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fighting ships of the world

ROYAL NAVY (UNITED KINGDOM)

ESCORTS

'FLOWER' ARABIS fleet sweeping sloops (1915-1916)

nearly sister-ship Primrose 1917

Name No Yard No Builder Laid down Launched Comp Fate
Buttercup T45, T14 534 Barclay Curle, Whiteinch 1915 24.10.1915 12.1915 sold 2.1920
Gladiolus T50, T38 379 Connell, Scotstoun 1915 25.10.1915 1915 to Portugal 3.1920 (Republica)
Alyssum T46   Earle, Hull 1915 5.11.1915 1916 sunk 18.3.1917
Arabis T44 497 Henderson, Glasgow 1915 6.11.1915 1916 sunk 10.2.1916
Wallflower T78, T89 575 Irvine, West Hartlepool 1915 8.11.1915 1916 sold 8.1931
Poppy T47, T74 1004 Swan Hunter, Low Walker 1915 9.11.1915 12/1915 sold 4.1923
Verbena T77, T86   Blyth SB, Cowpen Quay 1915 9.11.1915 1916 sold 10.1933
Rosemary T58, T77 661 Richardson Duck, Thornaby 1915 22.11.1915 12.1915 sold 12.1947
Marguerite (1919- RAN) T51, T60 291 Dunlop Bremner, Port Glasgow 7/1915 23.11.1915 1916 dismantled 9.1932
Primula T55 1006 Swan Hunter, Low Walker 1915 6.12.1915 1.1916 sunk 1.3.1916
Wisteria T79, T91 576 Irvine, West Hartlepool 1915 7.12.1915 1916 sold 1.1931
Amaryllis T69, T02   Earle, Hull 1915 9.12.1915 1916 sold 1.1923
Nigella T52, T68 314 Hamilton, Port Glasgow 1915 10.12.1915 1916 sold 11.1922
Asphodel T70, T04 498 Henderson, Glasgow 1915 21.12.1915 2.1916 to Denmark 6.1920 (Fylla)
Nasturtium T76 464 Archibald & McMillan, Dumbarton 1915 21.12.1915 1916 sunk 27.4.1916
Snapdragon T71, T79 518 Ropner, Stockton 1915 21.12.1915 1916 sold 5.1934
Gentian T49, T36 376 Greenock & Grangemouth 1915 23.12.1915 2.1916 sunk 16.7.1919
Geranium (1919- RAN) T56, T37 377 Greenock & Grangemouth 8/1915 8.11.1915 3/1916 dismantled 6.1932
Delphinium T54, T30 207 Napier & Miller, Old Kirkpatrick 1915 23.12.1915 1916 sold 10.1933
Crocus T59, T25 807 Lobnitz, Renfrew 1915 24.12.1915 3/1916 sold 7.1930
Campanula T48, T16 535 Barclay Curle, Whiteinch 1915 25.12.1915 1916 sold 9.1922
Godetia T57, T39 380 Connell, Scotstoun 1915 8.1.1916 1916 handed over 2.1937
Mignonette T75 292 Dunlop Bremner, Port Glasgow 1915 26.1.1916 1916 sunk 17.3.1917
Pansy T61, T69 315 Hamilton, Port Glasgow 1915 1.2.1916 4.1916 sold 1.1920
Berberis T60, T09 499 Henderson, Glasgow 1915 3.2.1916 1916 sold 1.1923
Pentstemon T53, T70   Workman Clark, Belfast 1915 15.2.1916 4.1916 sold 4.1920
Celandine T72, T20 536 Barclay Curle, Whiteinch 1915 19.2.1916 1916 sold 1.1923
Valerian T67, T85 178 C. Rennoldson, South Shields 1915 21.2.1916 1916 foundered 22.10.1926
Cyclamen T73, T26 808 Lobnitz, Renfrew 1915 22.2.1916 1916 sold 7.1932
Genista T63 208 Napier & Miller, Old Kirkpatrick 1915 22.2.1916 4.1916 sunk 23.10.1916
Hydrangea T62, T45 381 Connell, Scotstoun 1915 2.3.1916 5.1916 sold 4.1920
Lobelia (1920- Newfoundland Govt) T74, T54 572 Simons, Renfrew 1915 7.3.1916 3/1916 hulk 1924
Cornflower T64, T24 537 Barclay Curle, Whiteinch 1915 30.3.1916 1916 sunk 15.12.1941
Petunia T66, T72   Workman Clark, Belfast 1915 3.4.1916 1916 sold 12.1922
Myosotis T68, T64 322 Bow McLachlan, Paisley 1915 4.4.1916 1916 sold 1.1923
Lupin T65, T55 573 Simons, Renfrew 1915 31.5.1916 6/1916 sold 3.1946

