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SERVICE HISTORIES of ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS in WORLD WAR 2

by Lt Cdr Geoffrey B Mason RN (Rtd) (c) 2005

HMS STORK (L 81) - Bittern-class Sloop
including Convoy Escort Movements

 HMS Stork (Navy Photos, click to enlarge) return to Contents List 
 

BITTERN-Class Sloop ordered from William Denny of Dumbarton under 1933 Programme and laid down on 19th June 1935. She was launched by Mrs Edges on 21st April 1936 as the 9th ship to carry the name, which dates from 1652. The ship was completed on 10th September 1936 and as she was to be used as a Survey Ship this vessel was fitted 'For but not with' the armament for a BITTERN Class Sloop. The guns could be fitted without major changes when the ship was required for escort duty. Her pre-war service was carried out entirely in the Far East, based at Singapore. On return to UK in early 1939 she was taken in hand for refit at Devonport during which, in view of the current possibility of war, she was prepared for service as a Sloop and the armament was fitted. In February 1942 the ship was adopted by the civil communities of Grimsby and Cleethorpes , Lincolnshire after a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

GABBARD 1653 - MARTINIQUE 1809 - BALTIC 1855 - ZEEBRUGGE 1918 - NORWAY 1940 - NORTH SEA 1940 - ATLANTIC 1940-44 - NORTH AFRICA 1942 - NORMANDY 1944

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge: On a Field Blue, a Stork proper.

 

Motto

Altiora peto:   'I seek higher things'

 

 

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

 

September

                3rd          Under refit at Devonport.

                                (Note: Main armament fitted .)

                                Nominated for convoy defence in North Sea based at Rosyth.

 

October                  On completion took passage to Rosyth to join HM Sloop BITTERN.

 

November              Deployed for convoy escort in North Sea.

to

December

 

1 9 4 0

 

January                  North Sea convoy defence duty in continuation.

to

March

 

April

                8th          Detached for duty with Home Fleet to supplement AA during support of military operations in

                                Norwegian waters for AA defence of Fleet units.

                                For details of the disastrous Norwegian campaign vessels see NARVIK by D Macintyre,

                                ENGAGE THE ENEMY,  CARRIER GLORIOUS by J Winton, THE DOOMED EXPEDITION

                                by Adams and the Naval Staff History.)

 

May                        Deployment in Norwegian waters for AA defence duties in continuation

                14th        Escorted troopship CHOBRY with HM Destroyer WOLVERINE during passage to Bodo

                                Subjected to heavy air attacks in Vestfjord during which the troopship was set on fire and

                                her Irish Guards passengers were rescued by the two escorts.

                                (Note: CHOBRY was then sunk by aircraft from HMS ARK ROYAL.)

                15th        Landed survivors at Harstad with HMS WOLVERINE.

                27th        Provided additional AA defence for H M Cruisers CAIRO and COVENTRY during

                                bombardment of Narvik.

 

June                        Pennant No changed to U81.

                7th          Escorted evacuation convoy from Harstad with HM Destroyer ARROW and ten trawlers.

                12th        Redeployed on East Coast convoy defence on completion of Norwegian operations.

 

July                         North Sea convoy defence in continuation.

to

August

 

September

                8th          Sustained serious damage to stern structure when hit during air attack on North Sea convoy.

 

October                  Under repair to rudder and shafts in commercial shipyard at Grangemouth on Forth..

to

December

 

1 9 4 1

 

January                  Under repair.

to

April

 

May                        Carried out post refit trials.

                18th        On completion took passage to Scapa Flow for work-up.

                                Nominated for duty with Irish Sea Escort Force.

 

 

June                        Joined Irish Sea Force to provide AA defence for convoys in Irish Sea and NW Approaches.

 

July

                11th        Deployed with Dutch AA Cruiser HEEMSKERCK for AA defence of military convoy WS9C

                                during passage in Irish Sea to Clyde assembly area.

                                (Note: This was part of Operation SUBSTANCE.)

 

August                  Transferred to 36th Escort Group based at Londonderry as Senior Officers Ship.

                                (Note: This Group was commanded by Commander F. J. Walker, RN one of the most

                                outstanding Escort Group Commanders.

                                See SEEK and STRIKE by W Hackmann and THE FIGHTING CAPTAIN by A

                                Burns.).

 

September             Deployed with Group for escort of outward OS Series convoys to West Africa and return SL

                                Series to Liverpool

 

October

 

 

November              Deployed as Senior Officer, Escort for defence of with Convoy SL89 during passage to

                                Gibraltar from West Africa.

                20th        Under repair at Gibraltar.

