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)