H.M.S. Wild Swan (1919)

H.M.S. Wild Swan (1919)
Pendant Number:	D.62 (Nov 1919)
Builder:	Swan Hunter
Ordered:	Apr, 1918 (2nd Order)
Launched:	17 May, 1919
Completed:	14 Nov, 1919
Commissioned:	10 Oct, 1919
Sunk:	17 Jun, 1942
Fate:	in Bay of Biscay

H.M.S. Wild Swan was one of fifteen destroyers of the Modified "W" class.

Service

Wild Swan was commissioned on 10 October, 1919.

She was re-commissioned on 10 March, 1925 to serve with the Third Destroyer Flotilla in the Mediterranean.

She re-commissioned on 5 August, 1926 for service with Third Destroyer Flotilla, this time on the China Station.

Re-commissioned at Chatham on 16 October, 1928 to serve with the Third Destroyer Flotilla, once more in the Mediterranean.

In May, 1931, Wild Swan was taken up to Portsmouth where she was reduced to Reserve under the command of Lieutenant-Commander John Murray on 12 June.

She was commissioned at Portsmouth on 23 October, 1931.

She re-commissioned at Hong Kong for service with the Eighth Destroyer Flotilla on the China Station.

By October 1935, she was with the First Destroyer Flotilla in the Mediterranean.

Re-commissioned on 12 September, 1936 for work with the Portsmouth Local Destroyer Flotilla.

Equipment

In 1923, she was one of five destroyers and flotilla leader types to be given new, opalescent glass dials with 16 orders for their Chadburn's Torpedo Telegraphs, an increase from the 12 orders in the original design. They required new gearing to match. It was resolved that further installations of this type should occur "as soon as financial conditions permit of it."

In 1934, her bell was offered for sale to naval officers and others who might be interested, at the price of £5 or perhaps £1. Interested parties were to write the Director of Stores and were urged to include any special information which might convey the importance they attach to the bell, in light of the Admiralty's understanding that such items carry great sentimental value.

Captains

Dates of appointment are provided when known.

• Commander Delorest J. D. Noble, 8 October, 1919 – 31 December, 1919
• Lieutenant-Commander Cecil R. E. W. Perryman, 5 February, 1920 – 14 February, 1922
• Lieutenant-Commander David B. Nicol, 14 February, 1922 – 6 July, 1923
• Lieutenant-Commander Kenneth G. Ramsey, 3 July, 1923 – July, 1923
• Lieutenant-Commander Percival C. W. Manwaring, August, 1923 – February, 1925
• Commander Alban T. B. Curteis, 1 January, 1925 – 10 March, 1925
• Lieutenant-Commander Alexander M. Donovan, 13 January, 1925 – January, 1926
• Commander Charles G. Stuart, 10 March, 1925 – 8 May, 1926
• Lieutenant-Commander Donal S. McGrath, 5 August, 1926 – 10 September, 1926  (took command upon arrival in home waters)
• Commander Charles G. Stuart, 10 September, 1926
• Commander Louis H. K. Hamilton, March, 1927 – 12 September, 1928  (took command on relief in Wanderer)
• Lieutenant-Commander Edward L. Berthon, 12 September, 1928 – November, 1929
• Lieutenant-Commander Arthur L. Pears, November, 1929 – 17 April, 1930
• Lieutenant-Commander Colin C. L. Mackenzie, 25 May, 1931 – 12 June, 1931^[Inference]  (temporary, for passage to Portsmouth)
• Lieutenant-Commander John Murray, 12 June, 1931 – 9 March, 1932^{[Fact Check]}
• Lieutenant-Commander Stuart E. Crewe-Read, 2 October, 1931 – 17 December, 1931
• Lieutenant-Commander Philip N. Walter, 17 December, 1931 – 6 October, 1932
• Commander Percy Todd, 6 October, 1932 – 6 April, 1933  (vice Walter)
• Commander Francis J. Wylie, 3 February, 1933 – 1934
• Commander Stephen H. T. Arliss, 17 December, 1934 – 11 September, 1936
• Lieutenant-Commander Robert C. M. White, 10 September, 1936
• Lieutenant-Commander Cecil H. de B. Newby, 29 December, 1936
• Lieutenant-Commander John L. Younghusband, 31 July, 1939 – 22 August, 1940
• Lieutenant-Commander Claude E. L. Sclater, 22 August, 1940 – 17 June, 1942

See Also

• Wikipedia