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)