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H . M . S
. S H A R K ( G 0 3 ).
"S"
(SAVAGE) Class Destroyer ordered from Scott's of Greenock with 5th Emergency
Flotilla on 9th January 1941. The ship was laid down on 5th November 194and
1aunched on 1st June 1943 and was the 13th ship to bear this name, previously
used by a submarine lost in 1940. Following a successful WARSHIP WEEK National
Savings campaign in March 1942 she was adopted by the civil community of
Cannock Urban District. Before completion of build on 11th March 1944 she was
transferred on loan to the Royal Norwegian Navy and renamed HM Norwegian Ship
SVENNER.
B a t
t l e H o n o u r s
CRIMEA 1854
- JUTLAND
1916 - NORTH SEA 1940
H e r
a l d i c D a t a
On a Field: Blue a shark
silver.
M o t t o
Celer et tenax : 'Swift and
tenacious'
________________________
H.
M. N o r w e g i a n S h i p S V E N N E R
D e t
a i l s o f W a r
S e r v i c e
1 9 4
4
March
8th Transferred to Royal Norwegian Navy and
renamed SVENNER.
Commissioned for service
in 23rd Destroyer Flotilla
11th Completion of build and commenced
Acceptance Trials
passage to Scapa Flow to
work up for operational service with ships of Home Fleet.
April Joined Flotilla for Home Fleet
duties.
Nominated for duty in Force
"S" for support of allied landings in Normandy.
(Operation NEPTUNE - for details see Landings in NORMANDY June 1944
(HMSO and BRITISH INVASION FLEETS by J de Winser).
. Joined Force "S" and
to provide naval gunfire support during assault on
SWORD Beach. Selected target was beach defences at Cabourg.
May
2nd Took part in final rehearsal for Operation
in English Channel.
(Exercise
FABIUS).
4th Took part with ships of Force S in Assault
landing exercised west of Littlehampton.
18th Took part in Combined defence exercise by
Forces "S", "J" and "G" off Brighton.
Attacks by
aircraft, minelayers, E-Boats and submersibles were simulated.
On
completion took passage to assembly area at Portsmouth.
June
5th Escorted HM Cruisers ARETHUSA, DRAGON, DANAE,
FROBISHER, HM Monitor
ROBERTS and 40th
Minesweeping Flotilla from Portsmouth to SWORD Beachhead
with H M Frigates ROWLEY
and HOLMES.
6th Arrived off SWORD Beach and whilst waiting
for minesweepers to provide swept
channel for
bombardment ships came under attack by three E-Boats.
Hit by torpedoed
amidships under boiler room at 0530. Back broken by explosion
which lifted ship.
Most of the crew which included some RN ratings were rescued. |
