HNoMS Svenner

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The S-class destroyer Svenner at Scapa Flow
Career (Norway) Norwegian State Flag
Name: Svenner
Builder: Scotts, Greenock[1]
Laid down: November 5, 1941
Launched: June 1, 1943
Commissioned: March 11, 1944
Fate: Sunk June 6, 1944
General characteristics
Class and type: S-class
Displacement: 1,710 tons (standard)
Length: 363 feet (110.64 m)363
Propulsion: 40000 hp, geared turbines, 2 shafts
Speed: 37 knots (68.52 km/h)
Complement: 180 men
Armament: 4 x 4.5 in. main guns
2 x 40 mm Bofors anti-aircraft guns
6 x 20 mm Oerlikon anti-aircraft guns
8 x 21 in. torpedo tubes

HNoMS Svenner was an S-class destroyer in the service of the Royal Norwegian Navy during World War II. She was launched on June 1, 1943 as the Royal Navy ship HMS Shark (G03), but was rechristened HNoMS Svenner when she was commissioned in the Norwegian Navy in 1944. Svenner was sunk off Sword Beach Normandy at dawn on June 6, 1944, while supporting the British Army landings.

She was hit by two torpeodoes fired from one of a number of German E-Boats, operating out of Le Harve, that managed to get within firing range. The Svenner was the only allied ship to be sunk by German Naval activity on the morning of June 6th. She was struck amidships, exploded, broke in two and sank very quickly. 32 Norwegian and one British crew killed, 185 (15 wounded) were rescued from the crew of 219. (The book 'D-Day' by Stephen E Ambrose contains a photograph, in the 16 pages of photographs after page 160, of the moment that the Svenner blew up.) The anchor from the Svenner was recovered in 2003 and now forms 'The Svenner Memorial' at Sword Beach. The memorial can be found approximately 100 yards on the sea-side of the coast road at Hermanville-sur-Mer, Normandy, France.

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