FLOWER-Class corvette
ordered from Fleming and Ferguson
at Paisley, Scotland on 12th December 1939. She was laid
down on 29th July 1940 and
launched on 30th January 1941 as
the first RN warship to bear this name. It had been used
for three auxiliary vessels since it was
introduced for a tug purchased at Bermuda in 1869. Build was completed on 13th May 1941.
After a
successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings Campaign in February 1942 this
Corvette was adopted by the civil community of Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire.
B a t t l e H o n o u r s
ATLANTIC
1941-45 - NORMANDY 1944 - NORTH SEA 1944
H e r a l d i c D a t a
In common with many other warships commissioned for
service
during
WW2 and which carried a name not previously borne by
a warship
no formal approval was given by the Admiralty for use
of a
Ships Badge. Many ships did however use an informal 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
May Contractor’s trials and
commissioned for service
13th Build completion and commenced
Acceptance Trials.
On completion of trials
and storing took passage to Tobermory for
work-up
prior to operational deployment
June Completed work-up.
Allocated
for convoy defence in South Atlantic.
July. Passage to Freetown as apart of escort for Atlantic
convoy.
August On arrival at Freetown deployed for Local Escort of Atlantic and coastal
convoys.
September Freetown Local Escort duty in
continuation.
to
November
December
22nd Joined HM Destroyers VELOX and VIMY
in Local Escort into Freetown
for
military convoy WS12Z.
(Note: This was
carrying troops to Middle East and India.)
25th Detached from WS12Z with Local
Escort on arrival at Freetown.
1
9 4 2
January Freetown deployment in continuation.
Nominated
for return to UK for refit.
February Passage to UK as part of escort for return convoy.
March Arrived at Liverpool and taken in hand for refit
April Under refit and nominated for
service 4th British Escort Group.
May On completion of post-refit
trials took passage to Londonderry
to
join Group in Western Approaches Command.
(Note: This Group then
included:
HM Destroyers HIGHLANDER, BEVERLEY and VIMY,
HM Corvettes ABELIA, ASPHODEL and PENNYWORT.
June Deployed with ships of Group
for escort of Atlantic convoys to and
to from Newfoundland.
November
December Part of escort for westbound convoy to Newfoundland.
Christmas spent at St Johns.
1 9 4 3
January Passage to UK as part of escort for convoy to Clyde.
Taken
in hand for refit by Clyde shipyard on arrival.
(Note: Radar Type 271
was probably fitted as this equipment was
not generally available when refitted at Liverpool in 1942.
For
details of development and use of radar in RN see RADAR
AT SEA by D Howse.)
February Under refit
to
March
April Resumed Atlantic convoy defence
with Group.
(Note: Other ships in
Group included:
HM
Destroyers HIGHLANDER, WALKER, WESTCOTT
and WINCHELSEA,
HM Corvettes ABELIA, ASPHODEL and PENNYWORT.)
May Deployment with Group in continuation
including defence of military
to convoys to and from Gibraltar.
July
August Transferred with Group for defence
of MKS and KMS convoy and from Gibraltar.
(Note: Newly built
CAPTAIN Class Frigates joined the Group later in 1944.)
October Gibraltar route convoy defence in continuation with Group.
to
December
1 9 4 4
January Deployed in Western Approaches with
Group for Atlantic convoy defence.
to (Note: HM Frigates HELMSDALE, BAYNTUN and FOLEY had joined Group.
February
March Part of escort for combined
convoys SL150 from Freetown and MKS141 from Gibraltar with
HMS
BAYNTUN and HMS ASPHODEL, air cover provided by HM Escort Carrier STRIKER.
9th Under attacks by U575 750 miles NNW
of Cape Finisterre during which
HMS ASPHODEL was sunk
by a homing torpedo fired by this submarine.
Rescued the only
five survivors from HMS ASPHODEL.
(Note: First allied
ship to be sunk by a SCHNORKEL fitted U-Boat but this
device was not in use during the attacks.)
Took part in eighteen hour search for
U575 and carried out depth charge
attacks
which were unsuccessful.
April Atlantic convoy defence with
Group in continuation.
to Nominated for defence of convoys
during planned allied landings in France.
May (Operation NEPTUNE).
(Note: For details of
naval activities before and during landings see
OPERATION NEPTUNE by K Edwards and LANDINGS IN
NORMANDY, June 1944 (HMSO).)
Allocated for service
in Force S and took passage to Channel area.
(Note: Ships of Force S
carried out preparatory exercises during this month.
See
references.)
June Passage to Solent for escort of assault convoy.
4th Operation delayed 24 hours
5th Deployed with Motor Launch as escort
for Convoy S12 through Swept
Channel.
