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fighting ships of the world

CANADIAN NAVY - CANADA

ESCORTS

Flower corvettes (TRILLIUM) (1940-1942)

Midland 1942

Buttercup 1942 as minesweeper

Name No Yard No Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate
Canadian-built, 1939-1940 program
Agassiz K129   Burrard, Vancouver 4.1940 15.8.1940 1.1941 BU 11.1945
Alberni K103   Canadian Yarrow, Esquimalt 4.1940 22.8.1940 2.1941 sunk 21.8.1944
Algoma K127   Port Arthur SY 6.1940 17.12.1940 7.1941 to Venezuela 6.1945 (Constitucion)
Amherst K148   St. John SY 5.1940 4.12.1940 8.1941 BU 11.1945
Arrowhead K145   Marine Industries, Sorel 4/1940 8.8.1940 11/1940 to UK 6.1945
Arvida K113   Morton, Quebec City 2.1940 21.9.1940 5.1941 sold 1950
Baddeck K147   Davie SB, Lauzon 8.1940 20.11.1940 5.1941 sold 1947
Barrie K138   Collingwood SY 4.1940 23.11.1940 5.1941 sold 1947
Battleford K165   Collingwood SY 9.1940 15.4.1941 7.1941 to Venezuela 1946 (Libertad)
Bittersweet K182   Marine Industries, Sorel 4/1940 12.9.1940 1/1941 to UK 6.1945
Brandon K149   Davie SB, Lauzon 10.1940 29.4.1941 7.1941 BU 10.1945
Buctouche K179   Davie SB, Lauzon 8.1940 20.11.1940 6.1941 BU 10.1945
Camrose K154   Marine Industries, Sorel 9.1940 16.11.1940 6.1941 BU 1947
Chambly K116   Canadian Vickers, Montreal 2.1940 29.7.1940 12.1940 sold 1952
Chicoutimi K156   Canadian Vickers, Montreal 7.1940 16.10.1940 5.1941 BU 1946
Chilliwack K131   Burrard, Vancouver 7.1940 14.9.1940 4.1941 BU 10.1945
Cobalt K124   Port Arthur SY 4.1940 17.8.1940 11.1940 sold 1953
Collingwood K180   Collingwood SY 3.1940 27/71940 11.1940 BU 1950
Dawson K104   Victoria SY 9.1940 8.2.1941 10.1941 BU 1946
Dauphin K157   Canadian Vickers, Montreal 7.1940 24.10.1940 5.1941 sold 1949
Drumheller K167   Collingwood SY 12.1940 5.7.1941 9.1941 BU 1949
Dunvegan K177   Marine Industries, Sorel 8.1940 11.12.1940 9.1941 to Venezuela 1946 (Independencia)
Edmundston K106   Canadian Yarrow, Esquimalt 8.1940 22.2.1941 10.1941 sold 1948
Eyebright K150   Canadian Vickers, Montreal 1/1940 22.7.1940 11/1940 to UK 6.1945
Fennel K194   Marine Industries, Sorel 1/1940 20.8.1940 5/1941 to UK 6.1945
Galt K163   Collingwood SY 5.1940 28.12.1940 5.1941 BU 10.1945
Hepatica K159   Davie SB, Lauzon 2/1940 6.7.1940 5/1941 to UK 6.1945
Kamloops K176   Victoria SY 4.1940 7.8.1940 3.1941 BU 10.1945
Kamsack K171   Port Arthur SY 11.1940 5.5.1941 10.1941 to Venezuela 1945 (Carabobo)
Kenogami K125   Port Arthur SY 4.1940 5.9.1940 6.1941 BU 1.1950
Lethbridge K160   Canadian Vickers, Montreal 8.1940 21.11.1940 6.1941 sold 1952
Levis K115   G T Davie, Lauzon 3.1940 4.9.1940 5.1941 sunk 19.9.1941
Louisburg K143   Morton, Quebec City 10.1940 27.5.1941 10.1941 sunk 6.2.1943
Lunenburg K151   G T Davie, Lauzon 9.1940 10.7.1941 12.1941 BU 6.1946
Matapedia K112   Morton, Quebec City 2.1940 14.9.1940 5.1941 BU 12.1950
Mayflower K191   Canadian Vickers, Montreal 2/1940 3.7.1940 5/1941 to UK 6.1945
Moncton K139   St. John SY 12.1940 11.8.1941 4.1942 sold 1955
Moosejaw K164   Collingwood SY 8.1940 9.4.1941 6.1941 BU 9.1949
Morden K170   Port Arthur SY 10.1940 5.5.1941 9.1941 BU 11.1946
