FLOWER-Class Corvette ordered on 12th December 1939 under the
1939 Build Programme from Inglis
SB at
Pointhouse,
Glasgow. The ship was laid
down on 9th December 1940 as Job Number 1164
(Yard Number 1064)
and
launched 28th August 1941 as
the 1st RN warship to carry the name. Build
completion date was 28th December
1941. This ship was adopted by the civil
Community of Yiewsley
in March 1942 following a successful WARSHIP
WEEK National Savings campaign.
B
a t t
l e H o n o u r s
ATLANTIC 1942
-45 - ARCTIC 1942-45 - SICILY 1943 -
NORMANDY
1944
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
December Contractors
trials
28th
Build completion and
commenced Acceptance Trials.
(Note:
This ship was fitted for but not with LL M/S
For
details see THE TORPEDOMEN by E N Poland.)
Nominated
for convoy defence in Western Approaches.
1
9 4 2
January
On completion of trials and storing
took passage to Tobermory
Took passage to
Londonderry
to join 4th Escort Group on completion of
work-up.
(Note: Ships in
Group included HM Corvettes ABELIA, ANEMONE,
ASPHODEL,
PENNYWORT and VERONICA.
22nd Passage
to Iceland for convoy defence and patrol,
February
Under
repair after structural damage
in extreme weather conditions
Nominated
for WHITE patrol in Denmark Strait.
4th On
completion of
repair by HM Depot Ship HECLA sailed for
WHITE patrol,
with
HM Cruisers BERWICK, KENT and HM Corvette
SNOWDROP.
16th
Joined
Close Escort for Russian Convoy PQ11
For
details of all Russian convoys see CONVOYS
TO RUSSIA by RA Ruegg
and ARCTIC
CONVOYS by R Woodman.).
March
1st Joined
Close Escort for return Convoy QP8 with HM
Corvette SWEETBRIAR.
(Note: Severe
weather was experienced on this passage to
Iceland.)
Passage to Londonderry
for Boiler cleaning.
April
Deployed
with Close Escort for Russian Convoy PQ14
with HM Corvettes CAMPANULA,
SAXIFRAGE and
SNOWFLAKE.
May
Returned
with return Convoy QP11.
30th
Deployed with escort
for outward
Convoy ON99 with ships of Group.
(Note:
This passage was uneventful.)
June
Deployed for Atlantic
Convoy defence
Nominated for refit
July Under
refit in
commercial shipyard at Birkenhead.
(Note:
New
Bridge, Gyro Compass, 20mm Oerlikons
guns for close
range AA and anti submarine
mortar
(HEDGEHOG)
fitted
For
details of development of new weapons see
SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann
and HITLER’S
U-BOAT WAR by C Blair.)
August Under
refit
to
Nominated for
transfer to 23rd Escort Group on completion.
September
On completion
of shipyard work carried out post refit
trials.
October
Joined
23rd Escort Group for Atlantic
convoy
defence.
November
8th
Deployed for
escort of military convoys to Gibraltar.
Joined
escort for outward Convoy KX6.
(Note: Allied
landings had been made in North
Africa (Operation TORCH
18th
Arrived
at
Gibraltar with convoy.
20th
Deployed for convoy escort based at
Gibraltar
December
4th.
Took passage UK to join Home Fleet for
escort for Russian Convoy
JW51A
15th
Deployed with HM Corvette HONEYSUCKLE
and HM Fleet Minesweeper
SEAGULL
for Close
escort of
JW51A
25th
Detached
from
JW51A on arrival in Kola Inlet.
1
9 4 3
.January
Remained
Russian waters to suit delayed
convoy cycle because of Barents Sea action.
29th
Deployed
as Close Escort for return Convoy RA52 with
HM Corvettes HONEYSUCKLE,
HYDERABAD
(RIN) and RHODODENDRON.
February
3rd
Assisted in rescue of survivors from ss
GREYLOCK.
6th
Detached
from RA52 and took passage to Tobermory
for work-up
Prepared
for work-up
7th
Commenced
Work-up.
