H.  M.  S.   S T O N E C R O P   ( K 6 8 9 )

 

"FLOWER" Class Corvette ordered on 15th December 1939 in the 1939 Build Programme from Smiths Dock, Middlesbrough and laid down as Job Number 4211 (Yard Number 1096) on 4th February 1941. The ship was launched on 27th May that year and was the 1st RN warship to carry the name. Build was completed on 11th August194l and after a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in February 1942 this ship ves ‘adopted’ by the civil community of Dukinfield, then in the county of Cheshire but now in the Tameside Borough of Greater Manchester.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

                                                        ATLANTIC 1941-45               ENGLISH CHANNEL 1945

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

 

The Admiralty Heraldic Crest Record does not include any

details for this ship. This is not unusual for a smaller war time

build,. but many did however have an unofficial badge,

sometimes it incorporated the flower after which the ship

was named.

 

S u m m a ry   o f   W a r   S e r v i c e

 

1 9 4 1

 

 

August               Contractors trials and commissioning.

                            Nominated for service in 37th Escort Group.

            11th         Build completion date and commenced Acceptance Trials..

                            Passage to Tobermory after completion of trials and storing.

 

September           Passage to join Group on completion of work-up for operational service

 

October               Deployed with Group for escort of OS Series convoys to West Africa and returning SL Series

                             to Liverpool.

                             (Note: Other ships in this Group were HM Sloops BLACK SWAN,, FOWEY, HM Corvettes

                                         BLUEBELL, CAMPANULA, CARNATION, HELIOTROPE, MALLOW, MYSOTIS

                                         AND Free French LA MALOUINE.

 

November           Atlantic convoy defence in continuation with Group.

to

December

 

1 9 4 2

 

January          Atlantic convoy defence in continuation with Group.

to                         (Note: For details of U-Boat operations see U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC (HMSO)., THE

December                        BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC by D Macintyre, and HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair

 

1 9 4 3

 

January               Atlantic convoy defence with Group in continuation

to                         (Note: For details of development of weapons and radar as well as of tactic used for attacks and

February                         defence of convoys see SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann, BUSINESS IN GREAT

                                        WATERS by J Terraine, RADAR AT SEA by D Howse and above references.)

                            Nominated for service at Freetown for Local Escort.

 

March                 Deployed as part of escort for Convoy OS45 for passage to Freetown.

 

April

             3rd         During defence of convoy carried out attacks on U124 with HMS BLACK SWAN.

                           Sank U124 by depth charge attacks in position 41.02N 15.39W (W of Oporto)

                           There were no survivors from U124. (See U-BOATS DESTROYED  by P Kemp.

 

May                    Atlantic convoy defence in continuation with Group.

to                        Deployed for escort of Freetown route convoys with ships of Group

July.                   (Note: HM Sloops FOWEY, STORK and DEPTFORD were part of 37th Escort Group by this period

                                       and also two Free French corvettes.)

 

August               Part of escort for outward Convoy SL135 during passage to Liverpool.

            30th        During defence of convoy carried out attacks on U634 with HM Sloop STORK.

                           (Note:: U634 was sunk by depth charge attacks west of Cape Finisterre in position 40.39N  19.24W

                                        There were no survivors)

 

September          Group deployment for Atlantic convoy defence based at Freetown in continuation.

to

 December

 

1 9 4 4

 

January               Convoy defence based at Freetown with Group in continuation

.to                        Transferred for service at Gibraltar.

December           (Note: No longer part of 37th Escort Group.)

 

1 9 4 5

 

January               Transferred to Home waters for convoy defence.

to                         (Note: During this period a significant increase in attacks on convoys in English Channel and Irish

May                                Sea by SCHNORKEL fitted submarines which made necessary extensive reinforcement of

                                        escorts In Home waters.

                                        (See HOLD THE NARROW SEA by P Smith and ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE

                                        CLOSELY by C  Bamett.)

 

June                    Home waters deployment in continuation

to                        Nominated to Pay-off and  reduce to Reserve Status.

August

 

P o s t   W a r   N o t e s

 

HMS STONECROP was paid off and reduced to Reserve after VE Day and laid up. The ship was placed on the Disposal List in 1946 and sold for use as a mercantile on 17th May 1947. She was renamed ss SILVER KING on purchase and was renamed MARTHA VINKE when transferred to a new owner in 1950. Details of final disposal cannot be traced.