Black Swan class sloop
Encyclopedia
The Black Swan class and Modified Black Swan class were two classes
of sloop
of the Royal Navy
and Royal Indian Navy
. Thirteen Black Swans were launched between 1939 and 1943, including four for the Royal Indian Navy; twenty-four Modified Black Swans were launched between 1942 and 1945, including two for the Royal Indian Navy; another five ships were cancelled in 1945.
s, sloops of that period were specialized convoy
-defence vessels, except that sloops possessed much superior anti-aircraft
fire control via the Fuze Keeping Clock
and a heavy armament of high angle 4 inch guns while retaining excellent anti-submarine
capability. They were designed to have a longer range than a destroyer at the expense of a lower top speed, while remaining capable of outrunning surfaced Type VII
and Type IX
U-boat
s.
In World War II
, Black Swan-class sloops sank 29 U-boats. The most famous sloop commander was Captain Frederic John Walker
. His sloop became one of the most successful submarine hunters, taking part in the sinking of eleven U-boats.
After the war, sloops continued in service with the Royal Navy, Egyptian Navy, Indian Navy
, Pakistan Navy
and the West German Navy
. In April 1949, was attacked on the Yangtze River
by the Communist People's Liberation Army
.
Also, several Black Swan sloops fought in the Korean War
.
The first two ships were built under the 1937 Programme and the second pair under the 1939 Programme. The remaining five RN ships were ordered under the 1940 War Programme; there were incremental improvements as the building developed, and the Woodcock and Wren when completed were practically indistinguishable from the Modified Black Swan class., built by Yarrow, laid down on 26 May 1938, launched on 18 April 1939, and completed 3 November 1939. Transferred to West Germany as Graf Spee 21 January 1959. Sold for breaking up 25 October 1967., built by Yarrow & Company, Scotstoun, laid down on 20 June 1938, launched on 7 July 1939, and completed 27 January 1940. Sold for breaking up September 1956., built by Furness Shipbuilding, laid down on 22 September 1939, launched on 5 August 1940, and completed 26 April 1941. Became RNVR training ship Wessex on the Solent 4 June 1952, broken up October 1965., built by Furness Shipbuilding, laid down on 22 September 1939, launched on 28 November 1940, and completed 30 August 1941. Sunk by Italian torpedo bombers off Algiers on 10 November 1942., built by Yarrow, laid down on 31 October 1941, launched on 25 August 1942, and completed 13 January 1943. Transferred to Egypt as El Malek Farouq November 1949, renamed Tarik 1954., built by Yarrow, laid down on 28 January 1942, launched on 14 October 1942, and completed 11 March 1943. Sold for breaking up February 1956., built by Fairfield, Govan, laid down on 21 October 1941, launched on 26 November 1942, and completed 29 May 1943. Sold for breaking up November 1955., built by Denny, laid down on 23 February 1941, launched on 29 June 1942, and completed 14 December 1942. Sunk by U-256 on 27 February 1944., built by Denny, laid down on 27 February 1941, launched on 11 August 1942, and completed 4 February 1943. Sold for breaking up February 1956.
Modified Black Swan class
Eleven ships were in the 1940 Supplementary War Programme:, built by Denny, laid down on 6 June 1941, launched on 24 September 1942, and completed 29 March 1943. A total loss on 18 November 1943 by U-515 (Henke). Renamed Lusitania 31 December 1943 as a base ship, then broken up 1945., built by Denny, laid down on 13 June 1941, launched on 9 November 1942, and completed 10 May 1943. Broken up 1965., built by Cammell Laird, Birkenhead, laid down on 30 August 1941, launched on 28 July 1942, and completed 1 December 1942. Broken up March 1956., built by Cammell Laird, laid down on 25 September 1941, launched on 13 October 1942, and completed 1 March 1943. Sunk by U-344 on 21 August 1944., built by Scotts, Greenock, laid down 17 December 1941, launched on 16 July 1943, and completed 21 March 1944. Sunk by U-968 on 20 March 1945., built by Scotts, laid down 5 May 1942, launched on 28 August 1943, and completed 10 April 1944. Damaged beyond repair by U-968 off Kola Inlet on 17 February 1945; salved by Soviet Navy and added as Neptun, finally broken up 1956., built by Thornycroft, laid down on 30 December 1941, launched 24 March 1943, and completed 30 August 1943. Broken up July 1959., built by Thornycroft, laid down on 29 November 1942, launched on 11 December 1943, and completed 10 May 1944. Broken up May 1958., built by Yarrow, laid down on 17 March 1942, launched on 21 December 1942, and completed 12 May 1943. Broken up January 1963., built by Yarrow, laid down on 18 May 1942, launched on 25 February 1943, and completed 24 June 1943. Broken up November 1960., built by Fairfield, laid down on 21 October 1941, launched on 14 October 1942, and completed 1 April 1943. Broken up July 1965.
