FLOWER-Class
Corvette ordered
on 31 Aug 1939 from Hall Russell of Aberdeen
and laid
down on 15 July 1940. The ship was launched
on 28th January 1941 as the 2nd RN
major warship to bear the
name introduced in 1916 for a Sloop lost in
1917. Build was completed on 7th
May 1941 and she was adopted by the civil
community of Bramhall,
Cheshire after a successful WARSHIP WEEK
National Savings campaign in February 1942.
B a t t
l e H o n o u r s
ATLANTIC
1941-45 - NORMANDY 1944
H e r a
l d i c D a t a
No
Badge is recorded in the official List of
Crests.
This is
not unusual for ships of this Class built
during
WW2
but many had an unofficial 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
Contractors Trials
Nominated for service in Western
Approaches.
7th
Build completion and commenced Acceptance
Trials in Clyde.
Passage to Tobermory on completion of
trials and storing.
14th
Worked up for operational service at
Tobermory
Western Approaches deployment cancelled
and ship allocated for convoy defence
based at
Freetown.
30th
On completion of work-up prepared for
foreign service.
June
Prepared for foreign service at Greenock.
Sailed independently to Freetown with
refuelling in Azores
8th
During passage failed to receive Admiralty
instruction to assist ss ENSIS which had
been
torpedoed.
19th
Made unsuccessful depth charge attack
after sighting surfaced U-Boat.
Joined Freetown Escort Force on arrival.
July
Deployed at Freetown for Local convoy
defence.
13th
Escorted inward convoy SL81
27th
Detached from SL81 and returned to
Freetown
August
15th
Escorted inward Convoy SL84 until 19.8.41
19th
Detached from SL84 and returned to
Freetown
September
1st
Joined HM Corvettes ARMERIA and WOODRUFF
in escort for military Convoy WS10X
3rd
Detached from WS10X and returned to
Freetown with same ships.
On arrival at Freetown deployed on local
coastal convoy escort between Freetown, Lagos, Bathurst
and Takoradi
October
Developed leaking stem gland and other
mechanical defects.
To be withdrawn for repair in UK as beyond
local resources.
8th
Part of escort for inward convoy OS7 until
14.10.
20th
Deployed with HM Destroyers VELOX,
WRESTLER, HM Corvettes ANCHUSA and
CALENDULA for Local Escort of military
convoy WS12 during initial stage of
passage to Cape
Town.
27th
Deployed with escort for inward convoy
SL91 to UK.
November
8th
Detached with ships destined for Clyde and
designated SL91G.
19th Detached
from SL91G on arrival
20th
Taken in hand for repair by Harland Wolff
at Govan
December
Under repair.
(Note: Radar Type 271 fitted.
For details of development and sue of
radar in RN see RADAR AT SEA by D Howse.)
1
9 4 2
January
Nominated for duty in Western Approaches
on completion.
15th
Carried out harbour and sea trials on
completion of shipyard work.
18th
Deployed as escort for outward Convoy
OS57.
Temporary transferred for convoy defence
based in Iceland
Passage to Iceland with HM Corvette
GENISTA.
February Deployed
in Iceland for convoy defence.
25th
Arrived in Londonderry for boiler clean.
26th
Sustained major damage after being struck
by ss GLENWOOD when berthed alongside.
Taken in hand for repair,
March
Nominated for transfer to 3rd British
Escort Group on completion.
30th
Carried out harbour and sea trials
April
Resumed operational service.
9th
Deployed as escort for outward Convoy ON84
with Group.
22nd
Returned to Londonderry.
May
6th
Deployed with escort for inward convoy
HX188 until 15.5.42.
15th
Detached from HX188.
18th
Transferred to 2nd British Escort Group.
22nd
Part of escort for outward Convoy ON97
during Atlantic passage to Mid-Ocean
Meeting Point.
June
Joined inward Convoy SC86 for escort
during Atlantic passage.
20th
Detached from SC86 and returned to base.
26th
Deployed with escort for outward Convoy
ON107 during Atlantic passage.
July
Deployed as escort for inward Convoy
HX198.
23rd
Detached from HX198 and returned to base,
August
1st
Deployed with escort for outward Convoy
ON118
Deployed with escort for inward Convoy
HX203
27th
Detached from HX203 and returned to base.
29th
Taken in hand for refit at Dowsons, South
Shields.
(Note: During refit HEDGEHOG
anti-submarine Forward firing Mortar
fitted.)
September
Under refit
October
Damage sustained by collision with ss
LEWIS CROSSTHWAITE repaired during refit.
31st
Carried out post refit trials on
completion of shipyard work.
November
Rejoined B2 Group.
24th
Deployed with escort for outward Convoy
ON148.
December
Joined escort for inward HX219 during
passage to Liverpool.
