FLOWER-Class Corvette ordered from Smiths Dock SB at
Middlesbrough on 31st August 1939 and laid down on 24th May 1940 as Job Number
J4006 (Yard No 1082). The ship was launched on18th August 1940 as the 2nd RN
ship to bear the name, introduced in 1915 for Sloop which was sold in 1921.
Build was completed on 25th January 1941 and in February 1942 the ship was
adopted by the civil community of Totnes, Devon
after a successful WARSHIP WEEK campaign for
National Savings.
B a t t
l e H o n o u r s
ATLANTIC 1941-45 - NORMANDY 1944 - NORTH SEA 1944 -
ENGLISH CHANNEL
1944-45
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
January
Contractors trials
25th Build completion and commenced
Acceptance Trials
27th On completion of trials and storing
took passage to Tobermory
February
Nominated for service in 1st Escort Group after work-up
13th Deployed as escort for HM Submarine
THUNDERBOLT (Ex HMS THETIS) and Free French submarine
SURCOUF during passage to
Clyde.
(Note: This may have been during work-up for
operational service.).
Joined Group at Londonderry
March Atlantic deployment with Group
Part of escort for inward
convoy SL65 during passage to Liverpool.
(Note: For details of dates on of all Convoys see ALLIED CONVOY SYSTEM
IN WW2 by
A
Hague.)
April
Deployed with ships of Group as part of Atlantic escort for outwards
Convoys OG54 to West
Africa,
OB297 to Dispersal Point in Atlantic for
onward passage to West Indies area and inwards Convoy HX113
from
Halifax.
May
Deployed with ships of Group for escort of inward Convoys HX126, HG 59
from Gibraltar and
outward
Convoys OB 323 to Dispersal Point for onward passage.
(Note HX126 came under a series of sustained attacks during which 9
ships were sunk.
For
details see HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair.)
June Group deployment in continuation.
Part of escort for inward Convoy
HX129 which was the first inward convoy to be provided with an
escort during full Atlantic passage escort including
that by RCN until defence transferred to RN
ships based in Iceland.
For details of U-BOAT deployments see U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC (HMSO).
Outward convoys SC34, OB330 and OB336 were also escorted by Group.
July
Part of escort for outward convoys OB349 and transferred to outward Convoy
OG69
26th OG69 under attacks by several
U-BOATS after sighting by reconnaissance aircraft
Carried out depth charge attacks with HM Corvettes RHODODENDRON and
PIMPERNEL
which drove off submarines.
(Note: Later attacks on 27th and 28th sank 7 ships of this convoy.
Transferred to escort of inward convoy HG68
August Deployed
as escort for outward Convoy ON5 to Dispersal Point and transferred to inward
Convoy
SC39.
September Part
of escort for inward Convoy HX146, Outward Convoys ON10 and ON15during passage
to
Dispersal Point.
October
Part of escort for inward Convoy HX153 and outward Convoy ON30
November Part
of escort for outward Convoy ON39 and inward Convoy HX159,
December Part of escort for outward Convoys ON42,
inward Convoy SC57, outward Convoy ON49 and
inward
SC60.
1 9 4 2
January
Part of escort for outward Convoy ON55 and
inward Convoy HX169
27th Taken
in hand for refit at commercial shipyard in Liverpool
February Under refit
(Note: Radar Type 271 was
fitted during refit.
For details of development and
use of radar by RN see RADAR AT SEA by D Howse and
SEEK
AND STRIKE by W Hackmann.).
March
23rd Carried out post refit trials.
27th Part of escort for outward Convoy ON80
April Deployed
for escort of inward Convoy HX187
May Transferred to Escort Group B7
Part of escort for outward
Convoy ON94
June Deployed with Group for escort of inward
Convoy HX192and outward ON106
July
Deployed with Group for escort
of inward Convoys SC91, ON117 and outward SC101
August Transferred for escort of convoys between
New York and Cutracoa.
September East
coast of USA deployment in continuation
Returned passage to UK
October Part of escort for outward Convoy ON142 and
inward SC107
(Note This
convoy was subject to heavy and sustained attacks. See above references.
