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American Flower-class corvette

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Class overview
NameFlower class
Operators
Completed10 (original), 15 (modified)
Lostnone during World War II

The American Flower-class corvettes were those ships of the Royal Navy's Flower class built for, or operated by, the United States Navy during World War II. These were ten ships of the original Flower class, known as the Temptress class in US service, and fifteen Modified Flowers, as the Action class. They were classified as Patrol Gunboats (PG)

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Royal Navy

Royal Navy

The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against France. The modern Royal Navy traces its origins to the early 16th century; the oldest of the UK's armed services, it is consequently known as the Senior Service.

Flower-class corvette

Flower-class corvette

The Flower-class corvette was a British class of 294 corvettes used during World War II by the Allied navies particularly as anti-submarine convoy escorts in the Battle of the Atlantic. Royal Navy ships of this class were named after flowers.

United States Navy

United States Navy

The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage of its active battle fleet alone exceeding the next 13 navies combined, including 11 allies or partner nations of the United States as of 2015. It has the highest combined battle fleet tonnage and the world's largest aircraft carrier fleet, with eleven in service, two new carriers under construction, and five other carriers planned. With 336,978 personnel on active duty and 101,583 in the Ready Reserve, the United States Navy is the third largest of the United States military service branches in terms of personnel. It has 290 deployable combat vessels and more than 2,623 operational aircraft as of June 2019.

World War II

World War II

World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a global conflict that lasted from 1939 to 1945. The vast majority of the world's countries, including all of the great powers, fought as part of two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis. Many participants threw their economic, industrial, and scientific capabilities behind this total war, blurring the distinction between civilian and military resources. Aircraft played a major role, enabling the strategic bombing of population centres and the delivery of the only two nuclear weapons ever used in war.

Construction history

In December 1941, after the US entry into World War II, the USN had a large building programme for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) ships, but none nearing completion. To overcome this shortfall, the Royal Navy agreed to transfer a number of ASW ships to the USN, including ten Flower-class corvettes. These ships had already been in commission and had seen action during the Battle of the Atlantic.[1]

These ships were classified as Patrol Gunboats, and numbered PG 62 to 71, and were referred to as the Temptress class, after the first ship to be recommissioned.

The USN also placed orders for 15 more Flowers from Canadian shipyards. This was met by transferring a number of vessels on order for the RN to USN. These ships were of the Modified Flower type, a design which consolidated the various modifications developed in the course of building the original Flowers.

In the event the USN only took charge of eight of these ships; the other seven were transferred back to the RN under Lend-Lease arrangements.

The US ships were numbered PG 86 to 100 and were referred to as the Action class.

The Temptress class were armed with a 4-inch gun forward, a 3 in (76 mm)/50 dual-purpose (DP) gun aft, two 20 mm anti-aircraft guns, two depth charge racks, and four depth charge throwers. The Action class replaced the 4-inch gun with another 3-inch/50 cal. DP gun, and added a Hedgehog anti-submarine mortar.[2]

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Anti-submarine warfare

Anti-submarine warfare

Anti-submarine warfare is a branch of underwater warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, submarines, or other platforms, to find, track, and deter, damage, or destroy enemy submarines. Such operations are typically carried out to protect friendly shipping and coastal facilities from submarine attacks and to overcome blockades.

Royal Navy

Royal Navy

The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against France. The modern Royal Navy traces its origins to the early 16th century; the oldest of the UK's armed services, it is consequently known as the Senior Service.

Flower-class corvette

Flower-class corvette

The Flower-class corvette was a British class of 294 corvettes used during World War II by the Allied navies particularly as anti-submarine convoy escorts in the Battle of the Atlantic. Royal Navy ships of this class were named after flowers.

Corvette

Corvette

A corvette is a small warship. It is traditionally the smallest class of vessel considered to be a proper warship. The warship class above the corvette is that of the frigate, while the class below was historically that of the sloop-of-war.

Battle of the Atlantic

Battle of the Atlantic

The Battle of the Atlantic, the longest continuous military campaign in World War II, ran from 1939 to the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945, covering a major part of the naval history of World War II. At its core was the Allied naval blockade of Germany, announced the day after the declaration of war, and Germany's subsequent counter-blockade. The campaign peaked from mid-1940 through to the end of 1943.

