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| General characteristics Modified Flower-class corvette |
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| Displacement: | 1,015 long tons (1,031 t; 1,137 ST) |
| Length: | 208 ft (63.40 m)o/a |
| Beam: | 33 ft (10.06 m) |
| Draught: | 11 ft (3.35 m) |
| Propulsion: |
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| Speed: | 16 knots (29.6 km/h) |
| Range: | 3,500 nautical miles (6,482 km) at 12 knots (22.2 km/h) |
| Complement: | 90 |
| Sensors and processing systems: |
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| Armament: |
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The Flower-class corvette [1][2][3] (also referred to as the Gladiolus class)[4] was a class of 267 corvettes used during World War II, specifically with the Allied navies as anti-submarine convoy escorts during the Battle of the Atlantic. Several vessels saw service with the United States Navy where they were known as Action-class patrol gunboats.
The majority served during World War II with the Royal Navy (RN) and Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), with some being built for, or transferred to, other Allied navies such as the United States Navy (USN) (where some were manned by the U.S. Coast Guard),[5] the Free French Naval Forces, the Royal Netherlands Navy, the Royal Norwegian Navy, the Royal Indian Navy, the Royal Hellenic Navy, the Royal New Zealand Navy and, immediately post-war, the South African Navy. Several ships built largely in Canada were transferred between the USN and RN under the lend-lease program, seeing service in both navies.
After World War II many surplus Flower-class vessels saw use in non-Allied navies the world over, as well as civilian use. HMCS Sackville is the only member of the class to be preserved as a museum ship.
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The term "corvette" was originally a French name for a small sailing warship, intermediate between the frigate and the sloop-of-war. In the 1830s the term was adopted by the RN for sailing warships of roughly similar size, primarily operating in the shipping protection role. With the arrival of steam power, paddle- and later screw-driven corvettes were built for the same purpose, growing in power, size, and armament over the decades. In 1877, the RN abolished the "corvette" as a traditional category; corvettes and frigates were then combined into a new category, "cruiser".
The months leading up to World War II saw the RN return to the concept of a small escort warship being used in the shipping protection role. The Flower class was based on a whale-catcher design and apparently Winston Churchill labelled them "corvettes", thus restoring the title for the RN . As such, there is no linear link between the Flower class and the cruising vessels of pre-1877.
There are two distinct groups of vessels in this class: the original Flower class which was a group of 225 vessels ordered during the 1939 and 1940 building programs; and the modified Flower class which followed with a further 69 vessels ordered from 1940 onward. The modified "Flowers" were slightly larger and somewhat better armed.
In addition, those Flower-class vessels which saw service with the USN are also known as Action-class gunboats and carried the hull classification symbol PG (Patrol Gunboat), regardless of whether they were original or modified designs.
The generic term "Flower" is derived from the RN's use of flower names for the class.
The design of the Flower class was inspired by whale catcher Southern Pride, constructed by the Smiths Dock Company of Middlesbrough. The class was intended to be a "stop-gap" measure for the Allied navies in their battle against Kriegsmarine U-boats. They were intended as small convoy escort ships that could be produced quickly and cheaply in large numbers. Despite naval planners intentions that they be deployed for coastal convoys, their long range meant that they became the mainstay of Mid-Ocean Escort Force convoy protection during the first half of the war.
The Flower class became an essential resource for North Atlantic convoy protection until larger vessels such as destroyers and frigates could be produced in sufficient quantities. The simple design of the Flower class using parts and techniques (scantlings) common to merchant shipping meant they could be constructed in small commercial shipyards all over the United Kingdom and eastern Canada, where larger (or more sophisticated) warships[6] could not be built. Additionally, the use of commercial machinery meant the largely Royal Naval Reserve and Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve crews to man them would be familiar with their operation.
Flower-class vessels were slow for a warship with maximum speed of 16 kn (30 km/h). They were also very lightly armed as they were intended solely for anti-submarine warfare; many of the RCN's original Flower-class ships were initially fitted with minesweeping equipment, while virtually all of the modified Flowers were fitted with a limited anti-aircraft capability.
The original Flowers had the standard RN layout, consisting of a raised forecastle, a well deck, then the bridge or wheelhouse, and a continuous deck running aft. The crew quarters were in the foc'sle while the galley was at the rear making for poor messing arrangements.[7]
The modified Flowers saw the forecastle extended aft past the bridge to the aft end of the funnel, a variation known as the "long forecastle" design. Apart from providing a very useful space where the whole crew could gather out of the weather, the added weight improved the ships' stability and speed and was retrospectively applied to a number of the original Flower-class vessels during the mid and latter years of the war.
The original Flowers had a mast located immediately forward the bridge, a notable exception to naval practice at that time. The modified Flowers saw the mast returned to the normal position immediately aft of the bridge; however, this does not seem to have been done in all of the modified builds or conversions of the original vessels.
A cruiser stern finished the appearance for all vessels in the class.
The RN ordered 145 Flower-class corvettes in 1939, the first 26 on 25 July with a further batch of 30 on 31 August, all under the 1939 Pre-War Programme. Following the outbreak of World War II, the British Admiralty ordered another 20 on 19 September (all from Harland & Wolff) under the 1939 War Programme. This was followed by an order for a further ten Flower-class corvettes from other British shipbuilders two days later. Another 18 were ordered on 12 December and an additional two on 15 December, again from British shipbuilders. The RN ordered the last ten vessels (under the 1939 War Programme) from Canadian shipbuilders in January 1940.
Thus, by the end of January 1940, a total of 116 ships were building or on order to this initial design. The 10 vessels ordered from Canadian shipbuilders were transferred to the RCN upon completion. Another four vessels were ordered at Smiths Dock Company for the French Navy, the first ship being completed for the Free French Naval Forces in mid-1940 and the other three being taken over by the RN. Another 31 Flowers were ordered by the RN under the 1940 War Programme, but six of these (ordered from Harland & Wolff) were cancelled on 23 January 1941.
The RN ordered 27 modified Flower-class corvettes under the 1941 and 1942 War Programmes. British shipbuilders were contracted to build seven of these vessels under the 1941 Programme and 5 vessels under the 1942 Programme; however, two vessels (one from each year's Programme) were later cancelled. Additionally, the RN ordered 15 modified Flowers from Canadian shipyards under the 1941 programme; eight of these were transferred to the USN under the Lend-Lease Programme.
The RCN ordered 70 original and 34 modified Flower class from Canadian shipbuilders. The Canadian shipbuilders also built seven original Flowers ordered by the USN; however, these vessels were transferred to the RN under the Lend-Lease Programme upon completion as wartime shipbuilding production in the United States had reached the level where the USN could dispense with vessels it had ordered in Canada. The RCN vessels had several design variations from their RN counterparts: the "bandstand," where the aft pom-pom gun was mounted, was moved to the rear of the superstructure; the galley was also moved forward, immediately abaft the engine room.
Shortly after the outbreak of war the French Navy ordered 18 Flower-class vessels;[8] 12 from UK yards, two from Ateliers et Chantiers de France at Dunkirk and four from Chantiers de Penhoët at Saint-Nazaire.[9] The two At. & Ch. de France ships are listed as "cancelled"[10] but the four Penhoët ships were under construction at the time of the Fall of France and were seized by Nazi Germany.
Three were completed for Kriegsmarine service and commissioned in 1943–44 under the names PA-1, PA-2 and PA-3.[9][11] Their logs have all been lost, but it is thought their war careers consisted of a mixture of coastal patrol and escort with at least one specially adapted as a sea-mobile heavy anti-aircraft platform. RAF aircraft bombed and sank PA-1, PA-2 and PA-3 at Le Havre or in the English Channel shortly after the Normandy landings in June 1944.[9]
The fourth Penhoët ship, which the Kriegsmarine intended to be PA-4, remained uncompleted when Saint-Nazaire was liberated in 1944.[10] She was launched in September 1944 as FFL La Telindiére[10] and sunk as a blockship[10][11] She was raised in April 1945 and scrapped in 1946.[10]
| Ship | Ordered | Launched | Intended French name | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PA 1 | September 1939 | 16 October 1940 | Arquebuse | Confiscated in June 1940 and served in 15 Vorposten Flottille. Sunk by aerial bombing 15 June 1944 at Le Havre |
| PA 2 | September 1939 | 22 November 1940 | Hallebarde | Confiscated in June 1940 and served in 15 Vorposten Flottille. Sunk by aerial bombing 15 June 1944 at Le Havre |
| PA 3 | September 1939 | 29 November 1940 | Sabre | Confiscated in June 1940 and served in 15 Vorposten Flottille. Sunk by aerial bombing 15 June 1944 at Le Havre |
| PA 4 | September 1939 | 29 November 1940 | Poignard | Confiscated in June 1940. Launched 1 September 1944 as Telindiére. Sunk uncompleted as a block ship at Nantes |
The original Flower class were fitted with a 4 inch (102 mm) gun on the bow, depth charge racks carrying 40 charges on the stern, a minesweeping winch, and a 2-pounder (40 mm) pom-pom gun on a "bandstand" over the engine room.
Due to initial shortages, a pair of Lewis guns was sometimes substituted for the pom-pom, which would have left the ship very vulnerable to aircraft attack in its envisaged role of coastal convoy escort and patrol in the North Sea. The long-range endurance of the vessels, coupled with early war-time shortages of larger escort warships, saw Flowers assigned to trans-Atlantic convoy escort where Luftwaffe fighter-bombers were rarely encountered. Vessels assigned to the Mediterranean Sea usually had their anti-aircraft capability significantly upgraded.
Detection capability was provided by a fixed ASDIC dome; this was later modified to be retractable. Subsequent inventions such as the High Frequency Radio Detection Finder (Huff-Duff) were later added, along with various radar systems (such as the Type 271), which proved particularly effective in low-visibility conditions in the North Atlantic.
The Flower class had been designed for inshore patrol and harbour anti-submarine defence; therefore, many required minor modifications when the Allied navies began deploying these vessels 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 different 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'
Several of the major changes that vessels in the class underwent are indicated below, in a typical chronological order:
Note that any particular ship may have had any mix of these (including none), in any order, or other specialist one-off modifications. Ships allocated to other navies such as the RCN or USN usually had different armament (3 inch {76 mm}/50 cal) and deck layouts.
A major difference between the RN vessels and the RCN, USN, and other navies' vessels was the provision of upgraded ASDIC and radar. The RN was a world leader in developing these technologies, and thus RN Flowers were somewhat better equipped for remote detection of enemy submarines. A good example of this is the difficulty that RCN Flowers had in intercepting U-boats with their Canadian-designed SW1C metric radar while the RN vessels were equipped with the technologically advanced Type 271 centimetric sets. In addition, RCN vessels were incapable of operating gyrocompasses, making ASDIC attacks more difficult.
Flower-class corvettes were used extensively by both the RN and RCN during the Battle of the Atlantic. They also saw limited service elsewhere with the RN, as well as the USN and several Allied navies such as the Royal Netherlands Navy, the Royal Norwegian Navy, the Royal Hellenic Navy, the Free French Naval Forces, the Royal Indian Navy, and the Royal New Zealand Navy.
Most Royal Navy Flower-class ships drew their officers and crew from the Royal Naval Reserve and the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve (RNVR). Many RN Flowers had captains drawn from the Merchant Navy.
Service on Flowers in the North Atlantic was typically cold, wet, monotonous and uncomfortable. Every dip of the fo'c'sle into an oncoming wave was followed by a cascade of water into the well deck amidships.[12] Men at action stations were drenched with spray and water entered living spaces through hatches opened to access ammunition magazines.[12] Interior decks were constantly wet and condensation dripped from the overheads.[12] The head (or sanitary toilet) was drained by a straight pipe to the ocean; and a reverse flow of the icy North Atlantic would cleanse the backside of those using it during rough weather.[12] By 1941, corvettes carried twice as many crewmen as anticipated in the original design.[12] Men slept on lockers or tabletops or in any dark place that offered a little warmth.[12] The warships were nicknamed "the pekingese of the ocean". They had a reputation of having poor sea-handling characteristics, most often rolling in heavy seas, with complete 80-degree rolls (40 degrees each side of the normal upright position) being fairly common; it was said they "would roll on wet grass".[13] Many crewmen suffered severe motion sickness for a few weeks until they acclimatised to shipboard life.[12] It should be noted however, the general design of the Flowers was extremely seaworthy (just poor sea-handling characteristics), as no Allied sailor was ever lost overboard from a Flower during World War II, outside of enemy action.
A typical action by a Flower during convoy escort duties should she encounter a surfaced U-boat was to run directly at the submarine to force it to dive (thus limiting the speed and manoeuvrability of the U-boat). The corvette would then keep the submarine down and pre-occupied with avoiding depth charge attacks long enough to allow the convoy to safely pass. The 16-knot (30 km/h) top speed of the Flower-class ships made effective pursuit of a surfaced U-boat (approximately 17 knots) impossible, though it was adequate to manoeuvre around submerged U-boats or convoys, both of which ran at a typical maximum of 8 knots, and sometimes much less in poor weather. The low speed also made it difficult for Flowers to catch up to the convoy again after action.[7]
This technique was hampered when the Kriegsmarine began deploying its U-boats in "wolf-pack" attacks, which were intended to overwhelm the escort warships of a convoy and allow at least one of the submarines to attack the merchant vessels. Upgrades in sensors and armament for the Flowers, such as radar, HF/DF, depth-charge projectors, and ASDIC, meant these small warships were well equipped to detect and defend against such attacks, but the tactical advantage often lay with the attackers, who could operate a cat-and-mouse series of attacks intended to draw the defending Flower off-station.
Success for the Flowers, therefore, should be measured in terms of tonnage protected, rather than U-boats sunk. Typical reports of convoy actions by these craft include numerous instances of U-boat detection near a convoy, followed by brief engagements using guns or depth-charges and a rapid return to station as another U-boat took advantage of the initial skirmish to attack the unguarded convoy. Continuous actions of this kind against a numerically superior U-boat pack demanded considerable seamanship skills from all concerned, and were very wearing on the crews.
Thirty-six ships in the class were lost during World War II, many due to enemy action, some to collision with Allied warships and merchant ships. One, sunk in shallow water, was raised and repaired. Of the vessels lost to enemy action, 22 were torpedoed by U-boats, five were mined, and four were sunk by enemy aircraft. The Flower-class corvettes are credited with participating in the sinking of 47 German and four Italian submarines.
