FLOWER Class corvette
ordered from G Brown of Greenock on 25th July 1939. She was laid
down on 27th October that year and was launched on 5 September 1940 as the second RN warship to bear this name. It had
been introduced in 1916 for a Sloop which served as a Q-Ship during WW1 (Q23)
and
was sold in 1922. Build of this ship was completed on 23rd December
1940. In November 1941 she
was adopted by the civil community of Horsforth, Yorkshire
after a very successful
WARSHIP WEEK National Savings
Campaign which raised £241,000, over twice the target figure of £120,000.
The population of this
community in 1931 was 11,000.
B a t t l e H
o n o u r s
ATLANTIC 1941-45 - NORTH AFRICA 1942-43
-
SOUTH FRANCE 1944 - MEDITERRANEAN 1944
H e r a l d i c D a t a
In common with other ships of this Class no details
are recorded in
the
Official List of Crests. As this ship name had previously been
been
used, this is unusual, but the earlier Sloop had not seen
lengthy
peace-time service.
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 0
December Contractors trials and commissioning.
23rd Build completion and
commenced Acceptance Trials
1 9 4 1
January
On completion of trials and storing took passage to Tobermory to
work-up for operational
service.
February
Joined 3rd Escort Group, Western Approaches Command based at Greenock
for escort of
Atlantic convoys.
(Note: Other Ships deployed with this Group during 1941 included HM
Destroyers
AMAZON, AMBUSCADE, BELMONT, BULLDOG, GEORGETOWN, HM
Corvette HEARTSEASE, Free French Corvettes ACONIT, ROSELYS and
RENONCULE.
For details of Atlantic convoy defence see THE BATTLE OF THE
ATLANTIC by D Macintyre and U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC (HMSO). )
March
Deployed with Group for Atlantic convoy defence.
to
April
May
Part of escort for Convoy OB318 with ships of Group.
15th Under attack by U110
which sank two ships in convoy from position outside the screen.
Carried out depth charge attacks with HMS BULLDOG and HMS BROADWAY after
sighting periscope which forced submarine to surface.
Submarine crew abandoned ship because of the extent of damage inflicted.
Ramming attack by HMS BULLDOG was called off when it was perceived that
a boarding
attempt could be made.
The Boarding party retrieved the ENIGMA machine and documentation from
U110.
HMS BULLDOG established tow but the submarine foundered during passage
to Iceland,
(Note: Information recently made public suggests that this eventuality
was foreseen and
standing orders to Senior Officers of Escort Groups required an attempt
to be
made to board any submarine to obtain equipment and documentation
relating to
German coding methods using the ENIGMA machine, if conditions allowed
For details of this most successful operation see BREAKING THE ENIGMA by
D Kahn and U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.)
June
8th Deployed with
HM Destroyers ASSINIBOINE (RCN), BULLDOG, HM Corvettes
ARROWHEAD (RCN), CARNATION, HOLLYHOCK, PRIMROSE and three anti-
submarine trawlers as escort for outward Convoy OB 331 during passage
from Liverpool
to Halifax
9th HM Fleet
Minesweepers BRITOMART, SALAMANDER and CAM ship ARIGUANI
12th Detached on relief by HM
Sloops ABERDEEN, LONDONDERRY and HM Corvette
CAMELLIA and took passage to join inward Convoy SC33 as escort during
passage to
Liverpool.
15th Joined SC33 as escort
with HM Destroyer BULLDOG, HM Corvettes AUBRETIA,
CARNATION, HM Cutter BANFF, HM Fleet Minesweepers BRITOMART, SALAMANDER,
CAM ship ARIGUANI, and two anti submarine trawlers
20th Detached from SC33.
(Note : Fleet Minesweepers remained for Local Escort into Liverpool.)
July
5th Joined inward
Convoy HX134 for Local Escort into Liverpool with HM Destroyer
BULLDOG.
8th Detached from
HX134 before arrival at Liverpool.
