HNorMS Stord (Navy Photos, click to enlarge)

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S or SAVAGE-Class Destroyer, HMS SUCCESS was ordered on 9th January 1941 from J Samuel White at Cowes with the 5th Emergency Flotilla. The ship was laid down on 25th February 1942 and launched on 3rd April 1943. She was the 19th ship to carry this name, dating from 1650. It was last used for a destroyer which was transferred to the Royal Australian Navy and sold in 1937. During August 1943 before completion on 6th September this ship was transferred on loan to the Royal Norwegian Navy and renamed HM Norwegian Ship STORD. In 1942 following a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign she was adopted as HMS SUCCESS by the civil community of Downham Market in Norfolk.

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

PORTLAND  1653 - GABBARD 1653 - PORTO FARINA  1655 - LOWESTOFT  1665 - SOLEBAY  1672 - TEXEL  1673 - CAPE PASSARO  1718 - CHAGRES 1740 - SANTA MARTHA  1740 - CARTAGENA  1741

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

This is not recorded in the Official List of Heraldic Crests as the ship

was not part of the Royal Navy when the Record was compiled after WW2.

M o t t o

Finis coronat opus: ' The end crowns the work '.

W a r  S e r v i c e   a s   H  N o r  M S   S T O R D

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

1 9 4 3

August

Contractor's trials and build completion.

26th - Transferred to Royal Norwegian Navy and renamed HM Norwegian Ship STORD.

Builders Trials.

September

Carried out Acceptance Trials

3rd - Accepted into Service for duty with 23rd Destroyer Flotilla, Home Fleet.

October

On completion of work-up at Scapa Flow joined Flotilla for Home Fleet duties.

November

2nd - Part of escort for HM Battleship ANSON, HM Aircraft Carrier FORMIDABLE and HM Cruiser JAMAICA of Home Fleet providing Distant Cover for passage of first return convoy of winter season (RA54A) from Kola Inlet. Rest of escort comprised HM Destroyers ONSLOW and VENUS, HM Canadian Destroyer HAIDA and US Navy destroyers USS CAPPS and USS HOBSON. (For details of all Russian Convoy operations see CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by R A Ruegg CONVOY! by P Kemp, ARCTIC CONVOYS by R Woodman, ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by Corelli Barnett and THE RUSSIAN CONVOYS by B Schoefield.)

8th - Resumed Fleet duties when Distant Cover no longer required.

23rd - Joined Ocean Escort for Russian Convoy JW5^B with HM Destroyers SAUMAREZ, HARDY, SAVAGE, SCORPION, SCOURGE, VENUS and VIGILANT.

December

3rd - Detached with same ships on arrival of convoy at Archangel and returned to rejoin Home Fleet

7th - Part of escort for HM Aircraft Carrier IMPLACABLE, HM Escort Aircraft Carriers TRUMPETER and PREMIER with HM Cruiser DIADEM with HM Destroyers ZEALOUS, ZAMBESI, VIGILANT, SAVAGE, SERAPIS, ALGONQUIN (RCN) and SIOUX (RCN) during air minelay and attacks on shipping off Norwegian coast (Operation URBANE).

13th - Escorted HM Battleship DUKE OF YORK and HM Cruiser JAMAICA of Home Fleet with HM Destroyers SAVAGE, SAUMAREZ and SCORPION to provide cover for passage of Russian Convoys JW55A and JW55B during passage to Kola Inlet and returning Convoy RA55A from Russia.

16th - Arrived at Kola Inlet with HMS DUKE OF YORK. (Note: CinC Home Fleet visited Russian Flag Officer, Northern Fleet (Admiral A Golovko) during this visit).

18th - Sailed as escort to HMS DUKE OF YORK to continued covering JW55A and JW55B.

26th - Took part in the Battle of the North Cape. Made torpedo attack on SCHARNHORST with HM Destroyers SAVAGE, SAUMAREZ and SCORPION during which hits were made on the enemy ship. Withdrew after attack under intense fire. (For full details of this engagement see Naval Staff History, 73 NORTH by D Pope, ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and THE RUSSIAN CONVOYS).