Construction of the Flower class was superseded toward the end of the war as larger shipyards concentrated on River-class frigates, and smaller yards on the improved Castle-class corvette design.
The Flower class represented fully half of all Allied convoy escort vessels in the North Atlantic during World War II.
The following tables list all Flower-class corvettes which served in the Allied navies during World War II.
| Ship | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Paid off | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aconit | Ailsa Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., Troon | 25 Mar 1940 | 31 Mar 1941 | 23 Jul 1941 | 30 April 1947 | Formerly HMS Aconite. Transferred on 23 Jul 1941 to the Free French Navy. Returned to RN on 30 Apr 1947. |
| Alysse | George Brown & Co., Greenock | 24 Jun 1940 | 3 Mar 1941 | 17 Jun 1941 | 9 Feb 1942 | Formerly HMS Alyssum. Transferred on 17 Jun 1941 to the Free French Navy. Torpedoed and sunk on 9 Feb 1942 by U-654 while escorting convoy ON-60 approximately 420 nautical miles (780 km) east of Cape Race at 46-00N, 44-00W. 36 crew were killed. |
| Commandant d'Estienne d'Orves | Charles Hill & Sons Ltd., Bristol | 26 May 1941 | 17 Jan 1942 | 23 May 1942 | 31 May 1947 | Formerly HMS Lotus. Transferred on 23 May 1942 to the Free French Navy upon completion. Returned to RN on 31 May 1947. |
| Commandant Detroyat | Hall, Russell & Co., Aberdeen | 19 Sep 1940 | 9 Jun 1941 | 16 Sep 1941 | 1947 | Formerly HMS Coriander. Transferred on 16 Sep 1941 to the Free French Navy. Returned to RN in 1947. |
| Commandant Drogou | Harland & Wolff Ltd., Belfast | 17 Dec 1940 | 11 Apr 1941 | 15 Jan 1942 | May 1947 | Formerly HMS Chrysanthemum. Transferred on 26 Jan 1942 to the Free French Navy. Returned to the RN in May 1947. |
| La Bastiaise | Smiths Dock Co., South Bank-on-Tees | 18 Nov 1939 | 8 Apr 1940 | 22 Jun 1940 | 22 Jun 1940 | First and only Flower-class corvette commissioned into the French Navy before the Fall of France. Mined during sea trials off Hartlepool on day of her commissioning. |
| Lobelia | Alexander Hall & Co., Aberdeen | 27 Jun 1940 | 15 Feb 1941 | 16 Jul 1941 | Apr 1947 | Formerly HMS Lobelia. Transferred on 16 Jul 1941 to the Free French Navy. Returned to the RN in Apr 1947. |
| Mimosa | Charles Hill & Sons Ltd., Bristol | 22 Apr 1940 | 18 Jan 1941 | 11 May 1941 | 9 Jun 1942 | Formerly HMS Mimosa. Transferred on 11 May 1941 to the Free French Navy. Torpedoed and sunk on 9 Jun 1942 by U-124 while escorting convoy ONS-100 at 52-12N, 32-37W. 58 French and 6 British crew were killed; the French crew being largely from Saint Pierre and Miquelon. 4 survivors rescued by HMCS Assiniboine. |
| Renoncule | W. Simons & Co., Renfrew | 19 Jul 1940 | 25 Jun 1941 | 28 Jul 1941 | 1947 | Formerly HMS Ranonculus. Transferred on 28 Jul 1941 to the Free French Navy. Returned to the RN in 1947. |
| Roselys | J. Lewis & Sons Ltd., Aberdeen | 4 Nov 1940 | 28 May 1941 | 19 Sep 1941 | 1947 | Formerly HMS Sundew. Transferred on 19 Sep 1941 to the Free French Navy. Returned to RN in 1947. |
| Ship | Builder | Laid Down | Launched | Commissioned | Paid Off | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agassiz | Burrard Dry Dock Co. Ltd., North Vancouver | 29 Apr 1940 | 15 Aug 1940 | 23 Jan 1941 | 14 Jun 1945 | Sold on 16 Nov 1945. |
| Alberni | Yarrows Ltd., Esquimalt | 29 Apr 1940 | 22 Aug 1940 | 4 Feb 1941 | 21 Aug 1944 | Torpedoed and sunk on 21 Aug 1944 by U-480 while escorting a convoy in the English Channel south of St. Catherine's Point at 50-18N, 00-51W. 59 crew killed and 31 rescued by RN motor torpedo boats. |
| Algoma | Port Arthur Shipbuilding Co., Port Arthur | 18 Jun 1940 | 17 Dec 1940 | 11 Jul 1941 | 6 Jul 1945 | Transferred in 1945 to Venezuela as Constitucion. |
| Amherst | Saint John Dry Dock and Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., Saint John | 23 May 1940 | 4 Dec 1940 | 5 Aug 1941 | 16 Jul 1945 | Wrecked in 1945 while under tow. |
| Arrowhead | Marine Industries Ltd., Sorel-Tracy, Quebec | 11 Apr 1940 | 8 Aug 1940 | 22 Nov 1940 | 27 Jun 1945 | Formerly HMS Arrowhead. Transferred to RCN 22 Nov 1940. Returned to RN 27 Jun 1945. |
| Arvida | Morton Engineering & Dry Dock Co., Quebec City | 28 Feb 1940 | 21 Sep 1940 | 22 May 1941 | 14 Jun 1945 | Sold in 1950 to Spain as mercantile La Ceie. |
| Baddeck | Davie Shipbuilding & Repairing Co. Ltd., Lauzon | 14 Aug 1940 | 20 Nov 1940 | 18 May 1941 | 4 Jul 1945 | Sold in 1947 as mercantile Efthai. |
| Barrie | Collingwood Shipyards Ltd., Collingwood | 4 Apr 1940 | 23 Nov 1940 | 12 May 1941 | 26 Jun 1945 | Sold in 1947 as mercantile Gasestado. |
| Battleford | Collingwood Shipyards Ltd., Collingwood | 30 Sep 1940 | 15 Apr 1941 | 31 Jul 1941 | 18 Jul 1945 | Sold in 1946 to Venezuela as Libertad. |
| Bittersweet | Marine Industries Ltd., Sorel-Tracy, Quebec | 17 Apr 1940 | 12 Sep 1940 | 23 Jan 1941 | 22 Jun 1945 | Formerly HMS Bittersweet. Transferred to RCN 23 Jan 1941. Returned to RN 22 Jun 1945. |
| Brandon | Davie Shipbuilding & Repairing Co. Ltd., Lauzon | 10 Oct 1940 | 29 Apr 1941 | 22 Jul 1941 | 22 Jun 1945 | Sold on 5 Oct 1945. |
| Brantford | Midland Shipyards Ltd., Midland | 24 Feb 1941 | 6 Sep 1941 | 15 May 1942 | 17 Aug 1945 | Sold in 1950 as mercantile Olympi Arrow. |
| Buctouche | Davie Shipbuilding & Repairing Co. Ltd., Lauzon | 14 Aug 1940 | 20 Nov 1940 | 5 Jun 1941 | 15 Jun 1945 | Sold on 23 Oct 1945. Scrapped in 1949 at Hamilton. |
| Calgary | Marine Industries Ltd., Sorel-Tracy, Quebec | 22 Mar 1941 | 23 Aug 1941 | 16 Dec 1941 | 19 Jun 1945 | Sold 30 Aug 1946. Scrapped 1951 at Hamilton. |
| Camrose | Marine Industries Ltd., Sorel-Tracy, Quebec | 17 Sep 1940 | 16 Nov 1940 | 30 Jun 1941 | 22 Jul 1945 | Scrapped in Canada. |
| Chambly | Canadian Vickers Ltd., Montreal | 20 Feb 1940 | 29 Jul 1940 | 18 Dec 1940 | 20 Jun 1945 | Sold in 1952 to the Netherlands as mercantile Sonia Vinkle. Scrapped in Oct 1966 at Santander. |
| Chicoutimi | Canadian Vickers Ltd., Montreal | 5 Jul 1940 | 16 Oct 1940 | 12 May 1941 | 16 Jun 1945 | Scrapped in 1946 at Hamilton. |
| Chilliwack | Burrard Dry Dock Co. Ltd., North Vancouver | 3 Jul 1940 | 14 Sep 1940 | 8 Apr 1941 | 14 Jul 1945 | Sold on 5 Oct 1945. Scrapped in 1946 at Hamilton. |
| Cobalt | Port Arthur Shipbuilding Co., Port Arthur | 1 Apr 1940 | 17 Aug 1940 | 25 Nov 1940 | 17 Jun 1945 | Sold in 1953 to the Netherlands as mercantile Johanna W. Vinke. Scrapped 15 Dec 1961 in South Africa. |
| Collingwood | Collingwood Shipyards Ltd., Collingwood | 2 Mar 1940 | 27 Jul 1940 | 19 Nov 1940 | 23 Jul 1945 | Scrapped in 1950 at Hamilton. |
| Dauphin | Canadian Vickers Ltd., Montreal | 6 Jul 1940 | 24 Oct 1940 | 17 May 1941 | 20 Jun 1945 | Sold in 1949 to Honduras as mercantile Cortes. |
| Dawson | Victoria Machinery Depot Co. Ltd., Victoria | 7 Sep 1940 | 8 Feb 1941 | 6 Oct 1941 | 19 Jun 1945 | Scrapped in 1946 at Hamilton. |
| Drumheller | Collingwood Shipyards Ltd., Collingwood | 4 Dec 1940 | 5 Jul 1941 | 13 Sep 1941 | 11 Jul 1945 | Scrapped in 1949 at Hamilton. |
| Dundas | Victoria Machinery Depot Co. Ltd., Victoria | 19 Mar 1941 | 25 Jul 1941 | 1 Apr 1942 | 17 Jul 1945 | Sold on 23 Oct 1945. |
| Dunvegan | Marine Industries Ltd., Sorel-Tracy, Quebec | 30 Aug 1940 | 11 Dec 1940 | 9 Sep 1941 | 3 Jul 1945 | Sold in 1946 to Venezuela as Independencia. Scrapped in 1953. |
| Edmundston | Yarrows Ltd., Esquimalt | 23 Aug 1940 | 22 Feb 1941 | 21 Oct 1941 | 16 Jun 1945 | Sold in 1948 to Liberia as mercantile Amapala. |
| Eyebright | Canadian Vickers Ltd., Montreal | 20 Feb 1940 | 22 Jul 1940 | 26 Nov 1940 | 17 Jun 1945 | Formerly Eyebright. Transferred to RCN 26 Nov 1940. Returned to RN 17 Jun 1945. |
| Fennel | Marine Industries Ltd., Sorel-Tracy, Quebec | 29 Mar 1940 | 20 Aug 1940 | 15 May 1941 | 12 Jun 1945 | Formerly HMS Fennel. Transferred to RCN 15 May 1941. Returned to RN 12 Jun 1945. |
| Fredericton | Marine Industries Ltd., Sorel-Tracy, Quebec | 22 Mar 1941 | 2 Sep 1941 | 8 Dec 1941 | 14 Jul 1945 | Sold in 1946 as mercantile Tra Los Montes. Resold in 1950 as whaler Olympic Fighter and in 1956 as Otori Maru No. 6. |
| Galt | Collingwood Shipyards Ltd., Collingwood | 27 May 1940 | 28 Dec 1940 | 15 May 1941 | 21 Jun 1945 | Sold on 5 Oct 1945. Scrapped in 1946 at Hamilton. |
| Halifax | Collingwood Shipyards Ltd., Collingwood | 26 Apr 1941 | 4 Oct 1941 | 26 Nov 1941 | 12 Jul 1945 | Sold in 1945 as mercantile Halifax. |
| Hepatica | Davie Shipbuilding & Repairing Co. Ltd., Lauzon | 24 Feb 1940 | 6 Jul 1940 | 15 May 1941 | 27 Jun 1945 | Formerly HMS Hepatica. Transferred to RCN 15 May 1941. Returned to RN 27 Jun 1945. |
| Kamloops | Victoria Machinery Depot Co. Ltd., Victoria | 29 Apr 1940 | 7 Aug 1940 | 17 Mar 1941 | 27 Jun 1945 | Sold on 19 Oct 1945. |
| Kamsack | Port Arthur Shipbuilding Co., Port Arthur | 20 Nov 1940 | 5 May 1941 | 4 Oct 1941 | 22 Jul 1945 | Sold in 1945 to Venezuela as Carabobo. Lost in Dec 1945. |
| Kenogami | Port Arthur Shipbuilding Co., Port Arthur | 20 Apr 1940 | 5 Sep 1940 | 29 Jun 1941 | 9 Jul 1945 | Scrapped in Jan 1950 in Canada. |
| Kitchener | Davie Shipbuilding & Repairing Co. Ltd., Lauzon | 28 Feb 1941 | 18 Nov 1941 | 28 Jun 1942 | 11 Jul 1945 | Formerly Vancouver. Scrapped in Sep 1949 in Canada. |
| La Malbaie | Marine Industries Ltd., Sorel-Tracy, Quebec | 22 Mar 1941 | 25 Oct 1941 | 28 Apr 1942 | 28 Jun 1945 | Formerly Fort William. Sold on 17 Oct 1945. |
| Lethbridge | Canadian Vickers Ltd., Montreal | 5 Aug 1940 | 21 Nov 1940 | 25 Jun 1941 | 23 Jul 1945 | Sold in 1952 to the Netherlands as mercantile Nicolaas Vinke. Scrapped in Sep 1966 at Santander. |
| Levis | Davie Shipbuilding & Repairing Co. Ltd., Lauzon | 11 Mar 1940 | 4 Sep 1940 | 16 May 1941 | 19 Sep 1941 | Torpedoed and sunk 19 Sep 1941 by U-74 while escorting convoy SC-44 east of Cape Farewell at 60-07N, 38-37W. 18 crew killed and 91 rescued. |
| Louisburg | Morton Engineering & Dry Dock Co., Quebec City | 4 Oct 1940 | 27 May 1941 | 2 Oct 1941 | 6 Feb 1943 | Bombed and torpedoed on 6 Feb 1943 by Luftwaffe aircraft while escorting convoy KMF-8 off Cape Tenes in Mediterranean Sea at 36-15N, 00-15E. 59 crew killed, 50 rescued. |
| Lunenburg | Davie Shipbuilding & Repairing Co. Ltd., Lauzon | 28 Sep 1940 | 10 Jul 1941 | 4 Dec 1941 | 23 Jul 1945 | Scrapped in Jun 1946 in Canada. |