11th Joined outward Convoy
OB345 with HM Destroyers ARROW, BULLDOG, and
GEORGETOWN, destroyers
ARROW, BULLDOG, and GEORGETOWN, HM Corvette
NIGELLA, and anti submarine trawler ST APOLLO.
16th Detached from OB345 and
took passage to join inward Convoy HX137 as escort during
passage into Liverpool.
22nd Detached from HX137 on arrival
at Liverpool.
28th Joined outward Convoy
ON2 with Polish destroyer ORP BURZA, HM Corvettes NIGELLA,
SNOWDROP, HM Fleet Minesweeper BRITOMART, and three anti submarine
trawlers as
escort during passage to dispersal point.
August
2nd Detached from ON2 on relief
by Canadian escorts.
15th Joined outward Convoy
ON7 with HM Destroyers AMAZON, BULLDOG, Polish ORP
BURZA,
GEORGETOWN, HM Corvettes HEARTSEASE, NIGELLA, HM Fleet Minesweeper
BRITOMART, and four anti submarine trawlers
as escort during initial stage of passage from Liverpool to dispersal
point in western Atlantic.
22nd Joined inward Convoy HX144 with HM Destroyers AMAZON, BELMONT,
BULLDOG,
GEORGETOWN, SKATE, WESTCOTT, WHITEHALL, WITCH, HM
Corvettes
HEARTSEASE, minesweeper BRITOMART, and four anti submarine
trawlers.
28th Detached from HX144
escort before arrival at Liverpool.
September
4th Joined
outward Convoy ON12 as escort for initial stage of passage from
Liverpool with
HM Destroyers AMAZON, AMBUSCADE, BELMONT, BULLDOG, Free French
Corvette ACONIT and HM Corvette NIGELLA,
14th Detached with escort on
dispersal.
October
Atlantic convoy defence with Group in continuation.
to
(Note : Refit during this period to be confirmed.)
November.
December
9th Joined
outward Convoy ON45 with HM Destroy WANDERER, HM Corvette HEARTSEASE
Free French Corvette ROSELYS, and three anti submarine trawlers as
escort during passage
from Liverpool to dispersal point.
16th Detached on dispersal
and took passage to join inward Convoy HC164 as escort during
passage
into Liverpool.
18th Joined HX164 with Free
French Corvette ROSELYS.
22nd Detached from HX164 before
arrival in Liverpool.
1 9 4 2
January
5th Joined
outward Convoy ON53 with
HM Destroyer WANDERER, Free French corvettes
DAUPHIN,
RENONCULE, ROSELYS. and HM Corvette VERVAIN to reinforce Local Escort
during passage from Liverpool.
9th Detached from ON53 with escort on relief by US Navy destroyers,
11th Joined escort for inward
Convoy HX168
13th Detached from HX168.
February
23rd Joined outward Convoy
OS20 with HM sloops HASTINGS, LONDONDERRY, HM Cutters
LANDGUARD, LULWORTH, HM Corvette SNOWDROP, Free French Corvette
COMMANDANT DETROYAT as escort during passage to
Freetown.
March
10th Freetown Local Escort
joined OS20.
12th Detached from OS20 with
Local Escort and HMS SNOWDROP on arrival at Freetown.
14th Deployed with HM
Destroyers BRILLIANT, WIVERN, HM Corvettes BURDOCK,
TAMARISK and
WALLFLOWER as Local Escort for outward Convoy SL103 during initial
stage of passage from
Freetown to
Liverpool.
19th Detached from SL103 with
HMS TAMARISK
Joined inward Convoy OS21 with HM Destroyer WIVERN and HM Corvette
TAMARISK
as Local Escort during passage into Freetown.
24th Detached from OS21 with
escort on arrival at Freetown
April
Atlantic Convoy defence based at Freetown in continuation
to
Nominated for support of planned allied landings in North Africa
(Operation TORCH)
September
October
Passage to Gibraltar for escort of assault convoys.
(Note : Ship may have been part of escort for military convoy during
Atlantic passage.)
