BLACK
SWAN-Class
Sloop ordered from Yarrow's of Scotstoun,
Glasgow on
1st January 1938 under the 1937 Build
Programme. The ship was laid down on
20th
June 1938 and launched on 17th July
1939 by Mrs Hogarth.
She was the first RN ship to carry
this name and build was completed on
27th
January 1940. After a successful
WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign
in
March 1942 the ship was adopted by the
civil community
of Widnes, Lancashire.
B
a t t
l e H o n o u r s
NORWAY 1940 - ATLANTIC 1941-43 - NORTH
SEA 1940 - KOREA 1950-51
H e r
a l d i
c D a
t a
Badge: On a Field White,.
upon water in base barry
wavy Blue and White,
a black swan proper.
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
January
Contractor's
trials and commissioned for service.
27th
Build completion date and commenced
Acceptance Trials
February
On
completion of trials and storing took
passage to Portland to work-up
for operational
Duties.
On completion joined Rosyth Escort
Force for AA defence of East Coast
convoys.
March
North Sea convoy defence in
continuation.
8th
After German invasion of Norway
transferred to Home Fleet for AA
defence in support
of military operations in Norway.
14th
Embarked Royal Marines, with
supporting Army AA weapons,
searchlight units and stores
at Rosyth.
Took passage to make landings at
Andalsnes with HM Sloops AUCKLAND,
FLAMINGO
and BITTERN (Operation PRIMROSE).
15th
Delayed on passage by heavy weather
and sheltered at Invergordon.
17th
Disembarked troops at Andalsnes and
went to Alesund to land guns and
crews.
Returned to Andalsnes as AA Guardship.
19th
Under sustained air attacks for two
days in Ronsdal Fjord
20th
Deployed as AA Guardship at Andalsnes
and under heavy air attacks.
21st
Relieved by HM Cruiser CURACOA and
returned to UK to replenish
ammunition.
26th
Deployed as AA Guardship at Andalsnes
and again subjected to continual air
attack.
27th
Only 70 rounds of HA ammunition left
which restricted extent of AA fire.
Hit aft in dive bombing attack.
Bomb passed through Wardroom and the
4in magazine
before
exploding under hull.
Sustained serious flooding and
structural damage but without
affecting
propulsion and
steering.
Withdrew to seaward and relieved by HM
Sloop FLEETWOOD.
28th
Passage to UK for repair.
(For full details of the disastrous
Norwegian operations in 1940 see
NARVIK by D.
Macintyre, CARRIER GLORIOUS by J
Winton, THE DOOMED EXPEDITION by J
Adams
and Naval Staff History (HMSO, 2001).)
May
Under repair at Falmouth.
Pennant Number for visual signalling
purposes changed to U57-
June
On completion of post refit trials
rejoined Rosyth Escort Force in
continuation
of
North
Sea
convoy defence.
July
North
Sea deployment in continuation.
to
October
November
1st
Damaged by mine detonation.
3rd
Taken in hand for repair at commercial
shipyard in Dundee.
December
Under repair.
1
9 4 1
January
Under repair
to
April
May
16th
On completion carried out post refit
trials and took passage to Scapa
Flow..
Worked-up for service at Scapa Flow
with ships of Home Fleet.
June
Work up in continuation.
27th
Joined 1st Escort Division in Western
Approaches Command.
July
Deployed in Irish Sea for AA defence
of convoys.
August
25th
Damaged in air attack at Milford Haven
and taken to Pembroke Dock.
September
Under repair.
11th
On completion resumed convoy defence
in Irish Sea.
October
Transferred to Londonderry for
Atlantic convoy defence
Joined 37th Escort Group for convoy
escort between Gibraltar and UK.
November
Atlantic convoy defence in
continuation.
(Note: During this period HF/D/F
equipment and air warning radar Type
291 were fitted..
See RADAR AT SEA by D Howse and SEEK
AND STRIKE by W Hackmann).
December
14th
Deployed at Gibraltar and escorted
Convoy HG76 with ships of 36th Escort
Group
for initial stage of passage to UK.
(For details see THE BATTLE OF THE
ATLANTIC BY D Macintyre and HITLER’S
U-BOAT WAR
by C Blair.
Under heavy U-Boat attacks.
18th
Detached from HG76 and returned to
Gibraltar.
