FLOWER-Class Corvette ordered from Smiths Dock SB at
Middlesbrough on 31st August 1939 and laid
down on 24th May 1940 as Job Number
J4006 (Yard No 1082). The ship was launched
on18th August 1940 as the 2nd RN
ship to bear the name, introduced in 1915
for Sloop which was sold in 1921.
Build was completed on 25th January 1941 and
in February 1942 the ship was
adopted by the civil community of Totnes, Devon
after a successful WARSHIP WEEK campaign for
National
Savings.
B
a t t
l e H o n o u r s
ATLANTIC 1941-45 - NORMANDY 1944 - NORTH SEA 1944 -
ENGLISH
CHANNEL
1944-45
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
January
Contractors
trials
25th
Build completion and commenced
Acceptance Trials
27th
On completion of trials and storing
took passage to Tobermory
February
Nominated
for service in 1st Escort Group after
work-up
13th
Deployed as escort for HM Submarine
THUNDERBOLT (Ex HMS THETIS) and Free French
submarine
SURCOUF during
passage to
Clyde.
(Note: This may have been during
work-up for
operational service.).
Joined Group at Londonderry
March
Atlantic
deployment with Group
Part of escort for
inward
convoy SL65 during passage to Liverpool.
(Note:
For details of dates on of all Convoys see
ALLIED CONVOY SYSTEM
IN WW2 by
A
Hague.)
April
Deployed
with ships of Group as part of Atlantic
escort for outwards
Convoys OG54 to
West
Africa,
OB297 to Dispersal Point in Atlantic
for
onward passage to West Indies area and
inwards Convoy HX113
from
Halifax.
May
Deployed
with ships of Group for escort of inward
Convoys HX126, HG 59
from Gibraltar
and
outward
Convoys OB 323 to Dispersal Point for onward
passage.
(Note
HX126 came under a series of sustained
attacks during which 9
ships were sunk.
For
details see HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair.)
June
Group
deployment in
continuation.
Part
of escort for inward Convoy
HX129 which was the first inward convoy to
be provided with an
escort during
full Atlantic passage escort including
that by RCN until
defence transferred to RN
ships based in
Iceland.
For
details of U-BOAT deployments see U-BOAT WAR
IN THE ATLANTIC (HMSO).
Outward
convoys SC34, OB330 and OB336 were also
escorted by Group.
July
Part
of escort for outward convoys OB349 and
transferred to outward Convoy
OG69
26th
OG69
under attacks by several
U-BOATS after sighting by reconnaissance
aircraft
Carried
out depth charge attacks with HM Corvettes
RHODODENDRON and
PIMPERNEL
which drove off
submarines.
(Note:
Later attacks on 27th and 28th sank 7 ships
of this convoy.
Transferred
to escort of inward convoy HG68
August
Deployed
as escort for outward Convoy ON5 to
Dispersal Point and transferred to inward
Convoy
SC39.
September
Part
of escort for inward Convoy HX146, Outward
Convoys ON10 and ON15during passage
to
Dispersal Point.
October
Part
of escort for inward Convoy HX153 and
outward Convoy ON30
November
Part
of escort for outward Convoy ON39 and inward
Convoy HX159,
December
Part of escort for outward Convoys
ON42,
inward Convoy SC57, outward Convoy ON49 and
inward
SC60.
1
9 4 2
January
Part
of escort for outward Convoy ON55 and
inward Convoy HX169
27th
Taken
in hand for refit at commercial shipyard in
Liverpool
February
Under refit
(Note:
Radar Type 271 was
fitted during refit.
For
details of development
and
use of radar by RN see RADAR AT SEA by D Howse
and
SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann.).
March
23rd
Carried out post refit trials.
27th
Part of escort for outward
Convoy ON80
April
Deployed
for
escort of inward Convoy HX187
May
Transferred to Escort Group B7
Part
of escort for outward
Convoy ON94
June
Deployed with Group for
escort of inward
Convoy HX192and outward ON106
July
Deployed
with Group for escort
of inward Convoys SC91, ON117 and outward
SC101
August
Transferred for escort of
convoys between
New York and Cutracoa.
