Polyanthus 1918
Cornwallis 1939
| Name | No | Yard No | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Comp | Fate |
| ordered 1.1916 | |||||||
| Tamarisk (Compatriot, Fernridge, Q11) | T84 | 810 | Lobnitz, Renfrew | 1916 | 2.6.1916 | 1916 | sold 10.1922 |
| Heather (Bywater, Q16, Seetrus) | T40 | 380 | Greenock & Grangemouth | 1916 | 16.6.1916 | 10/1916 | sold 2.1932 |
| Salvia (Q15) | 577 | Irvine, West Hartlepool | 1916 | 16.6.1916 | 10.1916 | sunk 20.6.1917 | |
| Aubrietia (Kai, Q13, Winton, Zebal) | T06 | Blyth SB, Cowpen Quay | 1916 | 17.6.1916 | 10/1916 | sold 10.1922 | |
| Viola (Cranford, Damaris, Q14) | T88 | 519 | Ropner, Stockton | 1916 | 14.7.1916 | 1916 | sold 12.1922 |
| Tulip (Q12) | 666 | Richardson Duck, Thornaby | 1916 | 15.7.1916 | 9.1916 | sunk 30.4.1917 | |
| ordered 12.1916 | |||||||
| Gaillardia | T34 | Blyth SB, Cowpen Quay | 1917 | 19.5.1917 | 11.1917 | sunk 22.3.1918 | |
| Andromeda | 1036 | Swan Hunter, Low Walker | 1917 | 6.1917 | --- // 8.1917 | to France 1917 before completion (Andromede) | |
| Lychnis (Kidner, Wilangil), 9.1921- Cornwallis (9/1921- RIM) | T56 | 350 | Hamilton, Port Glasgow | 1917 | 21.8.1917 | 11/1917 | sold 1946 |
| Montbretia (Rochfort) | T63 | 588 | Irvine, West Hartlepool | 1917 | 3.9.1917 | 12/1917 | sold 1.1921 |
| Polyanthus (Deveril) | T73 | 826 | Lobnitz, Renfrew | 1917 | 24.9.1917 | 11.1917 | sold 1.1921 |
| Hibiscus (Palette) | T42 | 386 | Greenock & Grangemouth | 1917 | 17.11.1917 | 1.1918 | sold 1.1923 |
|
Displacement normal, t |
1250 |
|
Displacement full, t |
1450 |
|
Length, m |
81.7 |
|
Breadth, m |
10.2 |
|
Draught, m |
3.36 |
|
No of shafts |
1 |
|
Machinery |
VTE, 2 cylindrical boilers |
|
Power, h. p. |
2500 |
|
Max speed, kts |
17.5 |
|
Fuel, t |
coal 130 |
| Endurance, nm(kts) | 2000(15) |
|
Armament |
2 x 1 - 102/40 QF Mk IV or 2 x 1 - 102/44 BL Mk IX or 2 x 1 - 102/45 BL Mk X, 1 x 1 - 47/40 3pdr Hotchkiss Mk I, 2 DCT, 1 DCR |
|
Complement |
92 |
Project history: A further order was placed for six sloops in January 1916, but it was hoped to improve their anti-submarine capabilities by disguising them as small merchant ships, with armament concealed. The earlier 'Flower' class ships had proved useful escorts but their unmistakable silhouette always betrayed them as warships, and it was hoped that a more mercantile silhouette would tempt U-boats to stay on the surface long enough for the sloops to get within gun-range. Six more were ordered in December. The builders were given a free hand to model the sloops on similar-sized ships which they had already built. This frequently resulted in unsuitable accommodation and internal arrangements, but was considered a necessary evil to make the disguise effective. Although not strictly Q-ships, in the sense that they were built as commissioned warships, they were incorporated into the decoy organisation, with 'Q' numbers and false identities (shown in the table). Their main problems were that when viewed from bow or quarter their lines were much too fine for a mercantile hull, and if engaged by a U-boat their crews were too large to fake an 'abandon ship' routine.
Modernizations: 1920s, Heather: + type 114 sonar
mid-1930s, Cornwallis: - 1 x 1 - 47/40; + 1 x 1 - 76/40 12pdr 12cwt QF Mk I/II/III/IV, 4 x 2 - 12.7/62
Naval service: Salvia was torpedoed 20.6.1917 by German submarine U94 off SW Ireland. Tulip was torpedoed by German submarine U62 30.4.1917 in the Atlantic.
Many thanks to Wolfgang Stöhr for additional information on this page.
© Ivan Gogin, 2008-13