Hms 'swordfish'
two sketches, one over the other, both within a drawn pencil surround. The upper one is inscribed at the bottom by the artist 'swordfish'. This vessel had a strange life, being launched by scott's shipbuilding & engineering co. Ltd at greenock on 18 march 1916 as a steam-turbine-driven submarine. She was renamed 's1' in april 1916 and commissioned on 28 april but was not successful and never reached operational status as a submarine. She was laid up at portsmouth in january 1917 and between june and august converted to a surface patrol vessel with a raised forecastle, a wheelhouse and an enlarged funnel, as shown here. Her batteries were replaced by ballast and she was armed with two 12-pdr guns and depth charges. Renamed 'swordfish' she underwent various trials throughout august to december 1917 and became operational as a tender to 'victory' at portsmouth in january 1918. She was broken up from july 1922. A submarine of the 'k' or 'l' classes is astern of her here. The lower sketch, only lightly done in pencil, is not identifiable but appears to be a small steam vessel armed with one large gun forward. Date: circa 1918. Dimensions: 300 mm x 288 mm. Collection: Fine art.
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