USS McCalla ( DD - 253 ) The first USS " McCalla " ( DD - 253 ) was a " Clemson " - class destroyer in the United States Navy . She transferred to the Royal Navy as HMS " Stanley " ( I73 ) during World War II . As USS " McCalla " . Named for Bowman H . McCalla , she was laid down 25 September 1918 and launched 18 February 1919 by the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation ; sponsored by Mrs . Elizabeth McCalla Miller , daughter of Rear Admiral McCalla , and commissioned 19 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 decommissioned 30 June 1922 . After war broke out in Europe , the destroyer recommissioned 18 December 1939 and prepared for turnover to Great 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 the West Indies . Commissioned as HMS " Stanley " ( I73 ) she was designated for service in the Fourth “ Town ” Flotilla and departed Halifax 1 November . At St . John ’ s on the 5th , when the German pocket battleship " Admiral Scheer " attacked a convoy underway for the United Kingdom , sinking six ships , " Stanley " was dispatched to escort the convoy back to Nova Scotia . She rendezvoused with ships 60 miles out and escorted 15 vessels to Trinity Harbour . Delayed further for repairs , she finally got underway 14 December , arriving at Plymouth , 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 original 4 " / 50 caliber gun s and one of the triple torpedo tube mounts were removed to reduce topside weight for additional depth charge stowage and installation of hedgehog . 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 the Middle East . On the return voyage she escorted a merchant convoy , departing 30 November . At Gibraltar in mid - December she joined Convoy HG - 76 , departing 14 December for Britain . On the 17th one of the escort carrier " Audacity ' s " aircraft sighted a submarine 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 another U - boat . Half an hour later " U - 574 " scored a direct hit ; " Stanley " exploded and sank ( ) 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 .