29th
Detached from ON159 and returned to base.
1
9 4 3
January
4th
Joined outward Convoy ON160 as part of
escort during Atlantic passage.
February Joined
outward Convoy SC118 as part of escort
during Atlantic passage.
7th
Under heavy and sustained U-Boat attacks
during which mercantiles ROBERT E
HOPKINS and TOWARD were sunk by U403
(Note: For details of passage of SC118 see
HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair
and U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC (HMSO)
10th
Detached from SC118 and returned to base.
March
Transferred to EG39 on formation with
COLTSFOOT, SPIRAEA and BALSAM.
7th
Deployed for escort of outward OS44 with
Group.
13th
Under attack by U107 during which four
mercantiles were sunk and another after a
collision.
See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by
Corelli Bamett, BATTLE
OF THE ATLANTIC by D Macintyre)and above
references.).
31st
Escorted return convoy SL127 with Group
during passage to Liverpool.
(Note: Cover against threat of attack by
German destroyers in Bay of Biscay
was provided by HM Cruiser BIRMINGHAM
April
Detached from SL127 on arrival
Taken in hand for repair at Belfast
Resumed operational service with Group.
May
6th
Deployed with ships of Group for escort of
joint convoys OS47/KMS14 during Atlantic
passage
June
Joined joint Convoy SL130/KMS14 as part of
escort during passage to Liverpool
21st
Detached from SL130/KMS14 and returned to
base,
July
5th
Joined joint outward convoy OS51/KMS20 as
escort during Atlantic passage from
Liverpool.
with HM Corvettes COLTSFOOT, AZALEA,
GERANIUM and BALSAM.
13th
Remained as escort of Convoy OS51 when
ships of Convoy KMS20 detached and took
passage to Gibraltar.
15th
During attack on OS51 by U135 one
mercantile was damaged.
Carried out depth charge attacks with HM
Sloop ROCHESTER, BALSAM and MIGNONETTE
which forced submarine to surface.
(Note: U135 was then rammed by HMS
MIGNONETTE and sunk by this attack and 41
of the
crew were taken prisoner.
For details see U-BOATS DESTROYED by P
Kemp and HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR
by C Blair.
*Most sources credit the ramming to
ROCHESTER, but the sinking report by the
Naval
Intelligence Division confirms
MIGNONETTE)
23rd
Detached from OS51 on arrival at
Freetown.
28th
Sailed from Freetown with ships of Group
as part of escort for inward Convoy SL134.
August
14th
Remain with escort for joint convoy when
Convoy MKS22 merged with SL134.
25th
Taken in hand for repair at West
Hartlepool.
September
Under repair.
October
30th
Carried out sea trials on completion of
shipyard work.
November
5th
Deployed to rejoin Group during escort of
outward Convoy OS59/KMS33.
December
4th.
Deployed as part of escort for merged
inward Convoy SL141/KMS37 with Group and
HM
Escort Aircraft Carrier FENCER.
26th
Part of escort for outward Convoy
OS63/KMS37 with Group
1
9 4 4
January
1st
Escort joined by HM Escort Aircraft
Carrier STRIKER.
7th
HMS STRIKER detached.
9th.
Detached from KMS37 on arrival at
Gibraltar.
12th
Deployed with escort for inward joint
convoy SL145/MKS36 with Group reinforced by
HM Canadian Corvettes EDMUNDSTON and
LUNENBURG of 6th Escort Group.
20th
Additional support from 15th Escort Group
provided during passage in NW Approaches.
February
6th
Escorted outward OS67/KMS41 with Group
including HM Corvette GERANIUM and
air cover provided by HM Escort Aircraft
Carrier PURSUER.
10th
Under air attack repelled by PURSUER
aircraft.
24th
Joined inward Convoy SL149/MKS40 with
Group and HM Destroyer ROCKWOOD.
Detached with LONDONDERRY to meet FENCER to provide air cover.
Rejoined merged convoy
March
7th
Detached on arrival of joint convoy in
Liverpool.
15th.
Escorted joint outward convoy OS71/KMS45
with Group reinforced by HM Corvettes
SWEETBRIAR, WALLFLOWER and HM Trawler LADY
MADELEINE.
Returned with joint inward convoy
SL153/MKS44.
April
Detached from joint convoy.
12th
On arrival at Londonderry EG39 was
disbanded because of redeployments for
planned
allied landings in Normandy (Operation
NEPTUNE.)
Allocated to Force L as escort for Convoy
L2 from Harwich with HM Frigate CHELMER,
HM Destroyer VIVACIOUS and HM ML491.
May
3rd
Passage to Harwich.
6th
Arrived at Harwich.
Took part in preparatory exercises
(For details of naval activities before
and during NEPTUNE 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.)
