FLOWER-Class Corvette ordered on 12th December 1939 under the
1939 Build Programme from Inglis SB at
Pointhouse, Glasgow. The ship was laid
down on 9th December 1940 as Job Number 1164 (Yard Number 1064)
and launched 28th August 1941 as
the 1st RN warship to carry the name. Build completion date was 28th December
1941. This ship was adopted by the civil Community of Yiewsley
in March 1942 following a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign.
B a t t
l e H o n o u r s
ATLANTIC 1942 -45 - ARCTIC 1942-45 - SICILY 1943
- NORMANDY
1944
H e r a l d i c D a t a
The Admiralty Heraldic Crest
Record does not include any details for this ship
This is not unusual for a
smaller war time build. As there had been previous RN
warships carrying this name it is
likely she did have a Ships' Badge.,
S u m m a r y o f W a r
S e r v i c e
(for more ship information,
go
to
Naval History Homepage
and type name in Site Search
1 9 4 1
December Contractors trials
28th Build completion and
commenced Acceptance Trials.
(Note: This ship was fitted for but not with LL M/S
For
details see THE TORPEDOMEN by E N Poland.)
Nominated
for convoy defence in Western Approaches.
1 9 4 2
January On completion of trials and storing
took passage to Tobermory
Took passage to Londonderry
to join 4th Escort Group on completion of work-up.
(Note: Ships in
Group included HM Corvettes ABELIA, ANEMONE, ASPHODEL,
PENNYWORT and VERONICA.
22nd Passage
to Iceland for convoy defence and patrol,
February Under repair after structural damage
in extreme weather conditions
Nominated for WHITE patrol in Denmark Strait.
4th On completion of
repair by HM Depot Ship HECLA sailed for WHITE patrol,
with
HM Cruisers BERWICK, KENT and HM Corvette SNOWDROP.
16th
Joined Close Escort for Russian Convoy PQ11
For details of all Russian convoys see CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by RA Ruegg
and ARCTIC CONVOYS by R Woodman.).
March
1st Joined
Close Escort for return Convoy QP8 with HM Corvette SWEETBRIAR.
(Note: Severe
weather was experienced on this passage to Iceland.)
Passage to Londonderry for Boiler cleaning.
April
Deployed with Close Escort for Russian Convoy PQ14 with HM Corvettes CAMPANULA,
SAXIFRAGE and SNOWFLAKE.
May Returned
with return Convoy QP11.
30th Deployed with escort
for outward Convoy ON99 with ships of Group.
(Note: This passage was uneventful.)
June Deployed for Atlantic
Convoy defence
Nominated for refit
July Under refit in
commercial shipyard at Birkenhead.
(Note: New
Bridge, Gyro Compass, 20mm Oerlikons guns for close
range AA and anti submarine
mortar (HEDGEHOG)
fitted
For
details of development of new weapons see SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann
and HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair.)
August Under refit
to Nominated for
transfer to 23rd Escort Group on completion.
September On completion
of shipyard work carried out post refit trials.
October
Joined 23rd Escort Group for Atlantic convoy
defence.
November
8th Deployed for
escort of military convoys to Gibraltar.
Joined escort for outward Convoy KX6.
(Note: Allied landings had been made in North
Africa (Operation TORCH
18th Arrived at
Gibraltar with convoy.
20th Deployed for convoy escort based at
Gibraltar
December
4th. Took passage UK to join Home Fleet for
escort for Russian Convoy JW51A
15th Deployed with HM Corvette HONEYSUCKLE
and HM Fleet Minesweeper SEAGULL
for Close escort of
JW51A
25th Detached from
JW51A on arrival in Kola Inlet.
1 9 4 3
.January Remained Russian waters to suit delayed
convoy cycle because of Barents Sea action.
29th
Deployed as Close Escort for return Convoy RA52 with HM Corvettes HONEYSUCKLE,
HYDERABAD
(RIN) and RHODODENDRON.
February
3rd Assisted in rescue of survivors from ss GREYLOCK.
6th
Detached from RA52 and took passage to Tobermory
for work-up
Prepared for work-up
7th Commenced
Work-up.
