FLOWER-Class corvette ordered
from Harland and Wolff. Belfast
on 19th
September 1939. She was laid
down on 22nd May 1940 and launched on 2nd September 1940 as the second RN warship to bear this name. It had been introduced in
1917 for an ANCHUSA-Class Sloop that was sunk in 1918 by U70 in the North Sea. Build of this ship was
completed on 18th October 1940. In December 1941 she was adopted by the civil
community of Liskeard, Cornwall after a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings
Campaign.
B a t t l e H o n o u r s
ATLANTIC 1940-45 - ENGLISH CHANNEL 1942 - NORTH AFRICA 1942
- BARENTS SEA 1942 - ARCTIC
1942-45 - SICILY 1943 - NORMANDY 1944
H e r a l d i c D a t a
No record of a Badge is recorded
in the Official List of Ships Badges
(Note: An earlier ship had carried this name and other
Sloops built
in WW1
are included. An unofficial
Badge may have been used.)
D e t a i l s o f
W a r S e r v i c e
(Note * = Further research is required into these
periods)
(for more ship information,
go
to
Naval History Homepage
and type name in Site Search
1 9 4 0
August Contractors trials
18th Build completion and commenced
Acceptance Trials.
September Carried out work-up and shakedown prior to
operational deployment
October Deployed for Atlantic convoy
defence
to
December
1 9 4 1
January Atlantic deployment in continuation
to
Transferred to 36th Escort Group
August
September Deployment with Group in
continuation
15th Joined ships of Group with other FLOWER Class
corvettes for escort for outward Convoy OG74 during Atlantic
passage.
(Note: Air cover
from an Escort Carrier was provided for the first time by HMS
AUDACITY
which was also deployed with OG74)
20th Under attacks by U-Boats and Focke-Wolfe Kondor aircraft.
(Note:
Unsuccessful anti-submarine operations were carried out by HM Corvettes
PENTSTEMON and
MARIGOLD.
For details of the
unsatisfactory defence of this convoy of which nine merchant
ships were sunk see
BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC by D. Macintyre and U-BOAT WAR IN THE
ATLANTIC
(HMSO))
(Note: Serious
weaknesses in the defence were revealed and tactical measures improved
s a result of
experiences during 1941.See CAPTAIN GILBERT ROBERTS,
RN by M Williams and THE
FIGHTING
CAPTAIN by A Burn.)
October
Atlantic convoy deployment in continuation.
November Took part with ships of Group in
diversionary convoy deployment in Mediterranean during the 8th Army
advance from
El
Alamein
(Operation
CHIEFTAIN – Naval Cover for military Operation
CRUSADER).
December
14th Joined escort for inward Convoy HG76
with HMS AUDACITY, ships of 36th Escort Group, seven
FLOWER Class
Corvettes and three destroyers from Gibraltar.
(Note: The Senior
Officer of the escort in HM Sloop STORK was Cdr. F. J. Walker
who was
particularly renowned
for his successes in Anti-Submarine warfare – See
RELENTLESS
PURSUIT by D E G Weymss. This
convoy had been selected for sustained
U-Boat
attacks
by German Naval Staff. See above references and BUSINESS IN
GREAT
WATERS by
J Terraine).
18th Convoy shadowed by U434 which was sunk by HM
Destroyers BLANKNEY and STANLEY.
21st HM Escort Carrier AUDACITY sunk by
U741.
(Note: U567 was
sunk BY HM Sloop DEPTFORD and HM Corvette SAMPHIRE in position 44.02N
25.32W off Finisterre.
See U-BOATS
DESTROYED by P Kemp.)
22nd HMS DEPTFORD sustained serious
damaged in collision with HMS STORK.
28th Arrived in
Liverpool with HG76.
1 9 4 2
January Deployed for Atlantic convoy
defence.
to
June
July Transferred to English Channel
to
(Note: Deployment in support of planned landing
at Dieppe is to be confirmed)
August
September Resumed Atlantic deployment
to November
December Nominated for defence of Russian Convoys.