27th - At Kola Inlet with HMS DUKE OF YORK after SCHARNHORST sank.

31st - Arrived at Scapa Flow with HMS DUKE OF YORK, HM Cruiser JAMAICA having been part of escort for return passage from Kola Inlet.

1 9 4 4

January

16th - Joined escort for Russian Convoy JW56A with HMS SAVAGE for passage to Iceland.

21st - Escorted Convoy JW56A to Kola Inlet with HM Destroyers HARDY, INCONSTANT, OBDURATE, OFFA, SAVAGE, VENUS, VIGILANT and VIRAGO.

25th - Under attack by WEREWOLF Group of U-Boats for 2 days. (Note: HM Destroyer OBDURATE was damaged by torpedo and had to detach.)

28th - Arrived at Kola Inlet with JW56A and detached to reinforce escort for following Convoy JW56B with same ships, except HMS OBDURATE.

February

1st - Detached from JW56B on arrival at Kola Inlet.

6th - Joined escort for return Convoy RA56 with HM Destroyers INCONSTANT, MAHRATTA, MILNE, METEOR, MUSKETEER, SCOURGE and HM Canadian Destroyer HURON.

9th - Detached from RA56 before arrival in Loch Ewe. Convoy was not intercepted. Resumed duties with Flotilla.

March

29th - Joined Russian Convoy JW58 with HM Destroyers OBEDIENT, OFFA, ONSLOW, OPPORTUNE, ORIBI, ORWELL, SAUMAREZ, SERAPIS, SCORPION and VENUS as Ocean Escort.

30th - Under attacks by U-Boat Groups THOR, BLITZ and HAMMER for three days. These were driven off by aircraft from HM Escort Carriers TRACKER and ACTIVITY as well as by ships of 2nd Support Group. Four submarines were sunk.

April

4th - Detached on arrival of JW58 at Kola Inlet.

7th - Joined escort for return Convoy RA58 with HM Cruiser DIADEM, HM Escort Carrier TRACKER, HM Destroyer IMPULSIVE and above escorts from JW58.

13th - Detached from RA58 before arrival at Loch Ewe.

May

Nominated for support duty during Normandy landings as part of Force S with HM Destroyers SAUMAREZ, SCOURGE, SCORPION, SERAPIS, IMPULSIVE and KELVIN of 23rd Destroyer Flotilla (Operation NEPTUNE: For details of naval activities prior to and during landings see OPERATION NEPTUNE by K Edwards and LANDINGS IN NORMANDY, JUNE 1944 (HMSO).

Selected target in Pre-Arranged Fire Plan - Ouistreham with HMS SCORPION. Took part in preparatory exercises.

June

Passage to Clyde to ships of Bombardment Force D (HM Battleships WARSPITE, RAMILLIES and HM Cruiser MAURITIUS).

3rd - Escorted Bombardment Force D to Solent to join other ships of Force S.

5th - Arrived in Solent and operation postponed for 24 hours. Passage to beachhead as escort for Convoy S6 with HMS SAUMAREZ and HMS SWIFT.

6th - Took part in preliminary bombardment on selected targets before assault. Provided naval gunfire support during assault phase.

7th - Deployed in Eastern Task Force Area for gunfire support and defence of ships off beachheads.

24th - Carried out interception of ships evacuating German forces from Cherbourg area. In action with E-Boats. (See HOLD THE NARROW SEA by Peter C Smith).

July

Released from service in English Channel and taken in hand for repair by HM Dockyard, Portsmouth. On completion took passage to Scapa Flow to resume Home Fleet duties with Flotilla.

August

15th - Part of destroyer screen for HM Aircraft Carriers INDEFATIGABLE, FORMIDABLE and FURIOUS, HM Battleship DUKE OF YORK, HM Cruisers DEVONSHIRE and BERWICK with HM Destroyers MYNGS, VIGILANT, SIOUX (RCN), ALGONQUIN (RCN), KEMPENFELT and ZAMBESI for series of air attacks on the German battleship TIRPITZ in Kaafjord.

22nd - Attacks made after delay due to weather but were unsuccessful. (See CONVOY! and ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY).

September to November

Deployed with Flotilla in Home Fleet.