Transferred to Londonderry Escort Force
November Deployed with ships of Londonderry Escort
Group.
December Part of escort for inward Convoy HX216 and
outward ON153
17th During passage with escort for outward ON153
rescued survivors from FIREDRAKE sunk by U 211
See
above references for details of the defence of this convoy.
1 9 4 3
January Deployed
for escort of inward SC115 and detached to assist
damaged mercantile.
Taken in hand for refit at commercial
shipyard in Belfast
(Note: Anti-submarine mortar HEDGEHOG and prototype Sonar outfit 147X
which introduced
a capability of depth finding. See SEEK AND STRIKE
For details.)
February Under
refit
Nominated for
transfer to Escort Group B7 on completion.
March Carried out post refit trials on completion of dockyard work.
3rd Resumed
operational service with Group
April
22nd Deployed for escort of outward Convoy ONS5 with
Group.
(Note: ONS Series convoys had been re-numbered.)
Ships in Group included HM Destroyers
DUNCAN, VIDETTE, HM Frigate TAY, HM
Corvettes PINK,
SNOWFLAKE and LOOSESTRIFE. This convoy was subjected too very
determined opposition and sustained heavy losses, See THE
BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC
by D Macintyre and ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C Barnett and above
references.)
May
ONS5 under sustained
submarine attacks
5th U638 sunk by HMS LOOSESTRIFE in defence of ONS5
Transferred to escort of inward SC130
June Under repair.
Deployed for escort of outward ONS10
with Group supported by HM Escort Carrier
July
Transferred for escort of inward
Convoy SC135
Deployed in Bay of Biscay and
stood by troopship.
11th Assisted in rescue of survivors from troopships CALIFORNIA and DUCHESS
OF YORK which
had been sunk by Glider Bomb attacks.)
Joined escort for outward Convoy ONS14.
(Note: this convoy included Merchant Aircraft Carrier CLAN ALPINE.
August
Carried out Maintenance in Liverpool.
9th On
completion deployed as part of escort for inward Convoy. SC139
September
Part of escort of inward Convoy SC142.
October
Deployed in support role and supplemented defence of outward Convoy
ON206.
(Note: This convoy was under
attack by U-Boat pack and its defence was also supported
by extensive air cover from shore. See HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR
for details.)
Ships of Escort
Group B4 and B7 included HM Destroyers FAME, VANQUISHER, DUNCAN
VIDETTE, HM Frigate DEVERON and six other corvettes.)
17th Carried out depth charge attacks on U631
which was sunk with no survivors
(Note: This was
confirmed in post war analysis. See U-BOATS DESTROYED.)
23rd After radar defect ,spare
was provided by aircraft.
27th Detached from ON206 to provide support for
outward Convoy ON208
29th On release from ON208 took passage with
Group to join inward Convoy HX263
Carried out anti-submarine operations with HMS DUNCAN,
HMS VIDETTE.
Sank U282 in
s HEDGEHOG attack. See U-BOATS DESTROYED.
(Note: U282 had
been shadowing convoy.).
B7 Group steamed 6,700 miles during this month.
November
8th Detached from HX253 on arrival in Home
waters.
17th Deployed with Group for support of transit
of outward Convoy ONS23.
December
16th Returned to UK as escort of inward
Convoy HX269
29th Joined escort for outward Convoy
ONS26 with Group.
1 9 4 4
January Returned to UK as escort for inward Convoy
HX275
February
Part of escort for outward Convoy ONS2232 and return inward Convoy HX280
Nominated for refit.
March
Detached from HX280 on arrival.
Took passage to Humber
Taken
in hand for refit in commercial shipyard.
April
23rd Carried out post refit trials on
completion of shipyard work
Nominated for
detached service in support of planned allied landing in Normandy
(Operation NEPTUNE – For details of naval
activities before and during landings
see LANDINGS
IN NORMANDY, June 1944 (HMSO), OPERATION NEPTUNE
by K Edwards and for information about all mercantiles and warships involved
D-DAY SHIPS by J de Winser.)