Nanaimo K101   Canadian Yarrow, Esquimalt 4.1940 28.10.1940 4.1941 sold 1953
Napanee K118   Kingston SY 3.1940 31.8.1940 5.1941 BU 6.1946
Oakville K178   Port Arthur SY 12.1940 21.6.1941 11.1941 to Venezuela 1946 (Patria)
Orillia K119   Collingwood SY 3.1940 15.9.1940 11.1940 BU 1.1951
Pictou K146   Davie SB, Lauzon 7.1940 8.10.1940 4.1941 sold 1950
Prescott K161   Kingston SY 1.1940 7.1.1941 6.1941 BU 10.1945
Quesnell K133   Victoria SY 5.1940 12.11.1940 5.1941 BU 10.1945
Rimouski K121   Davie SB, Lauzon 7.1940 3.10.1940 4.1941 BU 12.1950
Rosthern K169   Port Arthur SY 6.1940 30.11.1940 6.1941 BU 6.1946
Sackville K181, 1956- AN113   St. John SY 5.1940 15.5.1941 12.1941 survey vessel 1952, net/mine layer 1956, stricken 12.1982
Saskatoon K158   Canadian Vickers, Montreal 8/1940 6.11.1940 6/1941 sold 1948
Shawinigan K136   G T Davie, Lauzon 6.1940 16.5.1941 9.1941 sunk 25.11.1944
Shediac K110   Davie SB, Lauzon 10.1940 29.4.1941 7.1941 sold 1954
Sherbrooke K152   Marine Industries, Sorel 8.1940 25.10.1940 6.1941 BU 5.1947
Sorel K153   Marine Industries, Sorel 8.1940 16.11.1940 8.1941 BU 11.1945
Snowberry K166   Davie SB, Lauzon 2/1940 8.8.1940 5.1941 to UK 6.1945
Spikenard K198   Davie SB, Lauzon 2.1940 10.8.1940 5.1941 sunk 11.2.1942
Sudbury K162   Kingston SY 1.1941 31.5.1941 10.1941 sold 1949
Summerside K141   Morton, Quebec City 10.1940 17.5.1941 9.1941 BU 7.1946
The Pas K168   Collingwood SY 1.1941 18.8.1941 10.1941 sold 9.1945
Trail K174   Burrard, Vancouver 7.1940 17.10.1940 4.1941 BU 8.1950
Trillium K172   Canadian Vickers, Montreal 2/1940 26.6.1940 10/1940 to UK 6.1945
Wetaskiwin (ex-Banff) K175   Burrard, Vancouver 4.1940 18.7.1940 12.1940 to Venezuela 1946 (Victoria)
Weyburn K173   Port Arthur SY 12.1940 26.7.1940 11.1941 sunk 22.2.1943
Windflower K155   Davie SB, Lauzon 2.1940 4.7.1940 5.1941 collision 7.12.1941
Canadian-built, 1940-1941 program
Brantford K218   Midland SY 2.1941 6.9.1941 5.1942 sold 1950
Dundas K229   Victoria SY 3.1941 25.7.1941 4.1942 BU 10.1945
Midland K220   Midland SY 2.1941 25.6.1941 11.1941 BU 11.1945
New Westminster K228   Victoria SY 2.1941 14.5.1941 1.1942 sold 1950
Timmins K223   Canadian Yarrow, Esquimalt 12.1940 26.6.1941 2.1942 sold 1948
Vancouver (ex-Kitchener) K240   Canadian Yarrow, Esquimalt 6.1941 26.8.1941 3.1942 BU 10.1945
Canadian-built, revised 1940-1941 program
Calgary K231   Marine Industries, Sorel 3.1941 23.8.1941 12.1941 BU 8.1946
Charlottetown K244   Kingston SY 6.1941 10.9.1941 12.1941 sunk 11.9.1942
Fredericton K245   Marine Industries, Sorel 3.1941 2.9.1941 12.1941 sold 1946
Halifax K239   Collingwood SY 4.1941 4.10.1941 11.1941 sold 7.1945
Kitchener (ex-Vancouver) K225   G T Davie, Lauzon 2.1941 18.11.1941 6.1942 BU 9.1949
La Malbaie (ex-Fort William) K273   Kingston SY 3.1941 25.10.1941 4.1942 BU 10.1945
Port Arthur K233   Port Arthur SY 4.1941 18.9.1941 5.1942 sold 10.1945
Regina K234   Marine Industries, Sorel 3.1941 14.10.1941 1.1942 sunk 8.8.1944
Ville de Quebec (ex-Quebec) K242   Morton, Quebec City 6.1941 12.11.1941 5.1942 sold 1946
Woodstock K238   Collingwood SY 5.1941 10.12.1941 5.1942 sold 1951

