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Swordfish (N 61)

Built By: Chatham Dockyard (Medway)
Build Group: S1
Fate: 7 November 1940 - Mined of St. Catherine's Point Isle of Wight
Swordfish
Swordfish
Swordfish
Swordfish

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Commanders
1932: Lieutenant Commander   Thomas Bennett Brunton
1937: Lieutenant   Rupert Philip Lonsdale
1939: Lieutenant   Cecil Bernard Crouch
1940: Lieutenant Commander   Andrew Niel Gillespie Campbell
1940: Lieutenant   Patrick James Cowell
1940: Lieutenant   Michael Armitage Langley DSC

1932-1935: Portsmouth
1935-1939: Home Fleet
1939-1940: North Sea, Channel, Biscay

She was attacked in error by Sturgeon but not hit.

Roll of Honour
41
 
Apps, David  C/JX 141903
Died: 7th Nov, 1940.
Able Seaman Aged: 21
Blackmore, William George  D/SSX 17741
Died: 7th Nov, 1940.
Able Seaman Aged: 29
Bush, Roland William  MID C/J 109431
Died: 7th Nov, 1940.
Chief Petty Officer Aged: 32
Buttress, Harry  D/KX 81751
Died: 7th Nov, 1940.
Leading Stoker Aged: 30
Cox, James Frank  P/J 60278
Died: 7th Nov, 1940.
Leading Seaman Aged: 40
Crean, William John  D/KX 82122
Died: 7th Nov, 1940.
Leading Stoker Aged: 29
Dando, Trevor John Bladon  C/J 105215
Died: 7th Nov, 1940.
Petty Officer Aged: 35
Davies, Harold  MID P/JX 127080
Died: 7th Nov, 1940.
Leading Signalman Aged: 30
Fry, Alexander Frederick  (RNR)
Died: 7th Nov, 1940.
Lieutenant Aged: 25
Gratton, Francis Arthur John  D/JX 126186
Died: 7th Nov, 1940.
Able Seaman Aged: 30
Hollingworth, Arthur Charles  D/JX 151882
Died: 7th Nov, 1940.
Leading Seaman Aged: 23
Jarrett, Thomas John Charles  C/KX 92020
Died: 7th Nov, 1940.
Able Seaman Aged: 21
Jones, Edward Lewingdon  P/JX 127991
Died: 7th Nov, 1940.
Able Seaman Aged: 30
Kellet, Oswald  D/J 98620
Died: 7th Nov, 1940.
Petty Officer Aged: 35
Kennard, Victor Albert  C/K 59839
Died: 7th Nov, 1940.
Stoker Petty Officer Aged: 36
Langley, Michael Armitage  DSC
Died: 7th Nov, 1940.
Lieutenant Aged: 28
Commanding Officer
Lee, William Thomas  MID D/MX 45635
Died: 7th Nov, 1940.
Engine Room Artificer 2nd Class Aged: 29
Loines, Charles Walter Leonard  C/JX 179106
Died: 7th Nov, 1940.
Ordinary Seaman Aged: 22
McMann, Thomas  D/JX 134363
Died: 7th Nov, 1940.
Leading Telegraphist Aged: 26
Millerick, Frank Frederick William  C/KX 79882
Died: 7th Nov, 1940.
Stoker 1st Class Aged: 31
Morrison, Charles Archibald  C/KX 84966
Died: 7th Nov, 1940.
Leading Stoker Aged: 29
Nichols, Richard Thomas  P/J 58646
Died: 7th Nov, 1940.
Able Seaman Aged: 40
Northwood, Arthur  D/JX 135736
Died: 7th Nov, 1940.
Petty Officer Telegraphist Aged: 24
O'Neill, Joseph Patrick  D/KX 84929
Died: 7th Nov, 1940.
Stoker 1st Class Aged: 30
Owen, Amos John  D/MX 52169
Died: 7th Nov, 1940.
Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class Aged: 31
Plested, Edward  D/KX 86488
Died: 7th Nov, 1940.
Stoker 1st Class Aged: 24
Preddy, Leonard John  D/KX 83716
Died: 7th Nov, 1940.
Leading Stoker Aged: 25
Ratcliffe, Michael Eric Price 
Died: 7th Nov, 1940.
Lieutenant Aged: 22
Selway, Harry Thomas  (Ex.M38756)
Died: 7th Nov, 1940.
Warrant Engineer Aged: 31
Shipley, James Henry Newton  P/JX 145303
Died: 7th Nov, 1940.
Able Seaman Aged: 20
Souris, Edward George  C/KX 83535
Died: 7th Nov, 1940.
Stoker 1st Class Aged: 29
Sproat, David Jameson  C/KX 83324
Died: 7th Nov, 1940.
Stoker 1st Class Aged: 25
Spurgeon, Harold Vincent  D/MX 46961
Died: 7th Nov, 1940.
Engine Room Artificer 4th Class Aged: 28
Stacey, Harry Arthur 
Died: 7th Nov, 1940.
Lieutenant Aged: 25
Stapley, Ernest William  P/MX 56585
Died: 7th Nov, 1940.
Engine Room Artificer 4th Class Aged: 22
Tonks, Leonard  D/J 112969
Died: 7th Nov, 1940.
Leading Telegraphist Aged: 31
Ward, Frederick  MID C/MX 46205
Died: 7th Nov, 1940.
Engine Room Artificer 2nd Class Aged: 34
Williams, Norman Charles  D/JX 142211
Died: 7th Nov, 1940.
Telegraphist Aged: 21
Williams, Reginald Herbert  C/JX 148322
Died: 7th Nov, 1940.
Able Seaman Aged: 25
Wood, John Hardy  D/JX 134058
Died: 7th Nov, 1940.
Telegraphist Aged: 26
Young, Jack  C/JX 144322
Died: 7th Nov, 1940.
Leading Seaman Aged: 21

Events

 01-12-1930   Laid Down
 10-11-1931   Launched
 28-11-1932   Completed
 20-04-1940   HMS Swordfish fires 6 torpedoes against the German merchant Santos about 17 nautical miles south-south-east of Larvik, Norway. All torpedoes fired missed their target.
 28-07-1940   HMS Swordfish comes across the Norwegian yacht Maski in the North Sea. The four Norwegians aboard the yacht were trying to flee to the United Kingdom. After the Norwegians were taken aboard and the Maski was sunk with gunfire.
 01-10-1940   HMS Swordfish attacks the German torpedo boats Falke and Kondor with torpedoes in the English Channel about 12 nautical miles north-east of Cherbourg, France. All torpedoes missed their target.
 07-11-1940   Believed sunk by mine

HMS Swordfish sailed from Portsmouth on 7th November 1940 for a patrol in the North Sea. Nothing was heard from the Swordfish after her departure despite efforts on the 15th and 16th to have her report her position. It was believed at the time that she had fallen victim to a German destroyer in the vicinity of Brest. This belief remained until 1983 when her wreck was discovered off the Isle of Wight at a depth of 150 feet. It is now clear that the submarine struck a mine shortly after sailing from Portsmouth.
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