(Note: Convoy comprised
HM River Gunboat LOCUST, 24 Landing Craft
(Tank), 9 Landing Craft
(Infantry) and a US Navy Coastguard Cutter.)
6th Detached from S12 on arrival and took
passage to Thames Estuary to join HM
Destroyers CAMPBELL and
VIVACIOUS, HM Corvette PENNYWORT and
a
Coastal Forces Motor Launch in Escort Group 103.)
(Note: Commanding
Officer: Lieutenant TE Fanshaw, DSC, RNR).
7th Joined Escort Group and deployed for
escort of Build-Up Phase convoys from
Thames Estuary to Beachhead area.
(Note: This duty
continued until completion of NEPTUNE on 24th June.)
July On release from support of
military convoys retained in Nore Command for
convoy
defence.
August East Coast convoy defence in
continuation)
to (Note: One source suggests ship was
recommissioned, perhaps following a
September further refit.)
October Worked-up at Tobermory
and resumed service in Nore Command for convoy
to defence
December (Note The 1,000th escort to carry out a
work-up at Tobermory )
1 9 4 5
January Deployed for convoy defence in North Sea and Channel.
to (Note:
During this period Atlantic convoys were re-routed through Channel.
April Extensive measures to
deal with enemy attacks on convoys by E-Boats,
submersibles and by minelaying
involved increasing use of this type
of escort to allow more modern ships to be used for
interception patrol
on convoy routes to continental ports.)
May
Nominated for withdrawal from service after VE Day.
to Paid-off and Reduced to Reserve
status
August
P o s t W a
r N o t e s
HMS CLOVER was placed on the
Disposal List in 1946 and sold on 17th May the next year for use as a
mercantile to be named ss CLOVERLOCK. In 1952 this
ship was purchased by the Chinese government and converted in China back for use as a warship. She remained in active use
until after 1967 but had been stricken from the List by 1972.
Addenda
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS
of HMS
CLOVER
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
14/07/41
|
14/07/41
|
OB 346
|
23/07/41
|
01/08/41
|
18/07/41
|
23/07/41
|
HG 068
|
28/07/41
|
02/08/41
|
12/09/41
|
01/10/41
|
OS 006
|
03/10/41
|
03/10/41
|
05/10/41
|
05/10/41
|
SL 089
|
08/10/41
|
26/10/41
|
23/09/41
|
11/10/41
|
OS 007
|
14/10/41
|
14/10/41
|
15/10/41
|
15/10/41
|
SL 090
|
18/10/41
|
06/11/41
|
27/10/41
|
27/10/41
|
SL 091
|
31/10/41
|
08/11/41
|
13/10/41
|
31/10/41
|
OS 009
|
05/11/41
|
05/11/41
|
11/11/41
|
11/11/41
|
ST 008
|
16/11/41
|
16/11/41
|
04/12/41
|
04/12/41
|
ST 010
|
09/12/41
|
09/12/41
|
12/12/41
|
12/12/41
|
SL 095
|
17/12/41
|
31/12/41
|
30/11/41
|
17/12/41
|
OS 013
|
20/12/41
|
20/12/41
|
09/02/42
|
17/02/42
|
SL 100
|
19/02/42
|
04/03/42
|
29/05/42
|
30/05/42
|
ON 099
|
07/06/42
|
12/06/42
|
12/06/42
|
15/06/42
|
SC 087
|
25/06/42
|
27/06/42
|
03/07/42
|
04/07/42
|
ON 109
|
11/07/42
|
18/07/42
|
19/07/42
|
22/07/42
|
HX 199
|
29/07/42
|
30/07/42
|
09/08/42
|
10/08/42
|
ON 120
|
21/08/42
|
27/08/42
|
23/08/42
|
26/08/42
|
HX 204
|
03/09/42
|
04/09/42
|
12/09/42
|
13/09/42
|
ON 130
|
24/09/42
|
30/09/42
|
24/09/42