| Matapedia | Morton Engineering & Dry Dock Co., Quebec City | 2 Feb 1940 | 14 Sep 1940 | 9 May 1941 | 16 Jun 1945 | Scrapped in Dec 1950 in Canada. |
| Mayflower | Canadian Vickers Ltd., Montreal | 20 Feb 1940 | 3 Jul 1940 | 15 May 1941 | 31 May 1945 | Formerly HMS Mayflower. Transferred to the RCN 15 May 1941. Returned to RN 31 May 1945. |
| Midland | Midland Shipyards Ltd., Midland | 24 Feb 1941 | 25 Jun 1941 | 17 Nov 1941 | 15 Jul 1945 | Sold on 19 Nov 1945. Scrapped in 1946 at Fort William. |
| Moncton | Saint John Dry Dock and Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., Saint John | 17 Dec 1940 | 11 Aug 1941 | 24 Apr 1942 | 12 Dec 1945 | Sold in 1955 to the Netherlands as mercantile Willem Vinke. Scrapped in 1966 at Santander. |
| Moosejaw | Collingwood Shipyards Ltd., Collingwood | 12 Aug 1940 | 9 Apr 1941 | 19 Jun 1941 | 8 Jul 1945 | Scrapped in Sep 1949 in Canada. |
| Morden | Port Arthur Shipbuilding Co., Port Arthur | 25 Oct 1940 | 5 May 1941 | 6 Sep 1941 | 29 Jun 1945 | Scrapped in Nov 1946 in Canada. |
| Nanaimo | Yarrows Ltd., Esquimalt | 27 Apr 1940 | 28 Oct 1940 | 26 Apr 1941 | 28 Sep 1945 | Sold in 1953 to the Netherlands as mercantile Rene W. Vinke. |
| Napanee | Kingston Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., Kingston | 20 Mar 1940 | 31 Aug 1940 | 12 May 1941 | 12 Jul 1945 | Scrapped in Jun 1946 in Canada. |
| New Westminster | Victoria Machinery Depot Co. Ltd., Victoria | 4 Feb 1941 | 14 May 1941 | 31 Jan 1942 | 21 Jun 1945 | Sold in 1950 as mercantile Elisa. Resold in 1952 as mercantile Portoviejo and in 1954 as mercantile Azura. Scrapped in 1966 at Tampa. |
| Oakville | Port Arthur Shipbuilding Co., Port Arthur | 21 Dec 1940 | 21 Jun 1941 | 18 Nov 1941 | 20 Jul 1945 | Sold in 1946 to Venezuela as Patria. |
| Orillia | Collingwood Shipyards Ltd., Collingwood | 4 Mar 1940 | 15 Sep 1940 | 25 Nov 1940 | 2 Jul 1945 | Scrapped in Jan 1951 in Canada. |
| Pictou | Davie Shipbuilding & Repairing Co. Ltd., Lauzon | 12 Jul 1940 | 5 Oct 1940 | 29 Apr 1941 | 12 Jul 1945 | Sold in 1950 as mercantile Olympic Chaser. Resold in 1956 as mercantile Otori Maru No. 7. Converted in 1963 to a barge. |
| Port Arthur | Port Arthur Shipbuilding Co., Port Arthur | 28 Apr 1941 | 18 Sep 1941 | 26 May 1942 | 11 Jul 1945 | Sold on 23 Oct 1945. Scrapped in 1948 at Hamilton. |
| Prescott | Kingston Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., Kingston | 31 Aug 1940 | 7 Jan 1941 | 26 Jun 1941 | 20 Jul 1945 | |
| Quesnel | Victoria Machinery Depot Co. Ltd., Victoria | 9 May 1940 | 12 Nov 1940 | 23 May 1941 | 3 Jul 1945 | Sold on 5 Oct 1945. Scrapped in 1946 at Hamilton. |
| Regina | Marine Industries Ltd., Sorel-Tracy, Quebec | 22 Mar 1941 | 14 Oct 1941 | 22 Jan 1942 | 8 Aug 1944 | Torpedoed and sunk on 8 Aug 1944 by U-667 off Trevose Head at 50-42N, 05-03W. 30 crew were killed. |
| Rimouski | Davie Shipbuilding & Repairing Co. Ltd., Lauzon | 12 Jul 1940 | 3 Oct 1940 | 26 Apr 1941 | 24 Jul 1945 | Scrapped in Dec 1950 in Canada. |
| Rosthern | Port Arthur Shipbuilding Co., Port Arthur | 18 Jun 1940 | 30 Nov 1940 | 17 Jun 1941 | 19 Jul 1945 | Scrapped in Jun 1946 in Canada. |
| Sackville | Saint John Dry Dock and Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., Saint John | 28 May 1940 | 15 May 1941 | 30 Dec 1941 | 8 Apr 1946 | Transferred in 1953 to Department of Fisheries as research ship Sackville. Acquired in 1982 by the Canadian Naval Corvette Trust and restored to 1944 configuration. Now a museum ship at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in Halifax, operated by the Canadian Naval Memorial Trust. Sackville is the last remaining Flower-class corvette. |
| Saskatoon | Canadian Vickers Ltd., Montreal | 9 Aug 1940 | 7 Nov 1940 | 9 Jun 1941 | 25 Jun 1945 | Sold in 1948 as whaling ship Tra los Montes. Resold in 1950 as mercantile Olympic Fighter, in 1956 as Otori Maru No. 6, and in 1961 as Kyo Maru No. 20. |
| Shawinigan | Davie Shipbuilding & Repairing Co. Ltd., Lauzon | 4 Jun 1940 | 16 May 1941 | 19 Sep 1941 | 25 Nov 1944 | Torpedoed and sunk with all hands 25 Nov 1944 by U-1228 in the Cabot Strait at 47-34N, 59-11W. |
| Shediac | Davie Shipbuilding & Repairing Co. Ltd., Lauzon | 5 Oct 1940 | 29 Apr 1941 | 8 Jul 1941 | 28 Aug 1945 | Sold in 1954 to the Netherlands as mercantile Jooske W. Vinke. Scrapped in 1966 at Santander. |
| Sherbrooke | Marine Industries Ltd., Sorel-Tracy, Quebec | 5 Aug 1940 | 25 Oct 1940 | 5 Jun 1941 | 28 Jun 1945 | Scrapped in May 1947 in Canada. |
| Snowberry | Davie Shipbuilding & Repairing Co. Ltd., Lauzon | 24 Feb 1940 | 8 Aug 1940 | 26 Nov 1940 | 8 Jun 1945 | Formerly HMS Snowberry. Transferred to the RCN on 26 Nov 1940. Returned to the RN on 8 Jun 1945. |
| Sorel | Marine Industries Ltd., Sorel-Tracy, Quebec | 24 Aug 1940 | 16 Nov 1940 | 19 Aug 1941 | 22 Jun 1945 | Sold on 16 Nov 1945. |
| Spikenard | Davie Shipbuilding & Repairing Co. Ltd., Lauzon | 24 Feb 1940 | 10 Aug 1940 | 15 May 1941 | 11 Feb 1942 | Formerly HMS Spikenard. Transferred to RCN 15 May 1941. Torpedoed and sunk on 11 Feb 1942 by U-136 while escorting convoy SC-67 west of Malin Head at 56-10N, 21-07W. 8 crew survived. |
| Sudbury | Kingston Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., Kingston | 25 Jan 1941 | 31 May 1941 | 15 Oct 1941 | 28 Aug 1945 | Sold in 1949 as mercantile Sudbury. Scrapped 1967. |
| Summerside | Morton Engineering & Dry Dock Co., Quebec City | 4 Oct 1940 | 7 May 1941 | 11 Sep 1941 | 6 Jul 1945 | Scrapped in Jun 1946 in Canada. |
| The Pas | Collingwood Shipyards Ltd., Collingwood | 7 Jan 1941 | 16 Aug 1941 | 21 Oct 1941 | 24 Jul 1945 | Sold on 16 Sep 1945. Scrapped 1946 at Hamilton. |
| Timmins | Yarrows Ltd., Esquimalt | 14 Dec 1940 | 26 Jun 1941 | 10 Feb 1942 | 15 Jul 1945 | Sold in 1948 as mercantile Guayaquil. Lost on 3 Aug 1960. |
| Trail | Burrard Dry Dock Co. Ltd., North Vancouver | 20 Jul 1940 | 16 Oct 1940 | 30 Apr 1941 | 17 Jul 1945 | Scrapped in Aug 1950 in Canada. |
| Trillium | Canadian Vickers Ltd., Montreal | 20 Feb 1940 | 26 Jun 1940 | 31 Oct 1940 | 27 Jun 1945 | Formerly HMS Trillium. Transferred to RCN 31 Oct 1940. Returned to RN 27 Jun 1945. |
| Vancouver | Yarrows Ltd., Esquimalt | 16 Jun 1941 | 26 Aug 1941 | 20 Mar 1942 | 26 Jun 1945 | Formerly HMCS Kitchener. |
| Ville de Quebec | Morton Engineering & Dry Dock Co., Quebec City | 7 Jun 1941 | 12 Nov 1941 | 24 May 1942 | 6 Jul 1945 | Sold in 1946 as mercantile Dispina. Resold in 1947 as mercantile Dorothea Paxos, in 1948 as Tanya, and in 1949 as Medex. |
| Wetaskiwin | Burrard Dry Dock Co. Ltd., North Vancouver | 11 Apr 1940 | 18 Jul 1940 | 17 Dec 1940 | 19 Jun 1945 | Formerly HMCS Banff. Sold in 1946 to Venezuela as Victor. |
| Weyburn | Port Arthur Shipbuilding Co., Port Arthur | 21 Dec 1940 | 26 Jul 1941 | 26 Nov 1941 | 22 Feb 1943 | Mined on 22 Feb 1943 off Cape Espartel at 36-46N, 06-02W. 7 crew were killed. |
| Windflower | Davie Shipbuilding & Repairing Co. Ltd., Lauzon | 25 Feb 1940 | 4 Jul 1940 | 15 May 1941 | 7 Dec 1941 | Formerly HMS Windflower. Transferred to RCN 15 May 1941. Sunk 7 Dec 1941 while escorting convoy SC-58 after collision with freighter Zypenberg in dense fog on the Grand Banks at 46-19N, 49-30W. 23 crew were lost. |
| Woodstock | Collingwood Shipyards Ltd., Collingwood | 23 May 1941 | 10 Dec 1941 | 1 May 1942 | 27 Jan 1945 | Sold in 1951 as mercantile Olympic Winner. Resold in 1956 as mercantile Otori Maru 20 and in 1957 as Akitsu Maru. Scrapped in 1975 at Etajima. |
| Ship | Builder | Laid Down | Launched | Commissioned | Paid Off | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abelia | Harland & Wolff Ltd., Belfast | 19 Aug 1940 | 28 Nov 1940 | 3 Feb 1941 | Torpedoed and badly damaged on 9 Jan 1944 by a U-boat. Sold in 1947. Resold in 1948 as mercantile Kraft. Resold in 1954 as mercantile Arne Skontorp. Scrapped in 1966 in Norway. | |
| Acanthus | Ailsa Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., Troon | 21 Dec 1939 | 26 May 1941 | Transferred on 1 Oct 1941 before completion to Norway as HNoMS Andenes. | ||
| Aconite | Ailsa Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., Troon | 25 Mar 1940 | 31 Mar 1941 | Transferred on 23 Jul 1941 to the Free French Navy as Aconit. Returned to RN on 30 Apr 1947. Sold in Jul 1947. | ||
| Alisma | Harland & Wolff Ltd., Belfast | 19 Aug 1940 | 17 Dec 1940 | 13 Feb 1941 | Sold in 1947. Resold in 1949 as mercantile Laconia, in 1950 as mercantile Constantinos S, and in 1952 as mercantile Parnon. Sunk 16 Jul 1954. | |
| Alyssum | George Brown & Co., Greenock | 24 Jun 1940 | 3 Mar 1941 | Transferred on 17 Jun 1941 to the Free French Navy as Alysse. | ||
| Amaranthus | Fleming & Ferguson Ltd., Paisley | 4 May 1940 | 17 Oct 1940 | 12 Feb 1941 | Sold in 1946 as mercantile ship. Scrapped in 1953 at Hong Kong. | |
| Anchusa | Harland & Wolff Ltd., Belfast | 17 Sep 1940 | 15 Jan 1941 | 1 Mar 194 | Sold in 1946. Resold in 1949 as mercantile Silverlord and in 1954 as mercantile Sir Edgar. Sunk 18 Jan 1960. Salvaged and scrapped in Mauritius. | |
| Anemone | Blyth Shipbuilding & Drydock Co. Ltd., Blyth | 26 Oct 1939 | 22 Apr 1940 | 12 Aug 1940 | Sold in Nov 1949. Resold on 3 Oct 1950 to Norway as buoy tender Pelkan, 1951 as whaler, and Dec 1963 as Østfold. Scrapped 1 Nov 1964. | |
| Arabis | Harland & Wolff Ltd., Belfast | 30 Oct 1939 | 14 Feb 1940 | 5 Apr 1940 | 30 Apr 1942 | Transferred on 30 Apr 1942 to the United States Navy as Saucy. Returned to RN 26 Aug 1945 and renamed HMS Snapdragon. Sold in 1947 as mercantile Katina. |
| Arbutus | Blyth Shipbuilding & Drydock Co. Ltd., Blyth | 30 Nov 1939 | 5 Jun 1940 | 12 Oct 1940 | 5 Feb 1942 | Torpedoed and sunk on 5 Feb 1942 by U-136[14] west of Erris Head at 55-05N, 18-43W. Shared sinking of U-70 7 Mar 41. Probable shared sinking of U-47 same day. |
| Armeria | Harland & Wolff Ltd., Belfast | 17 Sep 1940 | 16 Jan 1941 | 28 Mar 1941 | Sold in 1947. Resold in 1948 as mercantile Deppie, in 1950 as mercantile Canastel, in 1952 as mercantile Rio Blanco and in 1955 as mercantile Lillian. | |
| Arrowhead | Marine Industries Ltd., Sorel-Tracy, Quebec | 11 Apr 1940 | 8 Aug 1940 | Transferred on 22 Nov 1940 before completion to RCN as HMCS Arrowhead. Returned RN 27 Jun 1945. Sold in May 1947. Resold in 1948 as mercantile Southern Larkspur. Scrapped in Nov 1959 at Odense. | ||