20th
Deployed for escort of Polish submarine DZIK
to Scillies and returned to Clyde
March
Deployed with Canadian 1st Escort Group for escort of outward Convoy ONS2
with RCN
Corvettes
April
Atlantic convoy defence with Group in continuation.
20th Part of escort for inward convoy 10 tankers.
(Note: Identity
SC127 to be confirmed.)
May Nominated for service in
Mediterranean.
Deployed with
escort for outward joint Convoy KS10/OG90 with HM Indian Corvette
HYDERABAD and HM Frigate TEST.
26th Convoy under attack by U436.
(Note: HMIS
HYDERABAD and HMS TEST carried out depth charge operations sinking
U436 with no survivors.
June
4th
Joined ships of 44th Escort Group for escort of outward convoy KMS16B to
Gibraltar.
(Note: Other
ships included HM Corvettes BERGAMOT, BRYONY,
HONEYSUCKLE,
HYDERABAD (RIN)) and RHODODENDRON.
July Deployed in
Mediterranean for convoy Escort and support of planned allied landings in
Sicily
(Operation HUSKY – For details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C
Barnett,
Naval Staff History and for information about
all mercantiles and warships involved BRITISH
INVASION FLEETS by J de Winser.)
Augusr Deployed at Algiers
8th Assisted HM Destroyer ARROW which
had been damaged during air attack.
(Note: Mercantile ss FORT LA MONTEE had blown
up.).
September
Mediterranean deployment in continuation.
to Nominated for return to UK.
October
November
23rd. Relieved by HUNT Class destroyer
24th Part of escort for joint inward
Convoy MKS31/SL140 with HM Corvettes BORAGE, DAHLIA
and MEADOWSWEET
during passage to UK.
27th
Convoy escorts under night attacks by T5 acoustic torpedoes from U262,n U764 and U207
Took part in anti-submarine operations with ships of 1st and 2nd Escort
Groups
(Note: Sinking of three mercantiles was
claimed but no ships of convoy were in fact lost.)
28th Detached from MKS31/SL140 on
arrival.
December Nominated for escort of Russian
convoy with ships of 23rd Escort Group (Operation FV)
22nd Joined escort for Convoy JW55B.
26th Remained with JW55B as escort when
Fleet destroyers detached to join Home Fleet units
for engagement with German battleship
SCHARNHORST.
For details see Naval Staff History, CONVOYS TO RUSSIA, ARCTIC CONVOYS
by R
Woodman and HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR.
30th Detached from JW55B on arrival in
Kola Inlet.
31st Part of Close
Escort for RA55B with HM Corvettes RHODODENDRON and HONEYSUCKLE.
1 9 4 4
January
8th Detached from RA55B on arrival at Loch Ewe and took passage to
Greenock.
9th. Arrived at Greenock.
Nominated for further escort of Russian convoy.
22nd Joined escort for JW56B
29th Under attack by nine U-Boats.
See above references.
February
1st Detailed from JW56B on arrival at Kola Inlet.
3rd Deployed with Close escort for returning RA56
with HM Corvettes DIANELLA, POPPY and
RHODODENDRON.
11th Detached from
RA56 on arrival at Loch Ewe after uninterrupted passage.
Nominated for deployment in SW Approaches ,based
at Plymouth.
(Note: U-Boats
fitted with SCHNORKEL were making attacks on convoys in coastal waters.)
24th Deployed
for convoy defence in coastal waters.
March Nominated
for refit.
5th Passage to Clyde.
Taken in hand for refit in commercial shipyard.
April Under refit.
Nominated for convoy escort during planned allied landings in
Normandy.
Allocated for service in Force L (Operation NEPTUNE.)
(For details
of naval activities before and during landings see OPERATION NEPTUNE by
K
Edwards, LANDINGS IN NORMANDY, June 1944 (HMSO) and for details of all
mercantiles and warships involved
D-DAY SHIPS by J de Winser.)
May
Arrived out harbour and see trials.
24th On completion of post refit trials took passage
to Nore to join Force L
Nominated for service in
Force L for escort of Build-up Phase convoys to Beach Head
as part of Escort Group 154.