December

8th - Escorted HM Aircraft Carrier IMPLACABLE, HM Escort Aircraft Carriers TRUMPETER and PREMIER, with HM Cruiser DIADEM, HM Destroyers ZAMBESI, SAVAGE, VIGILANT, ZEALOUS, SERAPIS, SIOUX (RCN) and ALGONQUIN (RCN) during series of air attacks on Hagesund. (See above references).

1 9 4 5

January

1st - Joined escort for Russian Convoy JW63 to Kola Inlet with HM Cruiser DIADEM, HM Escort Aircraft Carrier VINDEX, HM Destroyers MYNGS, SAVAGE, SCOURGE, SERAPIS, ZAMBESI, ZEBRA, ALGONQUIN (RCN) and SIOUX (RCN).

8th - Detached on arrival at Kola Inlet after undetected passage.

11th - Part of escort for return Convoy RA63 with same ships.

21st - Detached on arrival at Loch Ewe after stormy passage involving period of shelter.

February

Passage to Tyne for refit in commercial shipyard.

March

Rejoined Flotilla on completion of post refit trials.

11th - Part of Close Escort for Russian Convoy JW65 from Clyde with HM Destroyers MYNGS, HM Corvettes ALLINGTON CASTLE, ALNWICK CASTLE, BAMBOROUGH CASTLE, LANCASTER CASTLE, CAMELLIA, HONEYSUCKLE and OXLIP.

20th - HM Sloop LAPWING sunk in submarine attacks by HAGEN Group.

23rd - Escorted return Convoy RA65 with HM Cruiser DIADEM, HM Escort Carriers TRUMPETER and CAMPANIA, HM Destroyers MYNGS, OPPORTUNE, ORWELL, SAVAGE, SCORPION, SCOURGE, ZAMBESI, SIOUX (RCN) and same ships deployed with JW65

30th - Detached from RA65 before arrival at Scapa Flow after undetected passage.

April

Resumed Flotilla duties with Home Fleet.

18th - Joined escort for Russian Convoy JW66 with HM Cruiser DIADEM, HM Escort Aircraft Carriers PREMIER and VINDEX, HM Destroyers OFFA, ZEALOUS, ZEPHYR, ZEST, ZODIAC, HAIDA (RCN), HURON (RCN) AND IROQUOIS.

25th - Detached from JW66 on arrival at Kola Inlet after uninterrupted passage.

29th - Sailed from Kola Inlet with same ships, except HMS OFFA, as escort for return Convoy RA66. (Note: During a series of anti-submarine operations by frigates of the 19th Escort Group a collection of U-Boats lying off Kola Inlet were prevented from making sustained attacks on this convoy. HM Frigate GOODALL was sunk but two U-Boats were destroyed (U307 on 29th April and U268 on 30th April)). (For details of development of Anti-Submarine weapons and tactics during WW2 see SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann).)

May

7th - Detached from RA66 with HM Destroyer ZEPHYR, HM Canadian Destroyers HAIDA, HURON and IROQUOIS before arrival in Clyde.

8th - Resumed Flotilla duties in Home Fleet.

13th - Deployed with HM Destroyer BROADWAY to meet surrendered German U-Boats in North Sea being transferred to Trondheim for collection prior to disposal in UK during Operation DEADLIGHT. Sailed from Rosyth with Norwegian Admiral embarked.

16th - Escorted U-boats to Trondheim and remained for liberation celebrations.

June

5th - Escorted HM Cruiser NORFOLK from Rosyth to Oslo with HM Cruiser DEVONSHIRE, HM Destroyers ONSLOW and ORWELL (Operation INDESTRUCTIBLE). (Note: HMS NORFOLK was taking King Haakon back to Norway after 5 years of exile in UK).

7th - Arrived in Oslo to tumultuous reception.

 July to August

Resumed Flotilla duties pending transfer to Royal Norwegian naval service. Deployed in support of military reoccupation requirements.

P o s t   W a r   N o t e s

HM Norwegian Destroyer STORD was purchased by Norway in 1946 and remained in service until 1959.

Addendum

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMNorS STORD

by Don Kindell

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

(Note on Convoys)