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FLOWER CLASS CORVETTE
The Flower class corvette was a British class of 294
corvettes used during World War II by the Allied navies
particularly as anti-submarine convoy escorts in the
Battle of the Atlantic.
The Flower
class was an essential resource for North Atlantic
convoy protection until larger vessels such as destroyer
escorts and frigates could be produced in sufficient
quantities. The simple design of the Flower class using
parts and techniques common to merchant shipping meant
they could be constructed in small commercial shipyards
all over the United Kingdom and Canada, where larger
warships could not be built. Additionally, the use of
commercial triple expansion machinery instead of steam
turbines meant the largely Royal Naval Reserve and Royal
Naval Volunteer Reserve crews that were manning the
corvettes would be familiar with their operation.
The Flower
class was designed for inshore patrol and harbor
anti-submarine defense and many required minor
modifications when the Allied navies began to use them
as trans-Atlantic convoy escorts. These small warships
could be supported by any small dockyard or naval
station, so many ships came to have a variety of weapons
systems and design modifications depending upon when and
where they were refitted; there is really no such thing
as a 'standard Flower-class corvette.'
Service on
Flower class ships in the North Atlantic was typically
cold, wet, and uncomfortable. Every dip of the
forecastle into an oncoming wave was followed by a
cascade of water into the well deck amidships. Men at
action stations were drenched with spray and water
entered living spaces through hatches opened for access
to ammunition magazines. Interior decks were constantly
wet and condensation dripped from the overheads. By 1941
Flower class corvettes carried twice as many crewmen as
anticipated in the original design. Men slept on lockers
or tabletops or in any dark place that offered a little
warmth. The inability to store perishable food meant a
reliance on preserved food such as corned-beef and
powdered potato for all meals. Many crewmen suffered
severe motion sickness for a few weeks. Although poor in
their sea-handling characteristics, the Flowers were
extremely seaworthy.
A typical
action by a Flower class encountering a surfaced U-boat
during convoy escort duties was to run directly at the
submarine, forcing it to dive and thus limiting its
speed and maneuverability. The corvette would then keep
the submarine down and preoccupied with avoiding depth
charge attacks long enough to allow the convoy to pass
safely.
After
World War II many surplus Flower class ships were used
in other navies, or for civilian use. HMCS Sackville is
the only member of the class preserved as a museum ship.
We build this primarily wood
Flower class HMCS
Sackville
in three sizes:
25" long (1/100 scale), 32" long, and 48" long.
Email us for quotes.
Learn more about the
Flower class here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flower-class_corvette
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