(Note: For details of all Russian Convoy
operations with names of the mercantiles and
escorts see
CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by RA Ruegg, THE RUSSIAN CONVOYS
by B Schoefield, CONVOY !
by P Kemp and ARCTIC CONVOYS by
R Woodman.)
22nd
Joined inward Convoy JW51B
with HM Corvette HYDERABAD,
HM Fleet Minesweeper
BRAMBLE and two trawlers as Escort.
24th First German sighting.
25th HM Destroyers ACHATES, OBEDIENT,
OBDURATE, ONSLOW,
ORIBI and ORWELL joined as Fighting Escort
during passage to
Kola Inlet.
Passage delayed by weather conditions and
some ships straggled.
(Note: Cruiser
cover provided by HMS SHEFFIELD and HMS JAMAICA
with Distant cover
from Home Fleet ships including HM Battleship
ANSON.
30th Convoy under threat of attack by German
armoured ship LUTZOW.
Cruiser ADMIRAL HIPPER and destroyers which
had been sailed from
Altenfjiord after sighting report from U354.
31st Remained with some ships of original convoy
which had rejoined
(Note: Enemy report made by HMS
OBDURATE after coming under fire from German ships.
ADMIRAL HIPPER and
destroyers which carried out attack with 11”main armament.
HMS BRAMBLE sustained immediate fatal
damage and sank in position 73,18N 30,06E
with no
survivors.
HMS HYDERABAD had sighted enemy ships beforehand
but made no enemy report as the
ships were
believed to be Russian destroyers,
This delay may not have been significant
but at least would have given earlier warning of the
presence of the
enemy force.)
Ship
did not take part in the engagement by Home Fleet ships.
See Naval Staff History and above
references.
1 9 4 3
January
2nd
HMS HYDERABAD detached from convoy.
3rd Detached from convoy and took passage
to Archangel to begin local minesweeping and duties.
escort duties.
29th
Joined return Convoy RA52 as
part of Ocean Escort with HM Corvettes HONEYSUCKLE,
HYDERABAD, OXLIP, 11 Home Fleet destroyers
and HM Fleet Minesweeper SEAGULL.
February
8th
Detached from RA 52 and took
passage to resumed convoy defence in Western Approaches.
March Atlantic convoy defence in continuation
to
May
June Nominated for escort of military convoys
to Gibraltar as part of preparation for planned allied
landings
in Sicily (Operation HUSKY)
24th Deployed as part of escort of Convoy KMS
Series convoy during passage to Gibraltar.
July Part
of escort for convoy in western Mediterranean.
4th
Assisted in rescue of
survivors from mercantile ST ESSYLT sunk by U-Boat off Algeria
10th Deployed for escort of assault convoy to
British landing beach,
For details of landings
see Naval Staff History of for information relating to all mercantiles
and warships
involved BRITISH INVASION
FLEETS by J de Winser.)
On release took passage to UK to resume Atlantic convoy defence.
August Deployed for Atlantic convoy defence.
to
September
November Detached for Home Fleet duties.
22nd
Deployed with HM Destroyer
BEAGLE, HM Corvettes DIANELLA, POPPY and HM Fleet
Minesweeper HALCYON
as part of Ocean Escort for Convoy JW54 during
passage to Kola Inlet.
23rd
Eight Home Fleet destroyers
joined Ocean Escort.
(Note: Cruiser Cover and Distant Cover
were provided by ships of Home Fleet
December
3rd Detached from JW54B on arrival at Archangel after uninterrupted passage.
31st
Joined HM Destroyers WHITEHALL, WRESTLER, HM Corvettes HONEYSUCKLE and
OXLIP for Ocean Escort of return Convoy RA55B from Kola Inlet to
Loch Ewe.