Ten more ships were in the 1941 Programme:, built by Thornycroft, laid down on 15 May 1944, launched on 25 July 1945, and completed 24 July 1946. Transferred to West Germany as Hipper 9 December 1958. Hulked July 1964, sold for breaking up 25 October 1967., built by Alexander Stephen, laid down on 25 March 1942, launched on 7 May 1943, and completed 2 November 1943. Broken up January 1957., built by Stephen, laid down on 27 March 1942, launched on 7 July 1943, and completed 12 December 1943. Transferred to West Germany as Scheer 1958. Sold for breaking up 17 March 1971., built by Denny, laid down 31 August 1942, launched on 30 September 1943, and completed 11 April 1944. Broken up December 1958., built by Denny, laid down on 8 September 1942, launched on 11 November 1943, and completed 12 May 1944. Transferred to West Germany as Scharnhorst 5 May 1950. Hulked 1974, and broken up April 1990., built by Denny, laid down on 28 July 1943, launched on 30 November 1944, and completed 16 June 1945. Broken up April 1960., built by Chatham Dockyard, laid down on 15 February 1943, launched on 29 January 1944, and completed 3 September 1945. Broken up March 1961., built by Chatham Dockyard, laid down on 15 February 1943, launched on 29 January 1944, and completed 6 May 1946. Broken up May 1958., ordered from Portsmouth Dockyard 3 March 1942, laid down on 26 February 1945, but cancelled 23 October 1945., ordered from Portsmouth Dockyard 3 March 1942, laid down on 26 February 1945, but cancelled 23 October 1945.
Three more ships were in the 1942 Programme (Snipe and Sparrow had originally been in the 1940 Programme, ordered from John Brown, Clydebank on 21 June 1941, then the order was transferred to Devonport Dockyard 3 March 1942 and finally to Denny on 8 December 1942):, built by Denny, laid down on 4 May 1943, launched on 1 September 1944, and completed 13 April 1945. Broken up September 1956., built by Denny, laid down on 21 September 1944, launched on 20 December 1945, and completed 9 September 1946. Broken up August 1960., built by Denny, laid down on 30 October 1944, launched on 18 February 1946, and completed 16 December 1946. Broken up May 1958.
Three more ships were in the 1944 Programme, but all were cancelled 2 November 1945. These had been intended to be further modified and enlarged, with a beam of 38 in 6 in (11.73 m):, ordered from Thornycroft on 9 October 1944., ordered from Denny., ordered from Denny.
JW-59. was damaged beyond repair by U-968 on 17 February 1945 was sunk by U-968 on 20 March 1945
in the North Channel on 16 January 1945. The British Admiralty withdrew this credit in a post-war reassessment.
Ship class
A ship class is a group of ships of a similar design. This is distinct from a ship-type, which might reflect a similarity of tonnage or intended use. For example, the is a nuclear aircraft carrier of the Nimitz class....
of sloop
Sloop-of-war
In the 18th and most of the 19th centuries, a sloop-of-war was a warship with a single gun deck that carried up to eighteen guns. As the rating system covered all vessels with 20 guns and above, this meant that the term sloop-of-war actually encompassed all the unrated combat vessels including the...
of the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
and Royal Indian Navy
Royal Indian Navy
The Royal Indian Navy was the naval force of British India. Along with the Presidency armies and the later British Indian Army it comprised the Armed Forces of British India....
. Thirteen Black Swans were launched between 1939 and 1943, including four for the Royal Indian Navy; twenty-four Modified Black Swans were launched between 1942 and 1945, including two for the Royal Indian Navy; another five ships were cancelled in 1945.