June
5th
Assembled with Convoy L2 at Harwich and
sailed for Eastern Task Force Area
(Note: Convoy comprised seven Landing
Ships ,Tank.).
6th.
Detached from L2 after arrival. (See above
references and Battle Summary 39 for
details).
Returned to Harwich after arrival at Beach
Head
Remained in Force L for escort of follow
up convoys.
8th
Deployed for escort of Convoy ETM4 to
Beach Head.
27th
On termination of NEPTUNE remained in
Channel area for convoy escort
July
Channel deployment in continuation.
25th
Escorted Convoy FWL39-
August
Continued escort duty for convoys in
support of military operations.
September
Transferred to Portsmouth Command for
defence of Atlantic convoy traffic in
coastal
waters.
Deployed with escort for inward Convoy
HX308 and outward Convoy ON255.
October
Channel convoy defence in continuation
Part of escort for outward Convoy inward
Convoys ONA257 and inward Convoy HX310.
(Note: This was the first use of Channel
by Atlantic convoys since 1940 because of
removal of threat of air attacks from
French bases.
November.
Transferred to 41st Escort Group based at
Plymouth for Channel convoy defence.
Part of escort for inward joint Convoy
SL175/MKS66 outward Convoy ONA267
December
Channel deployment with Group in
continuation
Part of escort for inward joint Convoy
MKS69/SL178, outward Convoy ONA273 ,
inward
Convoy HX325 and outward Convoy ONA275
1
9 4 5
January
Channel deployment with Group in
continuation.
Part of escort for inward Convoys HX327
and HX329
21st
During Channel deployment sank U1199 with
HM Destroyer ICARUS off Longships LV.
For details see above references.
Part of escort for outward Convoys ONA277
and ONA278
Nominated for refit in commercial
shipyard.
(Note: For details of dates for all
convoys see ALLIED CONVOY SYSTEM IN WW2
by A Hague.)
February Deployed
for escort of inward Convoy HX334
4th
Took passage from Devonport for refit
9th
Taken in hand for refit at
Leith.
March
Under refit
to
April
May
Resumed operational service in SW
Approaches
21st
Escorted convoy MKS101.
28th
Escorted HM Monitor ROBERTS from
Plymouth to Liverpool.
Nominated for reduction to Reserve status.
June
11th
Escorted ten MFV and ss EMPIRE HEATHLAND
from Falmouth to Gibraltar
22nd
Returned to Plymouth.
July
6th
Passage to Liverpool to destore.
20th
Paid-off reduced to Reserve status at
Londonderry.
P
o s t W a r N o t
e s
HMS
MIGNONETTE was laid-up in Reserve at
Londonderry was placed on the Disposal
List. In 1946 the ship was sold to a Greek
shipping company for use as a mercantile.
Renamed ALEXANDROUPLIS she was wrecked off
Lemnos on
30th November 1948.
Addendum
CONVOY
ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS
MIGNONETTE
by
Don Kindell
(these
convoy movements have not been
cross-checked with the main text.)
|
|
|
|
|
Date
convoy sailed
|
Joined
convoy as escort
|
Convoy
No.
|
Left
convoy
|
Date
convoy arrived
|
|
|
|
|
|
13/07/41
|
15/07/41
|
SL
081
|
24/07/41
|
08/08/41
|
15/08/41
|
15/08/41
|
SL
084
|
19/08/41
|
08/09/41
|
26/08/41
|
08/09/41
|
CF
002A
|
13/09/41
|
13/09/41
|
23/09/41
|
unknown
|
OS
007
|
14/10/41
|
14/10/41
|
27/10/41
|
27/10/41
|
SL
091
|
08/11/41
|
08/11/41
|
08/11/41
|
08/11/41
|
SL
091G1
|
12/11/41
|
12/11/41
|
