During the early hours of the morning, whilst acting as escort to the east coast convoy WN.5, HMS Sword Dance (T/Lt. James Joseph Allon, RNR) was rammed in dense fog by one of the merchants of the convoy, the Thyra-II (1088 GRT). The starboard coalbunker was holed and her engine room rapidly flooded and HMS Sword Dance sank in less than an hour. She nows lies in approx 80 metres of water about ten miles east of Wick, with her deadly cargo of depth charges still around her.
The HMS Sword Dance (T-132), was an Armed Trawler of the Dance Class, which also undertook minesweeping duties. She was very similar to the “Tree class” ships. Part of “The Little Ship Navy”, the Dance class armed trawlers were a slight improvement on the “Tree class” as although of the same tonnage, they were better armed.
Built at Leith by Henry Robb Ltd., HMS Sword Dance was 463 tons with a length overall of 150', a beam of 27' 6" with a draught of 14' 6" inches. She was laid down on 2 March 1940, and launched from the yard on 3 September 1940. She was commissioned into H.M. Forces on 20th of January 1941.
She had a complement of 35 Officers and Men and her coal fired reciprocating engine (V.T.E.), had one shaft producing 850 ihp. Her single propellor gave her a speed of 11.5 knots. She had one 4" gun and three 20mm anti-aircraft guns.
The HMS Sword Dance (T-132), was an Armed Trawler of the Dance Class, which also undertook minesweeping duties. She was very similar to the “Tree class” ships. Part of “The Little Ship Navy”, the Dance class armed trawlers were a slight improvement on the “Tree class” as although of the same tonnage, they were better armed.
Built at Leith by Henry Robb Ltd., HMS Sword Dance was 463 tons with a length overall of 150', a beam of 27' 6" with a draught of 14' 6" inches. She was laid down on 2 March 1940, and launched from the yard on 3 September 1940. She was commissioned into H.M. Forces on 20th of January 1941.
She had a complement of 35 Officers and Men and her coal fired reciprocating engine (V.T.E.), had one shaft producing 850 ihp. Her single propellor gave her a speed of 11.5 knots. She had one 4" gun and three 20mm anti-aircraft guns.