1
9 4 2
January
Atlantic convoy defence with Group in
continuation.
to
May
June
Under refit at Rosyth.
(Note: Radar Type 285 for fire control
fitted. See above reference.)
July
On completion of post refit trials and
calibration resumed Atlantic escort.
August
Deployed in Atlantic for convoy
defence
to
September
October
Escorted military convoys for landings
in North Africa
(Operation TORCH – For details see
ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by
C Barnett, BRITISH INVASION FLEETS by
J de Winser and Naval Staff History.)
November
Gibraltar route convoy defence in
continuation.
to
December
1
9 4 3
January
Gibraltar route convoy escort in
continuation.
to
February
March
Transferred to UK - Freetown route
convoy defence.
April
2nd
Participated in sinking of U124 in
position 41.02N 15.39W (WNW of
Lisbon.) with
HM Corvette STONECROP during defence
of Convoy OS45.
(Note: Ships of Group carried out
anti-submarine operations.).
May
Freetown route convoy defence in
continuation.
June
Damaged by an explosion alongside ship
(Note: This could have been due to
premature explosion of depth charges
or by a torpedo
which detonated prematurely
7th
Taken in hand for repair at Liverpool.
In commercial shipyard.
July
Under repair
to
September
October
Carried out post-refit trials on
completion of shipyard work.
8th
On completion went to Tobermory for
work-up.
Withdrawn from work-up for repair of
defects found during work-up
Repair arranged in commercial shipyard
at Troon. Ayrshire.
November
Under repair.
December
Resumed Atlantic escort duty.
Escorted military Convoy KMF28 to
Gibraltar.
Joined 51st Escort Group on arrival.
1
9 4 4
January
Deployed on escort of Mediterranean
convoys between Gibraltar and Port
Said.
to
February
March
30th
Reinforced US Task Force 64 ships with
HM Cruiser COLOMBO, HM Sloops
DEPTFORD,
AMETHYST, and HM Corvette CAMPION in
escort of Convoy UGS36.
(Note: Convoy included 37 mercantiles
and 13 Landing Ship Tank on passage
from USA to
the eastern Mediterranean.)
31st
Drove off U-Boat attack on convoy by
U421, U450 and U509 with USS TOUCH.
April
Mediterranean convoy defence in
continuation.
to
During this period surface warning
radar Type 272 was replaced by an
improved outfit
August
(Type 276) at Alexandria. See RADAR AT
SEA by D Hawse).
September
Nominated for transfer to Western
Approaches Command based at Holyhead,
Anglesey for
defence of UK coastal convoys based at
Holyhead.
October
Passage to UK.
November
Deployed on Atlantic convoy defence
and transferred
to
Clyde
in continuation.
Nominated for service in Far East
after refit
December
Taken in hand for refit in
commercial shipyard at
Leith
and prepared for foreign service
1
9 4 5
January
Under refit.
to
March
April
Carried out post refit trials upon
completion of shipyard work.
Passage to Tobermory.
10th
Worked-up for operational service at
Tobermory.
May
Deployed for convoy escort in Home
waters with 12th Escort Group
Under repair at Devonport.
June
Prepared for foreign service.
22nd
Took passage to Malta for training
exercises prior to Pacific deployment.
June
On
completion of exercises with
Mediterranean Fleet ships took
passage to Manus to join
British Pacific Fleet.
August
On passage.
P
o s t W a
r N o t e s
HMS
BLACK SWAN joined Fleet units in Hong
Kong after
arrival at Manus and assisted in
operations associated with
re-occupation and repatriation. She
continued
her Far East deployment with 1st
Escort Flotilla and later joined the
3rd
Escort Flotilla. After the outbreak of
the Korean war the ship took part in
patrol and support of military
operations off the west coast of Korea
with
other snips of her Flotilla serving
under UN Command. In March 1952 she
sailed
for Portsmouth to pay off and was
Laid-up in Reserve, initially at
Devonport and
later transferred to Lisahally,
Northern Ireland. The ship was placed
on the Disposal List in 1956 and sold
to
West of Scotland Shipbreakers
for demolition. She arrived at the shipbreaker’s
yard
at Troon,
Ayrshire on 13th September 1956.