 

December

                1st           On completion deployed for anti-submarine patrol in Straits of Gibraltar.

                                Carried out attacks on submarine with HM Corvette SAMPHIRE after aircraft reported

                                submarine attempting to enter Mediterranean.

                                (Note: Submarine identified as U568 was forced to return to France – See HITLER’S U-BOAT

                                WAR.)

                14th        Joined escort for Convoy HG?6 as Senior Officer with HM Escort Carrier AUDACITY, HM

                                Sloop DEPTFORD and seven FLOWER Class corvettes.

                                (Note: HM Destroyer STANLEY, HM Escort Destroyers BLANKNEY and EXMOOR also

                                supplemented the defence of this 32 ship convoy.

                                German SEERAUBER U-Boat Group had been specially deployed to intercept the

                                convoy.)

                15th        First signs of U-Boat activity.

                17th        After sighting by aircraft from HMS AUDACITY carried out series of A/S attacks and sank

                                U131 with HMS BLANKNEY, HMS EXMOOR, HMS STANLEY and HMS PENTSTEMON.

                                (Note: The crew of submarine were all rescued by HMS EXMOOR.)

                19th        Under sustained U-Boat attacks during which HMS STANLEY was sunk.

                                Carried out depth charge attack on submarine detected immediately after HMS STANLEY had

                                been torpedoed. U574 then surfaced and was illuminated, rammed and attacked again with

                                depth charges which sank her.

                                Survivors from HMS STANLEY and submarine were rescued.

                                Substantial damage to forward structure including underwater fittings for the submarine

                                detection (ASDIC) underwater equipment resulted.

                21st         Carried out an unsuccessful search for U751 which had torpedoed and sunk HMS

                                AUDACITY.

                                Attacks on the submarine were frustrated by the loss of use of the ASDIC equipment.

                                (Note: HMS AUDACITY was the first of this new type of aircraft carrier designed specifically

                                to provide aircraft for convoy defence).

                22nd       In collision with HMS DEPTFORD which damaged stem structure.

                                (Note: Two survivors from U574 were killed in this incident.

                                For full details see THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC by D Macintyre and

                                BUSINESS IN GREAT WATERS by J. Terraine).

 

1 9 4 2

 

January                  Under repair at Devonport. February

 

February

                20th        Rejoined Group at Londonderry in continuation of Freetown convoy escort duty.

                                (For details of convoy defence tactics see CONVOY ESCORT COMMANDER by P Gretton,

                                RELENTLESS PURSUIT by D Wemyss and U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC (HMSO).)

 

.March                   Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.

 

April                       Joined escort for Convoy OG82 to Gibraltar.

                14th        Sank U 252 by surface gun action with HM Corvette VETCH in defence of Convoy.

                                (Note: This submarine had been detected by HMS VETCH using the newly introduced

                                centimetric radar Type 271 at a range of 7,500 yards

.                               For details of development and use of radar by RN see RADAR AT SEA by

                                D Howse).

 

May                        Atlantic convoy escort in continuation.

 

June        9th          Part of escort for Convoy HG84 from Gibraltar with HM Corvettes CONVOLVULUS,

                                MARIGOLD and GARDENIA, CAM Ship EMPIRE MORN and Rescue Ship COPELAND in

                                escort of this convoy of 23 ships.

                14th        Under attack by ENDRASS Group of U-Boats after sighting by KONDOR aircraft.

                                Carried out depth charge attacks on U132 which was badly damaged

                                (See HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR Vol.1 by C Blair.)

                15th        ENDRASS Group attacks in continuation and repulsed by escorts.

                16th        Escort reinforced by HM Destroyer WILD SWAN, HMM Frigates ROTHER and SPEY.

                17th        During air attacks on convoy HMS WILD SWAN was sunk. See above reference.

 

July                         Atlantic convoy escort in continuation.

 

August                  Selected for duty in Support role.

                                (For details of this new tactical deployment see SEEK and STRIKE by W Hackmann).

 

September             Deployed in support role in Atlantic.

                                Support Role duty suspended to meet additional escort requirements.

 

October                  Detached for escort of military convoys to Gibraltar for the Allied landings in North Africa

                                (Operation TORCH - See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY, Naval Staff History,

                                and for information about all mercantiles and warships involved BRITISH INVASION

                                FLEETS by J de Winser.)

 

November              Deployed as part of escort of follow-up stores Convoy KMS1.

                12th         Damaged by torpedo fired by U77 in Mediterranean.

 

December              Under temporary repair at Gibraltar

 

1 9 4 3

 

January                  Permanent repair arranged in UK.

                                Preparation for tow to UK to complete repair.

