- USS McCalla (DD-253)
The first USS "McCalla" (DD-253) was a "Clemson"-class
destroyer in theUnited States Navy . She transferred to theRoyal Navy as HMS "Stanley" (I73) duringWorld War II .As USS "McCalla"
Named for
Bowman H. McCalla , she was laid down25 September 1918 and launched18 February 1919 by theBethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation ; sponsored by Mrs. Elizabeth McCalla Miller, daughter of Rear Admiral McCalla, and commissioned19 May 1919, Lieutenant Commander G. B. Ashe in command."McCalla" remained in active status for less than 7 months. On
26 November 1919 she went into reserve at the Norfolk Navy Yard and decommissioned30 June 1922 . After war broke out inEurope , the destroyer recommissioned18 December 1939 and prepared for turnover toGreat Britain .As HMS "Stanley"
She decommissioned and became a ship of the Royal Navy
23 October 1940 at Halifax, Nova Scotia as one of the destroyers transferred to England in exchange for bases in theWest Indies . Commissioned as HMS "Stanley" (I73) she was designated for service in the Fourth “Town” Flotilla and departed Halifax1 November . At St. John’s on the 5th, when the Germanpocket battleship "Admiral Scheer" attacked a convoy underway for the United Kingdom, sinking six ships, "Stanley" was dispatched to escort the convoy back toNova Scotia . She rendezvoused with ships 60 miles out and escorted 15 vessels toTrinity Harbour . Delayed further for repairs, she finally got underway14 December , arriving atPlymouth ,England ,2 January 1941 . "Stanley" was modified for long range trade convoy escort service by removal of the two forward boilers and substitution of additional fuel tanks. This modification improved endurance but reduced top speed to 25 knots. Three of the original4"/50 caliber gun s and one of the tripletorpedo tube mounts were removed to reduce topside weight for additionaldepth charge stowage and installation of hedgehog. [Lenton&Colledge (1968) pp.92-94]Ready for service by August, "Stanley" was assigned first to the Western Approaches Command and then to the 40th Escort Group. One of her first convoys took her to
Freetown ,Sierra Leone , escorting ships carrying troops and equipment for Commonwealth units in theMiddle East . On the return voyage she escorted a merchant convoy, departing30 November . AtGibraltar in mid-December she joinedConvoy HG-76 , departing14 December for Britain. On the 17th one of theescort carrier "Audacity's" aircraft sighted asubmarine 22 miles on the port beam of the convoy. "Stanley" and four other escorts quickly established contact, sank U-131, and picked up 55 survivors. The next day, "Stanley", with "Blankney", scored another success, sinking U-434 and picking up 42 of her crew.On
19 December 1941 , success ran out. "Stanley", on station astern of the convoy, reported the presence of anotherU-boat . Half an hour later U-574 scored a direct hit; "Stanley" exploded and sank (coord|38|12|N|17|23|W|) with the loss of all but 25 of her crew. Within 12 minutes, however, sloop "Stork" (L81) responded and sank the submarine; 16 survivors were picked up.ee also
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List of United States Navy destroyers Notes
References
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*DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/m7/mccalla-ii.htmExternal links
*http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/253.htm
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