History
Like corvetteCorvette
A corvette is a small, maneuverable, lightly armed warship, originally smaller than a frigate and larger than a coastal patrol craft or fast attack craft , although many recent designs resemble frigates in size and role...
s, sloops of that period were specialized convoy
Convoy
A convoy is a group of vehicles, typically motor vehicles or ships, traveling together for mutual support and protection. Often, a convoy is organized with armed defensive support, though it may also be used in a non-military sense, for example when driving through remote areas.-Age of Sail:Naval...
-defence vessels, except that sloops possessed much superior anti-aircraft
Anti-aircraft warfare
NATO defines air defence as "all measures designed to nullify or reduce the effectiveness of hostile air action." They include ground and air based weapon systems, associated sensor systems, command and control arrangements and passive measures. It may be to protect naval, ground and air forces...
fire control via the Fuze Keeping Clock
Fuze Keeping Clock
The Fuze Keeping Clock was a simplified version of the Royal Navy's High Angle Control System analogue fire control computer. It first appeared as the FKC Mk1 in destroyers of the 1938 Tribal class, while later variants were used on sloops, frigates, destroyers, aircraft carriers and several...
and a heavy armament of high angle 4 inch guns while retaining excellent anti-submarine
Anti-submarine warfare
Anti-submarine warfare is a branch of naval warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, or other submarines to find, track and deter, damage or destroy enemy submarines....
capability. They were designed to have a longer range than a destroyer at the expense of a lower top speed, while remaining capable of outrunning surfaced Type VII
German Type VII submarine
Type VII U-boats were the most common type of German World War II U-boat. The Type VII was based on earlier German submarine designs going back to the World War I Type UB III, designed through the Dutch dummy company Ingenieurskantoor voor Scheepsbouw den Haag which was set up by Germany after...
and Type IX
German Type IX submarine
The Type IX U-boat was designed by Germany in 1935 and 1936 as a large ocean-going submarine for sustained operations far from the home support facilities. Type IX boats were briefly used for patrols off the eastern United States in an attempt to disrupt the stream of troops and supplies bound for...
U-boat
U-boat
U-boat is the anglicized version of the German word U-Boot , itself an abbreviation of Unterseeboot , and refers to military submarines operated by Germany, particularly in World War I and World War II...
s.
In World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Black Swan-class sloops sank 29 U-boats. The most famous sloop commander was Captain Frederic John Walker
Frederic John Walker
Captain Frederic John Walker, CB, DSO and three Bars, RN was a British Royal Navy officer noted for his exploits during World War II...
. His sloop became one of the most successful submarine hunters, taking part in the sinking of eleven U-boats.
After the war, sloops continued in service with the Royal Navy, Egyptian Navy, Indian Navy
Indian Navy
The Indian Navy is the naval branch of the armed forces of India. The President of India serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy. The Chief of Naval Staff , usually a four-star officer in the rank of Admiral, commands the Navy...
, Pakistan Navy
Pakistan Navy
The Pakistan Navy is the naval warfare/service branch of the Pakistan Armed Forces. Pakistan's Navy is responsible for Pakistan's coastline along the Arabian Sea and the defense of important civilian harbors and military bases...
and the West German Navy
German Navy
The German Navy is the navy of Germany and is part of the unified Bundeswehr .The German Navy traces its roots back to the Imperial Fleet of the revolutionary era of 1848 – 52 and more directly to the Prussian Navy, which later evolved into the Northern German Federal Navy...
. In April 1949, was attacked on the Yangtze River
Yangtze River
The Yangtze, Yangzi or Cháng Jiāng is the longest river in Asia, and the third-longest in the world. It flows for from the glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau in Qinghai eastward across southwest, central and eastern China before emptying into the East China Sea at Shanghai. It is also one of the...
by the Communist People's Liberation Army
People's Liberation Army
The People's Liberation Army is the unified military organization of all land, sea, strategic missile and air forces of the People's Republic of China. The PLA was established on August 1, 1927 — celebrated annually as "PLA Day" — as the military arm of the Communist Party of China...
.
Also, several Black Swan sloops fought in the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
.