Ship commissioning

Ship commissioning

Ship commissioning is the act or ceremony of placing a ship in active service and may be regarded as a particular application of the general concepts and practices of project commissioning. The term is most commonly applied to placing a warship in active duty with its country's military forces. The ceremonies involved are often rooted in centuries-old naval tradition.

Lend-Lease

Lend-Lease

Lend-Lease, formally the Lend-Lease Act and introduced as An Act to Promote the Defense of the United States, was a policy under which the United States supplied the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, France, China, and other Allied nations with food, oil, and materiel between 1941 and 1945. The aid was given for free on the basis that such help was essential for the defense of the United States.

Oerlikon 20 mm cannon

Oerlikon 20 mm cannon

The Oerlikon 20 mm cannon is a series of autocannons, based on an original German Becker Type M2 20 mm cannon design that appeared very early in World War I. It was widely produced by Oerlikon Contraves and others, with various models employed by both Allied and Axis forces during World War II. Many versions of the cannon are still used today.

Depth charge

Depth charge

A depth charge is an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) weapon. It is intended to destroy a submarine by being dropped into the water nearby and detonating, subjecting the target to a powerful and destructive hydraulic shock. Most depth charges use high explosive charges and a fuze set to detonate the charge, typically at a specific depth. Depth charges can be dropped by ships, patrol aircraft, and helicopters.

Hedgehog (weapon)

Hedgehog (weapon)

The Hedgehog was a forward-throwing anti-submarine weapon that was used primarily during the Second World War. The device, which was developed by the Royal Navy, fired up to 24 spigot mortars ahead of a ship when attacking a U-boat. It was deployed on convoy escort warships such as destroyers and corvettes to supplement the depth charges.

Temptress class

The ten ships of the Temptress class were originally built for the Royal Navy and saw service there before transfer to the USN.[3]

Construction data[4][5]
USN name Number RN name Pennant Builder Completed Transferred Fate
USS Temptress PG-62 HMS Veronica K37 Smiths Dock Co., South Bank-on-Tees 18 Feb 1941 16 Feb 1942 Returned to RN 26 Aug 1945
USS Surprise PG-63 HMS Heliotrope K03 John Crown & Sons Ltd, Sunderland 12 Sept 1940 24 Mar 1942 Returned to RN 26 Aug 1945
USS Spry PG-64 HMS Hibiscus K24 Harland & Wolff Ltd., Belfast 21 May 1940 2 May 1942 Returned to RN 26 Aug 1945
USS Saucy PG-65 HMS Arabis K73 Harland & Wolff Ltd., Belfast 5 Apr 1940 30 Apr 1942 Returned to RN 26 Aug 1945 and recommissioned as Snapdragon
USS Restless PG-66 HMS Periwinkle K55 Harland & Wolff Ltd., Belfast 8 Apr 1940 15 Mar 1942 Returned to RN 26 Aug 1945
USS Ready PG-67 HMS Calendula K28 Harland & Wolff Ltd., Belfast 6 May 1940 12 Mar 1942 Returned to RN 23 Aug 1945
USS Impulse PG-68 HMS Begonia K66 Cook, Welton & Gemmell, Beverley 8 Mar 1941 10 Mar 1942 Returned to RN 22 Aug 1945
USS Fury PG-69 HMS Larkspur K82 Fleming & Ferguson Ltd., Paisley 4 Jan 1941 17 Mar 1942 Returned to RN 22 Aug 1945
USS Courage PG-70 HMS Heartsease K15 Harland & Wolff Ltd., Belfast 4 Jun 1940 3 Apr 1942 Returned to RN 23 Aug 1945
USS Tenacity PG-71 HMS Candytuft K09 Grangemouth Dry Dock Co., Grangemouth 16 Oct 1940 4 Mar 1942 Returned to RN 26 Aug 1945

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HMS Veronica (K37)

HMS Veronica (K37)

HMS Veronica was a Flower-class corvette, built for the Royal Navy during the Second World War, and was in service in the Battle of the Atlantic. In 1942 she was transferred to the United States Navy as part of the reverse Lend Lease arrangement and renamed USS Temptress, the name ship of the Temptress-class gunboats. With the end of hostilities she was returned to the Royal Navy and sold into mercantile service.

