HMS Stalker (L3515)

{{Short description|1944 LST(3)-class tank landing ship}} {{other ships|HMS Stalker}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}{{Use British English|date=March 2017}} {{Infobox ship |section1={{Infobox ship/image |image= HMS stalker 2010.JPG |image_caption=HMS ''Stalker'' in 2010 }}

|section2={{Infobox ship/career |country=United Kingdom |flag={{shipboxflag|United Kingdom|naval}} |name=HMS ''Stalker'' |ordered= |builder=Yarrows Ltd., Esquimalt |laid_down= |launched=16 December 1944 |acquired= |commissioned= 1947 |decommissioned=May 1970 |renamed=Was ''LST 3515'' until 1947 |reclassified=Submarine support ship in 1958 |nickname= |honours= |fate=*Sold for scrapping in 2002 *Scrapped in 2010 |notes= }}

|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics |type=Landing Ship, Tank Mk III |tonnage=*{{convert|2256|LT|t|0|lk=in|abbr=on}} (light) *{{convert|4980|LT|t|0|lk=in|abbr=on}} (deep load) |length={{convert|345.57|ft|m|abbr=on}} |beam={{convert|53.97|ft|m|abbr=on}} |draught={{convert|12|ft|5|in|m|abbr=on}} |depth={{convert|11.51|ft|m|abbr=on}} |propulsion=*2 shafts *vertical triple expansion *2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers *5500ihp |speed= {{convert|13.5|kn|km/h|lk=in}} |range= 1400 tons of oil |capacity=*170 troops *15 × 40 ton tanks or 20 x 25-ton tanks *14 × 3-ton lorries |complement=118-190 |sensors= |EW= |armament= *4 × 40mm Bofors (2 x 2) *6 × 20mm guns |armour= |notes= }} }}

'''HMS ''Stalker''''' was a Mark III LST (Landing Ship, Tank)<ref name=warship2006>{{Citation| year=2006| contribution=Warship notes| editor-last=Jordan| editor-first=John|title=Warship 2006| publisher=Anova Books | page=151|isbn=978-1-84486-089-0 }}</ref> that was built during the later part of the Second World War, and became the last steam-driven LST to be scrapped.<ref name=news2008 /> She initially entered service under the designation ''LST 3515'', but was commissioned into the Royal Navy in 1947 as HMS ''Stalker''.

The ship was built by Canadian Yarrow at Esquimalt.<ref name= NHSanual /> She was completed too late to see action in the war, and eventually served in a submarine support role in Northern Ireland,<ref name=NHSanual>{{cite web |url=http://www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/data/files/web_pages.pdf |title=Annual Report April 2008 – March 2009 |publisher=National Historic Ships |page=45 |access-date=9 September 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002142050/http://www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/data/files/web_pages.pdf |archive-date=2 October 2011 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> before being transferred to Rosyth dockyard as part of the nuclear submarine refit support.

== Scrapping == thumb|left|HMS ''Stalker'' being broken up The ship was added to the Royal Navy’s scrapping list in May 1970, though continuing to serve as part of the Submarine Refit Group in Rosyth Dockyard until 2002,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Name HMS Stalker {{!}} National Historic Ships |url=https://www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/register/1789/hms-stalker |access-date=2024-06-06 |website=www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk}}</ref> when nuclear refitting in Rosyth ceased. She was sold to Pounds of Portsmouth in 2002, arriving there to be scrapped on 10 December 2002. She was offered for preservation between 2004 and 2005, but it was confirmed in January 2006 that she would be broken up. After further discussions with heritage and preservation groups, in 2008 her bow doors were removed<ref name=news2008>{{cite news |title=HMS Stalker |newspaper=The News |date=8 September 2008 |url=http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/saveourships/HMS-Stalker.4468544.jp |access-date=10 September 2010}}</ref> and she was broken up in 2010 at Pounds scrap yard, a process recorded by National Historic Ships.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/news.php/116/hms-stalker-is-recorded |title=HMS Stalker is recorded · News · National Historic Ships |website=www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101102234702/http://www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/news.php/116/hms-stalker-is-recorded |archive-date=2010-11-02}}</ref>

==In popular culture== Whilst awaiting disposal at Pounds of Portsmouth, she was used for the filming of episodes 55 & 56 of ''Silent Witness'', as the fictitious ship ''Galle''. The fictitious name can be seen painted on the bow in the photo above the history section to the right.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}

==References== {{commons category|HMS Stalker (L3515)}} {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stalker, HMS}} Category:LST (3)-class tank landing ships Category:Ships built in Esquimalt Category:1944 ships Category:World War II amphibious warfare vessels of the United Kingdom Category:Ships and vessels on the National Archive of Historic Vessels