700-021 BRITISH SLOOP HMS BLACK SWAN

HMS Black Swan (L57) was a British sloop from the interwar period and World War II. The keel was laid in June 1938, the launch took place in July 1939, and entry into service with the Royal Navy in January 1940. The total length of the ship at the time of launching was 91.3 meters and a width of 11.43 meters. The displacement reached 1,250 tons and the maximum speed was approx. 19 knots. The armaments included three twin 102mm cannons and 4 twin 40mm cannons. The HMS Black Swan (L57) was the first ship of her class in the Royal Navy, with a total of 12 ships (eng. Black Swan class) and was the basis for a very similar type of ships with a total of 25 units (eng. Modified Black Swan class). Units of type The Black Swan was developed based on the type of Egret sloop and retained many of its design features. However, they differed significantly in their armaments. Units of type Black Swan were even specialized in escorting convoys and were characterized by very good seagoing performance. HMS Black Swan (L57), shortly after entering service, operated in the home waters, and at the outbreak of World War II, carried out convoy tasks off the eastern coast of England. In April 1940, it took part in the Norwegian campaign during which it was damaged. From May 1941, he actively participated in the protection of convoys in the Irish Sea. At the end of 1942, the unit was used as part of Operation Torch off the coast of North Africa. At the end of World War II, HMS Black Swan (L57) was carrying out convoy tasks in the Mediterranean, and at the very end of World War II he was sent to the Pacific. Interestingly, after 1945, the ship continued to serve in the Royal Navy and took an active part in the Korean War (1950-1953). The unit was not put into scrap until 1956.