Passage to Tobermory
May Nominated for
service in Force L for NEPTUNE.
20th On completion of work-up took
passage to Harwich to join Force L
Took part in preparatory exercises
Nominated as part of Escort Group 154 with HM Corvettes
SWEETBRIAR and OXLIP
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.
21st Sustained damage in collision
August Under repair in London commercial
shipyard.
26th On completion of shipyard work carried out post repair trials.
30th Deployed for Channel convoy defence based at Sheerness,
September
7th
Sustained further damage in collision with mercantile ss HOLMES but remained
in service
16th Deployed with escort for inward joint
Convoy MKS60/SL169 during passage in Channel.
19th Under repair in
Commercial shipyard at Tilbury.
October
Resumed Channel duties on completion of repair.
2nd
Deployed as part of escort for ships of inward convoy HX310 and of inward Convoy
outward Convoy ON257 during passage in Channel.
(Note: Mercantiles were being routed through
English Channel for passage to and from
London and detached from
joined ocean convoys in SW Approaches because
air threat from bases in France had been removed by military
advance into
Germany.
See HOLD THE NARROW SEA by P Smith, ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE
closely and above references.
November Channel deployment in continuation
to Involved in collision and under repair.
December
1 9 4 5
January Under repair
February Resumed Channel convoy defence.
(Note: German submarines and E-Boats were
active in Channel area for minelaying
and attacks by SCHNORKEL fitted U-BOATS were
being made on assembly points
for convoys and coastal traffic in Home waters,
March
5th Under
repair by HM Dockyard Sheerness.
April
16th Resumed Channel convoy
defence.
Part
of escort for outward Convoy ONA195 and HX347
May Nominated for
reduction to Reserve status.
Passage to Harwich,
Paid
off and de-stored.
June Reducing to Reserve at
Harwich.
July Laid-up at Harwich
to
August
P o s t W a r
N o t e s
HMS SUNFLOWER remained in Reserve at Harwich until placed on the
Disposal List in 1947. The ship was sold to BISCO for demolition by TW Ward at Hayle,
Cornwall later that year and arrived at the breaker’s yard in August 1947.
Addenda
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS
of
HMS
SUNFLOWER
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
25/02/41
|
26/02/41
|
OG 054
|
02/03/41
|
14/03/41
|
10/02/41
|
04/03/41
|
SL 065
|
08/03/41
|
08/03/41
|
12/03/41
|
12/03/41
|
OB 297
|
17/03/41
|
17/03/41
|
05/03/41
|
17/03/41
|
HX 113
|
20/03/41
|
21/03/41
|
07/04/41
