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Short histories of Flower Class
Corvettes from HMS Abelia to HMS Buttercup. Shown on this web page are ships
company notice board, histories, photos and paintings and prints.
Displacement 925 tons, and a crew of 85, top
speed of 16 knots. and a armament of one 4 - inch gun, one 2 pounder
AA and four .303 inch AA guns. |
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Flower Class Corvettes
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| Name |
Builder |
Launch Date |
Fate |
| HMS Abelia (K184) |
Harland & Wolff |
28th November 1940 |
Used as a mercantile ship after the war.
Name changed to Kraft in 1948, then Arne Skontorp in 1954. |
| HMS Acanthus (K01) |
Ailsa |
26th May 1941 |
Sold to the Norwegian Navy
and renamed Andenes. Served as corvette until 1950 and then reclassified
to frigate. Sold for use as merchant ship in 1956. Renamed Colin Frye in 1956.
(Information from Harald Vellesvik) |
HMS Acanthus as HMS Andenes K01 c. 1950 - 1956.
Transferred to the Royal Norwegian Navy and renamed Andenes.
This corvette served in the Escort Group B6 and took part 1942 in the
convoy battles for ON-122 and SC-104. Acanthus returned to Norway
in May 1945. The next year the Norwegian Government purchased the
vessel together with, amongst others, the corvettes Buttercup and
Eglantine. These ships were employed as fishery protection ships
in Northern Norway and in the Barentz Sea as well as around
Iceland. Like the other vessels in the Norwegian Navy, she had KNM
(HNoMS) added to her name in October 1946. She retained however
her wartime pennant number K01. In 1950 she was reclassified as a
frigate and given pennant number F307. Sold to Union Whaling in
1956. Towed from Sandefjord to Glasgow in June 1956 for conversion
to whaler by A & J Inglis Ltd. Renamed Colin Frye. Sold
in 1957 to Taiyo Gyogyo KK, Tokyo. Renamed Toshi Maru No.2.
Scrapped in Japan in 1970.
Many thanks to Graeme Smith
A
reproduction of this original photo / photo-postcard size 10" x
7" approx available. Order photograph here © Walker
Archive. Order Code PHX128 |
| HMS Aconite (K58) |
Ailsa |
31st March 1941 |
Sold and used as mercantile named Aconit
in 1941. |
| HMS Alisma (K185) |
Harland & Wolff |
17th December 1940 |
After the war she became a mercantile
Laconia in 1949, in 1950 becoming Constantinos S and in 1952 Parnon. The
ship was lost on 16th July 1954. |
| HMS Alyssum (K100) |
Brown Kincaid |
3rd March 1941 |
Served in the French Navy under the Name
of Alysse in 1941 and was lost on 8th February 1942. |
| HMS Amaranthus (K17) |
Fleming & Ferguson |
17th October 1940 |
Used as a mercantile from 1946
eventually scrapped in Hong Kong in 1953. |
| HMS Anchusa (K186) |
Harland & Wolff |
15th January 1941 |
Used as mercantile and renamed
Silverlord in 1949, renamed again in 1954 as Sir Edgar but was lost on
18th January 1960. She was salved and then scrapped in Mauritius. |
| HMS Anemone (K48) |
Blyth Clark |
22nd April 1940 |
Renamed to Pelikan for use as a
mercantile in 1950. |
|
HMS Anemone.
Contributed by Tony smith, from his father's
collection. |
| HMS Arabis (K73) |
Harland & Wolff |
14th February 1940 |
Served with the US Navy as Saucy in
1942, returned to the Royal Navy and renamed Snapdragon in 1945, Sold
and used as a mercantile under the name of Katina in 1947, then as
Tewfik in 1950. |
|
HMS Arabis c.1947.
A
large image size 10" x 7" approx, is available. Reproduced
from the original negative / photo under license from MPL, the copyright
holder. A signed numbered certificate is supplied. Price
£25. Order photograph here Order Code
XMP2812
Original
republished © MPL Photograph (Postcard Size). Price £5 Click here
to order. Order Code MP2812 |
| HMS Arbutus (K86) |
Blyth Clark |
5th June 1940 |
Lost on 5th February 1942. |
|
HMS Arbutus, c.1947.
A
large image size 10" x 7" approx, is available. Reproduced
from the original negative / photo under license from MPL, the copyright
holder. A signed numbered certificate is supplied. Price
£25. Order photograph here Order Code
XMP2813
Original
republished © MPL Photograph (Postcard Size). Price £5 Click here
to order. Order Code MP2813 |
| HMS Armeria (K187) |
Harland & Wolff |
16th January 1941 |
Sold and used as a mercantile named
Deppie in 1948, renamed Canastel in 1950, then as Rio Blanco in 1952 and
lastly called Lillian in 1955. |
|
Deppie (ex - HMS Armeria), September 1948.
A
large image size 10" x 7" approx, is available. Reproduced
from the original negative / photo under license from MPL, the copyright
holder. A signed numbered certificate is supplied. Price
£25. Order photograph here Order Code
XMP2797
Original
republished © MPL Photograph (Postcard Size). Price £5 Click here
to order. Order Code MP2797 |
| HMS Asphodel (K56) |
Brown Kincaid |
25th May 1940 |
Lost on 9th March 1944. |
| HMS Aster (K188) |
Harland & Wolff |
12th February 1941 |
Scrapped on 30th May 1946. |
| HMS Aubretia (K96) |
Brown Kincaid |
5th September 1940 |
Sold and used as mercantile Arnfinn
Berganin 1948. |
| HMS Auricula (K12) |
Brown Kincaid |
14th November 1940 |
Lost on 6th May 1942. |
| HMS Azalea (K25) |
C W & G Holmes |
8th July 1940 |
Used as a mercantile called Norte in
1946 and was lost on 19th January 1955. |
| HMS Balsam (K72) |
Brown Clark |
30th May 1942 |
Scrapped on 20th April
1947. |
| HMS Begonia (K66) |
C W & G Holmes |
18th September 1940 |
Served with the US Navy as
Impulse in 1942, then used as a merchant ship named Begonlock in 1946.