Sailed from Kola Inlet with RA55B
1 9 4 4
January
7th Detached from RA55B on arrival of Local
Escort into Loch Ewe
22nd
Deployed as Local Escort for
outward Convoy JW56B during initial stage of passage
to Kola Inlet
from Loch
Ewe with HM Destroyer WHITEHALL, HM Fleet Minesweepers
HYDRA, ONYX,
and HM
Corvette HONEYSUCKLE
25th
Detached from Local Escort
for JW56B on arrival of Ocean Escort and resumed convoy
defence in
Western Approaches.
February Home Fleet duties in continuation.
3rd
Deployed with HM Destroyers WESTCOTT, WHITEHALL, HM Sloop CYGNET, HM
Corvettes DIANELLA, OXLIP, and POPPY and
joined return Convoy RAA56 during passage
from North Russia.
11th Detached
from RA56 with ships of escort and returned to Scapa Flow.
20th
Joined outward Convoy JW57
as Ocean Escort during passage to Kola Inlet with HM Destroyers
BEAGLE, BOADICEA, KEPPEL, WALKER, HM Corvettes BLUEBELL, CAMELLIA and
LOTUS.
(Note: Cover was provided by HM Cruiser BLACK PRINCE
with screen of 13 Home Fleet
destroyers
with two Home Fleet cruisers
The escort was also implemented by HM
Escort Aircraft Carrier CHASER and a
separate screen of two frigates and two destroyers because
of the known increase in
threat of U Boat attacks. See
above references and HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR by
Blair.
28th
Detached from JW57 on
arrival at Kola Inlet
(Note: HM Destroyer MAHRATTA of Home
Fleet destroyer screen was sunk by U990 during
the only attack on the convoy which had been successfully
defended by the presence of
air cover and a strong anti-submarine escort.
March
2nd Sailed from Kola Inlet as part of Close
Anti-submarine escort of return Convoy RA57.
with HM
Destroyers BEAGLE, BOADICEA, KEPPEL, WALKER, HM Fleet Minesweepers
GLEANER, SEAGULL, HM Corvettes BLUEBELL, CAMELLIA and LOTUS.
(Note: HMS BLACK PRINCE AND HMS CHASER
sailed in the body of the convoy which had
a strong screen.)
For details
of U-Boat sinkings and air defence of convoy see
references.)
10th Detached from RA57 on arrival at Loch
Ewe.
27th
Deployed with HM Fleet
Minesweepers RATTLESNAKE, ONYX, ORESTES and HM
Corvette
STARWORT and Local escort for outward Convoy JW58 during
initial
stage of passage
to Kola Inlet.
29th
Detached from JW58 on
arrival of main body of escort and resumed Atlantic convoy defence
(Note: Russian Convoy operations were
suspended because of the planned allied landings in
Normandy (OPERATION NEPTUNE)
April Nominated for support of planned
allied landings in Normandy
(For details of naval activities
prior to and during landings see LANDINGS IN NORMANDY,
June 1944
(HMSO), OPERATION NEPTUNE by K Edwards and for information
relating
to
all mercantiles and warships involved D-DAY SHIPS by J de Winser)
Nominated for service in 139th
Escort Group with HM Destroyer WHITEHALL, HM Trawlers
SKOMER and
ULVA (Note: joined them by June).
May Passage to Milford Haven to join
Group
(Note: Participation in preliminary exercises for NEPTUNE to be confirmed)
June Deployed with Group at Milford Haven.
4th
Sailed with Convoy EBC1 from Milford Haven
Reversed course on
passage due to delay for landings. See referenced
(Note: Convoy comprised stores
coasters.
5th Resumed passage to Solent.
6th Passage through swept Channel to
Beach Head,
7th Detached from convoy on arrival in
Western Task Force area.
8th Deployed for escort of Follow-up convoys
as required in Build-up Plan.
27th On termination of NEPTUNE
took passage to resume
Atlantic convoy escort deployment.
July Atlantic convoy defence in
continuation.
to
August
September Nominated for transfer to 8th Escort
Group
(Note: Other ships in Group included HM
destroyers BEAGLE, WESTCOTT, HM Sloops
CYGNET and LARK.
