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SERVICE HISTORIES of ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS in WORLD WAR 2
by Lt Cdr Geoffrey B Mason RN (Rtd) (c) 2002

HMS SUNFLOWER  - Flower-class Corvette
including Convoy Escort Movements

Edited by Gordon Smith, Naval-History.Net

 HMS Clover, sister-ship (Navy Photos, click to enlarge)

return to Contents List 

 

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) 

 

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