HMS Black Swan History

Design
HMS Black Swan was laid down by Yarrow Shipbuilders in Scotland on 20 June 1938
and was commissioned into the Royal Navy two years later. She was designed as a
larger version of the preceding Egret class sloop which would allow her to accom
modate more anti-aircraft guns. After World War II began, Black Swan had her ant
i-aircraft armament upgraded. Her older, ineffective machine guns were replaced
with Oerlikon cannons and she received additional 2 pounder guns.
Service
Black Swan was the lead ship of a class of four. These ships were employed prima
rily as convoy escorts during World War II. Of the four, Black Swan, Erne, and F
lamingo survived the war. Ibis, the fourth, was sunk by aircraft in 1942. Black
Swan and Erne were sold off and broken up after the war, in 1956 and 1965 respec
tively. Flamingo was transferred to the Federal Republic of Germany in 1959.