October Nominated with ships of Group for
detached service with Home Fleet as escort for Russian
convoy)
20th
Deployed with HM
Destroyer WALKER, HM Sloops LAPWING, LARK, HM Corvettes
CAMELLIA,
and OXLIP as Close Escort for Russian Convoy JW61 during passage to Kola
Inlet.
22nd
Main Escort comprising HM
Cruiser DIDO with screen of six Home Fleet destroyers and air
cover was provided by
HM Escort Aircraft Carriers NAIRANA, VINDEX and TRACKER
with separate screen of 12 Frigates from Western Approaches
Command.
28th
Detached on arrival of
JW61 at Kola Inlet after safe passage due to presence of air cover and
excellent
anti-submarine defence.
November
2nd
Joined return Convoy RA61
on departure from Kola Inlet as part of Ocean Escort made up of
ships deployed for JW61 including air cover from escort
carriers.
9th
Detached from RA61 on
arrival at Loch Ewe
(Note: No mercantiles
were lost although
HM Frigate MOUNSEY was hit by torpedo and had
to
return to Kola Inlet.
Resumed convoy
defence with Group IN Western Approaches.
December Deployed for Atlantic convoy defence.
(Note: HM Destroyer WALKER, HM Corvettes ALNWICK CASTLE, BLUEBELL and
OXLIP joined Group.)
1 9 4 5
January
Nominated fro
detached service with Home Fleet for Russian Convoy defence.
Took passage to Clyde
(Note: Loch
Ewe was no longer being used for assembly of Russian Convoys.)
February
3rd
Deployed with HM Sloops
CYGNET, LARK, HM Destroyer WHITEHALL,
HM Corvettes
BAMBOROUGH
CASTLE, and BLUEBELL as escort for Russian Convoy JW64 and
sailed from Clyde.
6th Addition escorts joined including HM
Cruiser BELLONA, HM Escort Carriers CAMPANIA.
NAIRANA, nine Home
Fleet destroyers and other anti-submarine ships.
First sighting by
aircraft.
7th Under sustained air attacks during
which seven enemy aircraft were destroyed.
10th Further torpedo air attacks which were
repelled with loss of seven aircraft.
13th Under U-Boat attacks during which HM
Corvette DENBIGH CASTLE was hit and towed to
Kola Inlet by HMS
BLUEBELL where she foundered after grounding.
15th Detached from JW64 on arrival at Kola
Inlet.
16th
Sailed from Kola Inlet
with HM Sloops CYGNET, LAPWING, LARK, HM Corvettes
ALNWICK CASTLE and BAMBOROUGH CASTLE to carry out anti-submarine operations
against a group of U-Boats known to be assembling off shore
to
carry out attacks on return
Convoy RA64
during departure.
17th During these operations U425 was sunk
by HMS ALNWICK CASTLE and HMS LARK
Joined RA64 as Close Escort after
convoy assembled
HM Sloop LARK hit by a torpedo from
U968 during assembly of convoy and had to be
abandoned.
(Note: This ship was later
towed to Kola Inlet and declared at Total Constructive Loss
HMS BLUEBELL was hit by torpedo from
U711 and blew-up on impact with no
survivors.
18th Convoy dispersed during extreme
weather
(Note: Many warships sustained very significant damage
requiring extensive repair on arrival)
20th Convoy re-assembled except for four mercantiles out of the 33
which sailed from Kola Inlet.
25th Four Home Fleet destroyers joined to
reinforce escort.
28th Detached from RA64 on arrival in Clyde.
March Resumed service with Group in Western
Approaches command and deployed in Home waters
for convoy defence and support of anti-submarine operations
against U-Boats carrying out
attacks on convoys in assembly areas
(Note: U-Boats were carrying out attacks
in coastal waters especially in Channel and SW
Approaches by SCHNORKEL fitted submarines.
