laird, Birkenhead with 5th Emergency Flotilla on 9th January 1941 .The ship was laid down on 19th June 1941 as Yard No 1094 and intended to be named SENTINEL. However this was changed after the loss of HM River Gunboat SCORPION in an action with Japanese destroyers off Sumatra on 13th February 1942. Launch was delayed until 26th August 1942 due to serious design problems and the late delivery of armament and fire-control equipment. She was the 11th RN ship to carry this name, introduced in 1746. Build was completed on 11th May 1943.

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

QUEBEC 1759 - GUADALOUPE 1810 - DARDANELLES 1915-16 - ARCTIC 1943-45 - NORTH CAPE 1943 - NORMANDY 1944

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge: On a Field barry wavy of six white and blue ,a scorpion gold.

M o t t o

Finem espice: 'Look to the end'. 

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 4 3

May                                   Contractor's sea trials and commissioning.

                              11th      Accepted into service with 23rd Destroyer Flotilla, Home Fleet.

June                                   On completion of work up at Scapa Flow joined Flotilla for operational service.

to                                        Deployed for screening of major Home Fleet units and patrol in NW Approaches

September

October

                              20th       Passage to Kola Inlet with HM Destroyers MAHRATTA, MATCHLESS, MILNE

                                            MUSKETEER, SAUMAREZ, SAVAGE, SCOURGE, WESTCOTT, HM Corvette

                                            EGLANTINE, HM Minesweepers HARRIER and SEAGULL to escort merchant ships

                                            held in Russian ports during summer months because of suspension of convoys.

                                            (Operation FR). November

                                3rd       Escorted Convoy RA54A from Kola Inlet with HM Destroyers SAVAGE, SAUMAREZ,

                                            MILNE. SCOURGE, MAHRATTA, MATCHLESS, MUSKETEER and WESTCOTT.

                                            (HM Minesweepers JASON and BRITOMART and HM Corvette EGLANTINE

                                            were also part of the Ocean Escort)

                             10th        Detached from RA545A with Home Fleet destroyers.

                             23rd        Joined Ocean Escort for Russian Convoy JW64B with HM Destroyers SAUMAREZ,

                                            HARDY, SAVAGE, SCOURGE, VENUS, VIGILANT and Norwegian STORD.

December

                                3rd       Detached from JW54B on arrival at approach to Archangel.

                                            Independent passage with Home Fleet destroyers to Scapa Flow.

                              10th       Deployed with Flotilla for Horns Fleet screening duties.

                                            (For details of all Russian Convoy operations see CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by R A Ruegg,

                                            ARCTIC CONVOYS by R Woodhead, CONVOY ) by P Kemp, THE KOLA RUN by D.

                                            MacIntyre and I Campbell and RUSSIAN CONVOYS by B. Schoefield.

                               20th      Part of screen for HM Battleship DUKE OF YORK and HM Cruiser JAMAICA with H M

                                            Destroyers SAUMAREZ, SAVAGE and Norwegian destroyer STORD to provide distant

                                            cover for Russian Convoy JW55B and returning Convoy RA55B.

                                26th    Took part in Battle of North Cape with MS DUKE OF YORK, HM Cruisers SHEFFIELD

                                            andNORFOLK.

                                            Made torpedo attack on German battlecruiser SCHARNHORST with Norwegian destroyer

                                            STORD and obtained one hit.

                                            Took part in rescue of German survivors with HM Destroyer MATCHLESS.

                                            Only 26 were found.

                                            (For full details see THE KOLA RUN, ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and

                                            the Naval Staff History).

                                27th     At Kola Inlet after sinking of SCHARNHORST and returned to Scapa Flow with HMS

                                            DUKE OF YORK and Home Fleet cruisers.

1 9 4 4

January                               Deployed with Flotilla for Home Fleet screening and patrol in NW Approaches.

to

February

March                                Home Fleet duties in continuation.

