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)