View source for SS Storaa

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2017}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
| Ship image               = 
| Ship caption             = 
}}
{{Infobox ship career
| Hide header              = 
| Ship name                =*''Wellpark'' (1918–28)
*''Navex'' (1928–37)
*''Prina'' (1937–38)
*''Willy'' (1938–39)
*''Storaa'' (1939–40)
*''Saint Edmond'' (1940–43)
*''Storaa'' (1943)
| Ship owner               =*Denholm Line Steamers Ltd (1918–28)
*SA Navex Société d'Expedition et de Navigation (1928–37)
*SA Société Belge d'Entreprises Commerciales (1937–38)
*NV Europeësche Vrachtvaart Maatschappij (1938–39)
*Dampskibs Hetland AS (1939–40)
*Ministry of Shipping (1940)
*Vichy Government (1940–43)
*Ministry of War Transport (1943)
| Ship operator            =*J & J Denholm Ltd (1918–28)
*SA Navex Société d'Expedition et de Navigation (1928–37)
*NV Nederlandsch Bevrachtingskantoor (1937–39)
*T Basse (1939–40)
*W T Gould (1940)
*Vichy Government (1940–43)
*W T Gould (1943)
| Ship registry            =*{{Flagicon|UKGBI|civil}}Greenock (1918–23)
*{{flagicon|United Kingdom|civil}} Greenock (1923–28)
*{{Flagicon|Belgium}} Antwerp (1928–38)
*{{flagicon|Netherlands}} Amsterdam (1939–39)
*{{flagicon|Denmark}} Copenhagen (1939–40)
*{{flagicon|United Kingdom|civil}} London (1940)
*{{flagicon|France}} Vichy France (1940–43)
*{{flagicon|United Kingdom|civil}} (1943)
| Ship route               = 
| Ship ordered             = 
| Ship builder             = Greenock & Grangemouth Dockyard Co Ltd
| Ship original cost       = 
| Ship yard number         = 371
| Ship way number          = 
| Ship laid down           = 
| Ship launched            = 30 October 1917
| Ship completed           = April 1918
| Ship christened          = 
| Ship acquired            = 
| Ship maiden voyage       = 
| Ship in service          = 
| Ship out of service      = 1942–1943
| Ship identification      =*Code Letters MNRA (1928-34)
*{{ICS|Mike}}{{ICS|November}}{{ICS|Romeo}}{{ICS|Alpha}}
*Code Letters OOXA (1934-37)
*{{ICS|Oscar}}{{ICS|Oscar}}{{ICS|X-ray}}{{ICS|Alpha}}
*Code Letters ONKD (1937–38)
*{{ICS|Oscar}}{{ICS|November}}{{ICS|Kilo}}{{ICS|Delta}}
*Code Letters PIQI (1939–39)
*{{ICS|Papa}}{{ICS|India}}{{ICS|Quebec}}{{ICS|India}}
*Code Letters OZDP (1939–40)
*{{ICS|Oscar}}{{ICS|Zulu}}{{ICS|Delta}}{{ICS|Papa}}
*Code Letters GLDG (1940)
*{{ICS|Golf}}{{ICS|Lima}}{{ICS|Delta}}{{ICS|Golf}}
*United Kingdom [[Official Number]] 142256 (1918–28, 1940, 1943)
| Ship fate                = Torpedoed and sunk
| Ship notes               = 
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
| Hide header              = 
| Header caption           = 
| Ship type               = [[Cargo ship]]
| Ship tonnage             =*{{GRT|1980}}
*{{NRT|1,197}}
| Ship displacement        = 
| Ship length              = {{convert|280|ft|0|in|m|2|abbr=on}}
| Ship beam                = {{convert|41|ft|9|in|m|2|abbr=on}}
| Ship height              = 
| Ship draught             = {{convert|18|ft|1|in|m|2|abbr=on}}
| Ship draft               = 
| Ship depth               = {{convert|18|ft|9|in|m|2|abbr=on}}
| Ship decks               = 
| Ship deck clearance      = 
| Ship ramps               = 
| Ship ice class           = 
| Ship sail plan           = 
| Ship power               = 
| Ship propulsion          = Triple expansion steam engine
| Ship speed               = 
| Ship capacity            = 
| Ship crew                = 
| Ship notes               = 
}}
|}

'''''Storaa''''' was a {{GRT|1980|link=off}} cargo ship which was built in 1918 by the [[Greenock & Grangemouth Dockyard Company]] as '''''Wellpark''''' for [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|British]] owners. In 1927, she was sold to [[Belgium]] and was renamed '''''Navex'''''. A further sale in 1937 saw her renamed '''''Prina'''''. In 1938, she was sold to the [[Netherlands]] and was renamed '''''Willy'''''. In 1939, she was sold to [[Denmark]] and was renamed ''Storaa''.

