HNoMS Svenner was an S-class

S and T class destroyer

The S and T class was a class of sixteen destroyers of the Royal Navy launched in 1942–1943. They were built as two flotillas, known as the 5th and 6th Emergency Flotilla respectively and they served as fleet and convoy escorts in World War II.-Design features:The S class, introduced the CP ...

 destroyer

Destroyer

In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...

 in the service of the exiled Royal Norwegian Navy

Royal Norwegian Navy

The Royal Norwegian Navy is the branch of the Norwegian Defence Force responsible for naval operations. , the RNoN consists of approximately 3,700 personnel and 70 vessels, including 5 heavy frigates, 6 submarines, 14 patrol boats, 4 minesweepers, 4 minehunters, 1 mine detection vessel, 4 support...

 during World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

. She was launched on 1 June 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

Sword Beach

Sword, commonly known as Sword Beach, was the code name given to one of the five main landing areas along the Normandy coast during the initial assault phase, Operation Neptune, of Operation Overlord; the Allied invasion of German-occupied France that commenced on 6 June 1944...

, Normandy

Normandy

Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...

, at dawn on 6 June 1944, while supporting the British Army landings.

HNoMS Svenner was hit by two torpedoes fired from one of a number of German E-boats, operating out of Le Havre, 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 6 June. She was struck amidships, exploded, broke in two and sank very quickly. 32 Norwegian and one British crew were killed, 185 (15 wounded) were rescued from the crew of 219. (The book D-Day by Stephen Ambrose

Stephen Ambrose

Stephen Edward Ambrose was an American historian and biographer of U.S. Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower and Richard Nixon. He was a long time professor of history at the University of New Orleans and the author of many best selling volumes of American popular history...

 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

Hermanville-sur-Mer

Hermanville-sur-Mer is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.-Population:-Sights:* 13th century church* Commonwealth war cemetery* Old village center...

, Normandy, France.