November Deployed at Gibraltar.
Preparation and briefing for TORCH duties
8th Part of
escort for assault convoy.
On completion deployed for escort of follow-up convoys.
December Deployed for escort at
Gibraltar for coastal traffic and patrol off Gibraltar.
1 9 4 3
January
Mediterranean convoy escort and patrol in continuation.
to
June
Nominated for transfer to 41st Escort Group.
July
Deployed with HM Sloops BIDEFORD, FLEETWOOD, HM Cutter BANFF,
to
December HM Frigates ODZANI, BARLE, HM Corvettes CYCLAMEN and STONECROP
for defence of convoys during Atlantic passage to and from Freetown.
1 9 4 4
January
Atlantic convoy defence in continuation
to
April
May
Deployed at Gibraltar for patrol and convoy defence.
15th Carried out search with
HM Patrol Vessel KILMARNOCK and HM Trawler
BLACKFLY for submarine detected by US Navy CATALINA aircraft using
MAD (Magnetic Anomaly Detection) equipment.
Took part in depth charge and HEDGEHOG mortar attacks on U731 in
position
35.54N 05.45W, north of Cape Spartel in Straits of Gibraltar.
Submarine was sunk with no survivors.
June
Mediterranean area deployment in continuation.
Nominated for convoy escort during planned landings in South France.
(Operation DRAGOON – formerly ANVIL)
July
Passage to Taranto and preparation for landings
Briefing for DRAGOON at Taranto and allocated for escort of Convoy TM1
(Note: RN Ships were under overall US Navy Command, For details see
INVASION OF THE SOUTH FRANCE (HMSO) and Naval Staff History.
Only one other Corvette HMS COLUMBINE took part.)
August Deployed at Taranto
10th Sailed as escort for
Convoy TM1 with HM Escort Destroyer FARNDALE,
HM Corvette COLUMBINE, Free French destroyers TEMPETE, L’ALCYON,
Escorteurs SOMALI, TUNISIEN, Escort Sloops LA
MOQUEUSE, LA GRACIEUSE.
LA BOUDEUESE, COMMANDANT DELAGE, COMMANDANT BORY and
COMMANDANT DOMINE during passage to Assembly Area for landings.
(Note: Convoy Route 2 was used and speed required was 7 ½ knots.
Convoy comprised 40 mercantiles carrying stores and equipment.)
16th Arrived in Assembly area
with TM1.
September
Deployed for convoy defence in western Mediterranean.
to
October On release from DRAGOON reverted to RN control.
November Convoy escort deployment in continuation.
to
December
1 9 4 5
January
Convoy escort and patrol in continuation.
to
April
(Note: In view of the award of Battle Honour ATLANTIC 1941-45 it may
be assumed that the ship remained in Western Approaches Command
and was deployed in defence of attacks by SCHNORKEL fitted U-Boats
which were concentrating on convoys in coastal waters of UK.
See HOLD THE NARROW SEA by P Smith, HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR
by C Blair. U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC (HMSO) and ENGAGE
THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY BY C Barnett.
This period is insufficiently researched.)
May
Nominated for reduction to Reserve status after VE Day.
to
August Paid-off and de-stored prior to lay-up.
P o s t W a r
N o t e s
HMS AUBRETIA was placed on
the Disposal List by 1947 and sold in 1948 to a Norwegian shipping
company for use as a mercantile. Renamed ARNFINN BERGAN she
remained in service until December
1966 when sold for
breaking-up in Norway.