|
08/04/41
|
OB 307
|
13/04/41
|
13/04/41
|
30/03/41
|
13/04/41
|
SC 027
|
18/04/41
|
18/04/41
|
22/04/41
|
23/04/41
|
OB 313
|
28/04/41
|
28/04/41
|
17/05/41
|
17/05/41
|
OB 323
|
22/05/41
|
25/05/41
|
16/05/41
|
23/05/41
|
HX 127
|
27/05/41
|
02/06/41
|
02/06/41
|
03/06/41
|
OB 330
|
07/06/41
|
07/06/41
|
27/05/41
|
08/06/41
|
HX 129
|
11/06/41
|
12/06/41
|
15/06/41
|
17/06/41
|
OB 336
|
22/06/41
|
23/06/41
|
10/06/41
|
24/06/41
|
SC 034
|
29/06/41
|
29/06/41
|
20/07/41
|
21/07/41
|
OG 069
|
27/07/41
|
01/08/41
|
21/07/41
|
21/07/41
|
OB 349
|
26/07/41
|
01/08/41
|
18/07/41
|
27/07/41
|
HG 068
|
02/08/41
|
02/08/41
|
06/08/41
|
07/08/41
|
ON 005
|
11/08/41
|
14/08/41
|
01/08/41
|
12/08/41
|
SC 039
|
17/08/41
|
19/08/41
|
21/08/41
|
02/09/41
|
HX 146
|
05/09/41
|
06/09/41
|
11/09/41
|
11/09/41
|
ON 015
|
13/09/41
|
16/09/41
|
28/09/41
|
30/09/41
|
ON 021
|
06/10/41
|
14/10/41
|
28/09/41
|
09/10/41
|
HX 152
|
11/10/41
|
14/10/41
|
05/10/41
|
13/10/41
|
HX 153
|
17/10/41
|
19/10/41
|
28/10/41
|
30/10/41
|
ON 031
|
04/11/41
|
15/11/41
|
10/11/41
|
10/11/41
|
ON 035
|
15/11/41
|
27/11/41
|
08/11/41
|
18/11/41
|
HX 159
|
22/11/41
|
23/11/41
|
01/12/41
|
02/12/41
|
ON 042
|
07/12/41
|
14/12/41
|
28/11/41
|
09/12/41
|
SC 057
|
13/12/41
|
15/12/41
|
21/12/41
|
22/12/41
|
ON 049
|
27/12/41
|
05/01/42
|
16/12/41
|
28/12/41
|
SC 060
|
31/12/41
|
31/12/41
|
08/01/42
|
08/01/42
|
ON 055
|
15/01/42
|
26/01/42
|
08/01/42
|
18/01/42
|
HX 169
|
22/01/42
|
23/01/42
|
27/03/42
|
28/03/42
|
ON 080
|
10/04/42
|
15/04/42
|
26/04/42
|
29/04/42
|
HX 187
|
06/05/42
|
08/05/42
|
12/05/42
|
13/05/42
|
ON 094
|
22/05/42
|
25/05/42
|
31/05/42
|
03/06/42
|
HX 192
|
10/06/42
|
11/06/42
|
23/06/42
|
24/06/42
|
ON 106
|
05/07/42
|
08/07/42
|
10/07/42
|
13/07/42
|
SC 091
|
24/07/42
|
24/07/42
|
31/07/42
|
01/08/42
|
ON 117
|
10/08/42
|
15/08/42
|
19/08/42
|
19/08/42
|
HA 004
|
28/08/42
|
28/08/42
|
02/09/42
|
02/09/42
|
AH 003
|
10/09/42
|
10/09/42
|
19/09/42
|
19/09/42
|
SC 102
|
26/09/42
|
06/10/42
|
26/09/42
|
03/10/42
|
SC 103
|
13/10/42
|
14/10/42
|
31/10/42
|
31/10/42
|
ON 142
|
13/11/42
|
21/11/42
|
19/11/42
|
24/11/42
|
HX 216
|
03/12/42
|
06/12/42
|
11/12/42
|
12/12/42
|
ON 153
|
23/12/42
|
31/12/42
|
27/12/42
|
04/01/43
|
SC 115
|
15/01/43
|
15/01/43
|
21/04/43
|
22/04/43
|
ONS 005
|
03/05/43
|
12/05/43
|
11/05/43
|
15/05/43
|
SC 130
|
25/05/43
|
26/05/43
|
08/06/43
|
09/06/43
|
ONS 010
|
23/06/43
|
27/06/43
|
27/06/43
|
01/07/43
|
SC 135
|
10/07/43
|
11/07/43
|
26/07/43
|
27/07/43
|
ONS 014
|
05/08/43
|
09/08/43
|
09/08/43
|
13/08/43
|
SC 139
|
24/08/43
|
24/08/43