Addendum
CONVOY
ESCORT MOVEMENTS
of HMS
BLACK
SWAN
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
27/02/40
|
27/02/40
|
FN
0104
|
29/02/40
|
29/02/40
|
03/03/40
|
03/03/40
|
FS
0111
|
05/03/40
|
05/03/40
|
03/03/40
|
03/03/40
|
MT
022
|
03/03/40
|
03/03/40
|
10/03/40
|
10/03/40
|
FS
0118
|
12/03/40
|
12/03/40
|
07/04/40
|
07/04/40
|
FS
0140
|
09/04/40
|
09/04/40
|
07/04/40
|
07/04/40
|
MT
046
|
07/04/40
|
07/04/40
|
03/06/40
|
03/06/40
|
FN
0187
|
05/06/40
|
05/06/40
|
04/06/40
|
04/06/40
|
FN
0188
|
05/06/40
|
06/06/40
|
10/06/40
|
10/06/40
|
MT
086
|
11/06/40
|
11/06/40
|
11/06/40
|
11/06/40
|
FS
0192
|
12/06/40
|
12/06/40
|
14/06/40
|
14/06/40
|
FN
0195A
|
16/06/40
|
16/06/40
|
18/06/40
|
18/06/40
|
MT
090
|
19/06/40
|
19/06/40
|
19/06/40
|
19/06/40
|
FS
0199
|
21/06/40
|
21/06/40
|
22/06/40
|
22/06/40
|
FN
0202
|
24/06/40
|
24/06/40
|
30/06/40
|
30/06/40
|
MT
099
|
01/07/40
|
01/07/40
|
01/07/40
|
01/07/40
|
FS
0209
|
02/07/40
|
02/07/40
|
04/07/40
|
04/07/40
|
FN
0212
|
05/07/40
|
06/07/40
|
08/07/40
|
08/07/40
|
FS
0216
|
09/07/40
|
09/07/40
|
11/07/40
|
11/07/40
|
FN
0219
|
13/07/40
|
13/07/40
|
15/07/40
|
15/07/40
|
FS
0222
|
16/07/40
|
16/07/40
|
18/07/40
|
18/07/40
|
FN
0225
|
20/07/40
|
20/07/40
|
26/07/40
|
26/07/40
|
FS
0233
|
28/07/40
|
28/07/40
|
05/08/40
|
05/08/40
|
FS
0243
|
07/08/40
|
07/08/40
|
08/08/40
|
08/08/40
|
FN
0246
|
10/08/40
|
10/08/40
|
12/08/40
|
12/08/40
|
FS
0250
|
14/08/40
|
14/08/40
|
15/08/40
|
15/08/40
|
FN
0253
|
17/08/40
|
17/08/40
|
26/08/40
|
26/08/40
|
FN
0263
|
28/08/40
|
28/08/40
|
30/08/40
|
30/08/40
|
FS
0267
|
01/09/40
|
01/09/40
|
02/09/40
|
02/09/40
|
FN
0270
|
04/09/40
|
04/09/40
|
09/09/40
|
09/09/40
|
FS
0276
|
11/09/40
|
11/09/40
|
13/09/40
|
13/09/40
|
FN
0279
|
15/09/40
|
15/09/40
|
17/09/40
|
17/09/40
|
FS
0284
|
19/09/40
|
19/09/40
|
03/10/40
|
03/10/40
|
FN
0298
|
05/10/40
|
05/10/40
|
08/10/40
|
08/10/40
|
FS
0304
|
11/10/40
|
11/10/40
|
11/10/40
|
11/10/40
|
FN
0306
|
13/10/40
|
13/10/40
|
16/10/40
|
16/10/40
|
FS
0311
|
19/10/40
|
19/10/40
|
19/10/40
|
19/10/40
|
FN
0314
|
20/10/40
|
20/10/40
|
27/10/40
|
27/10/40
|
FS
0321
|
30/10/40
|
30/10/40
|
30/10/40
|
30/10/40
|
FN
0323
|
01/11/40
|
01/11/40
|
03/07/41
|
03/07/41
|
OG
067
|
04/07/41
|
20/07/41
|
11/07/41
|
11/07/41
|
OG
068
|
12/07/41
|
26/07/41
|
19/07/41
|
19/07/41
|
OG
069
|
20/07/41
|
01/08/41
|
27/07/41
|
27/07/41
|
ON
002
|
28/07/41
|
08/08/41
