Warship Wednesday – HMS NEREIDE
We continue our monster themed Warship Wednesday series with HMS NEREIDE…
So what is a Nereide? In Greek mythology, the Nereids or Nereides are sea nymphs (female spirits of the sea), the 50 daughters of the ‘Old Man of the Sea’ Nereus and the Oceanid Doris, sisters to their brother Nerites. They often accompany Poseidon, the god of the sea, and can be friendly and helpful to sailors. Well known nereid’s include Amphitrite, the wife of Poseidon and Thetis, mother of Achilles. Nereids are part mermaid and can move and breathe underwater but, unlike mermaids, nereids appear fully human and do not grow scales or a tail when in the water.
HMS NEREIDE was a Modified Black Swan class Sloop constructed at Chatham Dockyard and launched on 29 Jan 1944. It was a dual launch with HMS MODESTE, of the same class. Both ships were re-classified as Frigates in 1947.
NEREIDE was 300 ft long x 38 ft wide and displaced 1490 tons (max), with a compliment of 192 men. She was designed for convoy escort service therefore they were fitted with a considerable anti-aircraft armament.
The Modified Black Swan class did not prove to be as successful as the unmodified Black Swan class due to the large amount of extra equipment added to the design; the ships required extra strengthening as a result.
NEREIDE and MODESTE were the last sloops Chatham Dockyard built. NEREIDE did not commission into Royal Navy service until February 1946, so did not see service during the Second World War. She was placed into reserve in 1955 and broken up in 1958, (MODESTE was placed into reserve in 1958 and broken up in 1961).
Check out the previous monster themed edition of Warship Wednesday here.
With thanks to Reading Room Volunteer Tony Peacock for this months Warship Wednesday.