|
29/09/42
|
HX 209
|
07/10/42
|
09/10/42
|
18/10/42
|
19/10/42
|
ON 140
|
30/10/42
|
07/11/42
|
03/11/42
|
08/11/42
|
HX 214
|
17/11/42
|
18/11/42
|
01/12/42
|
02/12/42
|
ON 150
|
15/12/42
|
25/12/42
|
21/12/42
|
26/12/42
|
HX 220
|
08/01/43
|
09/01/43
|
31/03/43
|
01/04/43
|
ON 176
|
13/04/43
|
20/04/43
|
12/04/43
|
18/04/43
|
HX 234
|
28/04/43
|
29/04/43
|
10/05/43
|
11/05/43
|
ON 183
|
20/05/43
|
25/05/43
|
25/05/43
|
30/05/43
|
HX 241
|
08/06/43
|
10/06/43
|
19/06/43
|
20/06/43
|
ONS 011
|
01/07/43
|
05/07/43
|
08/07/43
|
12/07/43
|
SC 136
|
22/07/43
|
23/07/43
|
28/07/43
|
28/07/43
|
KMS 022G
|
09/08/43
|
09/08/43
|
09/08/43
|
09/08/43
|
KMS 022
|
11/08/43
|
20/08/43
|
14/08/43
|
14/08/43
|
MKS 021G
|
27/08/43
|
25/08/43
|
05/09/43
|
05/09/43
|
KMS 026G
|
17/09/43
|
18/09/43
|
25/09/43
|
25/09/43
|
MKS 025G
|
08/10/43
|
08/10/43
|
17/10/43
|
20/10/43
|
KMS 030G
|
01/11/43
|
01/11/43
|
03/11/43
|
03/11/43
|
MKS 029G
|
15/11/43
|
18/11/43
|
25/11/43
|
26/11/43
|
OS 060KM
|
07/12/43
|
07/12/43
|
07/12/43
|
07/12/43
|
KMS 034G
|
09/12/43
|
09/12/43
|
13/12/43
|
13/12/43
|
MKS 033G
|
14/12/43
|
14/12/43
|
14/12/43
|
14/12/43
|
SL 142MK
|
27/12/43
|
28/12/43
|
03/01/44
|
03/01/44
|
OS 064KM
|
16/01/44
|
15/01/44
|
16/01/44
|
16/01/44
|
KMS 038G
|
17/01/44
|
17/01/44
|
23/01/44
|
24/01/44
|
SL 146MK
|
30/01/44
|
02/02/44
|
12/02/44
|
12/02/44
|
OS 068KM
|
23/02/44
|
23/02/44
|
24/02/44
|
24/02/44
|
KMS 042G
|
25/02/44
|
25/02/44
|
02/03/44
|
02/03/44
|
MKS 041G
|
03/03/44
|
03/03/44
|
03/03/44
|
03/03/44
|
SL 150MK
|
14/03/44
|
14/03/44
|
23/03/44
|
23/03/44
|
OS 072KM
|
05/04/44
|
04/04/44
|
05/04/44
|
05/04/44
|
KMS 046G
|
06/04/44
|
06/04/44
|
10/04/44
|
10/04/44
|
MKS 045G
|
11/04/44
|
11/04/44
|
11/04/44
|
11/04/44
|
SL 154MK
|
19/04/44
|
23/04/44
|
18/06/44
|
18/06/44
|
ETM 013
|
19/06/44
|
19/06/44
|
25/06/44
|
26/06/44
|
ETM 017
|
27/06/44
|
26/06/44
|
28/06/44
|
28/06/44
|
FTM 021
|
29/06/44
|
29/06/44
|
01/07/44
|
01/07/44
|
ETM 023
|
02/07/44
|
02/07/44
|
06/07/44
|
06/07/44
|
ETM 028
|
07/07/44
|
07/07/44
|
11/07/44
|
11/07/44
|
ETM 033
|
12/07/44
|
12/07/44
|
16/07/44
|
16/07/44
|
ETM 038
|
17/07/44
|
17/07/44
|
22/07/44
|
22/07/44
|
ETM 043
|
23/07/44
|
23/07/44
|
27/07/44
|
27/07/44
|
ETC 050
|
28/07/44
|
28/07/44
|
29/07/44
|
29/07/44
|
FTC 051
|
30/07/44
|
30/07/44
|
24/10/44
|
25/10/44
|
OS 093KM
|
01/11/44
|
01/11/44
|
01/11/44
|
01/11/44
|
KMS 067G
|
02/11/44
|
02/11/44
|
07/11/44
|
07/11/44
|
MKS 066G
|
08/11/44
|
08/11/44
|
08/11/44
|
08/11/44
|
SL 175MK
|
15/11/44
|
15/11/44
|
28/11/44
|
29/11/44
|
ONS 037
|
14/12/44
|
21/12/44
|
14/12/44
|
19/12/44
|
HX 326
|
26/12/44
|
27/12/44
|
07/01/45
|
08/01/45
|
ON 277
|
17/01/45
|
23/01/45
|
23/01/45
|
28/01/45
|
HX 334
|
06/02/45
|
06/02/45
|
21/02/45
|
22/02/45
|
OS 112KM
|
24/02/45
|
24/02/45
|
19/02/45
|
24/02/45
|
MKS 084G
|
27/02/45
|
27/02/45
|
07/04/45
|
07/04/45
|
OS 121KM
|
14/04/45
|
14/04/45
|
20/04/45
|
20/04/45
|
MKS 096G
|
unknown
|
28/04/45
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note on Convoys)