She was detained at [[Casablanca]], [[Morocco]], in 1940 and subsequently taken over by the [[Vichy Government]] and renamed '''''Saint Edmond'''''. In November 1942, she was scuttled at [[Port Lyautey]]. ''Saint Edmond'' was raised in January 1943, and passed to the [[Ministry of War Transport]] (MoWT), regaining her previous name ''Storaa''. On 3 November 1943, ''Storaa'' was [[torpedo]]ed and sunk by [[E-boat|German Fast attack]] ''S 138'' off [[Hastings]] whilst a member of Convoy CW 221.

==Description==
The ship was built as yard number 371 in 1918 by the [[Greenock & Grangemouth Dockyard Company]], [[Grangemouth]]. She was completed in April 1918.<ref name=BelgeHO>{{cite web
 |url        = http://www.belgischekoopvaardij.net/belgian%20merchant%20H-O%2024.5.04.pdf
 |title      = Belgian Merchant H-O
 |publisher  = Belgische Koopvaardij
 |access-date = 28 November 2010
 
}}{{dead link|date=April 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

The ship was {{convert|280|ft|0|in|m|2}} long, with a beam of {{convert|41|ft|9|in|m|2}}. She had a depth of {{convert|18|ft|9|in|m|2}} and a draught of {{convert|18|ft|1|in|m|2}}.<ref name=Navex30>{{cite web
|url        = https://plimsoll.southampton.gov.uk/shipdata/pdfs/30/30b0838.pdf 
|title      = LLOYD'S REGISTER, NAVIRES A VAPEUR ET A MOTEURS 
|publisher  = Plimsoll Ship Data 
|access-date = 28 November 2010

}}</ref>

The ship was propelled by a [[triple expansion steam engine]], which had cylinders of {{convert|21|in|cm}}, {{convert|35|in|cm}} and {{convert|57|in|cm}} diameter by {{convert|36|in|cm}} stroke. The engine was built by Dunsmuir & Jackson Ltd, [[Glasgow]].<ref name=Navex30/><!-- It could propel the ship at {{convert|xx|kn|km/h}}.<ref name=name/>-->

==History==
''Wellpark'' was one of a series of six ships built by Greenock & Grangemouth Dockyard Company for Denholm Line Steamers Ltd, the others being ''Broompark'', ''Denpark'', ''Elmpark'', ''Hazelpark'' and ''Heathpark''.<ref name=Shipmakers>{{cite web
 |url=http://www.falkirk.gov.uk/services/community/cultural_services/museums/archives/finding_aids/PDFs/business/shipmakers.pdf 
 |title=Records of Businesses, Shipmaking, Shipping Industry, Marine Engines 
 |publisher=Falkirk Council 
 |access-date=28 November 2010 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110603231044/http://www.falkirk.gov.uk/services/community/cultural_services/museums/archives/finding_aids/PDFs/business/shipmakers.pdf 
 |archive-date=3 June 2011 
}}</ref> She was operated under the management of J & J Denholm Ltd. Her port of registry was [[Greenock]].<ref name=BelgeHO/> The United Kingdom [[Official Number]] 142265 was allocated.<ref name=Storaa39/> In 1928, she was sold to the SA Navex Société d'Expédition et de
Navigation and renamed ''Navex''.<ref name=BelgeHO/> Her port of registry was changed to [[Antwerp]] and the [[Code Letters]] MNRA were allocated.<ref name=Navex30/> In 1934, her Code letters were changed to OOXA.<ref name=Navex34>{{cite web
|url        = https://plimsoll.southampton.gov.uk/shipdata/pdfs/34/34b0597.pdf 
|title      = LLOYD'S REGISTER, NAVIRES A VAPEUR ET A MOTEURS 
|publisher  = Plimsoll Ship Data 
|access-date = 28 November 2010

}}</ref>

On 21 January 1937, ''Navex'' was sold to Société Belge d'Entreprises Commerciales (Sodeco), Antwerp. She was renamed ''Prina'' and placed under the management of NV Nederlandsch Bevrachtingskantoor.<ref name=BelgeHO/> Her Code Letters were changed to ONKD.<ref name=Prina37>{{cite web
|url        = https://plimsoll.southampton.gov.uk/shipdata/pdfs/37/37b0711.pdf 
|title      = LLOYD'S REGISTER, NAVIRES A VAPEUR ET A MOTEURS 
|publisher  = Plimsoll Ship Data 
|access-date = 28 November 2010

