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) in the Prince of Wales Dock with HMS Seneschal (S-Class) lying alongside. HMS Seneschal arrived at Swansea on the 8th September1951 and was secured alongside HMS Ambush which was already berthed on West Wharf, Prince of Wales Dock. HMS Seneschal was open to visitors on 10th & 11th September before departing Swansea the following day. (note: HMS Seneschal was part of Submarine Reserve Group “M” which took part in the Royal Navy Fleet Review of 1953) Additional information on HMS Seneschal kindly provided by Erik van Gardare
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