FLOWER-Class corvette
ordered from Henry Robb at Leith on 31st August 1939. She was laid
down on 4th December that year and was launched on 19th September
1940 as the second RN warship
to bear this name. It had been introduced in 1916 for a
Sloop which was sold in 1922, but two trawlers
requisitioned during WW1 carried this name and were identified by
the suffices II and III to avoid any
confusion with the Sloop which entered service after the two
trawlers. Build of this ship was completed
on 13th January 1941. In February 1942 she was adopted by the civil
community of Ormskirk, Lancashire after a successful WARSHIP WEEK
National Savings Campaign.
B a t t l e H o n o u r s
ATLANTIC 1941-43 - NORMANDY 1944 - ENGLISH CHANNEL 1944-45
H e r a l d i c D a t a
In common with many others of this type no Heraldic
Data is recorded in the Official List. However many
FLOWER Class Corvettes had unofficial Badges which
incorporated
the flower after which they were named
S u m m a r y o f
W a r S e r v i c e
(Note * = Further research is required into these
periods)
(for more ship information,
go
to
Naval History Homepage
and type name in Site Search
1 9 4 1
January Commissioned for service in
Western Approaches Command.
13th Build completion and commenced
Acceptance Trials.
After
completion of trials and storing took passage to Tobermory
to work-up for
operational service in Atlantic
*February Work-up in continuation.
Passage to join Escort Group.
*March Deployed in Western
Approaches for convoy escort.
to June
July Part of escort for
convoy of troopships with HM Corvettes LAVENDER and STARWORT,
5th During passage in SW Approaches
came under attack by U96 in position 44.25N 25.35W
and carried out series of counter attacks which forced submarine
to return to base for repair.
(See HITLER'S
U-BOAT WAR by C Blair, Volume I)
*August Joined 8th Escort Group for
convoy escort to from Western Meeting Point where
convoys were transferred to or from Groups based in Canada.
(Note: Installation of warning
surface Radar Type 271 during this period is to be confirmed.
For
details of development and use of radar by Royal Navy see RADAR AT SEA by
D Howse.)
September 8th Escort Group deployment in
continuation.
to December
(Note: This Group then included HM Destroyers
MALCOLM, BEVERLEY, SARDONYX
SCIMITAR, NEWMARKET and six FLOWER Class Corvettes.)
In
this period the Group escorted 6 Atlantic convoys without loss of any merchant
ships.)
1 9 4 2
*January Western Approaches
deployment in continuation.
to February
(For details of tactics and weapons used by escorts and submarines
during the Battle of
the Atlantic see U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC (HMSO), SEEK AND
STRIKE
by W Hackman,
THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC by D Macintyre and HITLER’S
U-BOAT WAR by C Blair.)
*March Nominated for service at Freetown, Sierra
Leone,
West Africa.
Passage to join Station.
April Deployed at Freetown.
26th Provided Local Escort into Freetown with HM Destroyers BOREAS and WILD SWAN
for military convoy WS18 during final stage of passage in Atlantic to West Africa.
29th Detached from WS18 with Local
Escort on arrival at Freetown.
(Note: WS18
was taking troops to Middle
East.)
*May Freetown deployment for escort of convoys off West Africa and for anti-submarine patrol.
to September
(Note: 40th Escort Group based at Freetown included HM Corvettes ARMERIA, CLARKIA
and HM Sloop MILFORD. Later in 1942 they were joined by newly built
Frigates.)
October Deployed at Freetown.
5th Came under attack by Italian
submarine BARBARIGO during escort of inward bound convoy
to Freetown with an Escort Sloop and two Corvettes. The submarine
was driven off by the
sustained
depth charge response from the escorts.
23rd Escorted Convoy SL125 with three
other Corvettes during passage from Freetown to UK off
West Africa.
(Note: Convoy comprised 42 ships
including several with troops returning to UK from Far
East.)
25th Sighted by U203 which then
reported the position and course of SL125 in order to prepare for
concentrated attacks by STRETAX U-Boat Group being assembled
for this purpose.
(Note: This
Group comprised 10 submarines of which nine carried out this specially planned
operation.)
27th U-Boat attacks commenced and
continued for three days.
12 ships
were sunk. (For details see HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR.)
*November
1st German U-Boat attacks cancelled.
Returned
to Freetown on release from escort.
*December Freetown escort and patrol in continuation.
1 9 4 3
* January Deployment at Freetown in continuation.
to February
March
11th Provided Local Escort for
military convoy WS27 with HM Corvette CROCUS during
initial stage of passage to Capetown.
14th Detached from WS27 with HMS
CROCUS and returned to Freetown.
*April Freetown deployment in continuation.
to December Nominated for return to UK
Passage to
UK
1 9 4 4
*January Deployed in Western
Approaches Command after refit and Foreign service
leave.
to March
*April Nominated for escort
of military convoys during planned allied landings in Normandy
(Operation
NEPTUNE).