 

Data variant as completed

Displacement standard, t

950

Calgary, Charlottetown, Fredericton, Halifax, Kitchener, La Malbaie, Port Arthur, Regina, Ville de Quebec, Woodstock: 1015

Displacement full, t

1280

Calgary, Charlottetown, Fredericton, Halifax, Kitchener, La Malbaie, Port Arthur, Regina, Ville de Quebec, Woodstock: 1350

Length, m

57.9 pp 62.5 oa

Calgary, Charlottetown, Fredericton, Halifax, Kitchener, La Malbaie, Port Arthur, Regina, Ville de Quebec, Woodstock: 63.5 oa

Breadth, m

10.1

Draught, m

4.14 - 4.80 deep load

No of shafts

1

Machinery

1 VTE, 2 cylindrical boilers

Calgary, Charlottetown, Fredericton, Halifax, Kitchener, La Malbaie, Port Arthur, Regina, Ville de Quebec, Woodstock, Brentford, Midland, New Westminster, Timmins, Vancouver: 1 VTE, 2 Admiralty 3-drum boilers

Power, h. p.

2750

Max speed, kts

16.5

Fuel, t

oil 230

Endurance, nm(kts)

3500(12)

Armament

Brantford, Calgary, Charlottetown, Dundas, Fredericton, Halifax, Kitchener, La Malbaie, Midland, New Westminster, Port Arthur, Regina, Timmins, Vancouver, Ville de Quebec, Woodstock: 1 x 1 - 102/45 BL Mk IX, 1 x 1 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII, 2 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, 1 x 24 - 178 Hedgehog ASWRL, 4 DCT, 2 DCR (70)

Agassiz, Alberni, Algoma, Amherst, Arvida, Arrowhead, Baddeck, Barrie, Battleford, Bittersweet, Brandon, Buctouche, Camrose, Chambly, Chicoutimi, Chilliwack, Cobalt, Collingwood, Dauphin, Dawson, Drumheller, Dunvegan, Edmundston, Eyebright, Fennel, Galt, Hepatica, Kamloops, Kamsack, Kenogami, Lethbridge, Levis, Louisburg, Lunenburg, Matapedia, Mayflower, Moncton, Moose Jaw, Morden, Nanaimo, Napanee, Oakville, Orillia, Pictou, Prescott, Quesnell, Rimouski, Rosthern, Sackville, Saskatoon, Shawinigan, Shediac, Sherbrooke, Snowberry, Sorel, Spikenard, Sudbury, Summerside, The Pas, Trail, Trillium, Wetaskiwin, Weyburn, Windflower: 1 x 1 - 102/45 BL Mk IX, 2 x 2 - 12.7/62, 2 DCT, 2 DCR (40)

Electronic equipment

type 271 or type 286 (some) radars, type 123 sonar

Complement

85 - 109

Project history: The ships, played a huge role in battle for Atlantic and become for Englishmen on of the symbols of a victory.