}}</ref> ''Prina'' was used to supply [[Second Spanish Republic|Republican-held]] ports during the [[Spanish Civil War]]. She was the only ship owned by Sodeco operated under the Belgian Flag. The company's other three ships operated under the [[Panama]]nian flag. On 7 May 1938, ''Prina'' was sold to the NV Europeësche Vrachtvaart Maatscappij, [[Rotterdam]] and was renamed ''Willy''.<ref name=BelgeHO/> Her port of registry was changed to [[Amsterdam]] and the Code Letters PIQI were allocated. ''Willy'' remained under the management of NV Nederlandsch Bevrachtingskantoor.<ref name=Willy38>{{cite web
|url        = https://plimsoll.southampton.gov.uk/shipdata/pdfs/38/38b1087.pdf 
|title      = LLOYD'S REGISTER, NAVIRES A VAPEUR ET A MOTEURS 
|publisher  = Plimsoll Ship Data 
|access-date = 28 November 2010

}}</ref>

In 1939, ''Willy'' was sold to Dampskibs Hetland AS and renamed ''Storaa'',<ref name=BelgeHO/> which is the [[Danish language|Danish]] for "Big River".<ref name="heritagecentre">{{cite web 
|title       = The Shipwreck and Coast Heritage Centre 
| url        = http://www.shipwreck-heritage.org.uk/museum/tour/index.html 
| access-date = 2006-10-12 
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061009171854/http://www.shipwreck-heritage.org.uk/museum/tour/index.html 
|archive-date = 2006-10-09

}}</ref> Her port of registry was changed to [[Copenhagen]],<ref name=BelgeHO/> and the Code Letters OZDP were allocated.<ref name=Storaa39>{{cite web
|url        = https://plimsoll.southampton.gov.uk/shipdata/pdfs/39/39b1066.pdf 
|title      = LLOYD'S REGISTER, NAVIRES A VAPEUR ET A MOTEURS 
|publisher  = Plimsoll Ship Data 
|access-date = 28 November 2010

}}</ref>

==War service==
On 9 April 1940, ''Storaa'' was requisitioned at [[Grangemouth]] by the [[Ministry of Shipping (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Shipping]].<ref name=BelgeHO/> She was reflagged to the United Kingdom. Her port of registry was changed to [[London]] and the Code Letters GLDG were allocated, with the ship regaining her [[Official Number]] 142256.<ref name=Storaa39/> She was operated under the management of W T Gould Ltd, [[Cardiff]]. In June 1940, ''Storaa'' was detained at [[Casablanca]], [[Morocco]].<ref name=BelgeHO/> Her crew were imprisoned, but they escaped deportation to a German work camp when the Allies invaded [[French North Africa]].<ref name="Guardian2003">{{cite news 
|title      = Legal Fight to Protect Grave of Wartime Seamen 
| work      = The Guardian
| url       = https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2003/nov/15/military.arts 
|access-date = 28 November 2010 
|location   = London 
|first      = Maev 
|last       = Kennedy 
|date       = 15 November 2003

}}</ref>

''Storaa'' was seized by the [[Vichy Government]] and renamed ''Saint Edmond''. She was scuttled at [[Port Lyautey]], Morocco in November 1942. In January 1943, she was refloated. The ship was renamed ''Storaa'', and passed to the MoWT.<ref name=BelgeHO/> She was refitted by her crew, and returned to the United Kingdom in June 1943.<ref name="Guardian2003"/>

== Sinking ==
From 1941, the MOWT had the power to requisition merchant ships, regulate and control the movement of ships and regulate the trade and the type and amount of cargo they carried. The MOWT also acted as the owning authority for all ships under government control.

