HMS Swift and HMS Broke in the Dover Strait

In April 1917, HMS Swift and HMS Broke met six German large torpedo boats in the Dover Strait. Broke was badly damaged, while Swift suffered little damage. G85 and G42 were sunk, one by ramming, and the remaining German boats withdrew after mistaking Swift for a fast cruiser. The action arguably received disproportionate attention because Swift was such an unusual ship. The action provides the wartime evidence behind later interest in Swift's operations and capabilities.