                                29th     Joined Ocean Escort for Russian Convoy JW58 with HM Destroyers OBEDIENT,

                                            OFFA, ONSLOW, OPPORTUNE, ORIBI, ORWELL, SAUMAREZ, SERAPIS, VENUS

                                            and Norwegian destroyer STORD as screen for HM Cruiser DIADEM, HM Escort Carrier

                                            ACTIVITY and HM Escort Carrier TRACKER.

April

                                  4th     Detached from JW58 on arrival at Kola Inlet.

                                  7th     Joined return Convoy RA58 as screen for HMS TRACKER with HM Destroyers ORIBI

                                            IMPULSIVE and OBEDIENT.

                                14th     Detached from RA54 after uninterrupted passage.

May                                    Nominated for duty with ships of Flotilla in Force S during allied landings in Normandy.

                                             Allocated target in Pre-Arranged Fire Plan - Beach defences at Ouistreham.

                                             (Operation NEPTUNE - For details of naval activities prior to and during landings

                                             see OPERATION NEPTUNE by K Edwards, LANDINGS IN NORMANDY, June 1944

                                             (HMSO).

                                             Took part in preparatory exercises for assault operations.

June                                    Joined HM Destroyers SAUMAREZ, KELVIN, VIRAGO, SCOURGE, VERULAM, SWIFT,

                                             SERAPIS, EGLINGTON, Polish SLAZAK, Norwegian SVENNER and STORD in Force S

                                             Passage to Spithead.

                                  4th      Operation delayed 24 hours.

                                  5th      Joined Convoy S2 as escort through Swept Channel during minesweeping operations

                                             (Convoy comprised 1st Minesweeping Flotilla, four Danlayers, two Minesweeping Motor

                                             Launches and a Harbour Defence Motor Launch.

                                  6th      Carried out bombardment in accordance with Fire Plan.

                                              On completion provided gunfire support in SWORD area.

                                   7th      Deployed on patrols to intercept enemy surface craft attempting to attack ships in Eastern

                                              Task Force area.

                                   9th      Reinforced HM Destroyers ONSLOW, ORIBI,  OFFA and ONSLAUGHT with HM

                                              Destroyer SCOURGE .to meet threat of attack by NARVIK Class destroyers from Brest

July                                       On release from NEPTUNE deployed in English Channel for patrol and convoy defence

to                                           against E-Boat attacks.

August

September                            Rejoined Flotilla for duties with Home Fleet.

                                 17th       Part of screen for HM Battleship RODNEY, HM Cruiser DIADEM, HM Escort Carriers

                                               CAMPANIA and TRACKER for escort of Russian Convoy JW60 with HM Destroyers

                                               MARNE METEOR, MILNE, MUSKETEER, SAUMAREZ, VENUS, VERULAM,

                                               VIRAGO, VOLAGE, ALGONQUIN (RCN) and SIOUX (RCN).

                                 23rd       Detached on arrival at Kola Inlet.

                                 28th        Joined escort for return Convoy RA60 with same ships.

October

                                   3rd        Detached from RA60 before arrival in Loch Ewe and returned to Scapa Flow.

                                 14th        Escorted HM Cruiser EURYALUS, HM Escort Carrier TRUMPETER and HM Escort

                                                Carrier FENCER during attacks on shiping and air minelays off Norway with HM

                                                Destroyers MYNGS, VOLAGE, SERAPIS, ALGONQUIN (RCN) and SIOUX (RCN).

                                                (Operation LYCIDAS - No shipping was sighted but minelays were satisfactory).

November

                                   3rd        Embarked Norwegian troops for passage to Kola Inlet with HM Destroyer SAVAGE.

                                                 (Operation FREEMAN)

                                                (Note: These troops which were an advance party for a planned military operation in

                                                             northern Norway should have been flown to Russia but this had been

                                                             prevented by weather conditions).

                                   6th        Arrived in Kola Inlet and joined HM Destroyers CAMBRIAN, CASSANDRA, CAPRICE,

                                                SCOURGE , SAUMAREZ, SCOURGE and SERAPIS.

