FLOWER-Class
corvette
ordered from Fleming and Ferguson
at Paisley, Scotland on 12th December 1939.
She was laid
down on 29th July 1940 and
launched on 30th January 1941 as
the
first RN warship to bear this name. It had
been used
for three auxiliary vessels since it was
introduced
for a tug purchased at Bermuda in 1869. Build was completed on 13th
May 1941.
After a
successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings
Campaign in February 1942 this
Corvette was adopted by the civil community
of Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire.
B
a t t l
e H o n o u r s
ATLANTIC
1941-45 - NORMANDY 1944 - NORTH SEA 1944
H
e r a l d i
c D a t a
In
common with many other warships commissioned
for
service
during
WW2 and which carried a name not previously
borne by
a
warship
no formal approval was given by the
Admiralty for use
of
a
Ships Badge. Many ships did however use an
informal 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
May Contractor’s
trials and
commissioned for service
13th
Build completion and commenced
Acceptance Trials.
On completion of trials
and storing took passage to Tobermory
for
work-up
prior to operational deployment
June Completed
work-up.
Allocated
for convoy defence in South
Atlantic.
July.
Passage to Freetown
as apart of escort for Atlantic
convoy.
August On
arrival at Freetown deployed for Local
Escort of Atlantic and coastal
convoys.
September
Freetown Local Escort duty in
continuation.
to
November
December
22nd
Joined HM Destroyers VELOX and VIMY
in Local Escort into Freetown
for
military convoy WS12Z.
(Note: This was
carrying troops to Middle East and India.)
25th
Detached from WS12Z with Local
Escort on arrival at Freetown.
1
9 4 2
January
Freetown deployment in continuation.
Nominated
for return to UK
for refit.
February
Passage to UK as part of escort for return
convoy.
March
Arrived
at Liverpool and taken in hand for refit
April
Under refit and nominated for
service 4th British Escort Group.
May
On completion of post-refit
trials took passage to Londonderry
to
join Group in Western Approaches Command.
(Note: This Group then
included:
HM Destroyers
HIGHLANDER, BEVERLEY and VIMY,
HM Corvettes ABELIA,
ASPHODEL and PENNYWORT.
June
Deployed with ships of Group
for escort of Atlantic convoys to and
to
from Newfoundland.
November
December Part
of escort for westbound convoy to
Newfoundland.
Christmas spent at St Johns.
1
9 4 3
January Passage
to UK as part of escort for convoy to Clyde.
Taken
in hand for refit by Clyde
shipyard on arrival.
(Note: Radar Type 271
was probably fitted as this equipment was
not generally
available when refitted at Liverpool in 1942.
For
details of development and use of radar in
RN see RADAR
AT SEA by D Howse.)
February
Under refit
to
March
April
Resumed Atlantic convoy defence
with Group.
(Note: Other ships in
Group included:
HM
Destroyers HIGHLANDER, WALKER, WESTCOTT
and WINCHELSEA,
HM Corvettes ABELIA,
ASPHODEL and PENNYWORT.)
May
Deployment with Group in
continuation
including defence of military
to
convoys to and from Gibraltar.
July
August
Transferred with Group for defence
of MKS and KMS convoy and from Gibraltar.
(Note: Newly built
CAPTAIN Class Frigates joined the Group later
in 1944.)
October
Gibraltar route convoy defence in continuation with Group.
to
December
1
9 4 4
January
Deployed in Western Approaches with
Group for Atlantic convoy defence.
to
(Note: HM Frigates HELMSDALE, BAYNTUN and
FOLEY had joined Group.
February
March Part
of escort for combined
convoys SL150 from Freetown and MKS141 from
Gibraltar with
HMS
BAYNTUN and HMS ASPHODEL, air cover
provided by HM Escort Carrier STRIKER.
9th
Under attacks by U575 750 miles NNW
of Cape Finisterre
during which
HMS ASPHODEL was sunk
by a homing torpedo fired by this submarine.
Rescued
the only
five survivors from HMS ASPHODEL.
(Note: First allied
ship to be sunk by a SCHNORKEL fitted U-Boat
but this
device was not in
use during the attacks.)
Took
part in eighteen hour search for
U575 and carried out depth charge
attacks
which were unsuccessful.
April
Atlantic convoy defence with
Group in continuation.
to
Nominated for defence of convoys
during planned allied landings in France.
May
(Operation NEPTUNE).
(Note: For details of
naval activities before and during landings
see
OPERATION NEPTUNE by K Edwards and LANDINGS IN
NORMANDY, June 1944
(HMSO).)
Allocated for service
in Force S and took passage to Channel area.
(Note: Ships of Force S
carried out preparatory exercises during
this month.
See
references.)
June
Passage to Solent for escort of assault
convoy.
4th
Operation delayed 24 hours
5th
Deployed with Motor Launch as escort
for Convoy S12 through Swept
Channel.
