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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
Died: 07-11-1940
Apps, David  C/JX 141903
Able Seaman Died: 07-11-1940 Aged: 21
Blackmore, William George  D/SSX 17741
Able Seaman Died: 07-11-1940 Aged: 29
Bush, Roland William  MID C/J 109431
Chief Petty Officer Died: 07-11-1940 Aged: 32
Buttress, Harry  D/KX 81751
Leading Stoker Died: 07-11-1940 Aged: 30
Cox, James Frank  P/J 60278
Leading Seaman Died: 07-11-1940 Aged: 40
Crean, William John  D/KX 82122
Leading Stoker Died: 07-11-1940 Aged: 29
Dando, Trevor John Bladon  C/J 105215
Petty Officer Died: 07-11-1940 Aged: 35
Davies, Harold  MID P/JX 127080
Leading Signalman Died: 07-11-1940 Aged: 30
Fry, Alexander Frederick  (RNR)
Lieutenant Died: 07-11-1940 Aged: 25
Gratton, Francis Arthur John  D/JX 126186
Able Seaman Died: 07-11-1940 Aged: 30
Hollingworth, Arthur Charles  D/JX 151882
Leading Seaman Died: 07-11-1940 Aged: 23
Jarrett, Thomas John Charles  C/KX 92020
Able Seaman Died: 07-11-1940 Aged: 21
Jones, Edward Lewingdon  P/JX 127991
Able Seaman Died: 07-11-1940 Aged: 30
Kellet, Oswald  D/J 98620
Petty Officer Died: 07-11-1940 Aged: 35
Kennard, Victor Albert  C/K 59839
Stoker Petty Officer Died: 07-11-1940 Aged: 36
Langley, Michael Armitage  DSC
Lieutenant Died: 07-11-1940 Aged: 28
Commanding Officer
Lee, William Thomas  MID D/MX 45635
Engine Room Artificer 2nd Class Died: 07-11-1940 Aged: 29
Loines, Charles Walter Leonard  C/JX 179106
Ordinary Seaman Died: 07-11-1940 Aged: 22
McMann, Thomas  D/JX 134363
Leading Telegraphist Died: 07-11-1940 Aged: 26
Millerick, Frank Frederick William  C/KX 79882
Stoker 1st Class Died: 07-11-1940 Aged: 31
Morrison, Charles Archibald  C/KX 84966
Leading Stoker Died: 07-11-1940 Aged: 29
Nichols, Richard Thomas  P/J 58646
Able Seaman Died: 07-11-1940 Aged: 40
Northwood, Arthur  D/JX 135736
Petty Officer Telegraphist Died: 07-11-1940 Aged: 24
O'Neill, Joseph Patrick  D/KX 84929
Stoker 1st Class Died: 07-11-1940 Aged: 30
Owen, Amos John  D/MX 52169
Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class Died: 07-11-1940 Aged: 31
Plested, Edward  D/KX 86488
Stoker 1st Class Died: 07-11-1940 Aged: 24
Preddy, Leonard John  D/KX 83716
Leading Stoker Died: 07-11-1940 Aged: 25
Ratcliffe, Michael Eric Price 
Lieutenant Died: 07-11-1940 Aged: 22
Selway, Harry Thomas  (Ex.M38756)
Warrant Engineer Died: 07-11-1940 Aged: 31
Shipley, James Henry Newton  P/JX 145303
Able Seaman Died: 07-11-1940 Aged: 20
Souris, Edward George  C/KX 83535
Stoker 1st Class Died: 07-11-1940 Aged: 29
Sproat, David Jameson  C/KX 83324
Stoker 1st Class Died: 07-11-1940 Aged: 25
Spurgeon, Harold Vincent  D/MX 46961
Engine Room Artificer 4th Class Died: 07-11-1940 Aged: 28
Stacey, Harry Arthur 
Lieutenant Died: 07-11-1940 Aged: 25
Stapley, Ernest William  P/MX 56585
Engine Room Artificer 4th Class Died: 07-11-1940 Aged: 22
Tonks, Leonard  D/J 112969
Leading Telegraphist Died: 07-11-1940 Aged: 31
Ward, Frederick  MID C/MX 46205
Engine Room Artificer 2nd Class Died: 07-11-1940 Aged: 34
Williams, Norman Charles  D/JX 142211
Telegraphist Died: 07-11-1940 Aged: 21
Williams, Reginald Herbert  C/JX 148322
Able Seaman Died: 07-11-1940 Aged: 25
Wood, John Hardy  D/JX 134058
Telegraphist Died: 07-11-1940 Aged: 26
Young, Jack  C/JX 144322
Leading Seaman Died: 07-11-1940 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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