City of Sunderland

City of Sunderland

The City of Sunderland is a metropolitan borough with city status in the metropolitan county of Tyne and Wear, North East England. It is named after its largest settlement, Sunderland, spanning a far larger area, including nearby towns including Washington, Hetton-le-Hole and Houghton-le-Spring, as well as the surrounding suburban villages. The district also forms a large majority of Wearside which includes Chester-le-Street in County Durham.

HMS Hibiscus (K24)

HMS Hibiscus (K24)

HMS Hibiscus was a Flower-class corvette, built for the Royal Navy during the Second World War, and was in service in the Battle of the Atlantic. In 1942 she was transferred to the United States Navy as part of the Reverse Lend-Lease arrangement and renamed USS Spry, one of the Temptress-class gunboats. With the end of hostilities she was returned to the Royal Navy and sold into mercantile service.

Belfast

Belfast

Belfast is the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland, standing on the banks of the River Lagan on the east coast. It is the 12th-largest city in the United Kingdom and the second-largest in Ireland. It had a population of 345,418 in 2021.

HMS Arabis (K73)

HMS Arabis (K73)

HMS Arabis was a Flower-class corvette of the Royal Navy. The ship was commissioned into the Royal Navy as HMS Arabis. She was transferred to the United States Navy in 1942, serving as USS Saucy. Returned to the United Kingdom in 1945, she was recommissioned into the Royal Navy as HMS Snapdragon.

HMS Periwinkle (K55)

HMS Periwinkle (K55)

HMS Periwinkle was a Flower-class corvette, built for the Royal Navy during the Second World War, and was in service in the Battle of the Atlantic. In 1942 she was transferred to the United States Navy as part of the Reverse Lend-Lease arrangement and renamed USS Restless, one of the Temptress-class gunboats. With the end of hostilities she was returned to the Royal Navy and sold into mercantile service.

HMS Begonia (K66)

HMS Begonia (K66)

HMS Begonia was a Flower-class corvette that served in the Royal Navy during World War II. In 1942 she was lent to the United States Navy and commissioned as USS Impulse. Returned to the Royal Navy in 1945, Begonia was stricken and sold into merchant service. She was wrecked off the coast of Spain in 1970.

Cook, Welton & Gemmell

Cook, Welton & Gemmell

Cook, Welton & Gemmell was a shipbuilder based in Hull and Beverley, East Riding of Yorkshire. England. They built trawlers and other small ships.

Action class

The fifteen ships of the Action class were originally ordered for the Royal Navy but transferred before completion to the United States Navy. On completion eight entered service with the USN while the other seven were transferred back to the RN under Lend-lease.[6]

Served in USN

Action-class ships transferred to the US Navy[4][5]
USN name Number RN name Pennant Builder Completed To USN Fate
USS Action PG-86 HMS Comfrey K277 Collingwood Shipyards Ltd., Collingwood 22 Nov 1942 22 Nov 1942 Sold 6 Feb 1946
USS Alacrity PG-87 HMS Cornel K278 Collingwood Shipyards Ltd., Collingwood 10 Dec 1942 10 Dec 1942 Sold 22 Sept 1945
USS Brisk PG-89 HMS Flax K284 Kingston Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., Kingston 6 Dec 1942 6 Dec 1942 Sold 18 Oct 1946
USS Haste PG-92 HMS Mandrake K287 Midland Shipyards Ltd., Midland 6 Apr 1943 6 Apr 1943 Sold 1949
USS Intensity PG-93 HMS Milfoil K288 Midland Shipyards Ltd., Midland 31 Mar 1943 31 Mar 1943 Sold
USS Might PG-94 HMS Musk K289 Midland Shipyards Ltd., Midland 22 Dec 1942 22 Dec 1942 Sold
USS Pert PG-95 HMS Nepeta K290 Midland Shipyards Ltd., Midland 22 Dec 1942 22 Dec 1942 Sold 18 Oct 1946
USS Prudent PG-96 HMS Privet K291 Midland Shipyards Ltd., Midland 16 Aug 1943 16 Aug 1943 Sold 1949

