Name Success Fate Transferred to Norway Namesake The island of Stord Construction started 25 February 1942 Length 112 m | Laid down 25 February 1942 Name Stord Commissioned 26 August 1943 Launched 3 March 1943 Builder J. Samuel White | |
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HNoMS Stord was a S-class destroyer built for the Royal Navy during the Second World War, which was transferred to the exiled Royal Norwegian Navy in 1943.
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Description
Stord displaced 1,710 long tons (1,740 t) at standard load and 2,530 long tons (2,570 t) at deep load. She had an overall length of 362 feet 9 inches (110.6 m), a beam of 35 feet 8 inches (10.9 m) and a deep draught of 14 feet 6 inches (4.4 m). She was powered by two Parsons geared steam turbines, each driving one propeller shaft, using steam provided by two Admiralty three-drum boilers. The turbines developed a total of 40,000 shaft horsepower (30,000 kW) and gave a maximum speed of 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph). Stord carried a maximum of 615 long tons (625 t) of fuel oil that gave her a range of 4,675 nautical miles (8,658 km; 5,380 mi) at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph). Her complement was 170 officers and ratings.
The ship was armed with four 45-calibre 4.7-inch (120 mm) Mark XII guns in dual-purpose mounts. For anti-aircraft (AA) defence, Stord had one twin mount for Bofors 40 mm guns and four twin 20-millimetre (0.8 in) Oerlikon autocannon. She was fitted with two above-water quadruple mounts for 21-inch (533 mm) torpedoes. Two depth charge rails and four throwers were fitted for which 70 depth charges were provided.
Construction and career
She was laid down as HMS Success, but transferred to the Norwegians before completion. She was renamed HNoMS Stord when commissioned on 26 August 1943 under the command of Lt.-Cdr. Skule Storheill. The ship served in the Home Fleet in the 23rd Destroyer Flotilla. She played an important role in the sinking of the German battleship Scharnhorst. After the battle, Admiral Fraser sent the following message to the Admiralty: "... Please convey to the C-in-C Norwegian Navy. Stord played a very daring role in the fight and I am very proud of her...".
In an interview in The Evening News on 5 January 1944 the commanding officer of HMS Duke of York said: "... the Norwegian destroyer Stord carried out the most daring attack of the whole action..."
On 28 September 2014 torpedo commander Håkon Nilsen (1913-1976) aboard Stord was the first and only Norwegian war veteran who in recognition of heroic service was awarded posthumously the Arctic Star. In 1944 she also took part in the Normandy landings.
Postwar
Stord was officially purchased from the UK government in 1946 and scrapped in Belgium in 1959.
A model of Stord (approximately 300:1) can be seen in the D-Day museum at Arromanche, Normandy.
In 2015 another Arctic Star was awarded to Chief Petty Officer Arne Olsen (1917-1990) who saw active service for the Norwegian Navy.