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SERVICE HISTORIES of ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS in WORLD WAR 2
by Lt Cdr Geoffrey B Mason RN (Rtd) (c) 2005

HMS LUDLOW (G 57) - ex-US Destroyer
including Convoy Escort Movements 

Edited by Gordon Smith, Naval-History.Net

HMS Churchill, Type A close sister-ship (Navy Photos, click to enlarge)

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Ex USS STOCKTON (Type D - LEWES-Class) built by Cramp. The ship was launched on 17th July 1917 and build was completed on was completed on 26th November 1917. She was transferred under the UK/US Lend Lease Agreement.. On 2nd October 1940 when this ship commissioned into RN service she was renamed LUDLOW which is cannon to a town in Shropshire and to one in Vermont, USA. She was the third RN ship to carry this name which was introduced in 1698 for a 5th Rate and previously used for a WW1 minesweeper lost in 1916. Unlike the majority of the destroyers transferred from the US Navy in 1940, this ship and HMS LUDLOW had only 3 funnels and a main propulsion system outdated on build in 1916. After a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in March 1942 she was adopted by the civil community of Hartlepool, then in County Durham, but now part of Cleveland.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

 

ATLANTIC 1941-42 - NORTH SEA 1942-45.

 

H e r a l d i c  D a t a

Badge: On a Field Blue, a porcupine Gold charged with

a hurt thereon a mullet White.

 

 

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 4 0

 

September             Prepared for transfer to RN

 

October

                2nd         Commissioned as HMS LUDLOW at Halifax.

                                Prepared for passage to Plymouth via St Johns, Newfoundland.

 

November

                17th        Taken in hand by HM Devonport for refit and modifications to suit RN service.

                                (Note This included removal of the two 3in mountings mounted on either beam.)

 

December              Under refit

                                Allocated for service in Rosyth Escort Force.

 

1 9 4 1

 

January                  Under refit

to                            (Note: The work required to deal with problems related to the design and operation

February                of the propulsion machinery extended the period of refit.

 

March

                1st           Carried out post refit sea trials on completion of dockyard work

                                Passage to Rosyth

                                (Note: Work-up deployment to be confirmed)

                                One source quotes involvement in collision with RFA PETROBUS.

 

April                       Deployed for convoy defence based at Rosyth

to

July

 

August                  Withdrawn from service for repair and boiler re-tubing

                                (Note: Repair work carried out at Liverpool .

 

September             Paid-off in Liverpool for extensive repair

 

October                  Under repair

 

November              Re-commissioned and resumed service at Roysth after post repair trials.

 

December              Deployed for convoy defence based at Rosyth.

 

1 9 4 2

 

January                  Convoy defence duties in continuation.

to

July

 

August                  Coastal convoy defence restricted to North Sea traffic between Methil and Southend.

to                            (Note: This change suggests ship had proved unsuitable for escort of convoys from Forth

December              to Clyde through NW Approaches.)

                                Surface warning radar Type 271 was fitted by this period.

                                For details of development and use of radar by RN see RADAR AT SEA by D. Howse).

 

1 9 4 3

 

                                East coast convoy defence in continuation.

                                (Note: Radar Type 291 to provide some warning of aircraft approach was fitted).

                                One source records involvement in collision with trawler in September.)

 

1 9 4 4

 

January                  East coast deployment in continuation

to

May

 

June                        Transferred to English Channel for support of allied landings in Normandy

                                (Note: One source records ship was used for transfer of MULBERRY harbour sections.

                                This is be confirmed and ship may have been used as an escort during towing

                                operations. No award of Battle Honour NORMANDY was made.)

                                Resumed East coast convoy defence on completion.

 

July                         East coast deployment in continuation.

to

September

 

October

                15th        Grounded during tow of mercantile WILLIAM BRADIE and sustained damage to underwater

                                Sonar Dome.

                                Under repair

 

November              Deployed for East coast convoy defence on completion.

to

December

 

1 9 4 5

 

January                  East coast deployment in continuation

                26th        Grounded and again sustained damage to Sonar Dome.

 

February                Resumed East coast deployment

to                            (Note: Radio Telephone equipment for contact with other escorts and aircraft had been fitted

April                       by this period.)

 

May                        Withdrawn for service after VE Day

                                Paid-off and de-equipped at Rosyth

                                Selected for use as a target for training aircrew in rocket attacks on shipping.

 

June

                6th          Towed to Broadsands and beached off Fidra Island off North Berwick

                                Sustained severe damage during this use in position 56.03N 0.45W

 

July

                5th          Declared as Total Loss.

                                Hulk sold for demolition on site.

                                (Note: This work seems never to have been seriously attempted as the remains are still

                                visible at Low Water.)

 


 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of  HMS LUDLOW

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

 

 

 

 

 

23/01/42

26/01/42

WN 235

26/01/42

26/01/42


03/04/42

04/04/42

WN 265

05/04/42

05/04/42


05/12/44

05/12/44

ATM 004

06/12/44

06/12/44

 

 

 

 

 

(Note on Convoys)

 

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