Ship classes
Black Swan class- Royal Nav
The first two ships were built under the 1937 Programme and the second pair under the 1939 Programme. The remaining five RN ships were ordered under the 1940 War Programme; there were incremental improvements as the building developed, and the Woodcock and Wren when completed were practically indistinguishable from the Modified Black Swan class., built by Yarrow, laid down on 26 May 1938, launched on 18 April 1939, and completed 3 November 1939. Transferred to West Germany as Graf Spee 21 January 1959. Sold for breaking up 25 October 1967., built by Yarrow & Company, Scotstoun, laid down on 20 June 1938, launched on 7 July 1939, and completed 27 January 1940. Sold for breaking up September 1956., built by Furness Shipbuilding, laid down on 22 September 1939, launched on 5 August 1940, and completed 26 April 1941. Became RNVR training ship Wessex on the Solent 4 June 1952, broken up October 1965., built by Furness Shipbuilding, laid down on 22 September 1939, launched on 28 November 1940, and completed 30 August 1941. Sunk by Italian torpedo bombers off Algiers on 10 November 1942., built by Yarrow, laid down on 31 October 1941, launched on 25 August 1942, and completed 13 January 1943. Transferred to Egypt as El Malek Farouq November 1949, renamed Tarik 1954., built by Yarrow, laid down on 28 January 1942, launched on 14 October 1942, and completed 11 March 1943. Sold for breaking up February 1956., built by Fairfield, Govan, laid down on 21 October 1941, launched on 26 November 1942, and completed 29 May 1943. Sold for breaking up November 1955., built by Denny, laid down on 23 February 1941, launched on 29 June 1942, and completed 14 December 1942. Sunk by U-256 on 27 February 1944., built by Denny, laid down on 27 February 1941, launched on 11 August 1942, and completed 4 February 1943. Sold for breaking up February 1956.
- Royal Indian Navy
- JumnaHMIS Jumna (U21)HMIS Jumna was a Black Swan class sloop, which served in the Royal Indian Navy during World War II.After India became a republic on 26 January 1950, the vessel was renamed as the Indian Navy's INS Jamuna.-History:...
, built by Denny, launched on 16 November 1940, and completed 13 May 1941. Later used as survey ship, renamed INS Jamuna 1968, paid off at end 1980 and broken up. - SutlejHMIS Sutlej (U95)HMIS Sutlej was a modified Bittern class sloop, later known as the Black Swan class, which served in the Royal Indian Navy during World War II....
, built by Denny, launched on 1 October 1940, and completed 23 April 1941. Later used as survey ship, paid off at end 1978 and deleted 1982 or 1983. - Godavari, built by Thornycroft, Woolston, launched on 21 March 1943, and completed 28 June 1943. Transferred to Pakistan as Sind 1948. Sold for breaking up 2 June 1959.
- NarbadaHMIS Narbada (U40)HMIS Narbada was a Modified Bittern class sloop, later known as the Black Swan class, which served in the Royal Indian Navy during World War II....
, built by Thornycroft, launched on 21 December 1942, and completed 29 April 1943. Transferred to Pakistan as Jhelum 1948. Broken up July 1959.
- Jumna
Modified Black Swan class
- Royal Nav
Eleven ships were in the 1940 Supplementary War Programme:, built by Denny, laid down on 6 June 1941, launched on 24 September 1942, and completed 29 March 1943. A total loss on 18 November 1943 by U-515 (Henke). Renamed Lusitania 31 December 1943 as a base ship, then broken up 1945., built by Denny, laid down on 13 June 1941, launched on 9 November 1942, and completed 10 May 1943. Broken up 1965., built by Cammell Laird, Birkenhead, laid down on 30 August 1941, launched on 28 July 1942, and completed 1 December 1942. Broken up March 1956., built by Cammell Laird, laid down on 25 September 1941, launched on 13 October 1942, and completed 1 March 1943. Sunk by U-344 on 21 August 1944., built by Scotts, Greenock, laid down 17 December 1941, launched on 16 July 1943, and completed 21 March 1944. Sunk by U-968 on 20 March 1945., built by Scotts, laid down 5 May 1942, launched on 28 August 1943, and completed 10 April 1944. Damaged beyond repair by U-968 off Kola Inlet on 17 February 1945; salved by Soviet Navy and added as Neptun, finally broken up 1956., built by Thornycroft, laid down on 30 December 1941, launched 24 March 1943, and completed 30 August 1943. Broken up July 1959., built by Thornycroft, laid down on 29 November 1942, launched on 11 December 1943, and completed 10 May 1944. Broken up May 1958., built by Yarrow, laid down on 17 March 1942, launched on 21 December 1942, and completed 12 May 1943. Broken up January 1963., built by Yarrow, laid down on 18 May 1942, launched on 25 February 1943, and completed 24 June 1943. Broken up November 1960., built by Fairfield, laid down on 21 October 1941, launched on 14 October 1942, and completed 1 April 1943. Broken up July 1965.
