Swansea and Port Talbot Docks History

Shipping - Naval Vessels

Royal Navy Osprey-class sloop in Swansea's Prince of Wales Dock c.1885

HMS Spenser, flotilla leader, berthed on No.4 Quay, Kings Dock, Swansea - 1924

HMS Wizard, destroyer, pictured in Kings Dock, Swansea - 1946

HMS Anson, battleship, awaiting high tide before entering Swansea Docks - 1947

HMS Romola, minesweeper, departing Swansea Docks c.1950

HMS Crossbow, destroyer, arriving at Swansea Docks - 1953

Royal Navy inshore survey motor launch SML6 heading out from Swansea Docks. SML6 was one of eight WWII harbour defence motor launches (HDMLs) adapted for coastal survey work after the war. 1950s photo

HMS Starling, Black Swan-class sloop & renowned U-Boat hunter, pictured in Swansea's Prince of Wales Dock c.1955 in her post-war role as navigation training ship

HMS Diana, destroyer, berthed on H Shed Wharf, Prince of Wales Dock, Swansea in 1955 (photo: Roger Winser)

HMS Vidal, survey ship, berthed on G Shed Wharf in Swansea's Prince of Wales Dock - 1959

HMS Fearless, assault ship, arriving at Swansea Docks c.1965 with tugs Wallasey & Waterloo in attendance

HMS Charybdis, frigate, arriving at Swansea Docks c.1980

HMS Antelope, frigate, arriving at Swansea Docks c.1980. Bombed by enemy aircraft in May 1982 during the Falklands war, the ship subsequently sank in an explosion as attempts to defuse two unexploded bombs lodged on board sadly failed

HMS Boxer, frigate, entering Swansea Docks c.1990

HMS Exeter, destroyer, on B Shed Wharf, Kings Dock, Swansea in 1993

HMS Arethusa's final visit to Swansea in 1985

View of the Stern of the Arethusa (Photos: Roger Green)

Royal Navy destroyer HMS Birmingham visiting Swansea Docks (photo courtesy of Paul Smith)



Royal Navy Submarines

HMS Ambush (Amphion-Class) on West Wharf, Prince of Wales Dock, Swansea with HMS Seneschal (S-Class) berthed alongside c.1950

HMS Sea Scout (S153) & HMS Seraph (S89) laid up in 1962 in the Prince of Wales Dock, Swansea. In 1943 HMS Seraph, under the command of Lt. Bill Jewell, carried out the now-famous Operation Mincemeat, and the submarine would later 'play' itself in the 1956 film of the exploit, The Man Who Never Was 

HMS Osiris (Oberon-Class) pictured in Swansea's Prince of Wales Dock in 1965

HMS Andrew (Amphion-Class) on the left with HMS Opossum (Oberon-Class) alongside on West Wharf, Prince of Wales Dock, Swansea c.1970 

HMS Odin (Oberon-Class) on B Shed Wharf, Kings Dock, Swansea in 1981

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