Modified
BLACK
SWAN-class Sloop ordered from Cammell
Laird, Birkenhead under
the 1940 Build Programme on 27th
March 1941. Laid down on 30th March 1941
and laid down
on 30th August 1941.The ship was
launched by Mrs Simpson on 28th July
1942 as
the 20th RN warship to carry the name,
introduced in 1585. It was last used for
a destroyer
built in 1931, later in 1937 transferred
to the Royal Canadian Navy and
renamed HMCS
ST LAURENT. The build of
this sloop was completed on 1st December
1942 and she had been adopted in
March that year by the civil community
of Northfleet,
Essex.
B
a t t l
e H o n o u r s
ARMADA
1588 - CADIZ 1587 - PORTLAND 1653 -
HAVANA 1762 - GUADALOUPE
1810 - ALEXANDRIA 1882 -
SUAKIN
1884 - SICILY 1943
- ATLANTIC
1943-44 - ARCTIC 1944-45
H e
r a l d i
c D a t a
Badge:
On a Field
Black a Cygnet Silver
on avelets
Gold and Blue.
M o
t t o
Inter
pares insignis:
'Notable
amongst her fellows'
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 2
November
Contractors trials and commissioning.
(Note: Fitted with Surface Warning Radar
Type 272, Fire-control Radar Type 285
and Air
Warning
Radar Type 291 during build. For details
of development and use of radar in RN
see
RADAR
AT
SEA by D Howse).
December
1st
Build completion and commenced
Acceptance Trials.
On completion of trials and storing took
passage to Tobermory for work-up.
9th
Damaged by grounding during work-up.
19th
Taken in hand for repair in Clyde
commercial shipyard.
1
9 4 3
January
Under repair.
February
Resumed work-up at Tobermory.
March
15th
Joined 2nd Escort Group based in
Liverpool.
Deployed with Group as part of escort of
military convoy to Gibraltar
and returned
with routine
convoy to UK.
April
Transferred to 7th Escort Group based at
Greenock for support
of convoys
under threat of
attack
by
U-Boats in North Atlantic.
(For details of convoy defence in
Atlantic see THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC
by D
Macintyre,
U-Boat WAR IN THE ATLANTIC (HMSO) and
SEEK AND STRIKE by W
Hackmann.)
May
Detached for duty with 2nd Escort Group
in support of passage of Convoy ONS8
June
3rd
Taken in hand for defect repair in Clyde
shipyard.
25th
Rejoined 7th Escort Group and nominated
with Group for defence of military
convoys
during passage to Mediterranean for
planned allied landings in Sicily
(Operation HUSKY).
28th
Deployed as part of escort for Convoy
KMF18 during passage to
Gibraltar
July
5th
Passed through Strait of Gibraltar.
7th
Detached from KMF18 on arrival at Bone.
9th
Deployed as part of escort for Follow-up
Convoy KMS19 during passage to Beach
Head.
13th
Detached from KMS19 on arrival at BARK
Beach.
(For details of HUSKY see Naval Staff
History, ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY
by C Barnett and for information about
all warships and mercantiles involved,
BRITISH
INVASION FLEETS by J de Winser.)
Deployed for convoy escort in
Mediterranean.
August
Mediterranean deployment in
continuation.
Nominated for return to UK .
September
Deployed with escort for military XK
convoy to UK from Gibraltar.
24th
Withdrawn from operational service on
arrival for repair of an accumulation of
defects.
Taken in hand for repair work at
Dunstaffnage, near Oban.
October
Under repair.
to
The extent of this period under repair
suggests that significant
difficulties
had been
November
experienced
in a
new ship.
December
26th
On completion of repair carried out
further work-up at Tobermory.
1
9 4 4
January
Transferred to Home Fleet for convoy
defence.
12th
Joined HM Destroyer INCONSTANT, HM
Corvettes POPPY and DIANELLA for
Local
Escort
of
Russian Convoy JW56A for part of passage
to Iceland.