| Asphodel | George Brown & Co., Greenock | 20 Oct 1939 | 25 May 1940 | 11 Sep 1940 | 10 Mar 1944 | Torpedoed and sunk 10 Mar 1944 by U-575 de:U 575 [15] while escorting convoys SL-150 and MKS-41 at 45-24N, 18-09W. 92 crew were killed, 5 survivors rescued by HMS Clover. |
| Aster | Harland & Wolff Ltd., Belfast | 15 Oct 1940 | 12 Feb 1941 | 9 Apr 1941 | Scrapped on 29 May 1946 at Bo'ness. | |
| Aubretia | George Brown & Co., Greenock | 27 Oct 1939 | 5 Sep 1940 | 23 Dec 1940 | Sold on 29 Jul 1946. Resold in Oct 1948 as buoy tender Arnfinn Bergan. Resold in 1951 as whaling ship. | |
| Auricula | George Brown & Co., Greenock | 25 Nov 1939 | 14 Nov 1940 | 5 Mar 1941 | 6 May 1942 | Mined on 6 May 1942 in Courrier Bay, Madagascar at 12-12S, 49-19E. Foundered the following day while under tow. |
| Azalea | Cook, Welton & Gemmell, Beverley | 15 Nov 1939 | 8 Jul 1940 | 27 Jan 1941 | Sold on 5 Apr 1946 as mercantile Norte. Sunk on 19 Jan 1955. | |
| Balsam | George Brown & Co., Greenock | 16 Apr 1941 | 30 May 1942 | 28 Nov 1942 | Formerly Chelmer. Scrapped on 20 Apr 1947 at Newport. | |
| Begonia | Cook, Welton & Gemmell, Beverley | 13 Mar 1940 | 18 Sep 1940 | 3 Mar 1941 | 10 Mar 1942 | Transferred on 10 Mar 1942 to the USN as USS Impulse. Returned to the RN on 22 Aug 1945. Sold on 22 Jul 1946 as mercantile Begonlock. Resold in 1949 as mercantile Fundiciones Molinao, in 1951as mercantile Astiluzu and in 1956 as mercantile Rio Mero. |
| Bellwort | George Brown & Co., Greenock | 17 Sep 1940 | 11 Aug 1941 | 20 Nov 1941 | Transferred in 1946 to the Irish Naval Service as Cliona. | |
| Bergamot | Harland & Wolff Ltd., Belfast | 15 Oct 1940 | 15 Feb 1941 | 12 May 1941 | Sold in May 1946 as mercantile ship. Resold in 1947 as mercantile Syros, in 1951 as mercantile Delphini and in 1955 as mercantile Ekaterini. | |
| Bittersweet | Marine Industries Ltd., Sorel-Tracy, Quebec | 17 Apr 1940 | 12 Sep 1940 | Transferred on 23 Jan 1941 before completion to the RCN as HMCS Bittersweet on 23 Jan 1941. Returned to the RN on 22 Jun 1945. Scrapped in Nov 1950. | ||
| Bluebell | Fleming & Ferguson Ltd., Paisley | 25 Oct 1939 | 24 Apr 1940 | 19 Jul 1940 | 17 Feb 1945 | Torpedoed and sunk on 17 Feb 1945 by U-711[16] off the Kola Inlet at 69-36N, 35-29E. |
| Borage | George Brown & Co., Greenock | 27 Nov 1940 | 22 Nov 1941 | 29 Apr 1942 | Transferred on 15 Nov 1946 to the Irish Naval Service as LÉ Macha. Sold for scrap on 22 Nov 1970. | |
| Bryony | Harland & Wolff Ltd., Belfast | 16 Nov 1940 | 15 Mar 1941 | 4 Jun 1942 | Bombed and sunk by the Luftwaffe on 15 Apr 1941 during sea trials. Raised and repaired. Transferred to the Royal Norwegian Navy in 1947 as HNoMS Polarfront. | |
| Burdock | John Crown & Sons Ltd., Sunderland | 13 Jun 1940 | 14 Dec 1940 | 27 Mar 1941 | Sold in Jun 1946. Scrapped in Aug 1946 at Hayle. | |
| Buttercup | Harland & Wolff Ltd., Belfast | 17 Dec 1940 | 10 Apr 1941 | 24 Apr 1942 | 20 Dec 1944 | Transferred on 20 Dec 1944 to Royal Norwegian Navy as HNoMS Buttercup. Purchased in 1946 by Norway and renamed HNoMS Nordkyn. |
| Calendula | Harland & Wolff Ltd., Belfast | 30 Oct 1939 | 21 Mar 1940 | 6 May 1940 | 12 Mar 1942 | Transferred on 12 Mar 1942 to the USN as USS Ready. Returned to the RN on 23 Aug 1945. Sold on 22 Jul 1946. Resold in 1948 as mercantile Villa Cisneros and in 1949 as mercantile Villa Bens. |
| Camellia | Harland & Wolff Ltd., Belfast | 14 Nov 1939 | 4 May 1940 | 18 Jun 1940 | Shared sinking of U-70 7 Mar 41. Probable shared sinking of U-47 same day. Sold on 9 Aug 1946. Resold in 1948 as mercantile Hetty W. Vinkle. | |
| Campanula | Fleming & Ferguson Ltd., Paisley | 26 Oct 1939 | 23 May 1940 | 6 Sep 1940 | Scrapped on 21 Aug 1947 at Dunstan. Nicholas Monsarrat served as officer on board . | |
| Campion | John Crown & Sons Ltd., Sunderland | 16 Sep 1940 | 20 Jun 1941 | 7 Jul 1941 | Sold on 20 Apr 1947 and scrapped at Newport. | |
| Candytuft | Grangemouth Dry Dock Co., Grangemouth | 31 Oct 1939 | 8 Jul 1940 | 16 Oct 1940 | 4 Mar 1942 | Transferred on 4 Mar 1942 to the USN as USS Tenacity. Returned to the RN on 26 Aug 1945. Sold on 9 Jul 1946. Resold in 1947 as mercantile Maw Hwa. |
| Carnation | Grangemouth Dry Dock Co., Grangemouth | 31 Oct 1939 | 8 Jul 1940 | 16 Oct 1940 | Transferred on 26 Mar 1943 to the Royal Netherlands Navy as HNMS Frisco. Returned to the RN on 4 Oct 1944. Sold on 31 Mar 1948 as mercantile ship. Resold in 1949 as mercantile Southern Laurel. Scarpped in 1966 at Stravanger. | |
| Celandine | Grangemouth Dry Dock Co., Grangemouth | 30 Apr 1940 | 28 Dec 1940 | 30 Apr 1941 | Shared sinking of U-556 27 June 41. Sold in Oct 1948 and scrapped at Portaferry. | |
| Chrysanthemum | Harland & Wolff Ltd., Belfast | 17 Dec 1940 | 11 Apr 1941 | Transferred on 26 Jan 1942 to the Free French Navy as Commandant Drogou. Returned to the RN in May 1947. Sold on 7 Aug 1947. Resold in 1948 as mercantile Terje X. Resold in 23 May 1959 to Portugal as hydrographic survey vessel NRP Caravalho Araujo (A524) until 3 Sep 1975 when she was transfer to Angola's Navy. | ||
| Clarkia | Harland & Wolff Ltd., Belfast | 30 Oct 1939 | 7 Mar 1940 | 22 Apr 1940 | Sold on 30 Jul 1947 for scrap. | |
| Clematis | Charles Hill & Sons Ltd., Bristol | 11 Oct 1939 | 22 Apr 1940 | 27 Jul 1940 | Scrapped in Sep 1949 at Charlestown. | |
| Clover | Fleming & Ferguson Ltd., Paisley | 29 Jul 1940 | 30 Jan 1941 | 13 May 1941 | Sold on 17 May 1947 as mercantile Cloverlock. Resold to People's Republic of China as mercantile Kai Feng. | |
| Coltsfoot | Alexander Hall & Co., Aberdeen | 4 Sep 1940 | 15 May 1941 | 1 Nov 1941 | Sold in 1947 as mercantile Alexandra. | |
| Columbine | Charles Hill & Sons Ltd., Bristol | 3 Nov 1939 | 13 Aug 1940 | 9 Nov 1940 | Sold on 9 Aug 1946. Resold in 1949 as mercantile Leif Welding. Scrapped in 1966 at Grimstad. | |
| Convolvulus | Charles Hill & Sons Ltd., Bristol | 17 Jan 1940 | 22 Sep 1940 | 26 Feb 1941 | Sold on 21 Aug 1947 and scrapped on 5 Oct 1947 at Newport. | |
| Coreopsis | A. & J. Inglis Ltd., Glasgow | 19 Sep 1939 | 23 Apr 1940 | 17 Aug 1940 | 10 Nov 1943 | Transferred on 10 Nov 1943 to the Royal Hellenic Navy as Kriezis. Returned to the RN on 1 Jun 1952. Scrapped on 22 Jul 1952 at Sunderland. |
| Coriander | Hall, Russell & Co., Aberdeen | 19 Sep 1940 | 9 Jun 1941 | Transferred on 16 Sep 1941 to the Free French Navy as Commandant Detroyant. Returned to the RN in 1947. Scrapped in 1948 at Troon. | ||
| Cowslip | Harland & Wolff Ltd., Belfast | 16 Jan 1941 | 28 May 1941 | 9 Aug 1941 | Sold in Jul 1948. Scrapped in Apr 1949 at Troon. | |
| Crocus | A. & J. Inglis Ltd., Glasgow | 26 Oct 1939 | 26 Jun 1940 | 20 Oct 1940 | Badly damaged U-333 by ramming her twice 6 Oct 42. Sold on 22 Jul 1946 as mercantile Annlock. Scrapped in 1952 at Hong Kong. | |
| Cyclamen | J. Lewis & Sons Ltd., Aberdeen | 30 Nov 1939 | 20 Jun 1940 | 30 Sep 1940 | Sold in 1947. Resold in 1948 as mercantile Southern Briar. Scrapped in 1966 in Belgium. Wrecked at Thorsminde while under tow. | |
| Dahlia | Harland & Wolff Ltd., Belfast | 28 Feb 1940 | 31 Oct 1940 | 21 Mar 1941 | Scrapped on 28 Oct 1948 at Gelleswick Bay. | |
| Delphinium | Henry Robb Ltd., Leith | 31 Oct 1939 | 6 Jun 1940 | 15 Nov 1940 | Scrapped in Feb 1949 at Pembroke Dock. | |
| Dianella | J. Lewis & Sons Ltd., Aberdeen | 8 Dec 1939 | 3 Sep 1940 | 6 Jan 1941 | Formerly Daffodil. Scrapped on 24 Jun 1947 at Portaferry. | |
| Dianthus | Henry Robb Ltd., Leith | 31 Oct 1939 | 9 Jul 1940 | 17 Mar 1941 | Sank U-379 single-handed by both ramming and depth-charging enemy 8 Aug 42. Sold in May 1947 as mercantile ship. Resold in Jun 1949 to Norway as buoy tender Thorslep. Resold in 1950 as whaling ship. Scrapped in Jun 1969 at Grimstad. | |
| Eglantine | Harland & Wolff Ltd., Belfast | 16 Jan 1941 | 11 Jun 1941 | Transferred on 29 Aug 1941 to Royal Norwegian Navy as Eglantine. Sold to Norway on 10 Aug 1946 as fishery protection service Soroy. | ||
| Erica | Harland & Wolff Ltd., Belfast | 22 Feb 1940 | 18 Jun 1940 | 9 Aug 1940 | 9 Feb 1943 | Mined and sunk on 9 Feb 1943 while escorting a convoy in the Mediterranean Sea off Derna at 32-48N, 21-10E. Entire crew rescued by HMS Southern Maid. |
| Eyebright | Canadian Vickers Ltd., Montreal | 20 Feb 1940 | 22 Jul 1940 | Transferred on 26 Nov 1940 before completion to the RCN as HMCS Eyebright. Returned to the RN on 17 Jun 1945. Sold on 17 May 1947. Resold in 1950 to the Netherlands as mercantile Albert W. Vinke. Scrapped in 1965 at Cape Town. | ||
| Fennel | Marine Industries Ltd., Sorel-Tracy, Quebec | 29 Mar 1940 | 20 Aug 1940 | Transferred on 15 May 1941 before completion to the RCN as HMCS Fennel. Shared sinking of U-744 6 Mar 44. Returned to the RN on 12 Jun 1945. Sold in 1948 as mercantile Milliam Kihl. Resold in Oct 1948 as buoy tender, then in 1951 to West Germany as whaling ship. Laid up 1960-61. Last whaling season 1964-65. Scrapped in 1966 at Grimstad. | ||
| Fleur de Lys | Smiths Dock Co., South Bank-on-Tees | 30 Jan 1940 | 21 Jun 1940 | 26 Aug 1940 | 14 Oct 1941 | Launched as La Dieppoise for the French Navy. Completed for the RN after the Fall of France. Torpedoed and sunk by U-206 [17] west of Gibraltar at 36-00N, 06-30W. There were 3 survivors. |
| Freesia | Harland & Wolff Ltd., Belfast | 18 Jun 1940 | 3 Oct 1940 | 19 Nov 1940 | Sold on 22 Jul 1946 as mercantile Freelock. Sunk on 1 Apr 1947. | |
| Fritillary | Harland & Wolff Ltd., Belfast | 15 Feb 1941 | 22 Jul 1941 | 1 Nov 1941 | Sold on 19 Mar 1946. Resold in 1947 as mercantile Andria and in 1949 as mercantile V.D. Chidambaram. Scrapped in 1955 in India. | |
| Gardenia | W. Simons & Co., Renfrew | 20 Sep 1939 | 10 Apr 1940 | 24 May 1940 | 9 Nov 1942 | Rammed and sunk off Oran at 35-49N, 01-05W in collision with HMS Fluellen. |
| Genista | Harland & Wolff Ltd., Belfast | 15 Feb 1941 | 24 Jul 1941 | 8 Dec 1941 | Sold in 1947 as a weather ship. Scrapped in 1961. | |
| Gentian | Harland & Wolff Ltd., Belfast | 20 Apr 1940 | 6 Aug 1940 | 20 Sep 1940 | Scrapped on 21 Aug 1947 at Purfleet. | |
| Geranium | W. Simons & Co., Renfrew | 21 Sep 1939 | 23 Apr 1940 | 24 Jun 1940 | Shared sinking of U-306 31 Oct 43. Transferred on 8 Sep 1945 to Royal Danish Navy as Thetis. | |