September
East
coast of USA deployment in continuation
Returned passage to UK
October
Part
of escort for outward Convoy ON142 and
inward SC107
(Note
This
convoy was subject to heavy and sustained
attacks. See above references.
Transferred
to Londonderry Escort Force
November
Deployed with ships of
Londonderry Escort
Group.
December
Part of escort for inward Convoy HX216
and
outward ON153
17th
During passage with escort for outward
ON153
rescued survivors from FIREDRAKE sunk by U
211
See
above references for details of the defence
of this convoy.
1
9 4 3
January
Deployed
for escort of inward SC115 and detached to assist
damaged mercantile.
Taken
in hand for refit at commercial
shipyard in Belfast
(Note:
Anti-submarine mortar HEDGEHOG and prototype
Sonar outfit 147X
which introduced
a capability of
depth finding. See SEEK AND STRIKE For
details.)
February
Under
refit
Nominated for
transfer to Escort Group B7 on completion.
March
Carried
out post refit trials on completion
of dockyard work.
3rd
Resumed
operational service with Group
April
22nd
Deployed
for escort of outward Convoy ONS5 with
Group.
(Note:
ONS Series convoys had been re-numbered.)
Ships
in Group included HM Destroyers
DUNCAN, VIDETTE, HM Frigate TAY, HM
Corvettes
PINK,
SNOWFLAKE and LOOSESTRIFE. This
convoy was subjected too very
determined
opposition and sustained heavy losses, See
THE
BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC
by
D Macintyre and ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE
CLOSELY by C Barnett and above
references.)
May
ONS5
under sustained
submarine attacks
5th
U638 sunk by HMS LOOSESTRIFE
in defence of ONS5
Transferred
to escort of inward SC130
June
Under
repair.
Deployed
for escort of outward ONS10
with Group supported by HM Escort Carrier
July
Transferred
for escort of inward
Convoy SC135
Deployed
in Bay of Biscay and
stood by troopship.
11th
Assisted in rescue of survivors
from troopships CALIFORNIA and
DUCHESS
OF YORK which
had been sunk by
Glider Bomb attacks.)
Joined
escort for outward Convoy ONS14.
(Note:
this convoy included Merchant Aircraft
Carrier CLAN ALPINE.
August
Carried
out Maintenance in Liverpool.
9th
On
completion deployed as part of escort for
inward Convoy. SC139
September
Part
of escort of inward Convoy SC142.
October
Deployed
in support role and supplemented defence of
outward Convoy
ON206.
(Note:
This convoy was under
attack by U-Boat pack and its defence was
also supported
by extensive air
cover from shore. See HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR
for details.)
Ships
of Escort
Group B4 and B7 included HM Destroyers FAME,
VANQUISHER, DUNCAN
VIDETTE, HM Frigate
DEVERON and six other corvettes.)
17th
Carried out depth charge attacks
on U631
which was sunk with no survivors
(Note:
This was
confirmed in post war analysis. See U-BOATS
DESTROYED.)
23rd
After radar defect
,spare
was provided by aircraft.
27th
Detached from ON206 to
provide support for
outward Convoy ON208
29th
On release from ON208 took
passage with
Group to join inward Convoy HX263
Carried out
anti-submarine operations with HMS DUNCAN,
HMS VIDETTE.
Sank
U282 in
s HEDGEHOG attack. See U-BOATS
DESTROYED.
(Note:
U282 had
been shadowing convoy.).
B7
Group steamed 6,700 miles during this month.
November
8th
Detached from HX253 on arrival
in Home
waters.
17th
Deployed with Group for
support of transit
of outward Convoy ONS23.
December
16th
Returned
to UK as escort of inward
Convoy HX269
29th
Joined escort for outward Convoy
ONS26 with Group.
1
9 4 4
January
Returned
to UK as escort for inward Convoy
HX275
February
Part
of escort for outward Convoy ONS2232 and
return inward Convoy HX280
Nominated for refit.
March
Detached
from HX280 on arrival.
Took
passage to Humber
Taken
in
hand for refit in commercial shipyard.