(For details of all Russian Convoy
operations see ARCTIC CONVOYS by R.
Woodman,
CONVOY
by P Kemp and CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by RA
Ruegg.)
15th
Detached from JW56A and returned to Loch
Ewe.
22nd
Joined HM Destroyers WHITEHALL and
WESTCOTT, with HM Minesweeper SEAGULL
and
HM
Corvette OXLIP
for escort of Russian Convoy JW56B to
Kola Inlet.
February
1st
Detached from JW56B on arrival.
3rd
Part of Close Escort for return Convoy
RA56 with HM Destroyers WESTCOTT,
WHITEHALL
HM Corvettes DIANELLA, OXLIP, POPPY and
RHODODENDRON.
11th
Detached from RA56 on arrival at Loch
Ewe and rejoined 7th Escort Group.
March
Deployed with Group for defence of North Atlantic convoys.
April
8th
Shared credit for sinking of U962 with
HM Sloop CRANE during defence of Convoy
SC156
There were no survivors . (See U-BOATS
DESTROYED by P Kemp.)
13th
Damaged by grounding when entering
Belfast.
15th
Taken in hand for repair in Belfast.
May
Under repair
to
June
July
13th
Rejoined Group in continuation of
Atlantic convoy defence duty.
August
Detached for Russian Convoy escort duty
with 8th Escort Group.
15th
Part of Close Escort for Russian Convoy
JW59 with HM Frigate LOCH DUNVEGAN, HM
Corvettes BLUEBELL, CAMELLIA, CHARLOCK,
HONEYSUCKLE and OXLIP
(Note: This convoy included the Russian
battleship ARCHANGELSK (Ex H M S ROYAL
SOVEREIGN, eight TOWN Class destroyers
(Ex USN Lease-Lend) and Ex USN PT
boats
being
transferred to Soviet Navy.).
25th
Detached on arrival at Kola Inlet.
26th
Part of escort for returning Convoy
RA59A with same ships.
September
6th
Detached from RA59A after arrival at
Loch Ewe after unscathed passage.
15th
Joined Russian Convoy JW60 as part of
Close Escort with HM Destroyers BULLDOG,
KEPPEL, WHITEHALL, HM Corvettes
ALLINGTON CASTLE and BAMBOROUGH CASTLE
of 8th Escort Group.
23rd
Detached from JW60 on arrival at Kola
Inlet.
28th
Joined Close Escort for returning Convoy
RA60 with same ships.
October
4th
Detached from RA60 with ships of Group
before arrival at Loch Ewe.
6th
Deployed for escort of convoy to and
from Iceland.
25th
Under defect repair in Clyde shipyard.
31st
After completion of repair joined HMS
BEAGLE, HMS WESTCOTT and HM Frigate NENE
(RCN)
as local
escort for liners EMPRESS OF AUSTRALIA
and
SCYTHIA
taking 11,000
Russian nationals captured in
Normandy back to
Murmansk from Liverpool.
(Note: This was the initial stage of
Convoy JW61A).
November
2nd
Detached when relieved by Ocean Escort.
29th
Deployed with 20th Escort Group as part
of escort for Russian Convoy JW62
with HM
Sloops
LAPWING, LARK and 14 other frigates and
corvettes.
December
7th
Detached on arrival at Kola Inlet
without direct enemy interference.
10th
Part of escort for returning convoy RA62
with same ships.
19th
Detached from RA62 on arrival at Loch
Ewe.
(Note: During the passage HM Destroyer
CASSANDRA was damaged by U-Boat attack
and had to return to Murmansk.
HM Norwegian Corvette TUNSBERG CASTLE
was lost after striking a mine).
30th
Joined escort for Russian Convoy JW63
with HM Destroyers KEPPEL, WESTCOTT,
WALKER,
HM Sloops LAPWING, LARK and three corvettes.
1
9 4 5
January
8th
Detached from JW63 on arrival at Kola
Inlet after unscathed passage.