| Gladiolus | Smiths Dock Co., South Bank-on-Tees | 19 Oct 1939 | 24 Jan 1940 | 6 Apr 1940 | 17 Oct 1941 | Torpedoed and sunk on 17 Oct 1941 by U-553 [18] while escorting convoy SC-48 south of Iceland at 57-00N, 25-00W. All hands were lost. Shared sinkings of U-26 1 July 40 and U-556 27 June 41. |
| Gloriosa | Harland & Wolff Ltd., Belfast | Cancelled on 23 Jan 1941. | ||||
| Gloxinia | Harland & Wolff Ltd., Belfast | 21 Mar 1940 | 2 Jul 1940 | 22 Aug 1940 | Scrapped on 15 Jul 1947 at Purfleet. | |
| Godetia | Smiths Dock Co., South Bank-on-Tees | 4 Jan 1940 | 8 May 1940 | 15 Jul 1940 | 6 Sep 1940 | Rammed and sunk 3 miles (4.8 km) off Altacarry Head at 55-18N, 05-57W in collision with mercantile Marsa. |
| Godetia | John Crown & Sons Ltd., Sunderland | 15 Jan 1941 | 24 Sep 1941 | 23 Feb 1942 | Formerly Dart. Sold on 22 May 1947 and scrapped at Grays. | |
| Harebell | Harland & Wolff Ltd., Belfast | Cancelled on 23 Jan 1941. | ||||
| Heartsease | Harland & Wolff Ltd., Belfast | 14 Nov 1939 | 20 Apr 1940 | 4 Jun 1940 | 3 Apr 1942 | Transferred on 3 Apr 1942 to the USN as Courage. Returned to the RN on 23 Aug 1945. Sold on 22 Jul 1946. Resold in 1951 as mercantile Roskva, in 1956 as mercantile Douglas, and in 1958 as mercantile Seabird. Lost in Dec 1958. |
| Heather | Harland & Wolff Ltd., Belfast | 22 May 1940 | 17 Sep 1940 | 1 Nov 1940 | Sold on 22 May 1947 and scrapped at Grays. | |
| Heliotrope | John Crown & Sons Ltd., Sunderland | 23 Oct 1939 | 5 Jun 1940 | 12 Sep 1940 | 24 Mar 1942 | Transferred on 24 Mar 1942 to the USN as Surprise. Returned to the RN on 26 Aug 1945. Sold as mercantile ship. Eventually ended service in People's Liberation Army Navy as Lin I. |
| Hemlock | Harland & Wolff Ltd., Belfast | Cancelled on 23 Jan 1941. | ||||
| Hepatica | Davie Shipbuilding & Repairing Co. Ltd., Lauzon | 24 Feb 1940 | 6 Jul 1940 | Transferred on 15 May 1941 before completion to the RCN as HMCS Hepatica. Returned to the RN on 27 Jun 1945. Scrapped on 1 Jan 1948 at Llanelly. | ||
| Hibiscus | Harland & Wolff Ltd., Belfast | 14 Nov 1939 | 6 Apr 1940 | 21 May 1940 | 2 May 1942 | Transferred on 2 May 1942 to the USN as Spry. Returned to the RN on 26 Aug 1945. Sold as mercantile Madonna. Scrapped in 1955 at Hong Kong. |
| Hollyhock | John Crown & Sons Ltd., Sunderland | 27 Nov 1939 | 19 Aug 1940 | 19 Nov 1940 | 9 Apr 1942 | Bombed and sunk on 9 Apr 1942 by Japanese aircraft east of Ceylon at 07-21N, 81-57E. |
| Honeysuckle | Fleming & Ferguson Ltd., Paisley | 26 Oct 1939 | 22 Apr 1940 | 14 Sep 1940 | Sold in 1950 and scrapped in Nov 1950 at Grays. | |
| Hyacinth | Harland & Wolff Ltd., Belfast | 20 Apr 1940 | 19 Aug 1940 | 3 Oct 1940 | 24 Oct 1943 | Shared sinking of U-617 by gunfire after enemy ran aground 12 Sept 43. Transferred on 24 Oct 1943 to Royal Hellenic Navy as Apostolis. Returned to the RN in 1952. |
| Hyderabad | Alexander Hall & Co., Aberdeen | 24 Dec 1940 | 23 Sep 1941 | 23 Feb 1942 | Formerly Nettle. Shared sinking of U-436 26 May 43. Sold on 1 Jan 1948 and scrapped in Oct 1948 at Portaferry. | |
| Hydrangea | Fleming & Ferguson Ltd., Paisley | 22 Nov 1939 | 4 Sep 1940 | 3 Jan 1941 | Shared sinking of U-401 3 Aug 41. Sold in 1947. Resold in 1948 as mercantile Hydralock. Wrecked on 25 Feb 1957 off Formosa. | |
| Ivy | Harland & Wolff Ltd., Belfast | Cancelled on 23 Jan 1941. | ||||
| Jasmine | Fleming & Ferguson Ltd., Paisley | 23 Dec 1939 | 14 Jan 1941 | 16 May 1941 | Sold on 11 Sep 1948 for scrap. | |
| Jonquil | Fleming & Ferguson Ltd., Paisley | 27 Dec 1939 | 9 Jul 1940 | 21 Oct 1940 | Sold in May 1946. Resold in 1947 as mercantile Lemnos. Resold in 1951 as Olympic Rider. Sunk on 1 Dec 1955. | |
| Kingcup | Harland & Wolff Ltd., Belfast | 19 Jul 1940 | 31 Oct 1940 | 30 Dec 1940 | Sold on 31 Jul 1946. Resold in 1947 as mercantile Rubis and in 1954 as mercantile Seislim. Scrapped in 1959 at Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht. | |
| La Malouine | Smiths Dock Co., South Bank-on-Tees | 13 Nov 1939 | 21 Mar 1940 | 29 Jul 1940 | Launched and commissioned as La Malouine for the French Navy. Seized by and completed for the RN after the Fall of France (name not changed). Scrapped on 22 May 1947 at Gelliswick Bay. | |
| Larkspur | Fleming & Ferguson Ltd., Paisley | 26 Mar 1940 | 5 Sep 1940 | 4 Jan 1941 | 17 Mar 1942 | Transferred on 17 Mar 1942 to the USN as Fury. Returned to the RN on 22 Aug 1945. Sold on 22 Jul 1946 as mercantile Larkslock. Scrapped in 1953 at Hong Kong. |
| Lavender | Hall, Russell & Co., Aberdeen | 30 Apr 1940 | 27 Nov 1940 | 16 May 1941 | Sold on 9 Aug 1946. | |
| Ling | Harland & Wolff Ltd., Belfast | Cancelled on 23 Jan 1941. | ||||
| Lobelia | Alexander Hall & Co., Aberdeen | 27 Jun 1940 | 15 Feb 1941 | Transferred on 16 Jul 1941 to the Free French Navy as Lobelia (name not changed). Sank U-609 single-handed 7 Feb 43. Returned to the RN in Apr 1947. Sold on 3 May 1947 to Norway as mercantile ship. Resold in July 1948 as buoy tender Thorgeir. Resold as whaling ship. Scrapped in 1969 at Grimstad. | ||
| Loosestrife | Hall, Russell & Co., Aberdeen | 9 Dec 1940 | 25 Aug 1941 | 25 Nov 1941 | Sold on 4 Oct 1946. Resold in 1947 as mercantile Kallsevni. | |
| Lotus | Charles Hill & Sons Ltd., Bristol | 26 May 1941 | 17 Jan 1942 | Transferred on 23 May 1942 to the Free French Navy as Commandant d'Estienne d'Orves. Returned to the RN on 31 May 1947. Sold in Jan 1948 as whaling ship Southern Lotus. Lost on 18 Dec 1966 off Denmark while being towed to Norway for scrapping. | ||
| Lotus | Charles Hill & Sons Ltd., Bristol | 16 Jan 1942 | Formerly Phlox. Sold in 1947 as mercantile Southern Lotus. Refitted in 1948 as a buoy tender. Refitted in 1950 as a whaling ship. Sold in Dec 1966 for scrapping in Belgium. Grounded and wrecked on 18 Dec 1966 while under tow off Jutland. | |||
| Mallow | Harland & Wolff Ltd., Belfast | 14 Nov 1939 | 22 May 1940 | 2 Jul 1940 | 11 Jan 1944 | Shared sinking of U-204 19 Oct 41. Transferred on 11 Jan 1944 to the Yugoslavian Navy as Nada. Renamed in 1948 as Partizanka. Returned to the RN in 1948. Transferred in 1948 to the Egyptian Navy as El Sudan. |
| Marguerite | Hall, Russell & Co., Aberdeen | 30 Dec 1939 | 8 Jul 1940 | 20 Nov 1940 | Sold in 1947 as a weather ship. Scrapped on 8 Sep 1961 at Ghent. | |
| Marigold | Hall, Russell & Co., Aberdeen | 26 Jan 1940 | 4 Sep 1940 | 28 Feb 1941 | 9 Dec 1942 | Torpedoed and sunk on 9 Dec 1942 by the Aviazione Ausiliara per la Marina while escorting convoy KMS.3Y off Algiers at 36-50N, 03-00E. 40 crew were killed. |
| Marjoram | Harland & Wolff Ltd., Belfast | Cancelled on 23 Jan 1941. | ||||
| Mayflower | Canadian Vickers Ltd., Montreal | 20 Feb 1940 | 3 Jul 1940 | Transferred on 15 May 1941 before completion to the RCN as Mayflower. Returned to the RN on 31 May 1945. Scrapped on 20 Sep 1949 at Inverkeithing. | ||
| Meadowsweet | Charles Hill & Sons Ltd., Bristol | 12 Aug 1941 | 28 Mar 1942 | 8 Jul 1942 | Sold on 31 Mar 1951 to the Netherlands as mercantile Gerrit W. Vinkle. | |
| Mignonette | Hall, Russell & Co., Aberdeen | 15 Jul 1940 | 28 Jan 1941 | 7 May 1941 | Shared sinkings of U-135 15 July 43 and U-1199 21 Apr 45. Sold in 1946. Resold in 1948 as mercantile Alexandrouplis. Sunk on 30 Nov 1948. | |
| Mimosa | Charles Hill & Sons Ltd., Bristol | 22 Apr 1940 | 18 Jan 1941 | Transferred on 11 May 1941 to the Free French Navy as Mimosa (name not changed). | ||
| Monkshood | Fleming & Ferguson Ltd., Paisley | 1 Oct 1940 | 17 Apr 1941 | 31 Jul 1941 | Sold in 1947. Resold in 1948 as mercantile W.R. Strang. Resold in 1948 as buoy tender. Resold as whaling ship. Resold in 1957 as Toshi Maru. Scrapped in Japan in 1965. | |
| Montbretia | Fleming & Ferguson Ltd., Paisley | 16 Nov 1940 | 27 May 1941 | Transferred on 29 Sep 1941 to Royal Norwegian Navy as HNoMS Montbretia. | ||
| Myosotis | J. Lewis & Sons Ltd., Aberdeen | 21 Jun 1940 | 28 Jan 1941 | 30 May 1941 | Sold on 2 Sep 1946 to Faroe Islands as trawler Grunningur. Resold in 1951 as buoy tender, then as whaling ship. Scrapped in 1969 at Grimstad. | |
| Narcissus | J. Lewis & Sons Ltd., Aberdeen | 9 Sep 1940 | 29 Mar 1941 | 17 Jul 1941 | Sold in Apr 1946 as mercantile Este. | |
| Nasturtium | Smiths Dock Co., South Bank-on-Tees | 23 Mar 1940 | 4 Jul 1940 | 26 Sep 1940 | Launched as La Paimpolaise for the French Navy. Completed for the RN after the Fall of France. Shared sinking of U-556 27 June 41. Sold in 1946. | |
| Nigella | George Philip & Sons Ltd., Dartmouth | 28 Nov 1939 | 21 Sep 1940 | 25 Feb 1941 | Sold in 1947 as mercantile Nigelock. Sunk on 10 Mar 1955. | |
| Orchis | Harland & Wolff Ltd., Belfast | 18 Jun 1940 | 15 Oct 1940 | 29 Nov 1940 | 21 Aug 1944 | Sank U-741 single-handed 15 Aug 44. Mined and heavily damaged on 21 Aug 1944 off Courseulles-sur-Mer. Beached on Juno Beach and declared a total loss. |
| Oxlip | A. & J. Inglis Ltd., Glasgow | 9 Dec 1940 | 28 Aug 1941 | 28 Dec 1941 | Transferred in 1946 to the Irish Naval Service as Maev. | |
| Pennywort | A. & J. Inglis Ltd., Glasgow | 11 Mar 1941 | 18 Oct 1941 | 5 Mar 1942 | Sold in 1947. Scrapped in Feb 1949 at Troon. | |
| Pentstemon | George Philip & Sons Ltd., Dartmouth | 28 Nov 1939 | 18 Jan 1941 | 31 Jul 1941 | Sold in 1946. Resold in 1947 as mercantile Galaxidi and in 1951 as mercantile Rosa Vlassi. | |
| Peony | Harland & Wolff Ltd., Belfast | 24 Feb 1940 | 4 Jun 1940 | 2 Aug 1940 | 1943 | Transferred in 1943 to the Royal Hellenic Navy as Sakhtouris. Returned to the RN in Sep 1951. Scrapped on 21 Apr 1952. |
| Periwinkle | Harland & Wolff Ltd., Belfast | 30 Oct 1939 | 24 Feb 1940 | 8 Apr 1940 | 15 Mar 1942 | Shared sinking of U-147 2 June 41. Transferred on 15 Mar 1942 to the USN as USS Restless. Returned to the RN on 26 Aug 1945. Sold in 1947 as mercantile Perilock. Scrapped in 1953 at Hong Kong. |
| Petunia | Henry Robb Ltd., Leith | 4 Dec 1939 | 19 Sep 1940 | 13 Jan 1941 | Sold in Jan 1946 to the Republic of China Navy as Fu Po. Sunk on 19 Mar 1947. | |
| Picotee | Harland & Wolff Ltd., Belfast | 21 Mar 1940 | 19 Jul 1940 | 5 Sep 1940 | 12 Aug 1941 | Torpedoed and sunk on 12 Aug 1941 by U-568[19] while escorting convoy ONS-4 south of Iceland at 62-00N, 16-01W. All hands were lost. |
| Pimpernel | Harland & Wolff Ltd., Belfast | 19 Jul 1940 | 16 Nov 1940 | 9 Jan 1941 | Sold on 6 Feb 1948. Scrapped in Oct 1948 at Portaferry. | |
| Pink | Henry Robb Ltd., Leith | 20 May 1941 | 16 Feb 1942 | 2 Jul 1942 | 27 Jun 1944 | Torpedoed and heavily damaged on 27 Jun 1944 by U-988[20] off Normandy at 49-48N, 00-49W. Declared a total loss and scrapped in 1947 at Llanelly. |