April
23rd
Carried out post refit trials on
completion of shipyard work
Nominated
for
detached service in support of planned
allied landing
in Normandy
(Operation
NEPTUNE – For details of naval
activities before and during landings
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.)
Passage
to Tobermory
May
Nominated for
service in Force L for NEPTUNE.
20th
On completion of work-up took
passage to Harwich to join Force
L
Took
part in preparatory exercises
Nominated
as part of Escort Group 154 with HM
Corvettes
SWEETBRIAR and
OXLIP
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.
21st
Sustained damage in collision
August
Under
repair in London commercial
shipyard.
26th
On completion of shipyard work carried out
post repair trials.
30th
Deployed for Channel convoy defence based at
Sheerness,
September
7th
Sustained
further damage in collision with mercantile
ss HOLMES but
remained
in service
16th
Deployed with escort for inward joint
Convoy MKS60/SL169 during passage in
Channel.
19th
Under repair in
Commercial shipyard at Tilbury.
October
Resumed
Channel duties on completion of repair.
2nd
Deployed
as part of escort for ships of inward convoy
HX310 and of inward
Convoy
outward
Convoy ON257 during passage in Channel.
(Note: Mercantiles
were being routed through
English Channel for passage to and from
London
and detached from
joined ocean convoys in SW Approaches
because
air threat from
bases in France had been removed by military
advance into
Germany.
See
HOLD THE NARROW SEA by P Smith, ENGAGE THE
ENEMY MORE
closely and above
references.
November Channel
deployment in continuation
to Involved
in collision and under repair.
December
1
9 4 5
January
Under
repair
February
Resumed
Channel convoy defence.
(Note: German submarines and E-Boats
were
active in Channel area for minelaying
and attacks by
SCHNORKEL fitted U-BOATS were
being made on assembly points
for convoys and
coastal traffic in Home waters,
March
5th
Under
repair by HM Dockyard Sheerness.
April
16th
Resumed
Channel convoy
defence.
Part
of escort for outward Convoy ONA195 and
HX347
May
Nominated
for
reduction to Reserve status.
Passage to Harwich,
Paid
off and de-stored.
June
Reducing to Reserve at
Harwich.
July
Laid-up at Harwich
to
August
P
o s t W a r
N o t e s
HMS SUNFLOWER remained in Reserve at Harwich until placed on the
Disposal List in 1947. The ship was sold to
BISCO for demolition by TW Ward at Hayle,
Cornwall later that year and arrived at the
breaker’s yard in August 1947.
Addenda
CONVOY
ESCORT MOVEMENTS
of
HMS
SUNFLOWER
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
25/02/41
|
26/02/41
|
OG
054
|
02/03/41
|