Name changed again to Fundiciones Molinao in 1949, to Astiluzu in 1951
and finally to Rio Mero in 1956. |
| HMS Belwort (K114) |
Brown Kincaid |
11th August 1941 |
Served as the Irish ship
Cliona in 1946. |
| HMS Bergamot (K189) |
Harland & Wolff |
15th February 1941 |
Used as a merchant ship and
changed names to Syros in 1947, then Delphini in 1951, Delfini in 1955
and lastly to Ekaterina in 1955. |
| HMS Bluebell (K80) |
Fleming & Ferguson |
24th April 1940 |
Lost at sea on 17th
February 1945. |
| HMS Borage (K120) |
Brown Kincaid |
22nd November 1941 |
Served as the Irish ship
Macha in 1946. |
|
HMS Borage, May 1946.
A
large image size 10" x 7" approx, is available. Reproduced
from the original negative / photo under license from MPL, the copyright
holder. A signed numbered certificate is supplied. Price
£25. Order photograph here Order Code
XMP2798
Original
republished © MPL Photograph (Postcard Size). Price £5 Click here
to order. Order Code MP2798 |
| HMS Bryony (K192) |
Harland & Wolff |
15th March 1941 |
Served with the Norwegian
Navy as Polarfront II from 1947. |
| HMS Burdock (K126) |
Crown NE Marine |
14th December 1940 |
Scrapped in August 1946 at
Hayle. |
| HMS Buttercup (K193) |
Harland & Wolff |
21st March 1940 |
Sold to the Norwegian Navy
and renamed Nordkyn. Served as corvette until 1950 and then reclassified
to frigate. Sold for use as merchant ship in 1956 changing
her name to Thoris in 1957. (Information from Harald Vellesvik) |
| |
|
Flower Class Corvette with B5 marking on the
funnel.
We assume this is an escort from the convoy escort
group B5, which consisted of the Destroyer HMS Havelock and three flower
class corvettes; HMS Godetia, HMS Saxifrage and HMS Pimpernel.
Perhaps all three are represented in these three photos?
Contributed by The family of Capt. C.R. Longenecker, MC, USN
(Ret.) |
Flower Class Corvette with B5 marking on the
funnel.
We assume this is an escort from the convoy escort
group B5, which consisted of the Destroyer HMS Havelock and three flower
class corvettes; HMS Godetia, HMS Saxifrage and HMS Pimpernel. Perhaps
all three are represented in these three photos?
Contributed by The family of Capt. C.R. Longenecker, MC, USN
(Ret.) |
|
Flower Class Corvette with B5 marking on the
funnel.
We assume this is an escort from the convoy escort
group B5, which consisted of the Destroyer HMS Havelock and three flower
class corvettes; HMS Godetia, HMS Saxifrage and HMS Pimpernel. Perhaps
all three are represented in these three photos?
Contributed by The family of Capt. C.R. Longenecker, MC, USN
(Ret.) |
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Our message board system has now
been upgraded to a discussion forum at worldnavalships.com. Any
messages on this page are now archive messages kept here to service
those who left the messages originally. Click
Here to go to the new Forum |
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Naval Historians, Crew & Family
Notice board
Notice
Board for naval enthusiasts and ex ships company and families of royal
naval corvettes: HMS Abelia, HMS Acanthus, HMS Aconite, HMS Alisma, HMS
Alyssum, HMS Amaranthus, HMS Anchusa, HMS Anemone, HMS Arabis, HMS
Arbutus, HMS Armeria, HMS Asphodel, HMS Aster, HMS Aubretia, HMS Auricula,
HMS Azalea.
This website is not part of any governmental body or official websites of
the Royal Navy Corvettes.
MESSAGES
HMS BERGAMOT
Recently I came
across an old diary that belonged to an old friend , now deceased. He
served as a telegraphist on board HMS Bergamot . The diary is for 1941 so
it covers his joining the new ship and convoy duty off West
Africa. I am interested in writing up the diary and try to fill in many
blank spaces and to write up a little of the ships history as I believe
they did convoys to Russia. Cheers Peter Kemp
HMS AMARANTHUS
My father served on
HMS Amaranthus and I am interested in photographs or exchange of
information with anyone who served on her or their relatives.
HMS BELWORT
During the
war in 1942 my father-in-law was the captain of a tug called the Steytler,
herself an ex Royal Navy Tug. On his way to South Africa to deliver
this tug to S.A. shipyard he was asked to tow HMS Bellwort from Lagos in
Nigeria to Durban. This he did, 3000 miles, jury rigged towing gear, lousy
food, lousy ships navigating systems, a crew member's death. We
would be grateful for any information on Bellwort, her crew, this epic tow
risking U Boat etc.
HMS ALISMA
BEN MOUSLEY My Grandad was on HMS Alisma. Does anyone know
where I could get a decent picture of the ship.
HMS AUBRETIA
WILFRED LUNNON: My Father served on HMS Aubretia. I am
trying to get photos and history of the ship and its crew. and also
wanting to contact any old shipmates. If you can help contact Paul
Lunnon
HMS ARMERIA
CAN YOU HELP: GEORGE HAYWARD would like to contact JIM CLARK who
served on HMS Armeria in 1943 - 45. also anyone else who served during
hose years.
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