                                 11th        Joined HM Cruiser BERWICK and HM Escort Carrier CAMPANIA as screen with H M

                                                Destroyers CAMBRIAN, CAPRICE, CASSANDRA, SAVAGE, SAUMAREZ, SCOURGE

                                                and SERAPIS as escort for Convoy RA6A (ss EMPRESS OF AUSTRALIA and

                                                ss SCYTHIA) to Clyde.

                                 17th        Resumed duties at Scapa Flow with Flotilla.

                                 20th        Joined Force 3 with HM Destroyers ZEALOUS, ONSLAUGHT, and SCOURGE as screen

                                                for HM Cruiser DIADEM and HM Escort Carriers PREMIER and PURSUER during air

                                                minelay in Karm Sound (Operation HANDFAST).

                                 27th        Escorted HM Aircraft Carrier IMPLACABLE and HM Cruiser DIDO with HM Destroyers

                                                 SCOURGE, ZEPHYR, ALGONQUIN (RCN) and SIOUX (RCN) during air operations off

                                                 Masjoen, Norway.

December                               Deployed with Home Fleet in NW Approaches.

                                                (For details of operation off Norway in 1944-45 see CONVOY ) by P Kemp).

 1 9 4 5

January                                  Flotilla duties with Home Fleet in continuation.

                                    9th       Passage to Kola Inlet for escort of returning convoy.

                                  11th       Joined Home Fleet destroyers at Kola Inlet for escort of Convoy RA63.

                                  21st       Detached from RA63 after uninterrupted passage in extreme weather making necessary

                                                re-assembly of convoy.

February

                                  10th       Joined Force l as screen for HM Cruisers NORFOLK and DIDO with HM Destroyers

                                                MYNGS and SAVAGE to provide cover for Force 2 during shipping attacks off Bud and

                                                air minelay in Skatestromnen. (Operation SELENIUM - No Shipping sighted).

                                   21st      Joined Force 4 as screen for HM Cruiser DIDO and HM Escort Carriers PREMIER

                                                and PUNCHER to provide cover for Minesweeping operations by Force 3 NE of Orkneys,

                                                an air minelay in Karm Sound with HM Destroyers MYNGS and CAVALIER..

                                                (Operations SHRED and GROUNDSHEET)

                                   25th       Joined escort for return convoy RA64 with HM Destroyers CAVALIER and MYNGS.

                                   27th       Detached from RA64 escort.

March

                                   12th     Part of screen for HM Cruiser DIADEM and HMS CAMPANIA during escort for Russian

                                               Convoy JW65 with HM Destroyers ONSLAUGHT, OPPORTUNE, ORWELL, ZAMBESI

                                               and SIOUX (RCN) to Kola Inlet.

                                   21st     Detached from JW65 on arrival.

                                   23rd     Joined escort for return Convey RA65 with HM Cruiser DIADEM, HMS CAMPANIA and

                                                HMS TRUMPETER, HM Destroyers MYNGS, OPPORTUNE, ORWELL, SAVAGE,

                                                SCOURGE, ZAMBESI, SIOUX (RCN) and Norwegian destroyer STORD.

                                   30th      Detached from RA65 with Home Fleet destroyers before arrival at Scapa Flow.

April                                       Home Fleet duties in continuation.

to

May

June                                        Deployed with Flotilla in Home Fleet including support of reoccupation forces.

P o s t   W a r   N o t e s

HMS SCORPION was reduced to Reserve after VJ Day and sold to the Netherlands on 1 October 1945.She was renamed KORTENAER in commemoration of a destroyer lost in action with Japanese warships in the Dutch East Indies on 28th February 1942. The ship served as a destroyer until 1957 when converted for use as a Fast Frigate and remained in commission until 1962 when she was broken-up in Holland. The name SCORPION was reintroduced into RN service in 1946 when given to a WEAPON Class destroyer. This new ship was later converted for use as a Radar Picket ship and remained in service until 1966 when placed on the Disposal List and sold for breaking-up in 1971.

Addendum

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS SCORPION

by Don Kindell

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

(Note on Convoys)