Allied Warships

HMS Swift (G 46)

Destroyer of the S class

HMS Swift breaking in two and sinking

Navy	The Royal Navy
Type	Destroyer
Class	S
Pennant	G 46
Built by	J.S. White & Co. (Cowes, U.K.)
Ordered	9 Jan 1941
Laid down	12 Jun 1942
Launched	15 Jun 1943
Commissioned	6 Dec 1943
Lost	24 Jun 1944
History	HMS Swift (Lt.Cdr. John Ronald Gower, RN) was mined and sunk in support of the D Day landings off Sword Beach. Sank around 0800am.

Commands listed for HMS Swift (G 46)

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	Commander	From	To
1	Lt.Cdr. John Ronald Gower, RN	11 Oct 1943	24 Jun 1944

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Notable events involving Swift include:

22 Dec 1943
HMS Vampire (Lt. C.W. Taylor, RNR) conducted A/S exercises at/off Scapa Flow with HMS Swift (Lt.Cdr. J.R. Gower, RN) and HMS Onyx (T/A/Lt.Cdr. C.C.L. Gaussen, RNVR). (1)

30 Dec 1943
HMS Vampire (Lt. C.W. Taylor, RNR) conducted A/S exercises at/off Scapa Flow with HMS Swift (Lt.Cdr. J.R. Gower, RN), HMS Switha (T/Lt. V.S. Jeffery, RNVR) and HMS Graemsay (A/Skr.Lt. A.R. Lewis, RNR). (1)

31 Dec 1943
HMS Vampire (Lt. C.W. Taylor, RNR) conducted A/S exercises at/off Scapa Flow with HMS Swift (Lt.Cdr. J.R. Gower, RN) and ORP Blyscawica (Cdr. K.F. Namiesniowski). (1)

1 Jan 1944
HMS Vampire (Lt. C.W. Taylor, RNR) conducted A/S exercises at/off Scapa Flow with HMS Swift (Lt.Cdr. J.R. Gower, RN). (2)

18 Feb 1944
At 0400 hours, HMS Stubborn (Lt. A.A. Duff, DSC, RN), HMS Musketeer and HMS Scourge were joined by HMS Meteor (Lt.Cdr. D.J.B. Jewitt, RN) and HMS Swift (Lt.Cdr. J.R. Gower, RN).

At dawn Beaufighters appeared and remained throughout the day.

HNoMS Narvik was sighted to the westward and joined the 'convoy'.

1600 hours - HMS Meteor and HMS Swift parted company.

See 19 February 1944 for the continuation of the events. (3)