20th
Deployed for escort
of Polish submarine DZIK
to Scillies and returned to Clyde
March
Deployed
with Canadian 1st Escort Group for escort of
outward Convoy ONS2
with
RCN
Corvettes
April
Atlantic
convoy defence with Group
in continuation.
20th
Part
of escort for inward convoy 10 tankers.
(Note: Identity
SC127 to be confirmed.)
May
Nominated
for service in
Mediterranean.
Deployed with
escort for outward joint Convoy KS10/OG90
with HM Indian Corvette
HYDERABAD and HM Frigate
TEST.
26th
Convoy under attack by
U436.
(Note: HMIS
HYDERABAD and HMS TEST carried out depth
charge operations sinking
U436 with no survivors.
June
4th
Joined
ships of 44th Escort Group
for escort of outward convoy
KMS16B to
Gibraltar.
(Note: Other
ships included HM Corvettes BERGAMOT,
BRYONY,
HONEYSUCKLE,
HYDERABAD (RIN)) and
RHODODENDRON.
July
Deployed in
Mediterranean for convoy Escort and support
of planned allied landings in
Sicily
(Operation HUSKY – For details
see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY
by C
Barnett,
Naval Staff History and for
information about
all mercantiles
and warships involved BRITISH
INVASION FLEETS by J de
Winser.)
Augusr
Deployed
at Algiers
8th
Assisted HM Destroyer ARROW which
had been damaged during air attack.
(Note:
Mercantile ss
FORT LA MONTEE had blown
up.).
September
Mediterranean
deployment in continuation.
to
Nominated for return to UK.
October
November
23rd.
Relieved by HUNT Class destroyer
24th
Part of escort for joint inward
Convoy MKS31/SL140 with HM Corvettes BORAGE,
DAHLIA
and
MEADOWSWEET
during passage to UK.
27th
Convoy
escorts under night attacks by T5 acoustic
torpedoes from U262,n
U764 and U207
Took
part in anti-submarine operations with ships
of 1st and 2nd Escort
Groups
(Note:
Sinking of three mercantiles
was
claimed but no ships of convoy were in fact
lost.)
28th
Detached from MKS31/SL140 on
arrival.
December
Nominated
for escort of Russian
convoy with ships of 23rd Escort Group
(Operation FV)
22nd
Joined escort for Convoy JW55B.
26th
Remained with JW55B as escort when
Fleet destroyers detached to join Home Fleet
units
for engagement
with German battleship
SCHARNHORST.
For
details see Naval Staff History, CONVOYS TO
RUSSIA, ARCTIC
CONVOYS
by
R
Woodman and HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR.
30th
Detached from JW55B on arrival in
Kola Inlet.
31st
Part of Close
Escort for RA55B with HM Corvettes
RHODODENDRON and HONEYSUCKLE.
1
9 4 4
January
8th
Detached from RA55B on arrival at
Loch
Ewe and took passage to
Greenock.
9th.
Arrived at Greenock.
Nominated for further
escort of Russian convoy.
22nd
Joined escort for JW56B
29th
Under attack by nine U-Boats.
See above references.
February
1st
Detailed from JW56B on arrival at
Kola Inlet.
3rd
Deployed with Close escort for
returning RA56
with HM Corvettes DIANELLA, POPPY and
RHODODENDRON.
11th
Detached from
RA56 on arrival at Loch Ewe after
uninterrupted passage.
Nominated
for deployment in SW Approaches
,based
at Plymouth.
(Note:
U-Boats
fitted with SCHNORKEL were making attacks on
convoys in coastal waters.)
24th
Deployed
for convoy defence in coastal waters.
March
Nominated
for refit.
5th
Passage to Clyde.
Taken in hand for
refit in commercial shipyard.
April Under
refit.
Nominated for convoy
escort during planned allied landings in
Normandy.
Allocated for service in
Force L (Operation NEPTUNE.)
(For details
of naval activities before and during landings
see OPERATION NEPTUNE by
K
Edwards, LANDINGS IN NORMANDY, June 1944
(HMSO) and for details of all
mercantiles
and warships involved
D-DAY SHIPS by J de Winser.)
