HMS Swale (K217) was a Royal Navy frigate of the River class, built by Smith’s Dock Co Ltd on the Tees in north-east England. Commissioned on 14 June 1942, she played an active role in the Battle of the Atlantic, and was accredited with the sinking of two U-boats. After the war, she was briefly loaned to the South African Navy and eventually scrapped on 26 February 1955. The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore the Senior Service). ... For the bird, see Frigatebird. ... The River class frigates were 151 frigates launched in 1941–1944. ... The Tees is an English river which rises on the eastward slope of Cross Fell in the Pennine Chain and flows eastwards for about 87 miles (137 km) before emptying into the North Sea between Hartlepool and Redcar. ... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital London Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Government Constitutional monarchy  - Queen Queen Elizabeth II  - Prime Minister Tony Blair MP Unification    - by Athelstan AD 927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq... June 14 is the 165th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (166th in leap years), with 200 days remaining. ... 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1942 calendar). ... Battle of the Atlantic can refer to either of two naval campaigns, depending on context: World War I - First Battle of the Atlantic World War II - Second Battle of the Atlantic A Third Battle of the Atlantic was envisioned to be be part of any Third World War that arose... U-boat is also a nickname for some diesel locomotives built by GE; see List of GE locomotives October 1939. ... February 26 is the 57th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1955 (MCMLV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

HMS Swale K 217

HMS Swale experienced some of the worst days of the Second Battle of the Atlantic. In March 1943 she was SO of the Escort Group [EG] B5, escorting the slow convoy SC 122 [1] from New York to Liverpool. Of the 51 merchant ships in the convoy, 10 returned to port unable to ride a violent storm, and three days later another 8 were sunk by U-boats. Combatants Royal Navy Royal Canadian Navy United States Navy Kriegsmarine Regia Marina Commanders Sir Percy Noble Sir Max K. Horton Ernest J. King Erich Raeder Karl Dönitz Casualties 30,248 merchant sailors 3,500 merchant vessels 175 warships 28,000 sailors 783 submarines The Second Battle of the Atlantic... Official language(s) English de facto Capital Albany Largest city New York City Area  Ranked 27th  - Total 54,520 sq mi (141,205 km²)  - Width 285 miles (455 km)  - Length 330 miles (530 km)  - % water 13. ... Liverpool waterfront by night, as seen from the Wirral. ...

Swale was to have better fortunes two months later. Escorting slow convoy ONS 7 bound for Halifax, Canada she sank U-657 [2] off Cape Farewell, Greenland on the night of 17 May. The U boat had earlier torpedoed the 5,196 GRT steamer Aymeric, the last British cargo ship in the Atlantic to be sunk that month, claiming the lives of 53 men. Under the command of Lieutenant Commander Boyle, Swale moved 6,000 m astern of the doomed Aymeric, and made asdic contact. After a succession of depth charge and hedgehog attacks, she was rewarded with the sound of several loud explosions and the appearance of burning oil on the surface. The convoy continued to Canada without further loss. On 6 April 1944 while escorting slow convoy SC 156 from Halifax, Canada to Loch Ewe, Scotland, Swale sank U-302 [3] with depth charges northwest of the Azores after the U-boat had penetrated the escort screen and sunk the Norwegian merchantmen Ruth 1 and South America. Motto: Template:Unhide = E Mari Merces (Wealth from the Sea) Logo: Location City Information Established: April 1, 1996 Area: (former city) 79. ... Cape Farewell (the centre of the image) and the rugged southern coast of Egger Island, The coast (dark) is generally surrounded by sea ice, making navigation treacherous. ... May 17 is the 137th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (138th in leap years). ... The Atlantic Ocean is Earths second-largest ocean, covering approximately one_fifth of its surface. ... In the Royal Navy, United States Navy and United States Coast Guard, a lieutenant commander (lieutenant-commander or Lt Cdr in the RN) is a commissioned officer superior to a lieutenant and inferior to a commander. ... The F70 type frigates (here, Motte-Picquet) are fitted with VDS (Variable Depth Sonar) type DUBV43 or DUBV43C tugged sonars Sonar (sound navigation and ranging) is a technique that uses sound propagation under water to navigate or to detect other watercraft. ... Depth Charge used by U.S. Navy later in World War II The depth charge is the oldest anti-submarine weapon. ... Hedgehog anti-submarine weapon An anti-submarine weapon developed by the Royal Navy during World War II, the Hedgehog was deployed on convoy escort warships such as destroyers to supplement the depth charge. ... April 6 is the 96th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (97th in leap years). ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1944 calendar). ... Motto: Template:Unhide = E Mari Merces (Wealth from the Sea) Logo: Location City Information Established: April 1, 1996 Area: (former city) 79. ... Motto: (Latin for No one provokes me with impunity)1 Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official language(s) English, Gaelic, Scots2 Government Constitutional monarchy  - Queen of the UK Queen Elizabeth II  - Prime Minister of the UK Tony Blair MP  - First Minister Jack McConnell MSP Unification    - by... Location Motto of the autonomous region: Antes morrer livres que em paz sujeitos (Portuguese: To die free rather than to be subjugated in peace) Official language Portuguese Capitals Ponta Delgada (Presidency of the autonomous government), Angra do Heroísmo (Supreme Court), Horta (Legislative Assembly) Other towns Praia da Vitória...

References

• Gannon, M. (1943). Black May. ISBN 1-85410-588-4. [The story of the Allies’ defeat of the U-boats in May, 1943].

External links

• http://www.warsailors.com/convoys/index.html Comprehensive details of the Atlantic convoys and their fates.