Topic: Ships of WWII Part seven: Flower Class Corvettes

[Chris SI]

British anti-submarine ships

Although initially an emergency expedient rushed into service to plug the gap created by the economies of peacetime, the 'Flower' class corvettes became the savior of the British Navy in the Battle of the Atlantic. Though never designed for ocean service in all weathers, the large number of these agile little ships produced between 1939-41 ensured that there were just enough to meet the U-boat menace.

Originally envisioned for coastal escort work but tough enough to cope with the Atlantic, 'Flower' class corvettes were based on a design of a whale catcher and built by Smiths Dock Company. They were powered by a 4 cylinder triple expansion engine, driving a single screw. The original idea was to produce a small, sturdy ship suitable for both anti-submarine and mine sweeping work. The latter requirement was dropped, however, when the urgent anti-submarine priority was fully realized. Extreme simplicity of design was necessary to enable any commercial shipyard to undertake the building. The triple expansion engine was not only more readily available and easier to make than turbines, but also easier to maintain. Early vessels had short forecastles and low merchant ship type bridges. Later 'Flowers' were much improved and had long forecastles, better protected bridges, and increased anti-aircraft armament.

Under the 1939,  War Emergency, and 1940 programme, 56, 60, and 25 vessels were completed respectively. Another 10 were added in 1941, seven under lend-lease. By the end of the war, over 250 had been built and they served with the US Navy as well as the Royal Navy and the Commonwealth.

There small size cut down the number of depth charges they could carry; they were miserably uncomfortable in rough weather; and their maximum speed was only 16 knots - slower than a surfaced U-boat. Yet they had enough endurance to cross the Atlantic without refueling, and their maneuverability made them formidable opponents for the U-boats. Operating alone and in concert, they sank some 45 U-boats during the war, their first kill being made by HMS Gladiolus in July, 1940.

Displacement: 925 Tons
Armament: 1x 4 inch, 1 x 2 pounder, 4 x .5 inch, 4 x .303 machine guns.
Speed: 16 knots
Length: 206 feet
Beam: 33 feet
Draught: 11 1/2 feet
Compliment: 85

[Just plain old Punisher]

Did you know if they mounted Hedgehog ASW weapons on the Flower corvettes?

[KnightAdvancer]

The Flower-class in Enigma: Rising Tide had the hedgehog. Very cool, but of limited usefullness. Give me depth chargers any day. I'm more inclined to use it against ships for kicks and giggles.

[Chris SI]

Can't say for sure if they had it, I think not, the hedge hog launcher is pretty big, I doubt it could fit.

[KnightAdvancer]

Ah, here we go:

[J. Carney]

They had a Hedgehog, but as with the ashcans, they were limited in the number of reloads they carried.

The only real drawbacksof the Flower-class were just that- too slow and too light in the reloads department.

If they could have mede 18 knots (about top speed for a surfaced Type-VII Uboat) and carried a few more depth charges, they would have been the bestest escort for the leastest money anywhere.