Atlantic convoys had been re-routed via
English Channel for passage to London and
North Sea ports after
the threat of air attacks from French bases had
been removed.
See
HOLD THE NARROW SEAS
by P Smith.)
April Nominated for detached service with Home
Fleet.
Passage to Clyde to join Russian Convoy JW66.
16th Deployed with HM Sloop CYGNET, HM Corvettes ALNWICK CASTLE, BAMBOROUGH
CASTLE, FARNHAM CASTLE, HM Corvettes HONEYSUCKLE, LOTUS and OXLIP as
Close escort for JW66 during passage to
Kola Inlet.
(Note: Frigates of 19th Escort Group
were deployed for anti-submarine support and air cover
was provided by HM Escort Carriers PREMIER and VINDEX with cover by HM Cruiser
BELLONA screened by nine Home Fleet destroyers.
25th Carried out anti-submarine attacks in
position ahead of convoy to disperse U-Boats known to
be awaiting arrival of convoy at Kola Inlet.
Detached from JW66 on
arrival at Kola Inlet.
29th Sailed with escort for return Convoy
RA66 comprising same ships with surface and air cover
as for JW66,
Under attack by U968 and U307 on
departure during which HM Frigate GOODALL was hit
by torpedo from U968 and was sunk. Some of her ship’s
company were rescued by HMS
HONEYSUCKLE. which got alongside stricken ship in a most commendable
operation.
U268
was sunk later by frigates of 19th Escort Group
(Note: Anti-submarine operations had
been carried out off Kola Inlet on a known assembly
of some 10 or
more submarines which drove them deep and prevented an heavy
attacks during
assembly.)
May
12th Detached on arrival of RA66 in Clyde
and deployed for collection of surrendered U-Boats
June Deployed in Home waters with ships of
Group
to August
Po
s t W a r N o t e s
HMS RHODODENDRON Paid-off
after VJ Day and was placed in Reserve after de-storing.
The ship was place on the Disposal List and sold in 1950 to a shipping
company. She traded under the name MAJ FINKE and was sold for
demolition in South Africa in 1968.
Addenda
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS
of HMS
RHODODENDRON
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
17/11/40
|
17/11/40
|
OB 244
|
21/11/40
|
22/11/40
|
11/11/40
|
22/11/40
|
HX 086
|
26/11/40
|
26/11/40
|
26/12/40
|
26/12/40
|
OB 265
|
30/12/40
|
30/12/40
|
18/12/40
|
01/01/41
|
HX 097
|
02/01/41
|
03/01/41
|
08/01/41
|
08/01/41
|
OB 271
|
12/01/41
|
12/01/41
|
01/01/41
|
13/01/41
|
HX 100
|
16/01/41
|
18/01/41
|
06/04/41
|
17/04/41
|
HX 119A
|
21/04/41
|
22/04/41
|
26/04/41
|
26/04/41
|
OG 060
|
unknown
|
10/05/41
|
11/05/41
|
12/05/41
|
OB 321
|
17/05/41
|
17/05/41
|
06/05/41
|
16/05/41
|
HG 061
|
20/05/41
|
20/05/41
|
10/05/41
|
30/05/41