                11th        Passage in tow to UK as part of inward Convoy MKS5

 

February                Under repair in commercial shipyard at Falmouth

to

June

 

July                         Nominated for duty with 37th Escort Group after work-up.

                                On completion of post refit trials took passage to Tobermory.

 

August                  Joined Group on completion of work-up.

                                Part of escort for Convoy MKS22/SL to Gibraltar with Group.

                30th        During escort of Convoy SL135 sank U634 with HM Corvette STONECROP in position

                                40.13N 19.24W. There were no survivors.

                                For details see U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.

 

September             Part of escort for Convoys OS55/KMS27 with ships of Group

 

October                  Gibraltar route convoy defence in continuation

 

November              Transferred to 50th Escort Group based at Gibraltar.

 

December              Deployed for escort of convoys through Mediterranean to and from Port Said.

 

1 9 4 4

 

January                  Mediterranean convoy escort in continuation

                                Nominated for refit in UK

 

February                Passage to UK for refit at Falmouth.

 

March                    Under refit.

 

April                       Nominated to join Force S for escort duty in support of planned allied landings in Normandy

                                on completion.

 

May                        Carried out post refit trials.

                20th        On completion took passage to Tobermory to work-up.

 

June                        Joined Escort Group 116 with HM Sloop REDPOLE, HM Frigates HOTHAM, DUFF and HM

                                Escort Destroyer EGLINTON.

                                (For details of Normandy Landing operations see OPERATION NEPTUNE by K Edwards,

                                LANDINGS IN NORMANDY (HMSO) and for information about all mercantiles and

                                warships taking part D-DAY SHIPS by J de Winser.)

                5th          Escorted Convoy S9 to SWORD Beach Head from Spithead through Swept Channel.

                                (Note: Convoy comprised 22 Landing Craft Infantry (Large) and US Coastguard Cutter.

                6th          Detached from S9 on arrival off SWORD Beach..

                                Returned to Portsmouth for convoy escort to Normandy and duty with Eastern Task Force.

 

July                         Nominated for duty with 37th Escort Group based at Gibraltar.

                                Took passage to Mediterranean to Join Group after release from NEPTUNE duties.

 

August                  Deployed for convoy defence based at Gibraltar.

to October

 

 

November              Transferred to Gibraltar Escort Force in continuation of convoy escort.

 

December              Atlantic convoy defence based at Gibraltar.

                                Nominated for refit in UK.

 

1 9 4 5

 

January                  Passage to UK for refit.

 

February                Under refit at Portsmouth.

to March

 

April                       Nominated for duty with British Pacific Fleet.

                                Further refit required for Pacific service including fit of additional weapons for close range AA

                                defence.

 

May                        Taken in hand for refit at commercial shipyard in Newport, south Wales.

to July                    Carried out post refit trials.

 

August                  Passage to Portland to work-up for service.

 

P o s t    W a  r    N o t e s

 

HMS STORK did not complete work-up and preparation for foreign service until after the end of the hostilities in the Far East and was reduced to Reserve at Portsmouth in September 1945. The ship was brought forward for further service within six months and commissioned as Senior Officer's ship in the Fishery Protection Squadron in January 1946. Two years later she again Paid off into the Reserve Fleet and surprisingly was not brought forward in 1950-51 when many ships were re-commissioned because of the outbreak of war in Korea. Until 1954 she was laid-up at Portsmouth and then transferred to the Reserve Fleet at Londonderry. No longer in a high stat e of readiness for service was placed on the Disposal List in late 1957 and sold to BISCO for demolition by West of Scotland Shipbreaker’s at Troon, Ayrshire. The ship arrived at Troon in tow on 3rd June 1958.

 


 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS STORK

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

 

 

 

 

 

