H
. M .
S . S T U R D Y ( H 2 8 )
"S" Class Destroyer
ordered in 1917 from Scotts of Green under the 1917 - 18 Programme in the 12th
Order with HM Destroyers STRENUOUS
and STRONGHOLD. The ship was launched on 25th June 1919 as the first 1st RN ship to carry
the name. Build was completed in 1920 and she was fitted for use as a minelayer when required.
After some service in the operational Fleet she was reduced to Reserve and
brought forward in 1939 before the
outbreak of war.
B a t t l e H o n o u r
ATLANTIC 1939
H e r a l d i c D a t a
Badge: On a field Silver. a Pine tree proper
Motto
'Strong to endure'
D e t a i l s o f
W a r S e r v i c e
1 9 3 9
August Preparation
for foreign service at Hong Kong.
September Deployed
in Mediterranean having been diverted during passage to Hong Kong to
join Local Flotilla
Carried out contraband control duty.
October Mediterranean patrol in continuation.
to Transferred for escort of Atlantic convoys.
December
1 9 4 0
January Atlantic and Mediterranean patrol and convoy defence in
continuation.
to May
June Transferred
to Western Approaches for Atlantic convoy escort duty.
Part of Escort for Convoy HG53 from Gibraltar to Cape Finisterre.
July Deployed
on Atlantic convoy defence.
to September
October
18th Joined Atlantic Convoy HX73 from Halifax
to UK with H M Destroyer WHITEHALL,
HM
Minesweeper JASON, HM Corvettes HIBISCUS, HELIOTROPE,
COREOPSIS
and ARABIS, HM Trawlers LADY
ELSA, BLACKFLY and ANGLE.
Dutch submarine O.21 was also part of the escort
as an ‘experiment' for attack on
commerce raiders.
19th Under attack by group of U-Boats
during which 12 merchant ships were sunk and two
damaged, representing 24.5%
of the convoy.
(Note: This disastrous
event highlighted the failure of the escort and resulted in a
drastic re-appraisal of
techniques - See THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC
by D MacIntyre
and U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC (HMSO).
30th Ran aground on Isle of Tiree and
wrecked
Special Note
This name was carried forward
for the second time on 22nd September 1943 when HM Submarine STURDY was launched at
Birkenhead by Cammell Laird shipyard. This submarine was deployed in the Indian Ocean and added
the Battle Honour MALAYA 1945 for use by successors in the future.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of
HMS STURDY
by Don Kindell
Date convoy
Joined convoy
Convoy
No. Left convoy Date convoy
Sailed as escort arrived
13/06/40 13/06/40 HG 034F 19/06/40 19/06/40
15/10/40 15/10/40 OB 229 18/10/40 18/10/40
18/10/40 19/10/40 HX 079 unknown 23/10/40
25/10/40 25/10/40 OL 009 27/10/40 27/10/40
15/10/40 30/10/40 SC 008 30/10/40 31/10/40
(Note
on Convoys)