Early 1939 Admiralty formulated requirements to new patrol ship for operations in a coastal area. Anti-submarine protection of merchant shipping should become her basic task, so new ship had to had powerful anti-submarine armament and 16-17kts speed, not yielding to surface speed of submarines.

From several design one, created on Smith's Dock`s Ltd South Bank in Middlesborough, has been chosen. It was created on the basis of 160ft whaler Southern Pride, built on the same yard. As the order for the new patrol ships was from beginning supposed to be placed on the yards which do not have experience of naval shipbuilding and not familiar with Admiralty standards, the design was made according to standards of merchant shipbuilding more habitual for builders (Lloyd register standards). Machinery with the same purpose have chosen enough conservative: well familiar to reservists triple expansion engine which without changes have borrowed at a prototype. The steam was produced by single-side fire-tube boilers of so-called "Scottish" type. Perhaps, transition to oil-firing became a unique innovation.

The hull of the patrol ship, in comparison with a prototype, have extended on 30ft for propulsion improvement. Simultaneously it allowed to increase number of watertight compartments and additional internal volume can be used for placing of magazines and increased crew.

They were re-classified from patrols to corvettes just before lead ship was laid down.

The 1939 program provided building of 56 ships, as names of flowers were used, and all series has received non-proprietary name "Flower".

The beginning of war has led to order increase: under "War Emergency program" have built 50, and under the 1940 program 25 more ships. Besides, Royal Navy has replenished with three corvettes of this class ordered by France and requisitioned 1.7.1940; the fourth ship La Bastiaise was lost on a mine 22.6.1940 during sea trials, formally being still the property of the builder. Seven early-built ships have received minesweeping equipment.

Trials of a lead corvette in April, 1940 have opened both strong, and weaknesses of "Flower" class. The ship differed phenomenal manoeuvrability: tactical diameter on full speed was about two hull lengths at only 3° list. At the same time it became clear, that her seaworthiness is insufficient for operations in the high sea: on a wave crew very quickly were seasick, and because of a short forecastle a deck around a superstructure strongly sloshed. With last lack they have consulted, significantly having prolonged a forecastle towards a stern. Besides protection against waves, it has increased the covered volume of the hull which used for placing increased more than in one and a half time, in comparison with the original design, crew (from 50 to 85 men). A forecastle have extended by all incomplete ships which degree of readiness supposed it (part of "War Emergency program" ships and the majority of the 1941 program).

Canada also built "Flowers". At first Royal Navy has ordered 10 ships, however they were transferred to Canada before completion. Canadians built for themselves 70 more corvettes, the majority from which was extra equipped with the minesweeping equipment.

Modernizations: 1943 - 1945, all survived ships: had light AA armament consisted of (1 x 1 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII, 2 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV) or (1 x 1 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII, 4 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV) or 3 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV or 4 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV or (2 x 2 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, 2 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV). ASW armament consisted of 1 x 24 - 178 Hedgehog ASWRL (on some ships), 4 DCT and 2 DCR (up to 72 DC)

1956, Sackville was converted to controlled minelayer, as given in the table.

Data variant Sackville 1956

Displacement standard, t

1085

Displacement full, t

1350

Length, m

62.5

Breadth, m

10.1

Draught, m

4.00

No of shafts

1

Machinery

1 VTE, 2 cylindrical boilers

Power, h. p.

2750

Max speed, kts

16.5

Fuel, t

oil 230

Endurance, nm(kts)  

Armament

mines

Electronic equipment  

Complement

38

 

Naval service: Submarines sunk Levis (German submarines U74 and U552 19.9.1941), Charlottetown (U517 11.9.1942), Shawinigan (U1228 25.11.1944).

On mines were lost Weyburn (22.2.1943), Regina (8.8.1944 or sunk by German submarine U667) and Albernie (21.8.1944).

Was sunk by aircraft Louisburg (Italian air torpedo 16.2.1943).

 

© Ivan Gogin, 2015