14/10/39

14/10/39

FS 0021

16/10/39

16/10/39

26/10/39

26/10/39

FS 0027

28/10/39

28/10/39

01/11/39

01/11/39

FS 0030

03/11/39

03/11/39

11/11/39

11/11/39

FS 0035

13/11/39

13/11/39

17/11/39

17/11/39

FS 0038

19/11/39

19/11/39

09/12/39

09/12/39

FS 0052

10/12/39

10/12/39

20/12/39

20/12/39

FS 0057

22/12/39

22/12/39

28/12/39

28/12/39

FS 0060

29/12/39

29/12/39

08/01/40

08/01/40

FS 0067

09/01/40

09/01/40

12/01/40

12/01/40

FS 0070

13/01/40

13/01/40

23/01/40

23/01/40

FN 0079

24/01/40

24/01/40

01/02/40

01/02/40

MT 001

02/02/40

02/02/40

02/02/40

02/02/40

FS 0085

04/02/40

04/02/40

11/02/40

11/02/40

FS 0093

13/02/40

13/02/40

18/02/40

18/02/40

FS 0099

20/02/40

20/02/40

18/02/40

18/02/40

MT 014

18/02/40

18/02/40

29/02/40

29/02/40

FS 0109

02/03/40

02/03/40

04/03/40

04/03/40

FN 0111

06/03/40

06/03/40

08/03/40

08/03/40

FS 0116

10/03/40

10/03/40

11/03/40

11/03/40

FN 0118

13/03/40

13/03/40

15/03/40

15/03/40

FS 0122

17/03/40

17/03/40

15/03/40

15/03/40

MT 031

15/03/40

15/03/40

21/03/40

21/03/40

FS 0126

23/03/40

23/03/40

21/03/40

21/03/40

MT 035

21/03/40

21/03/40

24/03/40

24/03/40

FN 0128

26/03/40

26/03/40

26/06/40

26/06/40

FS 0205

28/06/40

28/06/40

29/06/40

29/06/40

FN 0208

01/07/40

01/07/40

04/07/40

04/07/40

FS 0212

05/07/40

05/07/40

07/07/40

07/07/40

FN 0216

09/07/40

09/07/40

15/07/40

15/07/40

FN 0223

17/07/40

17/07/40

08/08/40

08/08/40

FS 0246

10/08/40

10/08/40

11/08/40

11/08/40

FN 0249

13/08/40

13/08/40

15/08/40

15/08/40

FS 0253

17/08/40

17/08/40

29/08/40

29/08/40

FS 0266

31/08/40

31/08/40

01/09/40

01/09/40

FN 0269

03/09/40

03/09/40

16/05/41

28/05/41

HX 127

01/06/41

02/06/41

26/07/41

26/07/41

ON 001

27/07/41

09/08/41

09/08/41

13/08/41

HG 070

unknown

23/08/41

12/09/41

13/09/41

OS 006

29/09/41

03/10/41

05/10/41

09/10/41

SL 089

25/10/41

26/10/41

07/11/41

08/11/41

OS 011

16/11/41

28/11/41

14/12/41

14/12/41

HG 076

22/12/41

30/12/41

23/02/42

23/02/42

OG 080

08/03/42

08/03/42

14/03/42

14/03/42

HG 080

26/03/42

26/03/42

08/04/42

09/04/42

OG 082

20/04/42

20/04/42

27/04/42

27/04/42

HG 082

08/05/42

08/05/42

21/05/42

21/05/42

OG 084

03/06/42

03/06/42

09/06/42

09/06/42

HG 084

20/06/42

20/06/42

02/07/42

02/07/42

OG 086

14/07/42

14/07/42

21/07/42

21/07/42

HG 086

01/08/42

01/08/42

11/08/42

11/08/42

OG 088

24/08/42

24/08/42

29/08/42

29/08/42

HG 088

07/09/42

09/09/42

19/09/42

22/09/42

ON 132

24/09/42

08/10/42

19/09/42

01/10/42

SC 102

03/10/42

06/10/42

22/10/42

22/10/42

KMS 001G

07/11/42

07/11/42

05/01/43

11/01/43

MKS 005

18/01/43

22/01/43

08/08/43

11/08/43

OS 053KM

17/08/43

17/08/43

17/08/43

17/08/43

OS 053

22/08/43

27/08/43

14/08/43

22/08/43

SL 135

26/08/43

27/08/43

27/08/43

27/08/43

SL 135MK

06/09/43

06/09/43

17/09/43

17/09/43

OS 055KM

28/09/43

28/09/43

28/09/43

28/09/43

OS 055

08/10/43

08/10/43

02/11/43

02/11/43

SL 139

16/11/43

14/11/43

29/11/43

29/11/43

KMS 033

09/12/43

09/12/43

16/12/43

17/12/43

GUS 025

28/12/43

17/01/44

03/01/44

03/01/44

KMS 036

13/01/44

13/01/44

20/01/44

21/01/44

MKS 038

01/02/44

01/02/44

11/02/44

11/02/44

MKS 039G

12/02/44

12/02/44

12/02/44

12/02/44

SL 148MK

20/02/44

24/02/44

27/08/44

27/08/44

MKS 060

07/09/44

07/09/44

04/09/44

06/09/44

KMS 061

14/09/44

14/09/44

12/10/44

03/11/44

UGS 057

08/11/44

09/11/44

24/12/44

24/12/44

MKF 036A

29/12/44

29/12/44

 

 

 

 

 

(Note on Convoys)

 

 

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