|
01/09/43
|
03/09/43
|
EN 200
|
12/09/43
|
18/09/43
|
15/09/43
|
19/09/43
|
SC 142
|
28/09/43
|
29/09/43
|
11/10/43
|
13/10/43
|
ON 206
|
17/10/43
|
27/10/43
|
09/10/43
|
17/10/43
|
ONS 020
|
20/10/43
|
26/10/43
|
18/10/43
|
22/10/43
|
ON 207
|
25/10/43
|
04/11/43
|
24/10/43
|
27/10/43
|
ON 208
|
28/10/43
|
07/11/43
|
24/10/43
|
30/10/43
|
HX 263
|
02/11/43
|
08/11/43
|
17/11/43
|
22/11/43
|
ONS 023
|
29/11/43
|
02/12/43
|
02/12/43
|
07/12/43
|
HX 269
|
15/12/43
|
16/12/43
|
29/12/43
|
30/12/43
|
ONS 026
|
13/01/44
|
18/01/44
|
13/01/44
|
18/01/44
|
HX 275
|
27/01/44
|
28/01/44
|
07/02/44
|
08/02/44
|
ON 223
|
18/02/44
|
24/02/44
|
20/02/44
|
25/02/44
|
HX 280
|
08/03/44
|
09/03/44
|
25/05/44
|
25/05/44
|
CW 272
|
26/05/44
|
26/05/44
|
10/06/44
|
10/06/44
|
ETC 006
|
12/06/44
|
12/06/44
|
18/06/44
|
18/06/44
|
ETM 013
|
19/06/44
|
19/06/44
|
20/06/44
|
20/06/44
|
FTM 013
|
21/06/44
|
21/06/44
|
24/06/44
|
24/06/44
|
ETC 017
|
25/06/44
|
25/06/44
|
13/07/44
|
13/07/44
|
ETC 036
|
14/07/44
|
14/07/44
|
18/07/44
|
18/07/44
|
ETM 040
|
19/07/44
|
19/07/44
|
29/08/44
|
29/08/44
|
ETC 083
|
30/08/44
|
30/08/44
|
31/08/44
|
31/08/44
|
FTC 084
|
01/09/44
|
01/09/44
|
10/09/44
|
15/09/44
|
SL 169MK
|
17/09/44
|
17/09/44
|
02/10/44
|
02/10/44
|
ON 257
|
03/10/44
|
18/10/44
|
21/09/44
|
03/10/44
|
HX 310
|
06/10/44
|
05/10/44
|
03/12/44
|
03/12/44
|
ON 270
|
06/12/44
|
22/12/44
|
24/11/44
|
06/12/44
|
HX 322
|
09/12/44
|
08/12/44
|
16/12/44
|
16/12/44
|
TBC 009
|
19/12/44
|
19/12/44
|
20/12/44
|
20/12/44
|
BTC 013
|
23/12/44
|
23/12/44
|
11/01/45
|
11/01/45
|
TBC 035
|
14/01/45
|
14/01/45
|
15/01/45
|
15/01/45
|
BTC 039
|
18/01/45
|
18/01/45
|
23/01/45
|
02/02/45
|
HX 334
|
unknown
|
06/02/45
|
02/02/45
|
02/02/45
|
OS 108KM
|
03/02/45
|
05/02/45
|
12/02/45
|
12/02/45
|
TBC 067
|
15/02/45
|
15/02/45
|
16/02/45
|
16/02/45
|
BTC 071
|
19/02/45
|
19/02/45
|
25/02/45
|
25/02/45
|
ON 287
|
28/02/45
|
14/03/45
|
18/02/45
|
01/03/45
|
HX 339
|
03/03/45
|
03/03/45
|
14/03/45
|
14/03/45
|
TBC 097
|
17/03/45
|
17/03/45
|
18/03/45
|
18/03/45
|
BTC 101
|
21/03/45
|
21/03/45
|
26/03/45
|
26/03/45
|
TBC 109
|
29/03/45
|
29/03/45
|
30/03/45
|
30/03/45
|
BTC 113
|
02/04/45
|
02/04/45
|
07/04/45
|
07/04/45
|
ON 295
|
11/04/45
|
26/04/45
|
29/03/45
|
12/04/45
|
HX 347
|
14/04/45
|
14/04/45
|
29/04/45
|
29/04/45
|
TBC 143
|
02/05/45
|
02/05/45
|
02/05/45
|
02/05/45
|
BTC 146
|
05/05/45
|
05/05/45
|
16/01/45
|
17/05/45
|
TBC 161
|
20/05/45
|
20/05/45
|
21/05/45
|
21/05/45
|
BTC 165
|
24/05/45
|
24/05/45
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note on Convoys)