11th
Escorted returning convoy RA63 with HM
Destroyer SCORPION and same ships.
21st
Detached from RA63 on arrival at Loch
Ewe after stormy passage which prevented
enemy
attacks
but forced convoy to scatter and later
re-assembled.
February
3rd
Joined Close Escort for Russian Convoy
JW64 with HMS
WHITEHALL, HMS LARK of 7th
Escort Group and four corvettes of 8th
Escort Group.
10th
Under air attacks by torpedo bombers
which were repulsed.
13th
Under submarine attack during which HM
Corvette DENBIGH CASTLE was hit and was
towed
to Kola Inlet where she subsequently
grounded and capsized.
15th
Detached on arrival on JW6M at Kola
Inlet.
16th
Carried out anti-submarine operations
outside Kola Inlet with HMS
LARK, HMS LAPWING,
HMS ALNWICK
CASTLE and HMS
BAMBOROUGH CASTLE before departure of
convoy
RA64.
Stood by HMS LARK which was torpedoed by
U963 during this operation.
(Note: HMS LARK was towed to Kola Inlet
but subsequently became a total loss)
18th
Rejoined HMS LAPWING, HMS WHITEHALL, HMS
ALNWICK CASTLE and HMS
RHODODENDRON in Close Escort for RA64.
(Note: HM Corvette BLUEBELL had been
torpedoed and sunk by U711during A/S
hunt.)
March
1st
Detached from convoy on arrival in
Clyde.
(Note: This convoy was subjected to
extreme weather conditions, air and
U-Boat attacks
which resulted in extensive damage to
many escorts.
Two mercantiles in convoy were lost
For full
details see above references.)
5th
Taken in hand for refit and repair at
Clyde shipyard.
April
Refit and repair completed by ships
staff at Corpach near Fort William.
Resumed operational duty with 8th Escort
Group on completion.
16th
Joined Close Escort for Russian Convoy
JW66 with HM
Corvettes ALNWICK
CASTLE,
BAMBOROUGH CASTLE, FARNHAM CASTLE, OXLIP
and RHODODENDRON.
25th
Detached on arrival at Kola Inlet
without major interference.
29th
Joined escort for returning convoy RA66
with same ships.
(Note: A Group of U-Boats lying off Kola
Inlet were attacked by ships of 19th
Escort Group
prior to departure (Operation TRAMMEL)
U307 was sunk during this operation.).
May
8th
Detached from RA66 on arrival in Clyde
(VE-Day).
Under repair to weather defects.
Nominated for service in Pacific after
refit.
June
1st
Taken in hand for refit at commercial
shipyard in Leith.
July
Under refit
to
(Note: Two twin and four single 20mm
guns fitted for Close Range AA defence.)
August
Carried out post refit trials.
September
3rd
During post refit sea trials damaged by
grounding and taken in hand for repair.
P o
s t W a r N o t
e s
After
repair HMS CYGNET Paid-off and reduced
to Reserve at
Devonport. The ship was brought forward
for service in the Fishery Protection
Squadron in 1948.and in 1951 again
re-commissioned for foreign service with
the
5th Frigate Flotilla in the
Mediterranean. She transferred to the
2nd Frigate
Flotilla the next year and Paid off in
1954 at Chatham where she reduced
to
Reserve status and was laid-up in the
Medway. Placed on the Disposal List in
1956 she was sold BISCO
for demolition by Shipbreaking
Industries at Rosyth.
The ship arrived in tow at the
Breaker’s
yard in Rosyth on
16th March that year.
