The Royal Navy’s Black Swans

Royal Navy’s Black Swan: HMS Woodpecker pictured in December 1942, around the time of her delivery from William Denny & Brothers on the Clyde. The photo gives a good indication of the class’s general layout, with twin 4-inch gun mountings in ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘X’ positions, and depth charges concentrated on the aft quarterdeck. Also prominent are the director on top of the bridge, which provided both high-angle and low-angle fire control, and the lantern mounted on the short lattice mast for her main surface search radar. Woodpecker participated in the destruction of six U-boats, but was, herself, sunk by U-256 in February 1944. She was the only ship of the famous 2nd Escort Group to be lost in action. (Crown Copyright)

HMS Wren was laid down four days after her sister Woodpecker at the William Denny & Brothers yard, but she took a little longer to complete. She entered service in February 1943, when this photograph was taken. Although she was largely similar to her sister in configuration, a close comparison of the photos reveals various detailed differences, particularly with respect to close-range armament. Like Woodpecker, Wren spent much of her wartime service with the 2nd Escort Group, helping to sink five submarines. She survived the war, remaining in service until the mid-1950s. (Crown Copyright)

Although most of the Black Swan class were built for the Royal Navy, two vessels were constructed for Royal Indian Navy Service by Yarrow & Company, both commissioning in the second half of 1943. They spent most of their wartime service escorting convoys in the Indian Ocean, where this photograph of Kistna was taken on May 10th, 1944. Towards the end of the war, both ships supported the army’s advance against Japanese forces in Burma, adding coastal bombardment to the class’s many capabilities. (Crown Copyright)

Another photograph of Kistna, this one taken at the Eastern Fleet’s main base at Trincomalee, towards the end of World War II. She is pictured outboard of Jumna, one of four sloops built to an earlier Royal Indian Navy order. Although they are sometimes considered to be members of the Black Swan class, most sources assert that this previous quartet belongs to the similar, but slightly older, Bittern class design. Kistna had a long career in Indian service, latterly as a training vessel, before eventually being scrapped in the early 1980s. (Author’s Collection)

Another Clyde-built Black Swan, Amethyst, was completed by Alexander Stephen & Sons in November 1943. Although she sank the German submarine U-1276 off the Irish coast towards the end of the war, her main claim to fame was her central role in the Yangtze River incident of April to July 1949. Having been grounded and effectively held hostage after an attack by People’s Liberation Army forces in the later stages of China’s civil war, Amethyst eventually made her escape in a daring run to sea under the cover of darkness. This photograph, which shows the patched-over scars of the initial engagement, was taken at Hong Kong after her escape. Amethyst survived long enough to enjoy a starring role in the 1957 film ‘Yangtse Incident’, which told the story of these events. (Author’s Collection)

The Black Swan class ships’ post-war service was active and varied. This photograph from 1948 shows HMS Snipe, one of two Denny-built ships completed in 1946, sailing among the ice flows of Antarctica. Contemporary reports state that Snipe travelled as far south as 64° 50’ while she was sailing off Victor Hugo Island during the course of the deployment. At that time this was the furthest point south reached by any steel-hulled Royal Navy warship. (Crown Copyright)

Another view of HMS Snipe, looking spick and span alongside the much larger cruiser Superb at an unknown American port, probably taken in the early 1950s. Although the class was a little too slow to counter the new post-war generation of fast submarines, it is interesting to note that she retains a large outfit of depth charges. After a period in reserve, Snipe made her final voyage to the shipbreakers in 1960. (Author’s Collection)

HMS Whimbrel, the longest-serving member of the class, on the River Clyde shortly after her delivery from Yarrow & Co in January 1943. She saw extensive use in wartime operations spanning the Atlantic, Arctic, Mediterranean and Far East, but she was not officially credited with any submarine kills. Although she was paid off from Royal Navy service soon after the end of the war, her subsequent purchase by the Egyptian government assured her of a lengthy career. (Crown Copyright)

A parting view of the newly-built Whimbrel. Retired from active Egyptian Navy service in the 1990s, she survives to this day as a hulk at Egypt’s main naval base at Alexandria. A number of unsuccessful attempts have been made to preserve Whimbrel, the last survivor of a distinguished class, and it’s still not yet too late to save this historic ship. (Crown Copyright)