Allocated for deployment in Force J of Eastern British Task Force.
(Note: For details of naval
activities before and during landings see OPERATION NEPTUNE
by K Edwards and LANDINGS IN NORMANDY (HMSO).)
Western
Approaches convoy defence duties in continuation.
*May Allocated for
escort of Build-up Convoys with HM Destroyer VERSATILE as Escort
Group 141.
Passage to join Force J, based at Cowes.
(Note:
During this period Force J carried out preparatory exercises including FABIUS
at Bracklesham as
well as others in Channel area including Night defence against
E-Boat attacks. For details see references.)
On completion of exercises deployed in Solent for briefing.
June Deployed in Solent
for escort of Assault Convoy J15 during passage for first landings.
4th Operation delayed by 24 hours.
5th Sailed from Solent
with HM Trawler NORTHERN FOAM, HM Corvettes CLARKIA and
PINK
accompanied by a Motor Launch as escort for Convoy J15 through swept channel to
JUNO beach head.
(Note:
Convoy comprised 12 Landing Craft, Tank, 12 RHINO Ferries and a Fire Float.
6th Detached from J15 after arrival
and took passage to Portland to join Escort Group 141.
7th Deployed as escort for Build-up
Phase convoys based at Portland.
25th On completion of NEPTUNE deployed for convoy defence and patrol in English Channel
and SW Approaches,
July Channel
deployment in continuation.
to December (Note: During this period
SCHNORKEL fitted U-Boats were concentrating their attacks
on convoy focal points and on coastal traffic.
See above references and HOLD THE
NARROW SEA by P Smith, BUSINESS IN GREAT WATERS by J Terraine and
ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C Barnett.)
1 9 4 5
January Deployed for coastal convoy defence.
to May (Note: Extensive
mining operations were being carried out as well as attacks on support
convoys to ports in Belgium and France. As a result the number of escorts deployed
in the Channel was increased. In addition
Atlantic convoys were re-routed through
the Channel as the threat from air attacks from
French bases had been removed.
Attacks were also being carried out by E-Boats and submersibles as well
as by
SCHNORKEL fitted submarines.)
June Nominated for
reduction to Reserve status after VE Day on release from Channel deployment.
to August Paid-off and destored before being laid-up in Reserve.
P o s t W a
r N o t e s
HMS PETUNIA was placed in the
Disposal List after VJ Day and sold to the Chinese Nationalist Government in 1946. Renamed FU PO
she took passage to China later that year and served in operations against the
Chinese Communists
with the Chinese Nationalist Navy.
The next year she was sunk after a collision, but the details
are not known.
Addenda
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS
of HMS
PETUNIA
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
20/02/41
|
20/02/41
|
OB 289
|
24/02/42
|
24/02/41
|
13/02/41
|
26/02/41
|
HX 109
|
03/03/41
|
04/03/41
|
17/05/41
|
19/05/41
|
OB 323
|
23/05/41
|
25/05/41
|
19/05/41
|
29/05/41
|
SC 032
|
07/06/41
|
07/06/41
|
01/06/41
|
15/06/41
|
HX 130
|
20/06/41
|
20/06/41
|
08/07/41
|
08/07/41
|
HG 067
|
24/07/41
|
24/07/41
|
30/08/41
|
01/09/41
|
ON 011
|
04/09/41
|
11/09/41
|
24/08/41
|
05/09/41
|
SC 041
|
11/09/41
|
11/09/41
|
13/09/41
|
15/09/41
|
ON 016
|
20/09/41
|
27/09/41
|
10/09/41
|
20/09/41
|
HX 149
|
24/09/41
|
25/09/41
|
04/10/41
|
05/10/41
|
ON 023
|
10/10/41
|