Addenda
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS
of
HMS
AUBRETIA
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
12/01/41
|
12/01/41
|
OB 273
|
16/01/41
|
16/01/41
|
05/01/41
|
17/01/41
|
HX 101
|
unknown
|
22/01/41
|
28/01/41
|
28/01/41
|
OB 279
|
02/02/41
|
02/02/41
|
21/01/41
|
03/02/41
|
HX 104
|
06/02/41
|
08/02/41
|
18/02/41
|
06/03/41
|
SC 023
|
09/03/41
|
09/03/41
|
13/04/41
|
14/04/41
|
OB 310
|
unknown
|
18/04/41
|
20/04/41
|
29/04/41
|
HX 122
|
04/05/41
|
08/05/41
|
02/05/41
|
07/05/41
|
OB 318
|
10/05/41
|
10/05/41
|
30/04/41
|
11/05/41
|
HX 124
|
14/05/41
|
20/05/41
|
09/05/41
|
21/05/41
|
SC 031
|
24/05/41
|
30/05/41
|
08/06/41
|
08/06/41
|
OB 331
|
12/06/41
|
19/06/41
|
01/06/41
|
15/06/41
|
SC 033
|
20/06/41
|
21/06/41
|
27/06/41
|
27/06/41
|
OB 340
|
03/07/41
|
13/07/41
|
20/06/41
|
04/07/41
|
HX 134
|
08/07/41
|
09/07/41
|
20/06/41
|
04/07/41
|
SC 035
|
09/07/41
|
09/07/41
|
11/07/41
|
11/07/41
|
OB 345
|
16/07/41
|
26/07/41
|
06/07/41
|
17/07/41
|
HX 137
|
22/07/41
|
22/07/41
|
27/07/41
|
28/07/41
|
ON 002
|
02/08/41
|
08/08/41
|
22/07/41
|
02/08/41
|
HX 140
|
unknown
|
06/08/41
|
22/07/41
|
02/08/41
|
SC 038
|
06/08/41
|
08/08/41
|
15/08/41
|
16/08/41
|
ON 007
|
21/08/41
|
25/08/41
|
10/08/41
|
22/08/41
|
HX 144
|
28/08/41
|
30/08/41
|
01/09/41
|
04/09/41
|
ON 012
|
07/09/41
|
14/09/41
|
29/08/41
|
08/09/41
|
HX 147
|
12/09/41
|
12/09/41
|
09/12/41
|
09/12/41
|
ON 045
|
16/12/41
|
16/12/41
|
08/12/41
|
18/12/41
|
HX 164
|
22/12/41
|
23/12/41
|
02/01/42
|
05/01/42
|
ON 053
|
09/01/42
|
19/01/42
|
02/01/42
|
12/01/42
|
HX 168
|
13/01/42
|
13/01/42
|
23/01/42
|
24/01/42
|
ON 059
|
29/01/42
|
06/02/42
|
26/01/42
|
04/02/42
|
HX 172
|
07/02/42
|
07/02/42
|
22/02/42
|
23/02/42
|
OS 020
|
12/03/42
|
12/03/42
|
14/03/42
|
14/03/42
|
SL 103
|
19/03/42
|
02/04/42
|
04/03/42
|
19/03/42
|
OS 021
|
24/03/42
|
24/03/42
|
13/03/42
|
30/03/42
|
OS 022
|
01/04/42
|
01/04/42
|
09/04/42
|
09/04/42
|
SL 106
|
10/04/42
|
02/05/42
|
24/03/42
|
10/04/42
|
OS 023
|
11/04/42
|
11/04/42
|
12/04/42
|
12/04/42
|
LS 002
|
18/04/42
|
18/04/42
|
02/04/42
|
20/04/42
|
OS 024
|
22/04/42
|
22/04/42
|
26/04/42
|
26/04/42
|
SL 108
|
26/04/42
|
19/05/42
|
12/04/42
|
28/04/42
|
OS 025
|
29/04/42
|
29/04/42
|
13/05/42
|
13/05/42
|
LS 005
|
20/05/42
|
20/05/42
|
02/05/42
|
18/05/42
|
OS 027
|
19/05/42
|
19/05/42
|
28/05/42
