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)