On 2 November 1943, ''Storaa'' left [[Southend]] as part of Convoy CW 221, the 221st convoy proceeding along the Channel Westwards, transporting 2500 tons of tank parts from to a weapons factory in [[Cardiff]]. {{HMS|Whitshead}} was the escort to the convoy which consisted of 19 Merchant ships including ''Storaa''.<ref name="appealcourt">{{cite BAILII | litigants = R (Fogg and another) v Secretary of State for Defence | court = EWCA | division   = Civ | year = 2006 | num = 1270.html | date = 2006-10-05}}</ref> The bills of loading show that it had a cargo of 376 tons of [[steel]] slabs, 250 tons of steel billets and 608 tons of [[pig iron]] (a total of 1,234 tons).<ref name="HighCourt">{{cite BAILII 
| litigants = R (Fogg and another) v Secretary of State for Defence | year = 2005 |court = EWHC | num = 2888 | division = Admin}}</ref> However, a contemporary account by a survivor, 3rd officer, H B Knudsen,  describes the cargo as "tank parts and aircraft". Mr Knudsen describes loading the cargo:

<blockquote>
When we had unloaded the pulp, we then began to load [[caterpillar track]]s for the so-called "belt vehicles", which was very heavy material almost solid iron. That was put in the bottom of the ship, and then we filled up the rest with [[aeroplane]]s in large boxes. We even had some as deck cargo.
</blockquote>

According to Mr Knudsen, the ship was armed with one 12 pdr., 4 Oerlikons, 1 Strip Lewis and 2 [[P.A.C. Rockets]]. The crew was made up of a British and Danish volunteers under a Danish master and also included 4 Naval and 3 Army [[Defensively Equipped Merchant Ships|DEMS Gunners]], and there was one passenger (a pilot).  As part of the convoy, ''Storaa'' was legally required to defend herself and the rest of the convoy.  The Dover Strait and Wold Channel (known as Hell's Corner and E-boat alley), were the most dangerous sea passages in the world.

Just after midnight on 3 November 1943 German [[E-boat]]s were sighted. HMS ''Whitshead'' and the ''Storaa'' opened fire and the E-boats were driven off, but a quarter of an hour later a [[torpedo]] fired by {{ship|German torpedo boat|S 138||2}} struck ''Storaa'' amidships.<ref name=Jordan449>{{cite book 
|title     = The world's merchant fleets, 1939 
|first     = Roger 
|last      = Jordan 
|publisher = Chatham publishing 
|location  = London 
|year      = 1999 
|page      = 449 
|isbn      = 1-86176-023-X

}}</ref><!-- ref for S 138 only--> She was heavily laden and sank quickly.  Of the total of 36 people on board, 22 were lost (master, 1st and 2nd officers, 2nd and 3rd engineers, steward, cook, 1 naval and 2 army gunners, and 12 crew). Seven survivors from the ''Storaa'' were picked up by an English [[coastal trading vessel|coaster]] which was also part of the convoy, the rest being rescued by an M.L., and all were taken to [[Newhaven, East Sussex|Newhaven]].

==Designation under the Protection of Military Remains Act==
In 1985 John Short purchased for £150 the salvage rights to ''Storaa'', which lies in about {{convert|100|ft|m|0}} of water some {{convert|9|nmi|km}} off the [[East Sussex]] coast near [[Hastings]].  A year later, in 1986, the [[Protection of Military Remains Act 1986]] came into law.  Local historian and [[maritime archaeology|maritime archaeologist]], Dr Peter Marsden, Director of the Hastings Shipwreck Heritage Centre, wrote to the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]] in April 2000, requesting that ''Storaa'' should be designated under the Act. On 25 May 2000, the Ministry of Defence wrote back, refusing the request on the grounds that the vessel was not eligible to be designated under the Act, because it was not in military service at the time.

One of the men of the Royal Navy who had died on ''Storaa'' was [[Petty Officer]] James Varndell, who was 44 at the time.  In 2003, his daughters Rosemary Fogg and Valerie Ledgard made an application to the Ministry of Defence to designate the wreck to protect it as a ''[[war grave]]''.<ref name="Guardian2003" /> Their request was also refused by the Ministry of Defence. However, supported by Dr Marsden and by the Merchant Navy Association,<ref>{{cite web
 |title       = The Merchant Navy Association
 |url         = http://www.mna.org.uk/History.htm
 |access-date  = 2006-10-12
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20060923204628/http://www.mna.org.uk/History.htm
 |archive-date = 23 September 2006
 |df          = dmy-all
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news 
|title       = Merchant navy demo over war grave 
| work       = BBC News
| url        = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/southern_counties/4379080.stm 
| access-date = 2006-10-12 
| date       = 26 October 2005

}}</ref> they launched a request for a judicial review of the decision,<ref>{{cite news 
|title       = War grave legal fight can proceed 
| work       = BBC News
| url        = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/southern_counties/4421587.stm 
| access-date = 2006-10-12 
| date       = 7 April 2005