|
28/05/42
|
ST 024
|
01/06/42
|
01/06/42
|
01/06/42
|
01/06/42
|
LS 007
|
07/06/42
|
07/06/42
|
15/06/42
|
15/06/42
|
SL 113
|
17/06/42
|
05/07/42
|
01/06/42
|
17/06/42
|
OS 030
|
19/06/42
|
19/06/42
|
26/06/42
|
26/06/42
|
ST 027
|
02/07/42
|
02/07/42
|
02/07/42
|
02/07/42
|
LS 010
|
07/07/42
|
07/07/42
|
11/07/42
|
26/07/42
|
OS 034
|
27/07/42
|
30/07/42
|
25/07/42
|
27/07/42
|
SL 117
|
15/08/42
|
15/08/42
|
30/10/42
|
02/11/42
|
KX 005
|
10/11/42
|
10/11/42
|
11/11/42
|
11/11/42
|
TE 003
|
13/11/42
|
13/11/42
|
19/11/42
|
19/11/42
|
ET 001
|
20/11/42
|
20/11/42
|
21/11/42
|
24/11/42
|
MKS 002
|
03/12/42
|
03/12/42
|
24/12/42
|
24/12/42
|
KMS 006G
|
05/01/43
|
09/01/43
|
05/01/43
|
11/01/43
|
MKS 005
|
22/01/43
|
22/01/43
|
06/02/43
|
06/02/43
|
KMS 009G
|
16/02/43
|
20/02/43
|
17/02/43
|
22/02/43
|
MKS 008
|
01/03/43
|
01/03/43
|
15/04/43
|
16/04/43
|
OS 046KM
|
23/04/43
|
24/04/43
|
24/04/43
|
24/04/43
|
OS 046
|
03/05/43
|
03/05/43
|
11/05/43
|
11/05/43
|
SL 129
|
24/05/43
|
23/05/43
|
24/05/43
|
24/05/43
|
SL 129MK
|
31/05/43
|
01/06/43
|
07/10/43
|
07/10/43
|
OS 056KM
|
18/10/43
|
18/10/43
|
12/11/43
|
12/11/43
|
SL 140
|
24/11/43
|
24/11/43
|
07/12/43
|
07/12/43
|
OS 060
|
18/12/43
|
18/12/43
|
22/12/43
|
22/12/43
|
SL 144
|
03/01/44
|
03/01/44
|
15/01/44
|
15/01/44
|
OS 064
|
26/01/44
|
26/01/44
|
01/02/44
|
01/02/44
|
SL 148
|
12/02/44
|
12/02/44
|
23/02/44
|
23/02/44
|
OS 068
|
05/03/44
|
05/03/44
|
13/03/44
|
13/03/44
|
SL 152
|
23/03/44
|
23/03/44
|
04/04/44
|
04/04/44
|
OS 072
|
14/04/44
|
14/04/44
|
21/04/44
|
21/04/44
|
SL 156
|
03/05/44
|
03/05/44
|
20/12/42
|
10/08/44
|
TM 001
|
16/08/44
|
14/01/43
|
18/08/44
|
18/08/44
|
SRM 002
|
21/08/44
|
19/08/44
|
19/08/44
|
19/08/44
|
SRM 003
|
unknown
|
unknown
|
30/09/44
|
07/10/44
|
SL 171MK
|
08/10/44
|
08/10/44
|
05/02/45
|
06/02/45
|
ON 283
|
unknown
|
27/02/45
|
06/02/45
|
07/02/45
|
OS 109KM
|
09/02/45
|
10/02/45
|
05/02/45
|
10/02/45
|
MKS 081G
|
13/02/45
|
13/02/45
|
17/02/45
|
17/02/45
|
OS 111KM
|
20/02/45
|
21/02/45
|
14/02/45
|
20/02/45
|
MKS 083G
|
22/02/45
|
22/02/45
|
03/03/45
|
04/03/45
|
OS 114KM
|
07/03/45
|
07/03/45
|
07/03/45
|
07/03/45
|
KMS 088G
|
11/03/45
|
11/03/45
|
16/03/45
|
16/03/45
|
MKS 089G
|
24/03/45
|
24/03/45
|
07/04/45
|
12/04/45
|
ON 295
|
13/04/45
|
26/04/45
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note on Convoys)