HMS Stork (L81)

	HMS Stork in July 1943
History
United Kingdom
Name	HMS Stork
Ordered	1 May 1935
Builder	William Denny & Brothers, Dumbarton
Laid down	19 June 1935
Launched	21 April 1936
Commissioned	10 September 1936
Identification	Pennant number: L81 / U81
Fate	Broken up at Troon 1958
General characteristics
Class and type	sloop
Displacement	1,190 tons
Length	266 ft (81 m)
Beam	37 ft (11 m)
Propulsion	Geared steam turbines on two shafts; 3,300 hp;
Speed	18.75-knot (34.73 km/h)
Complement	125
Armament	6 × 4-inch (102 mm) DP guns; 4 × 0.5-inch (13 mm) AA machine guns;

HMS Stork (L81) was a

Second World War, serving in convoy escort groups, and was a successful anti-submarine warfare vessel, being credited with the destruction of four U-boats

.

Construction

Stork was laid down on 19 June 1935 by

Commander-in-Chief, China, and operated in Malayan waters until 1939. With war in Europe looming she returned to Devonport in early 1939 for refit and for installation of her main armament and anti-aircraft guns.^[2]

Service history

At the outbreak of hostilities in September 1939 Stork was still refitting; by November she had completed trials and was assigned to convoy escort duty in the North Sea, on the east coast routes.

In April 1940 Stork took part in the

Narvik came under air attack, assisting later in the rescue of survivors from the transport MS Chrobry

.

In September 1940 Stork was damaged by air attack on an east coast convoy and spent the next six months in dock.

Stork completed repairs and trials in June 1941 and in August, under the command of Cdr FJ "Johnnie" Walker, was assigned to lead the 36th Escort Group (36 EG), employed escorting convoys to and from Gibraltar and the South Atlantic. In December 1941, while off Gibraltar, Stork and Samphire attacked U-568, which was damaged and forced to return to base.^[3] Later that month Stork and 36EG escorted HG 76 from Gibraltar homeward, augmented by the new escort carrier Audacity and other ships. During the journey five U-boats were sunk, four by ships of 36 EG, with Stork taking part in the destruction of U-131, and U-574, which was depth-charged and rammed by Stork.^[4]

Stork continued with 36 EG until mid-1942. On 14 April, while with

Fishery Protection Squadron where she served for two years before being put in reserve again. She was decommissioned and broken up in 1958.^[2]

Battle honours

Norway

1940

North Sea 1940

Atlantic 1940-44
North Africa 1942
Normandy 1944^[9]

Successes

During her service Stork was credited with the destruction of four U-boats:

Date	U-boat	Type	Location^[10]	Notes
17 December 1941	U-131	IXC	off Cape St. Vincent 34°12′N 13°35′W / 34.200°N 13.583°W / 34.200; -13.583	contact by Martlet 802 Sqdn (HMS Audacity), pursued and sunk by gunfire, Stanley, Blankney, Exmoor, Pentstemon, Stork^[11]^[12]
19 December 1941	U-574	VIIC	off Lisbon 38°12′N 17°23′W / 38.200°N 17.383°W / 38.200; -17.383	d/c and rammed by Stork^[13]^[14]
14 April 1942	U-252	VIIC	NW of Cape Finisterre 47°00′N 18°14′W / 47.000°N 18.233°W / 47.000; -18.233	contact by Vetch, d/c by Vetch, Stork^[15]^[16]
30 August 1943	U-634	VIIC	W of Cape Finisterre 40°13′N 19°24′W / 40.217°N 19.400°W / 40.217; -19.400	d/c by Stonecrop, Stork^[17]^[18]