19/10/41
|
22/03/42
|
22/03/42
|
SL 103G
|
25/03/42
|
25/03/42
|
24/03/42
|
10/04/42
|
OS 023
|
11/04/42
|
11/04/42
|
13/05/42
|
13/05/42
|
SL 110
|
04/06/42
|
04/06/42
|
16/10/42
|
16/10/42
|
SL 125
|
09/11/42
|
09/11/42
|
11/12/42
|
11/12/42
|
KMS 005G
|
24/12/42
|
27/12/42
|
24/12/42
|
24/12/42
|
KMS 006G
|
05/01/43
|
09/01/43
|
06/03/43
|
24/03/43
|
OS 044
|
28/03/43
|
24/03/43
|
01/04/43
|
01/04/43
|
TS 034
|
06/04/43
|
06/04/43
|
14/04/43
|
14/04/43
|
ST 062
|
20/04/43
|
20/04/43
|
22/04/43
|
22/04/43
|
TS 036
|
27/04/43
|
27/04/43
|
29/04/43
|
03/05/43
|
ST 063
|
06/05/43
|
04/05/43
|
21/05/43
|
21/05/43
|
TS 041
|
27/05/43
|
27/05/43
|
04/06/43
|
04/06/43
|
ST 068
|
unknown
|
unknown
|
11/06/43
|
11/06/43
|
TS 044
|
17/06/43
|
17/06/43
|
23/06/43
|
23/06/43
|
ST 070
|
29/06/43
|
29/06/43
|
03/07/43
|
03/07/43
|
TS 046
|
08/07/43
|
08/07/43
|
11/07/43
|
11/07/43
|
ST 072
|
20/07/43
|
20/07/43
|
18/08/43
|
18/08/43
|
ST 074
|
unknown
|
unknown
|
03/09/43
|
03/09/43
|
SL 136
|
25/09/43
|
14/09/43
|
14/09/43
|
14/09/43
|
SL 136MK
|
25/09/43
|
25/09/43
|
27/10/43
|
28/10/43
|
OS 057KM
|
09/11/43
|
09/11/43
|
09/11/43
|
09/11/43
|
KMS 031G
|
10/11/43
|
10/11/43
|
13/11/43
|
13/11/43
|
MKS 030G
|
16/11/43
|
16/11/43
|
16/11/43
|
16/11/43
|
SL 139MK
|
24/11/43
|
26/11/43
|
15/12/43
|
16/12/43
|
OS 062KM
|
02/01/44
|
02/01/44
|
02/01/44
|
02/01/44
|
KMS 036G
|
03/01/44
|
03/01/44
|
06/01/44
|
06/01/44
|
SL 144MK
|
18/01/44
|
18/01/44
|
24/01/44
|
25/01/44
|
OS 066KM
|
05/02/44
|
05/02/44
|
06/02/44
|
06/02/44
|
KMS 040G
|
07/02/44
|
07/02/44
|
11/02/44
|
11/02/44
|
MKS 039G
|
12/02/44
|
12/02/44
|
12/02/44
|
12/02/44
|
SL 148MK
|
24/02/44
|
24/02/44
|
13/06/44
|
13/06/44
|
FCM 002
|
13/06/44
|
unknown
|
14/06/44
|
14/06/44
|
FCM 005
|
15/06/44
|
15/06/44
|
08/08/44
|
08/08/44
|
EBC 066
|
10/08/44
|
10/08/44
|
09/08/44
|
09/08/44
|
EBC 067
|
11/08/44
|
11/08/44
|
03/09/44
|
03/09/44
|
EPM 052
|
03/09/44
|
03/09/44
|
04/09/44
|
04/09/44
|
FWM 020
|
05/09/44
|
05/09/44
|
08/09/44
|
08/09/44
|
FBC 076
|
10/09/44
|
10/09/44
|
10/09/44
|
10/09/44
|
EPM 060
|
10/09/44
|
10/09/44
|
13/09/44
|
13/09/44
|
EPM 063
|
13/09/44
|
13/09/44
|
17/09/44
|
17/09/44
|
EPM 066Y
|
17/09/44
|
17/09/44
|
18/09/44
|
24/09/44
|
SL 170MK
|
26/09/44
|
26/09/44
|
28/09/44
|
28/09/44
|
ON 256
|
unknown
|
12/10/44
|
06/10/44
|
06/10/44
|
ON 258
|
10/10/44
|
24/10/44
|
28/09/44
|
10/10/44
|
HX 311
|
14/10/44
|
14/10/44
|
12/11/44
|
12/11/44
|
ON 266
|
16/11/44
|
03/12/44
|
04/11/44
|
17/11/44
|
HX 318
|
19/11/44
|
19/11/44
|
26/11/44
|
01/12/44
|
SL 177MK
|
05/12/44
|
05/12/44
|
24/12/44
|
05/01/45
|
HX 328
|
08/01/45
|
08/01/45
|
05/01/45
|
11/01/45
|
MKS 075G
|
13/01/45
|
14/01/45
|
10/01/45
|
13/01/45
|
MKS 076G
|
21/01/45
|
21/01/45
|
21/02/45
|
21/02/45
|
ON 286
|
23/02/45
|
09/03/45
|
12/02/45
|
25/02/45
|
HX 338
|
unknown
|
27/02/45
|
22/03/45
|
22/03/45
|
ON 292
|
26/03/45
|
08/04/45
|
14/03/45
|
26/03/45
|
HX 344
|
unknown
|
28/03/45
|
01/04/45
|
01/04/45
|
ON 294
|
05/04/45
|
20/04/45
|
01/04/45
|
05/04/45
|
MKS 092G
|
08/04/45
|
08/04/45
|
02/05/45
|
02/05/45
|
ON 300
|
04/05/45
|
18/05/45
|
23/04/45
|
05/05/45
|
HX 352
|
unknown
|
08/05/45
|
21/05/45
|
21/05/45
|
ON 304
|
24/05/45
|
05/06/45
|
13/05/45
|
24/05/45
|
HX 356
|
unknown
|
26/05/45
|
23/05/45
|
04/06/45
|
HX 358
|
unknown
|
06/06/45
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note on Convoys)