| Polyanthus | Henry Robb Ltd., Leith | 19 Mar 1940 | 30 Nov 1940 | 24 Apr 1941 | 21 Sep 1943 | Torpedoed and sunk on 21 Sep 1943 by U-952[21] while escorting convoy ON-202 at 57-00N, 31-10W. 1 survivor rescued by Itchen but was killed when that ship was torpedoed and sunk by U-666 on 23 Sep 1943. |
| Poppy | Alexander Hall & Co., Aberdeen | 6 Mar 1941 | 20 Nov 1941 | 12 May 1942 | Sold in 1946 as mercantile Rami. Scrapped in 1956. | |
| Potentilla | W. Simons & Co., Renfrew | 28 Feb 1941 | 18 Dec 1941 | Transferred on 16 Jan 1942 to the Royal Norwegian Navy as Potentilla. Returned to the RN on 13 Mar 1944. Sold on 13 Mar 1946 and scrapped at Gateshead. | ||
| Primrose | W. Simons & Co., Renfrew | 22 Sep 1939 | 8 May 1940 | 15 Jul 1940 | Sold on 9 Aug 1946. Resold in Jun 1949 as buoy tender Mek V. Resold in 1952 as whaling ship Norfinn. Sold in Oct 1965. Scrapped in Jun 1966 in Belgium. | |
| Primula | W. Simons & Co., Renfrew | 23 Sep 1939 | 22 Jun 1940 | 27 Aug 1940 | Sold on 22 Jul 1946. Resold in 1947 as mercantile Marylock. Scrapped in 1953 at Hong Kong. | |
| Ranonculus | W. Simons & Co., Renfrew | 19 Jul 1940 | 25 Jun 1941 | Transferred on 28 Jul 1941 to the Free French Navy as Renoncule. Returned to the RN in 1947. Sold in 1947 as buoy tender Southern Lily. Scrapped on 9 Jan 1967 at Bruges. | ||
| Rhododendron | Harland & Wolff Ltd., Belfast | 22 May 1940 | 2 Sep 1940 | 18 Oct 1940 | Sold on 17 May 1947. | |
| Rockrose | Charles Hill & Sons Ltd., Bristol | 28 Oct 1940 | 26 Jul 1941 | 4 Nov 1941 | Transferred on 4 Oct 1947 to the South African Navy as HMSAS Protea. | |
| Rose | W. Simons & Co., Renfrew | 3 Sep 1940 | 22 Sep 1941 | Transferred on 31 Oct 1941 to the Royal Norwegian Navy as Rose. | ||
| Salvia | W. Simons & Co., Renfrew | 26 Sep 1939 | 6 Aug 1940 | 20 Sep 1940 | 24 Dec 1941 | Torpedoed and sunk on 24 Dec 1941 by U-568[22] west of Alexandria at 31-46N, 28-00E. All hands were lost plus a number of the crew, servicemen and POW's rescued from the loss of the SS Shuntien torpedoed and sunk by U-559 on 23rd Dec 1941 |
| Samphire | Smiths Dock Co., South Bank-on-Tees | 4 Dec 1940 | 14 Apr 1941 | 30 Jun 1941 | 30 Jan 1943 | Shared sinking of U-567 21 Dec 41. Torpedoed and sunk on 30 Jan 1943 by Italian submarine Platino while escorting convoy TE-14 off Béjaïa at 36-56N, 05-40E. |
| Saxifrage | Charles Hill & Sons Ltd., Bristol | 1 Feb 1941 | 24 Oct 1941 | 6 Feb 1942 | Transferred in Aug 1947 to Royal Norwegian Navy as Polarfront I. | |
| Snapdragon | Smiths Dock Co., South Bank-on-Tees | 27 Sep 1939 | 3 Sep 1940 | 28 Oct 1940 | 19 Dec 1942 | Bombed and sunk on 19 Dec 1942 by the Luftwaffe northwest of Benghazi at 32-18N, 19-54E. |
| Snowberry | Davie Shipbuilding & Repairing Co. Ltd., Lauzon | 24 Feb 1940 | 8 Aug 1940 | Transferred on 26 Nov 1940 before completion to the RCN as Snowberry. Shared sinking of U-536 20 Nov 43. Returned to the RN on 8 Jun 1945. Scrapped in Aug 1947 at Middlesbrough. | ||
| Snowdrop | Smiths Dock Co., South Bank-on-Tees | 4 Feb 1941 | 12 May 1941 | 30 Jul 1941 | Sold on 17 May 1947. Scrapped in Sep 1949 at Newcastle. | |
| Snowflake | Smiths Dock Co., South Bank-on-Tees | 19 May 1941 | 22 Aug 1941 | 2 Nov 1941 | Formerly Zenobia. Shared sinking of U-125 3 July 43 by gunfire. Sold in 1947 as a weather ship. Scrapped in May 1962 at Dublin. | |
| Spikenard | Davie Shipbuilding & Repairing Co. Ltd., Lauzon | 24 Feb 1940 | 10 Aug 1940 | Transferred on 15 May 1941 before completion to the RCN as Spikenard. | ||
| Spiraea | A. & J. Inglis Ltd., Glasgow | 31 May 1940 | 31 Oct 1940 | 27 Feb 1941 | Sold in Aug 1947. Resold in 1948 as mercantile Thessalonika. | |
| Starwort | A. & J. Inglis Ltd., Glasgow | 11 Jun 1940 | 12 Feb 1941 | 26 May 1941 | Shared sinking of U-660 12 Nov 42 (scuttled). Sold in 1948 to Norway as whaling ship Southern Broom. Scrapped on 9 Jan 1967 at Bruges. | |
| Stonecrop | Smiths Dock Co., South Bank-on-Tees | 4 Feb 1941 | 12 May 1941 | 30 Jul 1941 | Shared sinking of U-124 2 Apr 43. Shared sinking of U-634 30 Aug 43. Sold on 17 May 1947. Resold in 1949 as mercantile Silver King and in 1950 as mercantile Martha Vinke. | |
| Sundew | J. Lewis & Sons Ltd., Aberdeen | 4 Nov 1940 | 28 May 1941 | Transferred on 19 Sep 1941 to the Free French Navy as Roselys. Returned to the RN in 1947. Sold on 23 Oct 1947 and scrapped in May 1948 at Troon. | ||
| Sunflower | Smiths Dock Co., South Bank-on-Tees | 24 May 1940 | 19 Aug 1940 | 25 Jan 1941 | The most successful Royal Navy Flower class. Shared sinking of U-282 29 Oct 43. Sank single-handed 2 U-boats: U-631 17 October 43 and U-638 5 May 43. Scrapped in Aug 1947 at Hayle. | |
| Sweetbriar | Smiths Dock Co., South Bank-on-Tees | 4 Apr 1941 | 26 Jun 1941 | 8 Sep 1941 | Sold on 29 Jul 1946. Resold in Jun 1949 as buoy tender Star IX. Resold as whaling ship. Scrapped in Apr 1966 at Bruges. | |
| Tamarisk | Fleming & Ferguson Ltd., Paisley | 10 Feb 1941 | 28 Jul 1941 | 26 Dec 1941 | Nov 1943 | Formerly Ettrick, renamed before completion. Shared sinking of U-82 6 Feb 42. Transferred in Nov 1943 to Royal Hellenic Navy as Tompazis. Returned to the RN in 1952. Scrapped on 20 Mar 1952 in the United Kingdom. |
| Thyme | Smiths Dock Co., South Bank-on-Tees | 30 Apr 1941 | 25 Jul 1941 | 23 Oct 1941 | Sold in 1947 as weather ship Weather Explorer. Resold in 1958 as mercantile Epos. | |
| Trillium | Canadian Vickers Ltd., Montreal | 20 Feb 1940 | 26 Jun 1940 | Transferred on 31 Oct 1940 before completion to the RCN as HMCS Trillium. Returned to the RN on 25 Jun 1945. Sold in 1950 as mercantile Olympic Runner. Resold in 1956 as mercantile Otori Maru 10, then in 1959 as mercantile Kyo Maru No. 16. | ||
| Tulip | Smiths Dock Co., South Bank-on-Tees | 30 May 1940 | 4 Sep 1940 | 18 Nov 1940 | Sold in May 1947. Resold in 1950 as whaling ship Olympic Conqueror. Seized in Nov 1954 by Peru. Resold in 1956 to Japan as Otori Maru No. 8. Resold in 1957 as Thorlyn and in Nov 1964 to Sweden. Scrapped in 1965 in West Germany. | |
| Verbena | Smiths Dock Co., South Bank-on-Tees | 29 Jun 1940 | 1 Oct 1940 | 19 Dec 1940 | Sold on 17 May 1947. Scrapped on 1 Oct 1951 at Blyth. | |
| Veronica | Smiths Dock Co., South Bank-on-Tees | 9 Jul 1940 | 17 Oct 1940 | 18 Feb 1941 | 16 Feb 1942 | Transferred on 16 Feb 1942 to the USN as Temptress. Returned to the RN on 26 Aug 1945. Sold in 1946 as mercantile Verolock. Sank in 1947. Raised in 1951 and scrapped at Blyth. |
| Vervain | Harland & Wolff Ltd., Belfast | 16 Nov 1940 | 12 Mar 1941 | 9 Jun 1941 | 20 Feb 1945 | Formerly Broom. Torpedoed and sunk on 20 Feb 1945 by U-1276[23] southeast of Dungarvan at 51-47N, 07-06W. |
| Vetch | Smiths Dock Co., South Bank-on-Tees | 15 Mar 1941 | 27 May 1941 | 11 Aug 1941 | Shared sinking of U-252 14 Apr 42. Sank U-414 single-handed 25 May 43. Sold in Aug 1945. Resold in 1948 as mercantile Patrai, in 1951 as mercantile Olympic Hunter and in 1956 as mercantile Otori Maru No. 18. | |
| Violet | W. Simons & Co., Renfrew | 21 Mar 1940 | 30 Dec 1940 | 3 Feb 1941 | 10 Feb 1946 | Shared sinking of U-651 29 June 41. Sank U-641 single-handed 25 May 43. Sold on 17 May 1947 as mercantile La Aguerra. Resold in 1949 to Spain as mercantile La Guera then in 1958 as mercantile Claudio Sabadell. Scrapped in Oct 1970 at Bilbao |
| Wallflower | Smiths Dock Co., South Bank-on-Tees | 23 Jul 1940 | 14 Nov 1940 | 7 Mar 1941 | Shared sinking of U-523 25 Aug 43. Sold on 29 Jul 1946. Resold in 1949 as buoy tender Asbjrrn Larsen and in 1950 as whaling ship. Scrapped in Oct 1966 at Grimstad. | |
| Windflower | Davie Shipbuilding & Repairing Co. Ltd., Lauzon | 25 Feb 1940 | 4 Jul 1940 | Transferred on 15 May 1941 before completion to the RCN as Windflower. | ||
| Woodruff | W. Simons & Co., Renfrew | 29 Apr 1940 | 28 Feb 1941 | 7 Apr 1941 | Sold in 1947 as mercantile Southern Lupin. Resold in 1948 as buoy tender and later as whaling ship. Scrapped in 1959 at Odense. | |
| Zinnia | Smiths Dock Co., South Bank-on-Tees | 20 Aug 1940 | 28 Nov 1940 | 30 Mar 1941 | 23 Aug 1941 | Torpedoed and sunk on 23 Aug 1941 by U-564[24] while escorting convoy OG-71 west of Portugal at 40-25N, 10-40W. |
| Ship | Builder | Laid Down | Launched | Commissioned | Paid Off | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Protea | Charles Hill & Sons Ltd., Bristol | 28 Oct 1940 | 26 Jul 1941 | 4 Oct 1947 | Formerly Rockrose. Transferred on 4 Oct 1947 to the South African Navy. Converted to a survey vessel. Scrapped in 1967. |
| Ship | Builder | Laid Down | Launched | Commissioned | Paid Off | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friso | Grangemouth Dry Dock Co., Grangemouth | 31 Oct 1939 | 8 Jul 1940 | 26 Mar 1943 | 4 Oct 1944 | Formerly Carnation. Transferred on 26 Mar 1943 to the Royal Netherlands Navy. Returned to the RN on 4 Oct 1944. |
| Ship | Builder | Laid Down | Launched | Commissioned | Paid Off | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andenes | Ailsa Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., Troon | 21 Dec 1939 | 26 May 1941 | 1 Oct 1941 | 1956 | Formerly HMS Acanthus. Transferred to the Royal Norwegian Navy on 1 Oct 1941. Purchased by Norway in 1946 as a fishery protection ship. Reclassified in 1950 as a frigate with pennant number F307. Sold in 1956 as whaling ship Colin Frye. Resold in 1957 as Toshi Maru No.2. Scrapped in 1970 in Japan. |
| Buttercup | Harland & Wolff Ltd., Belfast | 17 Dec 1940 | 10 Apr 1941 | 20 Dec 1944 | Nov 1957 | Formerly HMS Buttercup. Transferred to the Royal Norwegian Navy on 20 Dec 1944. Purchased by Norway in 1946 as fishery protection ship Nordkyn. Sold in Nov 1957 as whaling ship Thoris. Scrapped in Jun 1969. |
| Eglantine | Harland & Wolff Ltd., Belfast | 16 Jan 1941 | 11 Jun 1941 | 29 Aug 1941 | Aug 1956 | Formerly HMS Eglantine. Transferred to the Royal Norwegian Navy on 29 Aug 1941. Purchased by Norway in 1946 as fishery protection ship Soroy. Sold in Aug 1956 as whaling ship Thorglimt. Scrapped in Jun 1969 at Grimstad. |
| Montbretia | Fleming & Ferguson Ltd., Paisley | 16 Nov 1940 | 27 May 1941 | 29 Sep 1941 | 18 Nov 1942 | Formerly HMS Montbretia. Transferred to the Royal Norwegian Navy on 29 Sep 1941. Torpedoed and sunk by U-262 on 18 Nov 1942 at 53-37N, 38-15W. 48 crew killed, 23 survivors were rescued by Potentilla. |