14/03/41
|
10/02/41
|
04/03/41
|
SL
065
|
08/03/41
|
08/03/41
|
12/03/41
|
12/03/41
|
OB
297
|
17/03/41
|
17/03/41
|
05/03/41
|
17/03/41
|
HX
113
|
20/03/41
|
21/03/41
|
07/04/41
|
08/04/41
|
OB
307
|
13/04/41
|
13/04/41
|
30/03/41
|
13/04/41
|
SC
027
|
18/04/41
|
18/04/41
|
22/04/41
|
23/04/41
|
OB
313
|
28/04/41
|
28/04/41
|
17/05/41
|
17/05/41
|
OB
323
|
22/05/41
|
25/05/41
|
16/05/41
|
23/05/41
|
HX
127
|
27/05/41
|
02/06/41
|
02/06/41
|
03/06/41
|
OB
330
|
07/06/41
|
07/06/41
|
27/05/41
|
08/06/41
|
HX
129
|
11/06/41
|
12/06/41
|
15/06/41
|
17/06/41
|
OB
336
|
22/06/41
|
23/06/41
|
10/06/41
|
24/06/41
|
SC
034
|
29/06/41
|
29/06/41
|
20/07/41
|
21/07/41
|
OG
069
|
27/07/41
|
01/08/41
|
21/07/41
|
21/07/41
|
OB
349
|
26/07/41
|
01/08/41
|
18/07/41
|
27/07/41
|
HG
068
|
02/08/41
|
02/08/41
|
06/08/41
|
07/08/41
|
ON
005
|
11/08/41
|
14/08/41
|
01/08/41
|
12/08/41
|
SC
039
|
17/08/41
|
19/08/41
|
21/08/41
|
02/09/41
|
HX
146
|
05/09/41
|
06/09/41
|
11/09/41
|
11/09/41
|
ON
015
|
13/09/41
|
16/09/41
|
28/09/41
|
30/09/41
|
ON
021
|
06/10/41
|
14/10/41
|
28/09/41
|
09/10/41
|
HX
152
|
11/10/41
|
14/10/41
|
05/10/41
|
13/10/41
|
HX
153
|
17/10/41
|
19/10/41
|
28/10/41
|
30/10/41
|
ON
031
|
04/11/41
|
15/11/41
|
10/11/41
|
10/11/41
|
ON
035
|
15/11/41
|
27/11/41
|
08/11/41
|
18/11/41
|
HX
159
|
22/11/41
|
23/11/41
|
01/12/41
|
02/12/41
|
ON
042
|
07/12/41
|
14/12/41
|
28/11/41
|
09/12/41
|
SC
057
|
13/12/41
|
15/12/41
|
21/12/41
|
22/12/41
|
ON
049
|
27/12/41
|
05/01/42
|
16/12/41
|
28/12/41
|
SC
060
|
31/12/41
|
31/12/41
|
08/01/42
|
08/01/42
|
ON
055
|
15/01/42
|
26/01/42
|
08/01/42
|
18/01/42
|
HX
169
|
22/01/42
|
23/01/42
|
27/03/42
|
28/03/42
|
ON
080
|
10/04/42
|
15/04/42
|
26/04/42
|
29/04/42
|
HX
187
|
06/05/42
|
08/05/42
|
12/05/42
|
13/05/42
|
ON
094
|
22/05/42
|
25/05/42
|
31/05/42
|
03/06/42
|
HX
192
|
10/06/42
|
11/06/42
|
23/06/42
|
24/06/42
|
ON
106
|
05/07/42
|
08/07/42
|
10/07/42
|
13/07/42
|
SC
091
|
24/07/42
|
24/07/42
|
31/07/42
|
01/08/42
|
ON
117
|
10/08/42
|
15/08/42
|
19/08/42
|
19/08/42
|
HA
004
|
28/08/42
|
28/08/42
|
02/09/42
|
02/09/42
|
AH
003
|
10/09/42
|
10/09/42
|
19/09/42
|
19/09/42
|
SC
102
|
26/09/42
|
06/10/42
|
26/09/42
|
03/10/42
|
SC
103
|
13/10/42
|
14/10/42
|
31/10/42
|
31/10/42
|
ON
142
|
13/11/42
|
21/11/42
|
19/11/42
|
24/11/42
|
HX
216
|
03/12/42
|
06/12/42
|
11/12/42
|
12/12/42
|
ON
153
|
23/12/42
|
31/12/42
|
27/12/42
|
04/01/43
|
SC
115
|
15/01/43
|
15/01/43
|
21/04/43
|
22/04/43
|
ONS
005
|
03/05/43
|
12/05/43
|
11/05/43
|
15/05/43
|
SC
130
|
25/05/43
|
26/05/43
|
08/06/43
|
09/06/43
|
ONS
010
|
23/06/43
|
27/06/43
|
27/06/43
|
01/07/43
|
SC
135
|
10/07/43
