HMS Swordfish (61S)

HMS "Swordfish" (61S) was a group one British S class submarine that was sunk on a combat patrol in the English Channel in November 1940 during the Second World War.

Nothing was heard from her following her departure from Portsmouth on 7 November 1940 with 40 crew onboard to relieve HMS "Usk" which was on patrol off the Western Approaches near Brest, France. At the time it was thought that she had been sunk by a German destroyer [ [http://www.rnsubmus.co.uk/general/losses.htm Submarine losses 1904 to present day] , RN Submarine Museum, Gosport] . However she was discovered by a local diver in 1983, split into two halves just forward of the gun by a mine [ [http://www.wightindex.com/shipwrecks/sword.htm Disappearance of HMS Swordfish] , Isle of Wight index] . The wreck lies in about 46 metres of water roughly 12 miles south of St. Catherine’s Head, Isle of Wight [ [http://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/3419.html HMS Swordfish] , Uboot.net] . It is likely that she struck the mine shortly after sailing whilst carrying out a trim dive. The wrecksite is designated as a "protected place" [cite web |title= Statutory Instrument 2008/0950 | work=Office of Public Sector Information, 1 April 2008 | url=http://http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2008/uksi_20080950_en_1 | accessdate=2008-07-19] under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986.

ee also

*List of shipwrecks in 1940

References

*Colledge