|
SL 074
|
04/06/41
|
04/06/41
|
20/06/41
|
20/06/41
|
OB 337
|
28/06/41
|
28/06/41
|
04/07/41
|
04/07/41
|
OG 067
|
20/07/41
|
20/07/41
|
18/06/41
|
09/07/41
|
SL 078
|
12/07/41
|
12/07/41
|
20/07/41
|
20/07/41
|
OG 069
|
30/07/41
|
01/08/41
|
09/08/41
|
09/08/41
|
HG 070
|
23/08/41
|
23/08/41
|
12/09/41
|
14/09/41
|
OG 074
|
27/09/41
|
26/09/41
|
02/10/41
|
02/10/41
|
HG 074
|
18/10/41
|
18/10/41
|
28/10/41
|
31/10/41
|
OG 076
|
11/11/41
|
11/11/41
|
10/01/42
|
10/01/42
|
OG 078
|
24/01/42
|
24/01/42
|
02/02/42
|
05/02/42
|
HG 078
|
14/02/42
|
14/02/42
|
24/06/42
|
24/06/42
|
PW 176
|
26/06/42
|
26/06/42
|
02/07/42
|
02/07/42
|
OG 086
|
14/07/42
|
14/07/42
|
22/10/42
|
22/10/42
|
KMS 001G
|
07/11/42
|
07/11/42
|
27/11/42
|
27/11/42
|
MKS 002A
|
07/12/42
|
07/12/42
|
22/12/42
|
22/12/42
|
JW 051B
|
03/01/43
|
04/01/43
|
29/01/43
|
29/01/43
|
RA 052
|
08/02/43
|
09/03/43
|
19/04/43
|
19/04/43
|
XK 004
|
30/04/43
|
30/04/43
|
24/06/43
|
24/06/43
|
KMS 018B
|
24/06/43
|
10/07/43
|
23/07/43
|
23/07/43
|
GTX 004
|
29/07/43
|
03/08/43
|
09/08/43
|
11/08/43
|
KMS 022
|
20/08/43
|
20/08/43
|
25/08/43
|
25/08/43
|
MKS 023
|
04/09/43
|
03/09/43
|
07/10/43
|
07/10/43
|
KMS 028
|
17/10/43
|
19/10/43
|
22/11/43
|
22/11/43
|
JW 054B
|
03/12/43
|
03/12/43
|
31/12/43
|
31/12/43
|
RA 055B
|
08/01/44
|
08/01/44
|
22/01/44
|
22/01/44
|
JW 056B
|
25/01/44
|
01/02/44
|
03/02/44
|
03/02/44
|
RA 056
|
11/02/44
|
11/02/44
|
20/02/44
|
20/02/44
|
JW 057
|
28/02/44
|
28/02/44
|
02/03/44
|
02/03/44
|
RA 057
|
10/03/44
|
10/03/44
|
27/03/44
|
27/03/44
|
JW 058
|
29/03/44
|
04/04/44
|
07/04/44
|
07/04/44
|
RA 058
|
14/04/44
|
14/04/44
|
16/06/44
|
16/06/44
|
EBC 013
|
18/06/44
|
18/06/44
|
30/06/44
|
30/06/44
|
EBC 027
|
02/07/44
|
02/07/44
|
08/07/44
|
08/07/44
|
EBC 035
|
10/07/44
|
10/07/44
|
17/07/44
|
17/07/44
|
EBC 044
|
19/07/44
|
19/07/44
|
26/07/44
|
26/07/44
|
EBC 053
|
28/07/44
|
28/07/44
|
20/10/44
|
20/10/44
|
JW 061
|
28/10/44
|
28/10/44
|
02/11/44
|
02/11/44
|
RA 061
|
09/11/44
|
09/11/44
|
28/11/44
|
29/11/44
|
ONS 037
|
01/12/44
|
21/12/44
|
13/12/44
|
13/12/44
|
OS 098KM
|
17/12/44
|
17/12/44
|
11/12/44
|
17/12/44
|
MKS 070G
|
19/12/44
|
19/12/44
|
03/02/45
|
03/02/45
|
JW 064
|
15/02/45
|
15/02/45
|
17/02/45
|
17/02/45
|
RA 064
|
28/02/45
|
28/02/45
|
10/03/45
|
10/03/45
|
KMF 041
|
10/03/45
|
17/03/45
|
17/03/45
|
18/03/45
|
OS 117KM
|
21/03/45
|
26/03/45
|
16/03/45
|
21/03/45
|
MKS 089G
|
24/03/45
|
24/03/45
|
16/04/45
|
16/04/45
|
JW 066
|
25/04/45
|
25/04/45
|
29/04/45
|
29/04/45
|
RA 066
|
07/05/45
|
08/05/45
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note on Convoys)