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.

Object Details

ID: PAE2671
Collection: Fine art
Type: Drawing
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Wyllie, William Lionel
Vessels: Swordfish [HMS]
Date made: circa 1918
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, Caird Collection
Measurements: 300 mm x 288 mm