June Deployed in Nore Command
4th Operation delayed 24 hours
6th Part of escort for Build--up convoys
during passage to Solent
7th Deployed for convoy defence
during passage to Beach Head
8th Returned to Thames for escort
of build-up Phase convoys
27th
Retained in Channel for convoy defence after termination of NEPTUNE.
July Channel deployment in continuation.
to Nominated for service with Home Fleet.
September
October
20th Joined Close Escort for outward
Convoy JW61 during passage to Kola Inlet
28th
Detached on arrival at Kola Inlet.
November
2nd Part of Close escort for
return Convoy RA61 during passage to Loch Ewe.
9th
Detached from RA61 on arrival at Loch Ewe.
Nominated for escort of UR series
convoys to Iceland and return UR series to UK.
December
Deployed NW Approaches for convoy escort
1 9 4 5
January
Iceland route deployment in continuation
to (Note:
During this period deployed with escort for outward Convoys UR144, UR149
February and inward
RU145.
HM Corvette HONEYSUCKLE was also deployed for
this period.)
March Nominated for escort of Russian Convoys with
Home Fleet.
11th Part of Close escort for
outward Convoy JW65 during passage to Kola Inlet
For details see references.
(HM
Corvettes CAMELLIA and HONEYSUCKLE were also deployed.)
21st Detached from JW65 on arrival
at Kola Inlet
23rd Joined Close Escort for return
Convoy RA65 during passage to Loch Ewe.
April
1st Detached from RA65 on arrival
at Loch Loch Ewe.
16th Joined outward Convoy JW66 in
Clyde as part of Close Escort during passage to
Kola Inlet with HM Corvettes HONEYSUCKLE, LOTUS and RHODODENDRON.
25th Detached
from JW66 on arrival at Kola Inlet without any incidents.
29th Joined Close escort for return
passage of Convoy RA66 to Clyde.
May
8th Detached from RA66 on arrival
Nominated for
reduction to Reserve status
Paid-off.
June
Nominated for service with Anti-submarine Training Flotilla based at
Portland
14th Re-commissioned and on completion of trials and storing took passage to Portland.
July
Deployed for training duties at Portland.
to
August
P o s t W a r N
o t e
HMS OXLIP remained at Portland
until 1946 when she was again Paid-off and placed on the Disposal List. Sold to
the Irish Naval Service December
1946 the ship was renamed INS MAEV and remained in service until 1971 when
placed
on the Sales List. On 23rd March
1972 she arrived in tow at Passage West, SE of Cobh, IFS
for demolition by Haulbowline Industries.
Addenda
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS
of
HMS
OXLIP
by Don Kindell
These convoy lists have not been cross-checked
with the text above
|
|
|
|
|
Date convoy sailed
|
Joined convoy as escort
|
Convoy No. |
Left convoy
|
Date convoy arrived
|
|
|
|
|
|
14/02/42
|
17/02/42
|
PQ 011
|
22/02/42
|
22/03/42
|
01/03/42
|
01/03/42
|
QP 008
|
11/03/42
|
11/03/42
|
26/03/42
|
12/04/42
|
PQ 014
|
19/04/42
|
19/04/42
|
28/04/42
|
28/04/42
|
QP 011