Ten more ships were in the 1941 Programme:, built by Thornycroft, laid down on 15 May 1944, launched on 25 July 1945, and completed 24 July 1946. Transferred to West Germany as Hipper 9 December 1958. Hulked July 1964, sold for breaking up 25 October 1967., built by Alexander Stephen, laid down on 25 March 1942, launched on 7 May 1943, and completed 2 November 1943. Broken up January 1957., built by Stephen, laid down on 27 March 1942, launched on 7 July 1943, and completed 12 December 1943. Transferred to West Germany as Scheer 1958. Sold for breaking up 17 March 1971., built by Denny, laid down 31 August 1942, launched on 30 September 1943, and completed 11 April 1944. Broken up December 1958., built by Denny, laid down on 8 September 1942, launched on 11 November 1943, and completed 12 May 1944. Transferred to West Germany as Scharnhorst 5 May 1950. Hulked 1974, and broken up April 1990., built by Denny, laid down on 28 July 1943, launched on 30 November 1944, and completed 16 June 1945. Broken up April 1960., built by Chatham Dockyard, laid down on 15 February 1943, launched on 29 January 1944, and completed 3 September 1945. Broken up March 1961., built by Chatham Dockyard, laid down on 15 February 1943, launched on 29 January 1944, and completed 6 May 1946. Broken up May 1958., ordered from Portsmouth Dockyard 3 March 1942, laid down on 26 February 1945, but cancelled 23 October 1945., ordered from Portsmouth Dockyard 3 March 1942, laid down on 26 February 1945, but cancelled 23 October 1945.
Three more ships were in the 1942 Programme (Snipe and Sparrow had originally been in the 1940 Programme, ordered from John Brown, Clydebank on 21 June 1941, then the order was transferred to Devonport Dockyard 3 March 1942 and finally to Denny on 8 December 1942):, built by Denny, laid down on 4 May 1943, launched on 1 September 1944, and completed 13 April 1945. Broken up September 1956., built by Denny, laid down on 21 September 1944, launched on 20 December 1945, and completed 9 September 1946. Broken up August 1960., built by Denny, laid down on 30 October 1944, launched on 18 February 1946, and completed 16 December 1946. Broken up May 1958.
Three more ships were in the 1944 Programme, but all were cancelled 2 November 1945. These had been intended to be further modified and enlarged, with a beam of 38 in 6 in (11.73 m):, ordered from Thornycroft on 9 October 1944., ordered from Denny., ordered from Denny.
- Royal Indian Navy
- CauveryHMIS Cauvery (U10)HMIS Cauvery was a Black Swan class sloop which served in the Royal Indian Navy during World War II.-History:HMIS Cauvery was ordered in 1941 as a part of the 1940 Build Program for the Royal Indian Navy...
, built by Yarrow, launched on 15 June 1943, and completed 21 October 1943. Renamed INS Kaveri 1968. Sold 1979. - KistnaHMIS Kistna (U46)HMIS Kistna was a Black Swan class sloop which served in the Royal Indian Navy during World War II.After independence, she was commissioned into the Indian Navy as INS Krisna.-History:...
, built by Yarrow, launched on 22 April 1943, and completed 26 August 1943. Renamed INS Krishna 1968. Paid off at end 1981 and broken up.