| Potentilla | W. Simons & Co., Renfrew | 28 Feb 1941 | 18 Dec 1941 | 16 Jan 1942 | 13 Mar 1944 | Formerly HMS Potentilla. Transferred to the Royal Norwegian Navy on 16 Jan 1942. Returned to the RN on 13 Mar 1944. |
| Rose | W. Simons & Co., Renfrew | 3 Sep 1940 | 22 Sep 1941 | 31 Oct 1941 | 26 Oct 1944 | Formerly HMS Rose. Transferred to the Royal Norwegian Navy on 26 Oct 1941 and commissioned on 31 Oct 1941. Rammed and sunk on 26 Oct 1944 by Manners at 45-50N, 40-15W. 3 crew were killed. |
| Ship | Builder | Laid Down | Launched | Commissioned | Paid Off | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apostolis | Harland & Wolff Ltd., Belfast | 20 Apr 1940 | 19 Aug 1940 | 24 Oct 1943 | 1952 | Formerly HMS Hyacinth. Transferred to the Royal Hellenic Navy on 24 Oct 1943. Returned to the RN in 1952. |
| Kriezis | A. & J. Inglis Ltd., Glasgow | 19 Sep 1939 | 23 Apr 1940 | 10 Nov 1943 | 1 Jun 1952 | Formerly HMS Coreopsis. Transferred to the Royal Hellenic Navy on 10 Nov 1943. Returned to the RN on 1 Jun 1952. |
| Sachtouris | Harland & Wolff Ltd., Belfast | 24 Feb 1940 | 4 Jun 1940 | 1943 | 1951 | Formerly HMS Peony. Transferred to the Royal Hellenic Navy in 1943. Returned to the RN in Sep 1951. |
| Tombazis | Fleming & Ferguson Ltd., Paisley | 10 Feb 1941 | 28 Jul 1941 | Nov 1943 | Formerly HMS Tamarisk. Transferred to the Royal Hellenic Navy in Nov 1943. Returned to the RN in 1952. |
| Ship | Builder | Laid Down | Launched | Commissioned | Paid Off | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Courage | Harland & Wolff Ltd., Belfast | 14 Nov 1939 | 20 Apr 1940 | 3 Apr 1942 | 22 Aug 1945 | Formerly HMS Heartsease. Transferred to the United States Navy on 3 Apr 1942. Returned to the RN on 23 Aug 1945. |
| Fury | Fleming & Ferguson Ltd., Paisley | 26 Mar 1940 | 5 Sep 1940 | 17 Mar 1942 | 22 Aug 1945 | Formerly HMS Larkspur. Transferred to the United States Navy on 17 Mar 1942. Returned to the RN on 22 Aug 1945. |
| Impulse | Cook, Welton & Gemmell, Beverley | 13 Mar 1940 | 18 Sep 1940 | 10 Mar 1942 | 22 Aug 1945 | Formerly HMS Begonia. Transferred to the United States Navy on 10 Mar 1942. Returned to the RN on 22 Aug 1945. |
| Ready | Harland & Wolff Ltd., Belfast | 30 Oct 1939 | 21 Mar 1940 | 12 Mar 1942 | 23 Aug 1945 | Formerly HMS Calendula. Transferred to the United States Navy on 12 Mar 1942. Returned to the RN on 23 Aug 1945. |
| Restless | Harland & Wolff Ltd., Belfast | 30 Oct 1939 | 24 Feb 1940 | 15 Mar 1942 | 20 Aug 1945 | Formerly HMS Periwinkle. Transferred to the United States Navy on 15 Mar 1942. Returned to the RN on 26 Aug 1945. |
| Saucy | Harland & Wolff Ltd., Belfast | 30 Oct 1939 | 14 Feb 1940 | 30 Apr 1942 | 20 Aug 1945 | Formerly HMS Arabis. Transferred to the United States Navy on 30 Apr 1942. Returned to the RN on 26 Aug 1945. |
| Spry | Harland & Wolff Ltd., Belfast | 14 Nov 1939 | 6 Apr 1940 | 2 May 1942 | 20 Aug 1945 | Formerly HMS Hibiscus. Transferred to the United States Navy on 2 May 1942. Returned to the RN on 26 Aug 1945. |
| Surprise | John Crown & Sons Ltd., Sunderland | 23 Oct 1939 | 5 Jun 1940 | 24 Mar 1942 | 20 Aug 1945 | Formerly HMS Heliotrope. Transferred to the United States Navy on 24 Mar 1942. Returned to the RN on 26 Aug 1945. |
| Temptress | Smiths Dock Co., South Bank-on-Tees | 9 Jul 1940 | 17 Oct 1940 | 21 Mar 1942 | 20 Aug 1945 | Formerly HMS Veronica. Transferred to the United States Navy on 16 Feb 1942. Returned to the RN on 26 Aug 1945. |
| Tenacity | Grangemouth Dry Dock Co., Grangemouth | 31 Oct 1939 | 8 Jul 1940 | 11 Jun 1942 | 22 Aug 1945 | Formerly HMS Candytuft. Transferred to the United States Navy on 4 Mar 1942. Returned to the RN on 26 Aug 1945. |
| Ship | Builder | Laid Down | Launched | Commissioned | Paid Off | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asbestos | Morton Engineering & Dry Dock Co., Quebec City | 20 July 1943 | 22 November 1943 | 16 June 1944 | 8 July 1945 | Scrapped in Mar 1949 at New Orleans. |
| Atholl | Morton Engineering & Dry Dock Co., Quebec City | 15 August 1942 | 4 April 1943 | 14 October 1943 | 17 July 1945 | Scrapped in Oct 1952 in Canada. |
| Beauharnois | Morton Engineering & Dry Dock Co., Quebec City | 8 Nov 1943 | 11 May 1944 | 25 Sep 1944 | 12 Jul 1945 | Sold in 1946 to the "Mossad Le'Aliya bet" in Quebec (The Institute for Immigration B) as a passenger vessel Yoashia Wegwood.[25] Transferred to Israel in 1948 as corvette HaShomer. |
| Belleville | Kingston Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., Kingston | 21 Jan 1944 | 17 Jun 1944 | 19 Oct 1944 | 5 Jul 1945 | Sold in 1947 to the Dominican Republic as Juan Bautista Cambiaso. |
| Brampton | Cancelled in Dec 1943. | |||||
| HMCS Charlottetown | Kingston Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., Kingston | 7 Jun 1941 | 10 Sep 1941 | 13 Dec 1941 | 11 Sep 1942 | Torpedoed and sunk on 11 Sep 1942 by U-517 while escorting convoy SQ-30 in the Saint Lawrence River north of Cap-Chat at 49-10N, 66-50W. 9 crew killed. |
| Cobourg | Midland Shipyards Ltd., Midland | 25 Nov 1942 | 14 Jul 1943 | 11 May 1944 | 15 Jun 1945 | Sold in 1947 as mercantile Camco. Resold in 1956 to Panama as mercantile Puerto del Sol. Burned and sunk in 1971. |
| Fergus | Collingwood Shipyards Ltd., Collingwood | 10 Dec 1943 | 30 Aug 1944 | 18 Nov 1944 | 14 Jul 1945 | Sold in 1945 as mercantile Camco II. Resold in 1948 as Hartcourt Kent. Wrecked in 1949. |
| Forrest Hill | Fleming & Ferguson Ltd., Paisley | 5 Feb 1943 | 30 Aug 1943 | 1 Dec 1943 | 9 Jul 1945 | Formerly Ceanothos. Transferred to the RCN before completion. |
| Frontenac | Kingston Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., Kingston | 19 Feb 1943 | 2 Jun 1943 | 26 Oct 1943 | 22 Jul 1945 | Sold in Oct 1945 to United Ship Corporation. |
| Giffard | Alexander Hall & Co., Aberdeen | 30 Nov 1942 | 19 Jun 1943 | 10 Nov 1943 | 5 Jul 1945 | Formerly Buddleia. Scrapped in Oct 1952 in Canada. |
| Guelph | Collingwood Shipyards Ltd., Collingwood | 29 May 1943 | 20 Dec 1943 | 9 May 1944 | 27 Jun 1945 | Sold in 1945 to Panama as mercantile Guelph (name not changed). Resold in 1956 as Burfin. |
| Hawkesbury | Morton Engineering & Dry Dock Co., Quebec City | 20 July 1943 | 16 Nov 1943 | 14 June 1944 | 10 Jul 1945 | Sold in 1950 to Cambodia as Campuchea. |
| Ingersoll | Cancelled in Dec 1943. | |||||
| Lachute | Morton Engineering & Dry Dock Co., Quebec City | 24 Nov 1943 | 9 Jun 1944 | 26 Oct 1944 | 10 Jul 1945 | Sold in 1947 to the Dominican Republic and renamed Cristobal Colon. Wrecked by Hurricane David on 30 August 1979.[26] |
| Lindsay | Midland Shipyards Ltd., Midland | 30 Sep 1942 | 4 Jun 1943 | 15 Nov 1943 | 18 Jul 1945 | Sold in 1946 as mercantile North Shore. |
| Listowel | Cancelled in Dec 1943. | |||||
| Long Branch | A. & J. Inglis Ltd., Glasgow | 27 Feb 1943 | 28 Sep 1943 | 5 Jan 1944 | 17 Jun 1945 | Formerly Candytuft. Sold in 1947 as mercantile Rexton Kent II. |
| Louisburg | Morton Engineering & Dry Dock Co., Quebec City | 11 Jan 1943 | 13 Jul 1943 | 13 Dec 1943 | 25 Jun 1945 | Sold in 1947 to the Dominican Republic and renamed Juan Alejandro Acosta. Wrecked by Hurricane David on 30 August 1979.[26] |
| Meaford | Cancelled in Dec 1943. | |||||
| Merrittonia | Morton Engineering & Dry Dock Co., Quebec City | 23 Nov 1943 | 24 Jun 1944 | 10 Nov 1944 | 11 Jul 1945 | Formerly Pointe Claire. |
| Mimico | John Crown & Sons Ltd., Sunderland | 22 Feb 1943 | 11 Oct 1943 | 8 Feb 1944 | 18 Jul 1945 | Formerly Bullrush. Sold in 1950 to Honduras as Olympic Victor. Resold in 1956 to Japan as Otori Maru No. 12 and in 1962 as Kyo Maru No. 25. |
| Norsyd | Morton Engineering & Dry Dock Co., Quebec City | 14 Jan 1943 | 31 Jul 1943 | 22 Dec 1943 | 25 Jun 1945 | Sold in 1946 to Yugoslavia as mercantile Balboa under Panamanian flag. Resold to the "Mossad Le'Aliya bet" in Quebec (The Institute for Immigration B) while still in Quebec as a passenger vessel Hagana.[27] Transferred to Israel in 1948 as corvette Hagana. |
| North Bay | Collingwood Shipyards Ltd., Collingwood | 29 Sep 1942 | 27 Apr 1943 | 25 Oct 1943 | 5 Jun 1945 | Sold in 1946 as mercantile Kent County II. Resold in 1950 as Galloway Kent and in 1951 as Bedford II. |
| Owen Sound | Collingwood Shipyards Ltd., Collingwood | 11 Nov 1942 | 15 Jun 1943 | 17 Nov 1943 | 19 Jul 1945 | Sold in 1945 to Greece as Cadio. |
| Parry Sound | Marine Industries Ltd., Sorel-Tracy, Quebec | 11 Jun 1943 | 13 Nov 1943 | 30 Aug 1944 | 10 Jul 1945 | Sold in 1950 to Honduras as mercantile Olympic Champion. Resold in 1956 to Japan as Otori Maru No. 15 and in 1961 as Kyo Maru No. 22. |
| Peterborough | Kingston Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., Kingston | 14 Sep 1943 | 15 Jan 1944 | 1 Jun 1944 | 19 Jul 1945 | Sold in 1947 to the Dominican Republic as Gerardo Jansen. |
| Renfrew | Cancelled in Dec 1943. | |||||
| Riviere du Loup | Morton Engineering & Dry Dock Co., Quebec City | 5 Jan 1943 | 2 Jul 1943 | 21 Nov 1943 | 2 Jul 1945 | Sold in 1947 to the Dominican Republic as Juan Bautista Maggiolo. |
| Smiths Falls | Kingston Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., Kingston | 21 Jan 1944 | 19 Aug 1944 | 28 Nov 1944 | 8 Jul 1945 | Sold in 1950 to Honduras as mercantile Olympic Lightning. Resold in 1956 to Japan as Otori Maru No. 16 and in 1961 as Kyo Maru No. 23. |
| St. Lambert | Morton Engineering & Dry Dock Co., Quebec City | 8 Jul 1943 | 6 Nov 1943 | 27 May 1944 | 20 Jul 1945 | Sold in 1946 to Panama as Chrysi Hondroulis. Resold in 1955 to Greece as Loula. |
| Stellarton | Morton Engineering & Dry Dock Co., Quebec City | 16 Nov 1943 | 27 Apr 1944 | 29 Sep 1944 | 1 Jul 1945 | Sold in 1946 to Chile as Casma. |
| Strathroy | Marine Industries Ltd., Sorel-Tracy, Quebec | 18 Nov 1943 | 15 Jun 1944 | 20 Nov 1944 | 12 Jul 1945 | Sold in 1946 to Chile as Chipana. |
| Thorlock | Marine Industries Ltd., Sorel-Tracy, Quebec | 25 Sep 1943 | 15 May 1944 | 13 Nov 1944 | 15 Jul 1945 | Sold in 1946 to Chile as Papudo. |
| Trentonian | Kingston Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., Kingston | 19 Feb 1943 | 1 Sep 1943 | 1 Dec 1943 | 22 Feb 1945 | Torpedoed and sunk on 22 Feb 1945 by U-1004 off Falmouth at 50-06N, 04-50W. 6 crew were lost. |
