HMS Crane (U23)

HMS Crane at Greenock on 6 May 1943.
History
United Kingdom
Name	Crane
Namesake	Crane
Ordered	9 January 1941
Builder	William Denny and Brothers, Dumbarton
Laid down	13 June 1941
Launched	9 November 1942
Commissioned	10 May 1943
Identification	Pennant number: U23
Fate	Scrapped in 1965
General characteristics
Class and type	Modified Black Swan-class sloop
Displacement	1,350 tons
Length	283 ft (86 m)
Beam	38.5 ft (11.7 m)
Propulsion	Geared turbines two shafts
Speed	20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) at 4,300 hp (3,200 kW)
Complement	192 men + 1 cat
Armament	6 × QF 4 in Mk XVI anti-aircraft guns 12 × 20 mm anti-aircraft guns

HMS Crane was a modified Black Swan-class sloop of the Royal Navy. She was laid down by William Denny and Brothers, Dumbarton on 13 June 1941, launched on 9 November 1942 and commissioned on 10 May 1943, with the pennant number U23.^[1] She saw active service during the Second World War, initially performing convoy escort roles in the Atlantic before supporting the Normandy landings. In the final months of the war, Crane joined the British Pacific Fleet and saw service during the Battle of Okinawa. Post-war, Crane remained in south-east Asia and took part in hostilities during the Korean War. She was redeployed to the Middle East during the Suez Crisis before returning to Asia for service during the Malayan Emergency. Crane was withdrawn from service in the early 1960's and was scrapped in 1965.