- Cauvery
Losses
In World War II: was sunk by Italian torpedo bombers off Algiers on 10 November 1942 was seriously damaged by an acoustic homing torpedo fired by U-256 on 20 February 1944 whilst escorting convoy ON-224. The ship sank a week later on 27 February whilst under tow during an Atlantic storm. was sunk by U-344 on 21 August 1944 whilst the ship was escorting aircraft carriers which were covering the Arctic convoyArctic convoys of World War II
The Arctic convoys of World War II travelled from the United Kingdom and North America to the northern ports of the Soviet Union—Arkhangelsk and Murmansk. There were 78 convoys between August 1941 and May 1945...
JW-59. was damaged beyond repair by U-968 on 17 February 1945 was sunk by U-968 on 20 March 1945
U-boats kills
- U-213German submarine U-213German submarine U-213 was a Type VIID mine-laying U-boat of the German Kriegsmarine during World War II.-Training:Laid down on 1 October 1940 by Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft, Kiel, the boat was commissioned on 30 August 1941 with Oberleutnant zur See Amelung von Varendorff in command...
was sunk east of the AzoresAzoresThe Archipelago of the Azores is composed of nine volcanic islands situated in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, and is located about west from Lisbon and about east from the east coast of North America. The islands, and their economic exclusion zone, form the Autonomous Region of the...
by , and on 31 July 1942. - U-124 was sunk west of Oporto by the corvette and on 2 April 1943.
- U-202 was sunk at 00:30 hrs on 2 June 1943 south-east of Cape Farewell, GreenlandCape Farewell, GreenlandCape Farewell , is a headland on the southern shore of Egger Island, Greenland. Located at it is the southernmost extent of Greenland, projecting out into the North Atlantic Ocean and the Labrador Sea on the same latitude as Stockholm and the Scottish Shetland Islands. Egger and the associated...
, in position 56.12°N 39.52°W, by depth charges and gunfire from on 2 June 1943. - U-449 was sunk north-west of Cape Ortegal by , , and on 24 June 1943.
- U-462 was sunk in the Bay of BiscayBay of BiscayThe Bay of Biscay is a gulf of the northeast Atlantic Ocean located south of the Celtic Sea. It lies along the western coast of France from Brest south to the Spanish border, and the northern coast of Spain west to Cape Ortegal, and is named in English after the province of Biscay, in the Spanish...
by a Handley-Page Halifax and , , , and on 30 July 1943. - U-504 was sunk north-west of Cape Ortegal by , , and on 30 July 1943.
- U-226 was sunk east of NewfoundlandDominion of NewfoundlandThe Dominion of Newfoundland was a British Dominion from 1907 to 1949 . The Dominion of Newfoundland was situated in northeastern North America along the Atlantic coast and comprised the island of Newfoundland and Labrador on the continental mainland...
by , and on 6 November 1943. - U-538 was sunk south-west of Ireland by the frigate and on 21 November 1943.
- U-119 was sunk in the Bay of BiscayBay of BiscayThe Bay of Biscay is a gulf of the northeast Atlantic Ocean located south of the Celtic Sea. It lies along the western coast of France from Brest south to the Spanish border, and the northern coast of Spain west to Cape Ortegal, and is named in English after the province of Biscay, in the Spanish...
by on 24 June 1943. - U-842 was sunk by and on 6 November 1943.
- U-592 was sunk south-west of Ireland by , and on 31 January 1944.
- U-762 was sunk by and on 8 February 1944.
- U-734 was sunk south-west of Ireland by and on 9 February 1944.
- U-238 was sunk south-west of Ireland by , and on 9 February 1944.
- U-424 was sunk south-west of Ireland by and on 11 February 1944.
- U-264 was sunk by and on 19 February 1944.
- U-653 was sunk by a Fairey SwordfishFairey SwordfishThe Fairey Swordfish was a torpedo bomber built by the Fairey Aviation Company and used by the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy during the Second World War...
from the escort carrier , and on 15 March 1944. - U-961 was sunk east of IcelandIcelandIceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
by on 29 March 1944. - U-962German submarine U-962German submarine U-962 was a Type VIIC U-boat built during World War II. Her keel was laid at the yards of Blohm & Voss in Hamburg on 7 April 1942. Launched on 17 December 1942, she was formally commissioned on 11 February 1943 and given to Oblt...
was sunk north-west of Cape FinisterreCape Finisterreright|thumb|300px|Position of Cape Finisterre on the [[Iberian Peninsula]]Cape Finisterre is a rock-bound peninsula on the west coast of Galicia, Spain....
by and on 8 April 1944. - U-473 was sunk south-west of Ireland by , and on 6 May 1944.
