HMS Swift (G46)

HMS Swift was an S-class destroyer built for the Royal Navy during the Second World War.[1] The ship belonged to the January 1941 order of the Royal Navy from the War Emergency program. The destroyer was launched from the shipyard J. Samuel White in Cowes on 15 June 1943 and was put into service on 12 December 1943.

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Swift.
History
United Kingdom
Name: Swift
Ordered: 9 January 1941
Builder: J. Samuel White
Laid down: 12 June 1942
Launched: 15 June 1943
Commissioned: 12 December 1943
Identification: pennant number G46
Fate: Sunk by mine on 24 June 1944

In early 1944 Swift saw service escorting Arctic Convoys to and from the Kola Inlet.[2] The ship participated in the Normandy landings providing fire support. She was sunk off Sword Beach by mine on 24 June 1944 with 53 casualties.[2]

Design

Swift was one of eight T-class destroyers ordered as the 5th Emergency Flotilla on 9 January 1941.[3] The S-class were War Emergency Programme destroyers, intended for general duties, including use as anti-submarine escort, and were to be suitable for mass-production. They were based on the hull and machinery of the pre-war J-class destroyers, but with a lighter armament (effectively whatever armament was available) in order to speed production.[4][5]

The S-class were 362 feet 9 inches (110.57 m) long overall, 348 feet 0 inches (106.07 m) at the waterline and 339 feet 6 inches (103.48 m) between perpendiculars, with a beam of 35 feet 8 inches (10.87 m) and a draught of 10 feet 0 inches (3.05 m) mean and 14 feet 3 inches (4.34 m) full load.[6][7] Displacement was 1,710 long tons (1,740 t) standard and 2,530 long tons (2,570 t) full load.[7] Two Admiralty 3-drum water-tube boilers supplied steam at 300 pounds per square inch (2,100 kPa) and 630 °F (332 °C) to two sets of Parsons single-reduction geared steam turbines, which drove two propeller shafts. The machinery was rated at 40,000 shaft horsepower (30,000 kW) giving a maximum speed of 36 knots (41 mph; 67 km/h) and 32 knots (37 mph; 59 km/h) at full load. 615 tons of oil were carried, giving a range of 4,675 nautical miles (5,380 mi; 8,658 km) at 20 knots (23 mph; 37 km/h).[7]

The ship had a main gun armament of four 4.7 inch (120 mm) QF Mk. IX guns on single mountings, capable of elevating to an angle of 55 degrees rather than the 40 degree of previous War Emergency destroyers, giving improved anti-aircraft capability.[8][9] The close-in anti-aircraft armament was one Hazemayer stabilised twin mount for the Bofors 40 mm gun and four twin Oerlikon 20 mm cannons.[10] Two quadruple mounts for 21 inch (533 mm) torpedoes were fitted, while the ship had an depth charge outfit of four depth charge mortars and two racks, with a total of 70 charges carried.[10][11]

Swift was fitted with a Type 272 surface warning radar and a high-frequency direction finding (HF/DF) aerial on the ship's tripod foremast, with a Type 291 air warning radar on a pole mast aft and Type 285 fire control radar integrated with the ship's high-angle gun director. She had a crew of 170 officers and other ranks.[12]

Construction and service
The Swift sinking on 24 June.

Swift was laid down at J. Samuel White's Cowes, Isle of Wight shipyard on 12 June 1942 and was launched on 15 June 1943. She was completed on 6 December 1943, and assigned the Pennant number G46.[13]

Following commissioning and workup, Swift, like the other S-class destroyers, joined the 23rd Destroyer Flotilla of the British Home Fleet.[14]

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References
  1. "HMS Swift – G46". DDay-Overlord. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
  2. Mason, Geoffrey B. (11 August 2011). "HMS SWIFT (G 46) – S-class Destroyer: including Convoy Escort Movements". Service Histories of Royal Navy Warships in World War 2. NavalHistory.net. Retrieved 6 June 2019.
  3. Friedman 2008, pp. 90, 327–328
  4. Friedman 2008, pp. 53–55, 86–87
  5. Whitley 2000, pp. 124–127
  6. Whitley 2000, p. 129
  7. Lenton 1970, p. 23
  8. Gardiner & Chesneau 1980, pp. 42–43
  9. Friedman 2008, pp. 94–95
  10. Lenton 1970, pp. 19, 21
  11. Friedman 2008, p. 318
  12. Lenton 1970, pp. 19–21
  13. Friedman 2008, p. 327
  14. Whitley 2000, p. 130
  • Friedman, Norman (2008). British Destroyers & Frigates: The Second World War and After. Barnsley, UK: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84832-015-4.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Gardiner, Robert; Chesneau, Roger, eds. (1980). Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-146-7.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Lenton, H. T. (1970). Navies of the Second World War: British Fleet & Escort Destroyers Volume Two. London: Macdonald & Co. ISBN 0-356-03122-5.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Rohwer, Jürgen; Hümmelchen, Gerhard (1992). Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945. London: Greenhill Books. ISBN 1-85367-117-7.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Ruegg, Bob; Hague, Arnold (1993). Convoys to Russia 1941–1945. Kendal: World Ship Society. ISBN 0-905617-66-5.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Whitley, M. J. (2000). Destroyers of World War 2: An International Encyclopedia. London: Cassell & Co. ISBN 1-85409-521-8.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)


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