 

Displacement normal, t

 1250

Displacement full, t

 1350

Length, m

81.7

Breadth, m

10.2

Draught, m

3.36

No of shafts

1

Machinery

1 VTE, 2 cylindrical boilers

Power, h. p.

2000

Max speed, kts

16

Fuel, t

coal 130

Endurance, nm(kts)

2000(15)

Armament

2 x 1 - 120/40 QF Mk I/II/III/IV, 2 x 1 - 47/40 3pdr Hotchkiss Mk I, mechanical minesweeping gear

6 ships: 2 x 1 - 102/44 BL Mk IX or 102/45 BL Mk X or 102/40 QF Mk IV, 2 x 1 - 47/40 3pdr Hotchkiss Mk I, mechanical minesweeping gear

Complement

104

Project history: A slightly improved class ordered in three batches in July 1915 to follow the Azaleas, with slightly more powerful machinery, which, it was hoped, would give 0.5kt more speed. All the improvements suggested from experience with the first batch were incorporated during construction, including the packing of some bow and wing compartments with 50t of cork to improve flotation in case of heavy damage. Eight more built for French Navy 1915-16.

Modernizations: 1916 - 1917, all survived: + 2 DCT, 1 DCR

mid-1930s, all survived: - 2 x 1 - 47/40; + 2 x 1 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk II

1930s, most survived: + type 121 sonar

1940, Rosemary: + 1 x 1 - 76/40 12pdr 12cwt QF Mk I/II/V, 1 x 4 - 12.7/62, 2 DCT, 1 DCR

1940-1941, Lupin: - 1 x 1 - 102/40; + 3 x 1 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII

1941, Rosemary: + 2 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV

1942-1944, Rosemary: + presumably type 286 or type 271 radar

1/1946, Rosemary: 2 x 1 - 120/40 P Mk IV, 1 x 1 - 76/40 HA/LA Mk IX, 2 x 1 - 20/70 Mk III, 4 DCT, 2 DCR, type 271 or type 286 radar, type 121 sonar

Naval service: Alyssum was mined 18.3.1917 SW of Ireland, Gentian was mined 16.7.1919 in the Gulf of Finland during operations against the Bolsheviks, Mignonette was mined 17.3.1917 off Galley Head, SW Ireland and Nasturtium was mined 27.4.1916 near Malta; Arabis was sunk 10.2.1916 in action with German TBs off Dogger bank and Genista was sunk 23.10.1916 by German submarine U57 in the Atlantic. Primula was torpedoed by German submarine U35 in the Mediterranean. Valerian foundered 22.10.1926 off Bermuda.

    Lupin since 1940 was used as the target and sunk 22.3.1946; she was salvaged and sold for scrap. Rosemary since 1943 was used as target and laid up the same year. Foxglowe was badly damaged by aircraft 9.7.1940; she was converted to AA ship and to depot ship in 1943. Cornflower was sold mercantile and taken back into naval service and lost during the fall of Hong Kong 19.12.1941.

Many thanks to Wolfgang Stöhr for additional information on this page.

Primula 1916

© Ivan Gogin, 2008-15