- U-333 was sunk west of the Scilly IslesIsles of ScillyThe Isles of Scilly form an archipelago off the southwestern tip of the Cornish peninsula of Great Britain. The islands have had a unitary authority council since 1890, and are separate from the Cornwall unitary authority, but some services are combined with Cornwall and the islands are still part...
by and the frigate on 31 July 1944. - U-608 was sunk in the Bay of BiscayBay of BiscayThe Bay of Biscay is a gulf of the northeast Atlantic Ocean located south of the Celtic Sea. It lies along the western coast of France from Brest south to the Spanish border, and the northern coast of Spain west to Cape Ortegal, and is named in English after the province of Biscay, in the Spanish...
by and a B-24 LiberatorB-24 LiberatorThe Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber...
on 10 August 1944. - U-385 was sunk in the Bay of BiscayBay of BiscayThe Bay of Biscay is a gulf of the northeast Atlantic Ocean located south of the Celtic Sea. It lies along the western coast of France from Brest south to the Spanish border, and the northern coast of Spain west to Cape Ortegal, and is named in English after the province of Biscay, in the Spanish...
by and a Shorts Sunderland on 11 August 1944. - U-198German submarine U-198German submarine U-198, was a Type IXD2 U-boat which fought in World War II.She was built by the Deschimag AG Weser in Bremen. The boat was sunk on 12 August 1944 near the Seychelles, in position , by depth charges from the British frigate HMS Findhorn and the Indian Black Swan class sloop HMIS...
was sunk near the SeychellesSeychellesSeychelles , officially the Republic of Seychelles , is an island country spanning an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, some east of mainland Africa, northeast of the island of Madagascar....
by the frigate and HMIS Godavari on 12 August 1944. - U-354 was sunk in the Barents SeaBarents SeaThe Barents Sea is a marginal sea of the Arctic Ocean, located north of Norway and Russia. Known in the Middle Ages as the Murman Sea, the sea takes its current name from the Dutch navigator Willem Barents...
by and , the frigate and the destroyer on 24 August 1944. - U-394 was sunk in the Norwegian SeaNorwegian SeaThe Norwegian Sea is a marginal sea in the North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of Norway. It is located between the North Sea and the Greenland Sea and adjoins the North Atlantic Ocean to the west and the Barents Sea to the northeast. In the southwest, it is separated from the Atlantic Ocean by a...
by a Fairey SwordfishFairey SwordfishThe Fairey Swordfish was a torpedo bomber built by the Fairey Aviation Company and used by the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy during the Second World War...
from the escort carrier , the destroyers and and the sloops and on 2 September 1944. - U-425 was sunk in the Barents SeaBarents SeaThe Barents Sea is a marginal sea of the Arctic Ocean, located north of Norway and Russia. Known in the Middle Ages as the Murman Sea, the sea takes its current name from the Dutch navigator Willem Barents...
by and the corvette on 17 February 1945. - U-1276 was sunk south of WaterfordWaterfordWaterford is a city in the South-East Region of Ireland. It is the oldest city in the country and fifth largest by population. Waterford City Council is the local government authority for the city and its immediate hinterland...
by on 20 February 1945. - U-1208 was sunk by and others on 20 February 1945.
- U-327 was sunk in the English ChannelEnglish ChannelThe English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
by the frigates and and on 27 February 1945. - U-683 was sunk by and others on 12 March 1945.
Reassessments
During the war the Starling was credited, along with the sloops , , , and frigate , with sinking the U-482German submarine U-482
German submarine U-482 was a Type VIIC U-boat of the German Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was laid down on 13 February 1942 at Deutsche Werke in Kiel and went into service on 1 December 1943 under the command of Hartmut von Matuschka....
in the North Channel on 16 January 1945. The British Admiralty withdrew this credit in a post-war reassessment.
See also
- List of Royal Navy ships
- List of ships of the Egyptian Navy