Addenda
CONVOY
ESCORT MOVEMENTS
of HMS CYGNET
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
15/03/43
|
21/03/43
|
KMF
011
|
23/03/43
|
23/03/43
|
25/03/43
|
26/03/43
|
MKF
011
|
05/04/43
|
05/04/43
|
24/04/43
|
01/05/43
|
HX
236
|
05/05/43
|
09/05/43
|
03/05/43
|
06/05/43
|
SL
128MK
|
14/05/43
|
14/05/43
|
17/05/43
|
22/05/43
|
ONS
008
|
25/05/43
|
01/06/43
|
19/05/43
|
27/05/43
|
HX
240
|
04/06/43
|
04/06/43
|
28/06/43
|
28/06/43
|
KMF
018
|
07/07/43
|
11/07/43
|
18/07/43
|
18/07/43
|
GUS
010
|
22/07/43
|
09/08/43
|
18/07/43
|
18/07/43
|
MKS
018
|
22/07/43
|
23/07/43
|
14/07/43
|
24/07/43
|
MKF
019
|
29/07/43
|
30/07/43
|
17/08/43
|
17/08/43
|
KMS
024G
|
30/08/43
|
30/08/43
|
05/09/43
|
05/09/43
|
XK
011
|
14/09/43
|
20/09/43
|
12/01/44
|
12/01/44
|
JW
056A
|
15/01/44
|
28/01/44
|
22/01/44
|
22/01/44
|
JW
056B
|
01/02/44
|
01/02/44
|
03/02/44
|
03/02/44
|
RA
056
|
11/02/44
|
11/02/44
|
02/03/44
|
09/03/44
|
MKF
029
|
16/03/44
|
16/03/44
|
15/03/44
|
16/03/44
|
ON
228
|
unknown
|
01/04/44
|
18/07/44
|
18/07/44
|
KMF
033
|
19/07/44
|
31/07/44
|
15/08/44
|
15/08/44
|
JW
059
|
25/08/44
|
25/08/44
|
28/08/44
|
28/08/44
|
RA
059A
|
05/09/44
|
05/09/44
|
15/09/44
|
15/09/44
|
JW
060
|
23/09/44
|
23/09/44
|
28/09/44
|
28/09/44
|
RA
060
|
04/10/44
|
05/10/44
|
14/10/44
|
14/10/44
|
DS
058
|
17/10/44
|
17/10/44
|
17/10/44
|
17/10/44
|
SD
058
|
20/10/44
|
20/10/44
|
31/10/44
|
31/10/44
|
JW
061A
|
02/11/44
|
06/11/44
|
29/11/44
|
29/11/44
|
JW
062
|
07/12/44
|
07/12/44
|
10/12/44
|
10/12/44
|
RA
062
|
19/12/44
|
19/12/44
|
30/12/44
|
30/12/44
|
JW
063
|
08/01/45
|
08/01/45
|
11/01/45
|
11/01/45
|
RA
063
|
21/01/45
|
21/01/45
|
03/02/45
|
03/02/45
|
JW
064
|
15/02/45
|
15/02/45
|
17/02/45
|
17/02/45
|
RA
064
|
28/02/45
|
28/02/45
|
16/04/45
|
16/04/45
|
JW
066
|
25/04/45
|
25/04/45
|
29/04/45
|
29/04/45
|
RA
066
|
07/05/45
|
08/05/45
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)
APRIL 1945 MOVEMENTS of HMS CYGNET
by Thomas Weis (16 Feb 2009)
Your
entry shows:
April
Resumed operational duty with 8th Escort
Group on completion.
16th
Joined Close Escort for Russian Convoy
JW66 with HM Corvettes ALNWICK CASTLE,
BAMBOROUGH
CASTLE, FARNHAM CASTLE, OXLIP and
RHODODENDRON.
29th
Joined escort for returning convoy RA66
with same ships.
According to "Chronology of the War at
Sea" by Jurgen Rohwer, CYGNET was
leading the 7th EG (instead of 8th EG)
in April 1945. 8th Escort Group was
escorting convoy BB.80, when LOCH
GLENDHU detected U1024 and took part in
attacks with HM Frigate LOCH ACHRAY
(following your own information about
these vessels). 7th EG was escorting
convoys JW-66 and RA-66 together with
19th EG.