May
Arrived out harbour and see trials.
24th
On
completion of post refit trials
took passage
to Nore to join
Force L
Nominated
for service in
Force L for escort of Build-up Phase convoys
to Beach Head
as part of Escort
Group 154.
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.
to
Nominated for service with Home Fleet.
September
October
20th
Joined Close Escort for outward
Convoy JW61 during passage to Kola Inlet
28th
Detached
on arrival at
Kola Inlet.
November
2nd
Part
of Close escort for
return Convoy RA61 during passage to Loch
Ewe.
9th
Detached
from RA61 on arrival at Loch Ewe.
Nominated
for escort of UR series
convoys to Iceland and return UR series to
UK.
December
Deployed
NW Approaches for convoy escort
1
9 4 5
January
Iceland
route deployment in continuation
to
(Note:
During this period deployed with escort for
outward Convoys UR144, UR149
February
and inward
RU145.
HM
Corvette HONEYSUCKLE
was also deployed for
this period.)
March
Nominated for escort of Russian Convoys with
Home Fleet.
11th
Part of Close escort for
outward Convoy JW65 during passage to Kola
Inlet
For
details see references.
(HM
Corvettes CAMELLIA and HONEYSUCKLE were also
deployed.)
21st
Detached from JW65 on arrival
at Kola Inlet
23rd
Joined
Close Escort for return
Convoy RA65 during passage to Loch Ewe.
April
1st
Detached from RA65 on arrival
at Loch Loch
Ewe.
16th
Joined outward Convoy JW66 in
Clyde as part of Close Escort during passage
to
Kola Inlet with HM
Corvettes HONEYSUCKLE, LOTUS and
RHODODENDRON.
25th
Detached
from JW66 on arrival at Kola Inlet without
any incidents.
29th
Joined Close escort for return
passage of Convoy RA66 to Clyde.
May
8th
Detached from RA66 on arrival
Nominated
for
reduction to Reserve status
Paid-off.
June
Nominated
for service with Anti-submarine Training
Flotilla based at
Portland
14th
Re-commissioned and on completion
of trials and storing took passage to
Portland.
July
Deployed
for training duties at Portland.
to
August
P
o s t W a r N
o t e
HMS OXLIP remained at Portland
until 1946 when she was again Paid-off and
placed on the Disposal List. Sold to
the Irish Naval Service December
1946 the ship was renamed INS MAEV and
remained in service until 1971 when
placed
on the Sales List. On 23rd March
1972 she arrived in tow at Passage West, SE
of Cobh, IFS
for demolition by Haulbowline
Industries.
Addenda
CONVOY
ESCORT MOVEMENTS
of
HMS
OXLIP
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
14/02/42
|
17/02/42
|
PQ
011
|
22/02/42
|
22/03/42
|
01/03/42
|
01/03/42
|
QP
008
|
11/03/42
|
11/03/42
|
26/03/42
|
12/04/42
|
PQ
014
|
19/04/42
|
19/04/42
|
28/04/42
|
28/04/42
|
QP
011
|
07/05/42
|
07/05/42
|
08/05/42
|
08/05/42
|
RU
022
|
12/05/42