12/11/41
|
12/11/41
|
SL
091GS
|
19/11/41
|
19/11/41
|
13/01/42
|
18/01/42
|
ON
057
|
24/01/42
|
07/02/42
|
08/04/42
|
09/04/42
|
ON
084
|
22/04/42
|
25/04/42
|
03/05/42
|
06/05/42
|
HX
188
|
15/05/42
|
16/05/42
|
22/05/42
|
23/05/42
|
ON
097
|
02/06/42
|
05/06/42
|
05/06/42
|
08/06/42
|
SC
086
|
18/06/42
|
20/06/42
|
26/06/42
|
27/06/42
|
ON
107
|
03/07/42
|
09/07/42
|
12/07/42
|
15/07/42
|
HX
198
|
23/07/42
|
23/07/42
|
02/08/42
|
03/08/42
|
ON
118
|
14/08/42
|
20/08/42
|
16/08/42
|
19/08/42
|
HX
203
|
27/08/42
|
28/08/42
|
23/11/42
|
24/11/42
|
ON
148
|
06/12/42
|
13/12/42
|
13/12/42
|
19/12/42
|
HX
219
|
28/12/42
|
29/12/42
|
04/01/43
|
05/01/43
|
ON
159
|
14/01/43
|
20/01/43
|
11/01/43
|
26/01/43
|
ON
160
|
27/01/43
|
04/02/43
|
24/01/43
|
31/01/43
|
SC
118
|
10/02/43
|
12/02/43
|
06/03/43
|
07/03/43
|
OS
044
|
24/03/43
|
24/03/43
|
31/03/43
|
31/03/43
|
SL
127
|
21/04/43
|
15/04/43
|
05/05/43
|
06/05/43
|
OS
047KM
|
16/05/43
|
16/05/43
|
16/05/43
|
16/05/43
|
OS
047
|
25/05/43
|
25/05/43
|
30/05/43
|
30/05/43
|
SL
130
|
11/06/43
|
11/06/43
|
11/06/43
|
11/06/43
|
SL
130MK
|
21/06/43
|
21/06/43
|
04/07/43
|
05/07/43
|
OS
051KM
|
13/07/43
|
13/07/43
|
13/07/43
|
13/07/43
|
OS
051
|
23/07/43
|
23/07/43
|
28/07/43
|
28/07/43
|
SL
134
|
19/08/43
|
19/08/43
|
16/11/43
|
22/11/43
|
OS
059KM
|
28/11/43
|
28/11/43
|
03/12/43
|
03/12/43
|
MKS
032G
|
04/12/43
|
04/12/43
|
04/12/43
|
04/12/43
|
SL
141MK
|
17/12/43
|
17/12/43
|
25/12/43
|
26/12/43
|
OS
063KM
|
08/01/44
|
07/01/44
|
08/01/44
|
08/01/44
|
KMS
037G
|
09/01/44
|
09/01/44
|
06/02/44
|
06/02/44
|
OS
067KM
|
15/02/44
|
15/02/44
|
16/02/44
|
16/02/44
|
KMS
041G
|
17/02/44
|
17/02/44
|
21/02/44
|
21/02/44
|
MKS
040G
|
22/02/44
|
22/02/44
|
22/02/44
|
22/02/44
|
SL
149MK
|
07/03/44
|
07/03/44
|
14/03/44
|
15/03/44
|
OS
071KM
|
25/03/44
|
25/03/44
|
26/03/44
|
26/03/44
|
KMS
045G
|
27/03/44
|
27/03/44
|
01/04/44
|
01/04/44
|
MKS
044G
|
02/04/44
|
02/04/44
|
02/04/44
|
02/04/44
|
SL
153MK
|
13/04/44
|
13/04/44
|
09/06/44
|
09/06/44
|
ETM
004
|
10/06/44
|
10/06/44
|
30/06/44
|
30/06/44
|
ETC
023
|
01/07/44
|
01/07/44
|
13/08/44
|
13/08/44
|
FTM
067
|
13/08/44
|
14/08/44
|
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
|
08/11/44
|
14/11/44
|
SL
175MK
|
15/11/44
|
15/11/44
|
18/11/44
|
18/11/44
|
ON
267
|
21/11/44
|
05/12/44
|
09/11/44
|
23/11/44
|
HX
319
|
25/11/44
|
25/11/44
|
06/12/44
|
10/12/44
|
SL
178MK
|
15/12/44
|
15/12/44
|
18/12/44
|
18/12/44
|
ON
273
|
21/12/44
|
04/01/45
|
09/12/44
|
21/12/44
|
HX
325
|
24/12/44
|
23/12/44
|
28/12/44
|
28/12/44
|
ON
275
|
31/12/44
|
13/01/45
|
19/12/44
|
30/12/44
|
HX
327
|
03/01/45
|
02/01/45
|
07/01/45
|
07/01/45
|
ON
277
|
10/01/45
|
23/01/45
|
29/12/44
|
11/01/45
|
HX
329
|
14/01/45
|
12/01/45
|
12/01/45
|
12/01/45
|
ON
278
|
15/01/45
|
31/01/45
|
16/01/45
|
16/01/45
|
TBC
040
|
19/01/45
|
19/01/45
|
03/02/45
|
03/02/45
|
BTC
058
|
06/02/45
|
06/02/45
|
17/05/45
|
17/05/45
|
OS
129KM
|
20/05/45
|
21/05/45
|
15/05/45
|
20/05/45
|
MKS
101G
|
22/05/45
|
22/05/45
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)
* ADDITIONS
AND CORRECTIONS
With
thanks to David Bennett whose father was
an Able Seaman on board her during the
sinking of U.135 in July 1943.