Ex USS
STOCKTON (Type D - LEWES-Class) built by
Cramp. The
ship was launched on 17th July 1917 and build
was completed on was completed on 26th
November 1917. She
was transferred under the UK/US Lend Lease
Agreement.. On 2nd
October 1940 when this ship commissioned into
RN service she was renamed LUDLOW
which is cannon to a town in Shropshire and to
one in Vermont, USA. She was the
third RN ship to carry this name which was
introduced in 1698 for a 5th Rate and
previously used for a WW1 minesweeper lost in
1916. Unlike the majority of the
destroyers transferred from the US Navy in
1940, this ship and HMS LUDLOW had
only 3 funnels and a main propulsion system
outdated on build in 1916. After a
successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings
campaign in March 1942 she was adopted by the
civil community of Hartlepool, then in County
Durham, but now
part of Cleveland.
B a t
t l
e H o n o
u r s
ATLANTIC 1941-42
- NORTH SEA 1942-45.
H e r a l d i
c D a t a
Badge:
On a
Field Blue,
a porcupine Gold charged with
a
hurt thereon a mullet White.
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 0
September
Prepared for transfer to RN
October
2nd
Commissioned as HMS LUDLOW at Halifax.
Prepared for passage to Plymouth via St Johns, Newfoundland.
November
17th
Taken in hand by HM Devonport for refit and
modifications to suit RN service.
(Note This included removal of the two 3in
mountings mounted on either beam.)
December
Under refit
Allocated for service in Rosyth Escort
Force.
1 9
4 1
January
Under refit
to
(Note: The work required to deal with
problems related to the design and operation
February
of the propulsion machinery extended the
period of refit.
March
1st
Carried out post refit sea trials on
completion of dockyard work
Passage to Rosyth
(Note: Work-up deployment to be confirmed)
One source quotes involvement in collision
with RFA PETROBUS.
April
Deployed for convoy defence based at Rosyth
to
July
August
Withdrawn from service for repair and boiler
re-tubing
(Note: Repair work carried out at
Liverpool .
September
Paid-off in Liverpool for extensive repair
October
Under repair
November
Re-commissioned and resumed service at
Roysth after post repair trials.
December
Deployed for convoy defence based at Rosyth.
1 9
4 2
January
Convoy defence duties in continuation.
to
July
August
Coastal convoy defence restricted to
North Sea traffic between Methil and Southend.
to
(Note: This change suggests ship had proved
unsuitable for escort of convoys from Forth
December
to Clyde through NW Approaches.)
Surface warning radar Type 271 was fitted by
this period.
For details of development and use of radar
by RN see RADAR AT SEA by D. Howse).
1 9
4 3
East coast convoy defence in continuation.
(Note: Radar Type 291 to provide some
warning of aircraft approach was fitted).
One source records involvement in collision
with trawler in September.)
1 9 4 4
January
East coast deployment in continuation
to
May
June
Transferred to English Channel for support
of allied landings in Normandy
(Note: One source records ship was used for
transfer of MULBERRY harbour sections.
This is be confirmed and ship may have been
used as an escort during towing
operations. No award of Battle Honour NORMANDY was made.)
Resumed East coast convoy defence on
completion.
July
East coast deployment in continuation.
to
September
October
15th
Grounded during tow of mercantile WILLIAM
BRADIE and sustained damage to underwater
Sonar Dome.
Under repair
November
Deployed for East coast convoy defence on
completion.
to
December
1 9 4 5
January
East coast deployment in continuation
26th
Grounded and again sustained damage to Sonar
Dome.
February
Resumed East coast deployment
to
(Note: Radio Telephone equipment for contact
with other escorts and aircraft had been
fitted
April
by this period.)
May
Withdrawn for service after VE Day
Paid-off and de-equipped at Rosyth
Selected for use as a target for training
aircrew in rocket attacks on shipping.
June
6th
Towed to Broadsands and beached off Fidra Island off North Berwick
Sustained severe damage during this use in
position 56.03N 0.45W
July
5th
Declared as Total Loss.
Hulk sold for demolition on site.
(Note: This work seems never to have been
seriously attempted as the remains are still
visible at Low Water.)
Addendum
CONVOY
ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS
LUDLOW
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
23/01/42
|
26/01/42
|
WN 235
|
26/01/42
|
26/01/42
|
03/04/42
|
04/04/42
|
WN 265
|
05/04/42
|
05/04/42
|
05/12/44
|
05/12/44
|
ATM 004
|
06/12/44
|
06/12/44
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)
|