(Note: Convoy comprised
HM River Gunboat LOCUST, 24 Landing Craft
(Tank),
9 Landing Craft
(Infantry) and a US Navy Coastguard
Cutter.)
6th
Detached from S12 on arrival and took
passage to Thames Estuary to join HM
Destroyers CAMPBELL and
VIVACIOUS, HM Corvette PENNYWORT and
a
Coastal Forces Motor Launch in Escort Group
103.)
(Note: Commanding
Officer: Lieutenant TE Fanshaw,
DSC, RNR).
7th
Joined Escort Group and deployed for
escort of Build-Up Phase convoys from
Thames Estuary to Beachhead
area.
(Note: This duty
continued until completion of NEPTUNE on
24th June.)
July On
release from support of
military convoys retained in Nore
Command for
convoy
defence.
August
East Coast convoy defence in
continuation)
to
(Note: One source suggests ship was
recommissioned,
perhaps following a
September
further refit.)
October
Worked-up at Tobermory
and resumed service in Nore
Command for convoy
to
defence
December
(Note The
1,000th escort to carry out a
work-up at Tobermory
)
1
9 4 5
January
Deployed for convoy defence in North Sea and Channel.
to
(Note:
During this period Atlantic convoys were
re-routed through Channel.
April
Extensive measures to
deal with enemy attacks on convoys by
E-Boats,
submersibles and
by minelaying
involved increasing use of this type
of escort to
allow more modern ships to be used for
interception patrol
on convoy routes
to continental ports.)
May
Nominated
for withdrawal from service after VE Day.
to
Paid-off and Reduced to Reserve
status
August
P
o s t W a
r N o t e s
HMS
CLOVER was placed on the
Disposal List in 1946 and sold on 17th May
the next year for use as a
mercantile to be named ss
CLOVERLOCK. In 1952 this
ship was purchased by the Chinese government
and converted in China back for use as a
warship. She remained in active use
until after 1967 but had been stricken from
the List by 1972.
Addenda
CONVOY
ESCORT MOVEMENTS
of HMS
CLOVER
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
14/07/41
|
14/07/41
|
OB
346
|
23/07/41
|
01/08/41
|
|
18/07/41
|
23/07/41
|
HG
068
|
28/07/41
|
02/08/41
|
|
12/09/41
|
01/10/41
|
OS
006
|
03/10/41
|
03/10/41
|
|
05/10/41
|
05/10/41
|
SL
089
|
08/10/41
|
26/10/41
|
|
23/09/41
|
11/10/41
|
OS
007
|
14/10/41
|
14/10/41
|
|
15/10/41
|
15/10/41
|
SL
090
|
18/10/41
|
06/11/41
|
|
27/10/41
|
27/10/41
|
SL
091
|
31/10/41
|
08/11/41
|
|
13/10/41
|
31/10/41
|
OS
009
|
05/11/41
|
05/11/41
|
|
11/11/41
|
11/11/41
|
ST
008
|
16/11/41
|
16/11/41
|
|
04/12/41
|
04/12/41
|
ST
010
|
09/12/41
|
09/12/41
|
|
12/12/41
|
12/12/41
|
SL
095
|
17/12/41
|
31/12/41
|
|
30/11/41
|
17/12/41
|
OS
013
|
20/12/41
|
20/12/41
|
|
09/02/42
|
17/02/42
|
SL
100
|
19/02/42
|
04/03/42
|
|
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
|
22/07/42
|
HX
199
|
29/07/42
|
30/07/42
|
|
09/08/42
|
10/08/42
|
ON
120
|
21/08/42
|
27/08/42
|
|
23/08/42
|
26/08/42
|
HX
204
|
03/09/42
|
04/09/42
|
|
12/09/42
|
13/09/42
|
ON
130
|
24/09/42
|
30/09/42
|
|
24/09/42
|
29/09/42
|
HX
209
|
07/10/42
|
09/10/42
|
|
18/10/42
|
19/10/42
|
ON
140
|
30/10/42
|
07/11/42
|
|