|
12/05/42
|
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
|
23/07/42
|
HX
199
|
29/07/42
|
30/07/42
|
08/11/42
|
08/11/42
|
KX
006
|
17/11/42
|
17/11/42
|
18/11/42
|
18/11/42
|
TE
005
|
21/11/42
|
20/11/42
|
27/11/42
|
27/11/42
|
MKS
002A
|
07/12/42
|
07/12/42
|
15/12/42
|
15/12/42
|
JW
051A
|
25/12/42
|
25/12/42
|
29/01/43
|
29/01/43
|
RA
052
|
08/02/43
|
09/03/43
|
28/03/43
|
29/03/43
|
ONS
002
|
14/04/43
|
19/04/43
|
16/04/43
|
20/04/43
|
SC
127
|
02/05/43
|
03/05/43
|
24/06/43
|
24/06/43
|
KMS
018B
|
06/07/43
|
10/07/43
|
13/06/43
|
07/07/43
|
UGS
010
|
09/07/43
|
10/07/43
|
27/06/43
|
19/07/43
|
UGS
011
|
22/07/43
|
unknown
|
23/07/43
|
24/07/43
|
GTX
004
|
29/07/43
|
03/08/43
|
09/08/43
|
15/08/43
|
KMS
022
|
20/08/43
|
20/08/43
|
25/08/43
|
25/08/43
|
MKS
023
|
04/09/43
|
03/09/43
|
10/09/43
|
10/09/43
|
KMS
025
|
21/09/43
|
21/09/43
|
24/09/43
|
24/09/43
|
MKS
026
|
04/10/43
|
04/10/43
|
07/10/43
|
07/10/43
|
KMS
028
|
17/10/43
|
19/10/43
|
24/10/43
|
24/10/43
|
MKS
029
|
03/11/43
|
03/11/43
|
10/11/43
|
10/11/43
|
KMS
031
|
18/11/43
|
21/11/43
|
13/11/43
|
19/11/43
|
MKS
031
|
23/11/43
|
23/11/43
|
23/11/43
|
23/11/43
|
MKS
031G
|
24/11/43
|
24/11/43
|
24/11/43
|
24/11/43
|
SL
140MK
|
05/12/43
|
07/12/43
|
20/12/43
|
20/12/43
|
JW
055B
|
29/12/43
|
30/12/43
|
31/12/43
|
31/12/43
|
RA
055B
|
08/01/44
|
08/01/44
|
22/01/44
|
22/01/44
|
JW
056B
|
01/02/44
|
01/02/44
|
03/02/44
|
03/02/44
|
RA
056
|
11/02/44
|
11/02/44
|
10/06/44
|
10/06/44
|
ETM
005
|
11/06/44
|
11/06/44
|
23/06/44
|
23/06/44
|
ETC
016
|
24/06/44
|
24/06/44
|
25/06/44
|
25/06/44
|
FTC
017
|
26/06/44
|
26/06/44
|
28/06/44
|
28/06/44
|
ETC
021
|
29/06/44
|
29/06/44
|
07/07/44
|
07/07/44
|
ETM
029
|
08/07/44
|
08/07/44
|
17/07/44
|
17/07/44
|
ETC
040
|
18/08/44
|
18/07/44
|
19/07/44
|
19/07/44
|
FTC
041
|
20/07/44
|
20/07/44
|
24/07/44
|
24/07/44
|
ETM
044
|
25/07/44
|
25/07/44
|
26/07/44
|
26/07/44
|
FTM
049
|
27/07/44
|
27/07/44
|
29/07/44
|
29/07/44
|
ETC
052
|
30/07/44
|
30/07/44
|
15/08/44
|
15/08/44
|
JW
059
|
25/08/44
|
25/08/44
|
28/08/44
|
28/08/44
|
RA
059A
|
05/09/44
|
05/09/44
|
15/09/44
|
16/09/44
|
OS
089KM
|
22/09/44
|
22/09/44
|
22/09/44
|
22/09/44
|
KMS
063G
|
23/09/44
|
23/09/44
|
29/09/44
|
29/09/44
|
MKS
062G
|
30/09/44
|
30/09/44
|
30/09/44
|
30/09/44
|
SL
171MK
|
08/10/44
|
08/10/44
|
20/10/44
|
20/10/44
|
JW
061
|
28/10/44
|
28/10/44
|
02/11/44
|
02/11/44
|
RA
061
|
09/11/44
|
09/11/44
|
11/03/45
|
11/03/45
|
JW
065
|
21/03/45
|
21/03/45
|
23/03/45
|
23/03/45
|
RA
065
|
01/04/45
|
01/04/45
|
16/04/45
|
16/04/45
|
JW
066
|
25/04/45
|
25/04/45
|
29/04/45
|
29/04/45
|
RA
066
|
07/05/45
|
08/05/45
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)