Transferred to RN

Action-class ships of the US Navy returned to the Royal Navy[4][5]
USN name Number RN name Pennant Builder Completed To RN Fate
USS Beacon PG-88 HMS Dittany K279 Collingwood Shipyards Ltd., Collingwood 31 May 1943 same day Returned to USN 20 Jun 1946
USS Caprice PG-90 HMS Honesty K285 Kingston Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., Kingston 28 Mar 1943 28 Mar 1943 Returned to USN 20 Jun 1946
USS Clash PG-91 HMS Linaria K282 Midland Shipyards Ltd., Midland 19 Jun 1943 19 Jun 1943 Returned to USN 27 Jul 1946
USS Splendor PG-97 HMS Rosebay K286 Collingwood Shipyards Ltd., Collingwood Returned to USN 20 Mar 1946
USS Tact PG-98 HMS Smilax K280 Collingwood Shipyards Ltd., Collingwood 21 Jun 1943 21 Jun 1943 Returned to USN 5 Jan 1946
USS Vim PG-99 HMS Statice K281 Collingwood Shipyards Ltd., Collingwood 20 Sep 1943 20 Sep 1943 Returned to USN 21 Jun 1946
USS Vitality PG-100 HMS Willowherb K283 Midland Shipyards Ltd., Midland 30 Aug 1943 30 Aug 1943 Returned to USN 11 Jun 1946

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Collingwood, Ontario

Collingwood, Ontario

Collingwood is a town in Simcoe County, Ontario, Canada. It is situated on Nottawasaga Bay at the southern point of Georgian Bay. Collingwood is well known as a tourist destination, for its skiing in the winter, and limestone caves along the Niagara Escarpment in the summer.

USS Alacrity (PG-87)

USS Alacrity (PG-87)

USS Alacrity (PG-87) was an Action-class patrol boat acquired by the United States Navy for the task of patrolling American coastal waters during World War II.

Kingston, Ontario

Kingston, Ontario

Kingston is a city in Ontario, Canada. It is located on the north-eastern end of Lake Ontario, at the beginning of the St. Lawrence River and at the mouth of the Cataraqui River. The city is midway between Toronto, Ontario and Montreal, Quebec. Kingston is also located nearby the Thousand Islands, a tourist region to the east, and the Prince Edward County tourist region to the west. Kingston is nicknamed the "Limestone City" because of the many heritage buildings constructed using local limestone.

USS Haste (PG-92)

USS Haste (PG-92)

USS Haste (PG-92), was one of a group of Canadian corvettes turned over to the United States Navy and manned by the Coast Guard. She was laid down as CN-310 by Morton Engineering & Dry Dock Co., Quebec, Canada, and launched on 22 August 1942 as HMS Mandrake. She was taken over by the US Navy, renamed Haste and commissioned on 6 April 1943, Lieutenant W. A. Dobbs, USCG commanding.

Midland, Ontario

Midland, Ontario

Midland is a town located on Georgian Bay in Simcoe County, Ontario, Canada. It is part of the Huronia/Wendat region of Central Ontario.

USS Might (PG-94)

USS Might (PG-94)

USS Might (PG-94) was laid down as Canadian corvette CN-312 by Morton Engineering and Drydock Co., Ltd., Quebec, Canada, on 28 November 1941 and launched as HMS Musk on 15 July 1942. The ship was transferred to the United States Navy on 20 July 1942, renamed Might on 14 August 1942, and commissioned at Quebec on 22 December 1942.

USS Pert (PG-95)

USS Pert (PG-95)

USS Pert (PG-95), the second United States Navy ship of that name, was one of eight Canadian-built corvettes turned over to the U.S. Navy for operation by the United States Coast Guard. She was laid down by Morton Engineering and Dry Dock Co., Ltd., Quebec, Canada, 22 July 1942; launched 27 November 1942; and commissioned at Quebec 23 July 1943.

USS Prudent (PG-96)

USS Prudent (PG-96)

USS Prudent (PG–96), originally ordered as HMS Privet, was an Action-class patrol gunboat in the United States Navy.

Source: "American Flower-class corvette", Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, (2023, January 2nd), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Flower-class_corvette.

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Notes
  1. ^ Elliott p. 420
  2. ^ Silverstone, Paul H.(1966): U.S. Warships of World War II. Doubleday and Company, pg. 243-246
  3. ^ Elliott p. 421
  4. ^ a b c "USN ship index". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. United States Navy. Archived from the original on 19 August 2000. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
  5. ^ a b c "NavSource ship index". Service Ship Photo Archive. NavSource Naval History. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  6. ^ Elliott p. 422
References
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