|
09/08/41
|
15/08/41
|
HG
070
|
21/08/41
|
23/08/41
|
24/09/41
|
24/09/41
|
BB
079
|
26/09/41
|
26/09/41
|
26/09/41
|
26/09/41
|
OG
075
|
27/09/41
|
13/10/41
|
03/10/41
|
04/10/41
|
OS
008
|
25/10/41
|
26/10/41
|
27/10/41
|
28/10/41
|
SL
091
|
08/11/41
|
08/11/41
|
08/11/41
|
08/11/41
|
SL
091G1
|
12/11/41
|
12/11/41
|
12/11/41
|
12/11/41
|
SL
091GF
|
18/11/41
|
18/11/41
|
25/11/41
|
25/11/41
|
OG
077
|
13/12/41
|
13/12/41
|
14/12/41
|
14/12/41
|
HG
076
|
16/12/41
|
30/12/41
|
31/12/41
|
31/12/41
|
HG
077
|
12/01/42
|
12/01/42
|
26/01/42
|
27/01/42
|
OG
079
|
07/02/42
|
07/02/42
|
22/02/42
|
22/02/42
|
HG
079
|
06/03/42
|
06/03/42
|
17/03/42
|
17/03/42
|
OG
081
|
29/03/42
|
29/03/42
|
05/04/42
|
05/04/42
|
HG
081
|
15/04/42
|
15/04/42
|
30/04/42
|
30/04/42
|
OG
083
|
11/05/42
|
11/05/42
|
04/05/42
|
18/05/42
|
SL
109
|
25/05/42
|
28/05/42
|
19/05/42
|
19/05/42
|
SL
109F
|
25/05/42
|
25/05/42
|
28/05/42
|
28/05/42
|
WN
289
|
30/05/42
|
30/05/42
|
20/07/42
|
20/07/42
|
OG
087
|
03/08/42
|
03/08/42
|
07/08/42
|
07/08/42
|
HG
087
|
18/08/42
|
18/08/42
|
31/08/42
|
14/09/42
|
OG
089
|
01/09/42
|
14/09/42
|
19/09/42
|
19/09/42
|
HG
089
|
30/09/42
|
30/09/42
|
18/10/42
|
22/10/42
|
ON
140
|
24/10/42
|
07/11/42
|
08/11/42
|
08/11/42
|
KMS
003G
|
22/11/42
|
26/11/42
|
21/11/42
|
24/11/42
|
MKS
002
|
03/12/42
|
03/12/42
|
24/12/42
|
24/12/42
|
KMS
006G
|
05/01/43
|
09/01/43
|
05/01/43
|
11/01/43
|
MKS
005
|
22/01/43
|
22/01/43
|
06/02/43
|
06/02/43
|
KMS
009G
|
16/02/43
|
18/02/43
|
17/02/43
|
22/02/43
|
MKS
008
|
01/03/43
|
01/03/43
|
24/03/43
|
27/03/43
|
OS
045
|
14/04/43
|
14/04/43
|
20/04/43
|
20/04/43
|
SL
128
|
04/05/43
|
03/05/43
|
03/05/43
|
04/05/43
|
SL
128MK
|
13/05/43
|
14/05/43
|
07/10/43
|
09/10/43
|
OS
056KM
|
11/10/43
|
18/10/43
|
15/01/44
|
15/01/44
|
KMF
028
|
26/01/44
|
29/01/44
|
20/01/44
|
28/01/44
|
MKF
028
|
29/01/44
|
07/02/44
|
09/02/44
|
10/02/44
|
MKS
040
|
21/02/44
|
21/02/44
|
25/02/44
|
25/02/44
|
KMS
042
|
06/03/44
|
06/03/44
|
15/03/44
|
15/03/44
|
GUS
034
|
26/03/44
|
14/04/44
|
14/03/44
|
30/03/44
|
UGS
036
|
03/04/44
|
09/04/44
|
25/03/44
|
03/04/44
|
GUS
035
|
06/04/44
|
22/04/44
|
29/03/44
|
05/04/44
|
KMF
030
|
07/04/44
|
12/04/44
|
13/11/44
|
13/11/44
|
DS
059
|
16/11/44
|
16/11/44
|
18/11/44
|
18/11/44
|
SD
059
|
21/11/44
|
21/11/44
|
11/05/45
|
12/05/45
|
ONS
050
|
12/05/45
|
29/05/45
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)