}}</ref> which was heard by the [[High Court of Justice|High Court]] on 26 October 2005.<ref name="HighCourt" /> His decision was that the Act could apply to merchant vessels and that the [[Secretary of State for Defence]] was therefore required to reconsider whether the ''Storaa'' should be designated under the Act.<ref>{{cite web|title=War grave verdict |work=Hastings Today |date=19 December 2005 |url=http://www.hastingstoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=479&ArticleID=1289939 |access-date=2006-10-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061118192713/http://www.hastingstoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=479 |archive-date=18 November 2006 }}</ref> The judge declined to decide on the legal issues of whether designation interfered with the salvage rights; on a dispute as to whether the wreck had been correctly identified; and on whether or not she was carrying tank parts or raw materials for the factory.<ref>{{cite news 
|title       = War grave fight 'evidence found' 
| work       = BBC News
| url        = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/southern_counties/4153440.stm 
| access-date = 2006-10-12 
| date       = 15 August 2005

}}</ref> These were matters that the Secretary of State should consider when the question of designation is reconsidered.

The Ministry of Defence appealed the decision,<ref>{{cite news 
| title      = Appeal over WWII war grave ruling 
| work       = BBC News
| url        = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/southern_counties/5185232.stm 
| access-date = 2006-10-12 
| date       = 18 July 2006

}}</ref> which was heard by the [[Court of Appeal of England and Wales|Appeal Court]] in 2006. The Court of Appeal decision of 5 October 2006<ref name="appealcourt" /> upheld the decision of the High Court.<ref name="Guardian2006">{{cite news 
| title      = Wreck of merchant ship can be war grave, say judges 
| work       = The Guardian
| url        = https://www.theguardian.com/secondworldwar/story/0,,1888850,00.html 
| access-date = 2006-10-12 
| location   = London 
| first      = Clare 
| last       = Dyer 
| date       = 6 October 2006

}}</ref><ref>{{cite news 
| title      = Degree of control crucial to war grave protection 
| work       = The Times Online
| date       = 10 October 2006 
| url        = http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,30589-2396620,00.html
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061010185959/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,30589-2396620,00.html
| url-status = dead
| archive-date = 10 October 2006
| access-date = 2006-10-12 
| location   = London 
| first1     = Rosemary 
| last1      = Bennett 
| first2     = Roland 
| last2      = Watson

}}</ref><ref>{{cite news 
|title       = Court victory over WWII war grave 
| work       = BBC News
| url        = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/southern_counties/5409732.stm 
| access-date = 2006-10-12 
| date       = 5 October 2006

}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
 |title=Court of Appeal upholds SS Storaa Judicial Review findings 
 |work=Defence News
 |date=6 October 2006 
 |url=http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/DefencePolicyAndBusiness/DefenceNewsDaily.htm 
 |access-date=2006-10-12 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061010194014/http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/DefencePolicyAndBusiness/DefenceNewsDaily.htm 
 |archive-date=10 October 2006 
}}</ref>

[[Wreck diving|Wreck divers]] fear that the case could lead to diving being prohibited on a large number of wrecks.<ref>{{cite web|title=Convoy ship deemed wargrave |work=Divernet Forum |date=5–9 October 2006 |url=http://www.diverforum.co.uk/talkforums/diverforum/posts/70480.html |access-date=2006-10-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160125111812/http://www.diverforum.co.uk/talkforums/diverforum/posts/70480.html |archive-date=25 January 2016 }}</ref>

The wreck was subsequently designated under the [[Protection of Military Remains Act 1986]] in 2008.<ref>{{cite web 
| title      = Statutory Instrument 2008/0950 
| publisher  = Office of Public Sector Information
|date        = 1 April 2008  
| url        = http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2008/uksi_20080950_en_1 
| access-date = 2008-07-19

}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{coord missing|Atlantic Ocean}}
{{November 1942 shipwrecks}}
{{November 1943 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Storaa}}
[[Category:1917 ships]]
[[Category:Ships built on the River Clyde]]
[[Category:Steamships of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:World War I merchant ships of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Merchant ships of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Steamships of Belgium]]
[[Category:Merchant ships of Belgium]]
[[Category:Steamships of the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Merchant ships of the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Steamships of Denmark]]
[[Category:World War II merchant ships of Denmark]]
[[Category:World War II merchant ships of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Steamships of France]]
[[Category:World War II merchant ships of France]]
[[Category:World War II shipwrecks in the English Channel]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in November 1942]]
[[Category:Court of Appeal (England and Wales) cases]]
[[Category:2006 in United Kingdom case law]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in November 1943]]