The Black Swan class were a conceptual classes of sloop of the Royal Navy. [1] [2] [3] Produced by the UK Ministry of Defence in 2012. The concept gets its name from the Second World War Black Swan-class sloop.
In the 18th century and most of the 19th, a sloop-of-war in the Royal Navy was a warship with a single gun deck that carried up to eighteen guns. The rating system covered all vessels with 20 guns and above; thus, the term sloop-of-war encompassed all the unrated combat vessels, including the very small gun-brigs and cutters. In technical terms, even the more specialised bomb vessels and fireships were classed as sloops-of-war, and in practice these were employed in the sloop role when not carrying out their specialised functions.
HMS Black Swan, named after the black swan, was the name ship of the Black Swan-class sloops of the Royal Navy. This class was admired for its sea-going qualities.
The Black Swan class and Modified Black Swan class were two classes of sloop of the Royal Navy and Royal Indian Navy. Twelve Black Swans were launched between 1939 and 1943, including four for the Royal Indian Navy; twenty-five Modified Black Swans were launched between 1942 and 1945, including two for the Royal Indian Navy; several other ships were cancelled.
HMS Woodpecker, pennant number U08, was a Black Swan-class sloop of the Royal Navy. She was active during the Second World War and was a successful anti-submarine warfare vessel, being credited with the destruction of six U-boats.
Black swan is the common name for Cygnus atratus, an Australasian waterfowl.
HMS Magpie, pennant number U82, was a Royal Navy Modified Black Swan-class sloop launched in 1943 and broken up in 1959. She was the seventh Royal Navy ship to bear the name. She was reclassified as a frigate in 1947, receiving a new pennant number F82. The ship was the only vessel commanded by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, who took command on 2 September 1950, when he was 29.
The QF 4 inch Mk XVI gun was the standard British Commonwealth naval anti-aircraft and dual-purpose gun of World War II.
HMIS Godavari was a Black Swan-class sloop which served in the Royal Indian Navy (RIN) during World War II.
HMIS Cauvery, pennant number U10, was a Black Swan-class sloop which served in the Royal Indian Navy (RIN) during World War II.
HMS Alacrity was a modified Black Swan-class sloop of the Royal Navy. She was built for service as a convoy escort during the Second World War, but was completed too late to see action. She did subsequently take part in the Korean War between 1950 and 1952. She was scrapped in 1956.
HMS Lapwing (U62) was a Modified Black Swan-class sloop of the Royal Navy.
HMS Lagan (K259) was a River-class frigate of the Royal Navy (RN). Lagan was built to the RN's specifications as a Group II River-class frigate. She served in the North Atlantic during World War II.
HMS Actaeon was a modified Black Swan-class sloop of the Royal Navy. She was laid down by John I. Thornycroft & Company, Woolston, Southampton on 15 May 1944, and launched on 25 July 1945. The vessel was commissioned on 24 July 1946, with the pennant number U07.
HMS Nereide was a modified Black Swan-class sloop of the Royal Navy. She was laid down by Chatham Dockyard, Kent on 15 February 1943, launched on 29 January 1944 and commissioned on 3 May 1946, with the pennant number U64.
HMS Modeste was a modified Black Swan-class sloop of the Royal Navy. She was laid down by Chatham Dockyard, Kent on 15 February 1943, launched on 29 January 1944 and commissioned on 3 September 1945, with the pennant number U42.
HMS Crane was a modified Black Swan-class sloop of the Royal Navy. She was laid down by William Denny and Brothers, Dumbarton on 13 June 1941, launched on 9 November 1942 and commissioned on 10 May 1943, with the pennant number U23. The saw active service during the Second World War, performing convoy escort roles in the Atlantic initially before supporting the Normandy landings. In the final months of the war, Crane joined the British Pacific Fleet with whom the vessel saw service during the Battle of Okinawa. Post war, Crane remained in south-east Asia and took part in hostilities during the Korean War. She was redeployed to the Middle East during the Suez Crisis before returning to Asia for service during the Malayan Emergency. Crane was withdrawn from service in the early 1960s and scrapped in 1965.
HMS Cygnet was a modified Black Swan-class sloop of the Royal Navy. She was laid down by Cammell Laird, Birkenhead on 30 August 1941, launched on 28 July 1942 and commissioned on 1 December 1943, with the pennant number U38.
HMS Snipe was a modified Black Swan-class sloop of the Royal Navy. She was laid down by William Denny and Brothers, Dumbarton on 21 September 1944, launched on 20 December 1945 and commissioned on 9 September 1946, with the pennant number U20.
HMS Sparrow was a modified Black Swan-class sloop of the Royal Navy. She was laid down by William Denny and Brothers, Dumbarton on 30 November 1944, launched on 16 February 1946 and commissioned on 16 December 1946, with the pennant number U71.