|
07/05/42
|
07/05/42
|
08/05/42
|
08/05/42
|
RU 022
|
12/05/42
|
12/05/42
|
29/05/42
|
30/05/42
|
ON 099
|
07/06/42
|
12/06/42
|
12/06/42
|
15/06/42
|
SC 087
|
25/06/42
|
27/06/42
|
03/07/42
|
04/07/42
|
ON 109
|
11/07/42
|
18/07/42
|
19/07/42
|
23/07/42
|
HX 199
|
29/07/42
|
30/07/42
|
08/11/42
|
08/11/42
|
KX 006
|
17/11/42
|
17/11/42
|
18/11/42
|
18/11/42
|
TE 005
|
21/11/42
|
20/11/42
|
27/11/42
|
27/11/42
|
MKS 002A
|
07/12/42
|
07/12/42
|
15/12/42
|
15/12/42
|
JW 051A
|
25/12/42
|
25/12/42
|
29/01/43
|
29/01/43
|
RA 052
|
08/02/43
|
09/03/43
|
28/03/43
|
29/03/43
|
ONS 002
|
14/04/43
|
19/04/43
|
16/04/43
|
20/04/43
|
SC 127
|
02/05/43
|
03/05/43
|
24/06/43
|
24/06/43
|
KMS 018B
|
06/07/43
|
10/07/43
|
13/06/43
|
07/07/43
|
UGS 010
|
09/07/43
|
10/07/43
|
27/06/43
|
19/07/43
|
UGS 011
|
22/07/43
|
unknown
|
23/07/43
|
24/07/43
|
GTX 004
|
29/07/43
|
03/08/43
|
09/08/43
|
15/08/43
|
KMS 022
|
20/08/43
|
20/08/43
|
25/08/43
|
25/08/43
|
MKS 023
|
04/09/43
|
03/09/43
|
10/09/43
|
10/09/43
|
KMS 025
|
21/09/43
|
21/09/43
|
24/09/43
|
24/09/43
|
MKS 026
|
04/10/43
|
04/10/43
|
07/10/43
|
07/10/43
|
KMS 028
|
17/10/43
|
19/10/43
|
24/10/43
|
24/10/43
|
MKS 029
|
03/11/43
|
03/11/43
|
10/11/43
|
10/11/43
|
KMS 031
|
18/11/43
|
21/11/43
|
13/11/43
|
19/11/43
|
MKS 031
|
23/11/43
|
23/11/43
|
23/11/43
|
23/11/43
|
MKS 031G
|
24/11/43
|
24/11/43
|
24/11/43
|
24/11/43
|
SL 140MK
|
05/12/43
|
07/12/43
|
20/12/43
|
20/12/43
|
JW 055B
|
29/12/43
|
30/12/43
|
31/12/43
|
31/12/43
|
RA 055B
|
08/01/44
|
08/01/44
|
22/01/44
|
22/01/44
|
JW 056B
|
01/02/44
|
01/02/44
|
03/02/44
|
03/02/44
|
RA 056
|
11/02/44
|
11/02/44
|
10/06/44
|
10/06/44
|
ETM 005
|
11/06/44
|
11/06/44
|
23/06/44
|
23/06/44
|
ETC 016
|
24/06/44
|
24/06/44
|
25/06/44
|
25/06/44
|
FTC 017
|
26/06/44
|
26/06/44
|
28/06/44
|
28/06/44
|
ETC 021
|
29/06/44
|
29/06/44
|
07/07/44
|
07/07/44
|
ETM 029
|
08/07/44
|
08/07/44
|
17/07/44
|
17/07/44
|
ETC 040
|
18/08/44
|
18/07/44
|
19/07/44
|
19/07/44
|
FTC 041
|
20/07/44
|
20/07/44
|
24/07/44
|
24/07/44
|
ETM 044
|
25/07/44
|
25/07/44
|
26/07/44
|
26/07/44
|
FTM 049
|
27/07/44
|
27/07/44
|
29/07/44
|
29/07/44
|
ETC 052
|
30/07/44
|
30/07/44
|
15/08/44
|
15/08/44
|
JW 059
|
25/08/44
|
25/08/44
|
28/08/44
|
28/08/44
|
RA 059A
|
05/09/44
|
05/09/44
|
15/09/44
|
16/09/44
|
OS 089KM
|
22/09/44
|
22/09/44
|
22/09/44
|
22/09/44
|
KMS 063G
|
23/09/44
|
23/09/44
|
29/09/44
|
29/09/44
|
MKS 062G
|
30/09/44
|
30/09/44
|
30/09/44
|
30/09/44
|
SL 171MK
|
08/10/44
|
08/10/44
|
20/10/44
|
20/10/44
|
JW 061
|
28/10/44
|
28/10/44
|
02/11/44
|
02/11/44
|
RA 061
|
09/11/44
|
09/11/44
|
11/03/45
|
11/03/45
|
JW 065
|
21/03/45
|
21/03/45
|
23/03/45
|
23/03/45
|
RA 065
|
01/04/45
|
01/04/45
|
16/04/45
|
16/04/45
|
JW 066
|
25/04/45
|
25/04/45
|
29/04/45
|
29/04/45
|
RA 066
|
07/05/45
|
08/05/45
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note on Convoys)