|
11/07/43
|
26/07/43
|
27/07/43
|
ONS
014
|
05/08/43
|
09/08/43
|
09/08/43
|
13/08/43
|
SC
139
|
24/08/43
|
24/08/43
|
01/09/43
|
03/09/43
|
EN
200
|
12/09/43
|
18/09/43
|
15/09/43
|
19/09/43
|
SC
142
|
28/09/43
|
29/09/43
|
11/10/43
|
13/10/43
|
ON
206
|
17/10/43
|
27/10/43
|
09/10/43
|
17/10/43
|
ONS
020
|
20/10/43
|
26/10/43
|
18/10/43
|
22/10/43
|
ON
207
|
25/10/43
|
04/11/43
|
24/10/43
|
27/10/43
|
ON
208
|
28/10/43
|
07/11/43
|
24/10/43
|
30/10/43
|
HX
263
|
02/11/43
|
08/11/43
|
17/11/43
|
22/11/43
|
ONS
023
|
29/11/43
|
02/12/43
|
02/12/43
|
07/12/43
|
HX
269
|
15/12/43
|
16/12/43
|
29/12/43
|
30/12/43
|
ONS
026
|
13/01/44
|
18/01/44
|
13/01/44
|
18/01/44
|
HX
275
|
27/01/44
|
28/01/44
|
07/02/44
|
08/02/44
|
ON
223
|
18/02/44
|
24/02/44
|
20/02/44
|
25/02/44
|
HX
280
|
08/03/44
|
09/03/44
|
25/05/44
|
25/05/44
|
CW
272
|
26/05/44
|
26/05/44
|
10/06/44
|
10/06/44
|
ETC
006
|
12/06/44
|
12/06/44
|
18/06/44
|
18/06/44
|
ETM
013
|
19/06/44
|
19/06/44
|
20/06/44
|
20/06/44
|
FTM
013
|
21/06/44
|
21/06/44
|
24/06/44
|
24/06/44
|
ETC
017
|
25/06/44
|
25/06/44
|
13/07/44
|
13/07/44
|
ETC
036
|
14/07/44
|
14/07/44
|
18/07/44
|
18/07/44
|
ETM
040
|
19/07/44
|
19/07/44
|
29/08/44
|
29/08/44
|
ETC
083
|
30/08/44
|
30/08/44
|
31/08/44
|
31/08/44
|
FTC
084
|
01/09/44
|
01/09/44
|
10/09/44
|
15/09/44
|
SL
169MK
|
17/09/44
|
17/09/44
|
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
|
03/12/44
|
03/12/44
|
ON
270
|
06/12/44
|
22/12/44
|
24/11/44
|
06/12/44
|
HX
322
|
09/12/44
|
08/12/44
|
16/12/44
|
16/12/44
|
TBC
009
|
19/12/44
|
19/12/44
|
20/12/44
|
20/12/44
|
BTC
013
|
23/12/44
|
23/12/44
|
11/01/45
|
11/01/45
|
TBC
035
|
14/01/45
|
14/01/45
|
15/01/45
|
15/01/45
|
BTC
039
|
18/01/45
|
18/01/45
|
23/01/45
|
02/02/45
|
HX
334
|
unknown
|
06/02/45
|
02/02/45
|
02/02/45
|
OS
108KM
|
03/02/45
|
05/02/45
|
12/02/45
|
12/02/45
|
TBC
067
|
15/02/45
|
15/02/45
|
16/02/45
|
16/02/45
|
BTC
071
|
19/02/45
|
19/02/45
|
25/02/45
|
25/02/45
|
ON
287
|
28/02/45
|
14/03/45
|
18/02/45
|
01/03/45
|
HX
339
|
03/03/45
|
03/03/45
|
14/03/45
|
14/03/45
|
TBC
097
|
17/03/45
|
17/03/45
|
18/03/45
|
18/03/45
|
BTC
101
|
21/03/45
|
21/03/45
|
26/03/45
|
26/03/45
|
TBC
109
|
29/03/45
|
29/03/45
|
30/03/45
|
30/03/45
|
BTC
113
|
02/04/45
|
02/04/45
|
07/04/45
|
07/04/45
|
ON
295
|
11/04/45
|
26/04/45
|
29/03/45
|
12/04/45
|
HX
347
|
14/04/45
|
14/04/45
|
29/04/45
|
29/04/45
|
TBC
143
|
02/05/45
|
02/05/45
|
02/05/45
|
02/05/45
|
BTC
146
|
05/05/45
|
05/05/45
|
16/01/45
|
17/05/45
|
TBC
161
|
20/05/45
|
20/05/45
|
21/05/45
|
21/05/45
|
BTC
165
|
24/05/45
|
24/05/45
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)