03/11/42
|
08/11/42
|
HX
214
|
17/11/42
|
18/11/42
|
|
01/12/42
|
02/12/42
|
ON
150
|
15/12/42
|
25/12/42
|
|
21/12/42
|
26/12/42
|
HX
220
|
08/01/43
|
09/01/43
|
|
31/03/43
|
01/04/43
|
ON
176
|
13/04/43
|
20/04/43
|
|
12/04/43
|
18/04/43
|
HX
234
|
28/04/43
|
29/04/43
|
|
10/05/43
|
11/05/43
|
ON
183
|
20/05/43
|
25/05/43
|
|
25/05/43
|
30/05/43
|
HX
241
|
08/06/43
|
10/06/43
|
|
19/06/43
|
20/06/43
|
ONS
011
|
01/07/43
|
05/07/43
|
|
08/07/43
|
12/07/43
|
SC
136
|
22/07/43
|
23/07/43
|
|
28/07/43
|
28/07/43
|
KMS
022G
|
09/08/43
|
09/08/43
|
|
09/08/43
|
09/08/43
|
KMS
022
|
11/08/43
|
20/08/43
|
|
14/08/43
|
14/08/43
|
MKS
021G
|
27/08/43
|
25/08/43
|
|
05/09/43
|
05/09/43
|
KMS
026G
|
17/09/43
|
18/09/43
|
|
25/09/43
|
25/09/43
|
MKS
025G
|
08/10/43
|
08/10/43
|
|
17/10/43
|
20/10/43
|
KMS
030G
|
01/11/43
|
01/11/43
|
|
03/11/43
|
03/11/43
|
MKS
029G
|
15/11/43
|
18/11/43
|
|
25/11/43
|
26/11/43
|
OS
060KM
|
07/12/43
|
07/12/43
|
|
07/12/43
|
07/12/43
|
KMS
034G
|
09/12/43
|
09/12/43
|
|
13/12/43
|
13/12/43
|
MKS
033G
|
14/12/43
|
14/12/43
|
|
14/12/43
|
14/12/43
|
SL
142MK
|
27/12/43
|
28/12/43
|
|
03/01/44
|
03/01/44
|
OS
064KM
|
16/01/44
|
15/01/44
|
|
16/01/44
|
16/01/44
|
KMS
038G
|
17/01/44
|
17/01/44
|
|
23/01/44
|
24/01/44
|
SL
146MK
|
30/01/44
|
02/02/44
|
|
12/02/44
|
12/02/44
|
OS
068KM
|
23/02/44
|
23/02/44
|
|
24/02/44
|
24/02/44
|
KMS
042G
|
25/02/44
|
25/02/44
|
|
02/03/44
|
02/03/44
|
MKS
041G
|
03/03/44
|
03/03/44
|
|
03/03/44
|
03/03/44
|
SL
150MK
|
14/03/44
|
14/03/44
|
|
23/03/44
|
23/03/44
|
OS
072KM
|
05/04/44
|
04/04/44
|
|
05/04/44
|
05/04/44
|
KMS
046G
|
06/04/44
|
06/04/44
|
|
10/04/44
|
10/04/44
|
MKS
045G
|
11/04/44
|
11/04/44
|
|
11/04/44
|
11/04/44
|
SL
154MK
|
19/04/44
|
23/04/44
|
|
18/06/44
|
18/06/44
|
ETM
013
|
19/06/44
|
19/06/44
|
|
25/06/44
|
26/06/44
|
ETM
017
|
27/06/44
|
26/06/44
|
|
28/06/44
|
28/06/44
|
FTM
021
|
29/06/44
|
29/06/44
|
|
01/07/44
|
01/07/44
|
ETM
023
|
02/07/44
|
02/07/44
|
|
06/07/44
|
06/07/44
|
ETM
028
|
07/07/44
|
07/07/44
|
|
11/07/44
|
11/07/44
|
ETM
033
|
12/07/44
|
12/07/44
|
|
16/07/44
|
16/07/44
|
ETM
038
|
17/07/44
|
17/07/44
|
|
22/07/44
|
22/07/44
|
ETM
043
|
23/07/44
|
23/07/44
|
|
27/07/44
|
27/07/44
|
ETC
050
|
28/07/44
|
28/07/44
|
|
29/07/44
|
29/07/44
|
FTC
051
|
30/07/44
|
30/07/44
|
|
24/10/44
|
25/10/44
|
OS
093KM
|
01/11/44
|
01/11/44
|
|
01/11/44
|
01/11/44
|
KMS
067G
|
02/11/44
|
02/11/44
|
|
07/11/44
|
07/11/44
|
MKS
066G
|
08/11/44
|
08/11/44
|
|
08/11/44
|
08/11/44
|
SL
175MK
|
15/11/44
|
15/11/44
|
|
28/11/44
|
29/11/44
|
ONS
037
|
14/12/44
|
21/12/44
|
|
14/12/44
|
19/12/44
|
HX
326
|
26/12/44
|
27/12/44
|
|
07/01/45
|
08/01/45
|
ON
277
|
17/01/45
|
23/01/45
|
|
23/01/45
|
28/01/45
|
HX
334
|
06/02/45
|
06/02/45
|
|
21/02/45
|
22/02/45
|
OS
112KM
|
24/02/45
|
24/02/45
|
|
19/02/45
|
24/02/45
|
MKS
084G
|
27/02/45
|
27/02/45
|
|
07/04/45
|
07/04/45
|
OS
121KM
|
14/04/45
|
14/04/45
|
|
20/04/45
|
20/04/45
|
MKS
096G
|
unknown
|
28/04/45
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)