| West York | Midland Shipyards Ltd., Midland | 23 Jul 1943 | 25 Jan 1944 | 6 Oct 1944 | 9 Jul 1945 | Sold in 1945 as mercantile West York (name not changed). Resold in 1960 as Federal Express. Rammed and sunk in 1960 in the Saint Lawrence River near Montreal. Raised and scrapped. |
| Whitby | Marine Industries Ltd., Sorel-Tracy, Quebec | 1 Apr 1943 | 18 Sep 1943 | 6 Jun 1944 | 16 Jul 1945 | Acquired by the Portuguese Navy from the USA and renamed NRP Bengo on the 29 April 1948 and transferred to the Mozambique Pilots on the 1 October 1948 where she was named just Bengo. |
| Ship | Builder | Laid Down | Launched | Commissioned | Paid Off | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assam | John Crown & Sons Ltd., Sunderland | 26 Nov 1942 | 21 Jun 1943 | 19 Feb 1945 | Formerly HMS Bugloss. Transferred to the RIN on 19 Feb 1945. Returned to the RN in 1947. Scrapped. | |
| Gondwana | Fleming & Ferguson Ltd., Paisley | 2 Nov 1942 | 31 May 1943 | 15 May 1945 | 17 May 1946 | Formerly HMS Burnet. Transferred to the RIN on 15 May 1945. Returned to the RN on 17 May 1946. |
| Sind | Alexander Hall & Co., Aberdeen | 26 Sept 1942 | 22 Apr 1943 | 24 Aug 1945 | 17 May 1946 | Formerly HMS Betony. Transferred to the RIN on 24 Aug 1945. Returned to the RN on 17 May 1946. |
| Ship | Builder | Laid Down | Launched | Commissioned | Paid Off | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arabis | George Brown & Co., Greenock | 26 Feb 1943 | 28 Oct 1943 | 16 Mar 1944 | 1948 | Formerly HMS Arabis. Transferred to the RNZN on 16 Mar 1944. Returned to the RN in 1948. |
| Arbutus | George Brown & Co., Greenock | 3 May 1943 | 26 Jan 1944 | 5 Jul 1944 | 1948 | Formerly HMS Arbutus. Transferred to the RNZN on 5 Jul 1944. Returned to the RN in 1948. |
| Ship | Builder | Laid Down | Launched | Commissioned | Paid Off | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arabis | George Brown & Co., Greenock | 26 Feb 1943 | 28 Oct 1943 | Transferred on 16 Mar 1944 to the Royal New Zealand Navy as HMNZS Arabis. Returned to the RN in 1948. Scrapped in Aug 1951 at Grays. | ||
| Arbutus | George Brown & Co., Greenock | 3 May 1943 | 26 Jan 1944 | Transferred on 5 Jul 1944 to the Royal New Zealand Navy as Arbutus. Returned to the RN in 1948. Scrapped in Jun 1951 at Dunston. | ||
| Balm | Cancelled on 12 Nov 1942. | |||||
| Betony | Alexander Hall & Co., Aberdeen | 26 Sept 1942 | 22 Apr 1943 | Transferred on 24 Aug 1945 to India as Sind. Returned to the RN on 17 May 1946. Transferred in 1947 to Thailand as Prasae. Grounded on 7 Jan 1951 along east coast of Korea and scuttled on 13 Jan 1951. | ||
| Buddleia | Alexander Hall & Co., Aberdeen | 30 Nov 1942 | 19 Jun 1943 | Transferred on 10 Nov 1943 to the RCN as Giffard. | ||
| Bugloss | John Crown & Sons Ltd., Sunderland | 26 Nov 1942 | 21 Jun 1943 | 8 Nov 1943 | 19 Feb 1945 | Transferred on 19 Feb 1944 to India as Assam. Returned to the RN in 1947 and scrapped. |
| Bullrush | John Crown & Sons Ltd., Sunderland | 22 Feb 1943 | 11 Oct 1943 | Transferred on 8 Feb 1944 to the RCN as Mimico. | ||
| Burnet | Fleming & Ferguson Ltd., Paisley | 2 Nov 1942 | 31 May 1943 | Transferred on 15 May 1945 to India as HMIS Gondwana. Returned to the RN on 17 May 1946. Transferred on 15 May 1947 to Thailand. | ||
| Candytuft | A. & J. Inglis Ltd., Glasgow | 27 Feb 1943 | 28 Sep 1943 | Transferred on 5 Jan 1944 to the RCN as HMCS Long Branch. | ||
| Ceanothos | Fleming & Ferguson Ltd., Paisley | 5 Feb 1943 | 30 Aug 1943 | Transferred on 1 Dec 1943 to the RCN as HMCS Forrest Hill. | ||
| Charlock | Fleming & Ferguson Ltd., Paisley | 6 Apr 1943 | 16 Nov 1943 | Transferred in 1946 to India as HMIS Mahratta. | ||
| Comfrey | Collingwood Shipyards Ltd., Collingwood | 6 Jan 1942 | 28 Jul 1942 | Transferred on 22 Nov 1942 to the United States Navy as USS Action. | ||
| Cornel | Collingwood Shipyards Ltd., Collingwood | 6 Jan 1942 | 4 Sep 1942 | Transferred on 10 Dec 1942 to the USN as USS Alacrity. | ||
| Dittany | Collingwood Shipyards Ltd., Collingwood | 31 Oct 1942 | 31 May 1943 | Formerly USS Beacon. Transferred to the RN on 31 May 1943 under the lend-lease program. Returned to the USN on 20 Jun 1946. | ||
| HMS Flax | Kingston Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., Kingston | 15 Jun 1942 | Transferred on 6 Dec 1942 to the USN as USS Brisk. | |||
| Honesty | Kingston Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., Kingston | 28 Sep 1942 | Formerly USS Caprice. Transferred to the RN under the lend-lease program. Returned to the USN on 5 Jan 1946. | |||
| Linaria | Midland Shipyards Ltd., Midland | 18 Nov 1942 | 22 Jun 1943 | Formerly USS Clash. Transferred to the RN under the lend-lease program. Returned to the USN on 27 Jul 1946. | ||
| Mandrake | Morton Engineering & Dry Dock Co., Quebec City | Nov 1941 | 22 Aug 1942 | Transferred on 6 Apr 1943 to the USN as USS Haste. | ||
| Milfoil | Morton Engineering & Dry Dock Co., Quebec City | Nov 1941 | 5 Aug 1942 | Transferred on 31 Mar 1943 to the USN as USS Intensity. | ||
| Musk | Morton Engineering & Dry Dock Co., Quebec City | 28 Nov 1941 | 15 Jul 1942 | Transferred on 22 Dec 1942 to the USN as USS Might. | ||
| Nepeta | Morton Engineering & Dry Dock Co., Quebec City | 22 Jul 1942 | 29 Nov 1942 | Transferred on 23 Jul 1943 to the USN as USS Pert. | ||
| Privet | Morton Engineering & Dry Dock Co., Quebec City | 14 Aug 1942 | 4 Dec 1942 | Transferred on 16 Aug 1943 to the USN as USS Prudent. | ||
| Rosebay | Kingston Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., Kingston | 11 Feb 1943 | 28 Jul 1943 | 20 Mar 1946 | Formerly USS Splendor. Transferred to the RN under the lend-lease program. Returned to the USN on 20 Mar 1946. | |
| Smilax | Collingwood Shipyards Ltd., Collingwood | 24 Dec 1942 | 21 Jun 1943 | Formerly USS Tact. Transferred to the RN under the lend-lease program. Returned to the USN on 5 Jan 1946. | ||
| Statice | Collingwood Shipyards Ltd., Collingwood | 10 Apr 1943 | 20 Sep 1943 | Formerly USS Vim. Transferred to the RN under the lend-lease program. Returned to the USN on 21 Jun 1946. | ||
| Willowherb | Midland Shipyards Ltd., Midland | 24 Mar 1943 | Formerly USS Vitality. Transferred to the RN under the lend-lease program. Returned to the USN on 11 Jun 1946. |
| Ship | Builder | Laid Down | Launched | Commissioned | Paid Off | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Action | Collingwood Shipyards Ltd., Collingwood | 6 Jan 1942 | 28 Jul 1942 | 22 Nov 1942 | 6 Sep 1945 | Formerly HMS Comfrey. Transferred to the USN on 22 Nov 1942. Sold on 6 Feb 1946. |
| Alacrity | Collingwood Shipyards Ltd., Collingwood | 6 Jan 1942 | 4 Sep 1942 | 10 Dec 1942 | 4 Oct 1945 | Formerly HMS Cornel. Transferred to the USN on 10 Dec 1942. Sold on 22 Sep 1945 to Italy as mercantile Rio Marina. |
| Beacon | Collingwood Shipyards Ltd., Collingwood | 31 Oct 1942 | Transferred on 31 May 1943 to the RN as HMS Dittany. Returned to the USN on 20 Jun 1946. | |||
| Brisk | Kingston Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., Kingston | 15 Jun 1942 | 6 Dec 1942 | 9 Oct 1945 | Formerly HMS Flax. Transferred to the USN on 6 Dec 1942. Sold on 18 Oct 1946. | |
| Caprice | Collingwood Shipyards Ltd., Collingwood | 31 Oct 1942 | Transferred to the RN as HMS Honesty. Returned to the USN on 20 Jun 1946. | |||
| Clash | Midland Shipyards Ltd., Midland | 18 Nov 1942 | Transferred to the RN as HMS Linaria. Returned to the USN on 27 Jul 1946. | |||
| Haste | Morton Engineering & Dry Dock Co., Quebec City | Nov 1941 | 22 Aug 1942 | 6 Apr 1943 | 3 Oct 1945 | Formerly HMS Mandrake. Transferred to the USN on 6 Apr 1943. Sold in 1949 to Italy as mercantile Porto Azzurro. Scrapped in 1973 at La Spezia. |
| Intensity | Morton Engineering & Dry Dock Co., Quebec City | Nov 1941 | 22 Aug 1942 | 31 Mar 1943 | 3 Oct 1945 | Formerly HMS Milfoil. Transferred to the USN on 31 Mar 1943. Sold into mercantile service. |
| Might | Morton Engineering & Dry Dock Co., Quebec City | 28 Nov 1941 | 15 Jul 1942 | 22 Dec 1942 | 9 Oct 1945 | Formerly HMS Musk. Transferred to the USN on 22 Dec 1942. Sold into mercantile service. |
| Pert | Morton Engineering & Dry Dock Co., Quebec City | 22 Jul 1942 | 27 Nov 1942 | 23 Jul 1943 | 3 Oct 1945 | Formerly HMS Nepeta. Transferred to the USN on 23 Jul 1943. Sold on 18 Oct 1946 into mercantile service. |
| Prudent | Morton Engineering & Dry Dock Co., Quebec City | 14 Aug 1942 | 4 Dec 1942 | 16 Aug 1943 | 11 Oct 1945 | Formerly HMS Privet. Transferred to the USN on 16 Aug 1943. Sold in 1949 to Italy as mercantile Elbano. Resold in 1951 to the Italian Navy as hydrographic survey vessel Staffetta. |
| Splendor | Kingston Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., Kingston | 11 Feb 1943 | Transferred to the RN as HMS Rosebay. Returned to the USN on 20 Mar 1946. | |||
| Tact | Collingwood Shipyards Ltd., Collingwood | 24 Dec 1942 | Transferred to the RN as HMS Smilax. Returned to the USN on 5 Jan 1946. | |||
| Vim | Collingwood Shipyards Ltd., Collingwood | 10 Apr 1943 | Transferred to the RN as HMS Statice. Returned to the USN on 21 Jun 1946. | |||
| Vitality | Midland Shipyards Ltd., Midland | 24 Mar 1943 | Transferred to the RN as HMS Willowherb. Returned to the USN on 11 Jun 1946. |
| Ship | Date | Fate |
|---|---|---|
| Alysse | 9 Feb 1942 | Torpedoed and sunk by U-654 while escorting convoy ON-60 approximately 420 nautical miles (780 km) east of Cape Race at 46-00N, 44-00W. 36 crew were killed. |
| La Bastiaise | 22 Jun 1940 | Mined during sea trial off Hartlepool on day of her commissioning. |
| Mimosa | 9 Jun 1942 | Torpedoed and sunk by U-124 while escorting convoy ONS-100 at 52-12N, 32-37W. 58 French crew and 6 British crew were killed; the French crew being largely from Saint Pierre and Miquelon. 4 survivors rescued by HMCS Assiniboine. |
| Alberni | 21 Aug 1944 | Torpedoed and sunk by U-480 while escorting a convoy in the English Channel south of St. Catherine's Point at 50-18N, 00-51W. 59 crew killed and 31 rescued by RN motor torpedo boats. |
| Charlottetown | 11 Sep 1942 | Torpedoed and sunk by U-517 while escorting convoy SQ-30 in the Saint Lawrence River north of Cap-Chat at 49-10N, 66-50W. 9 crew killed. |
| Levis | 19 Sep 1941 | Torpedoed and sunk by U-74 while escorting convoy SC-44 east of Cape Farewell at 60-07N, 38-37W. 18 crew killed and 91 rescued. |
| Louisburg | 6 Feb 1943 | Bombed and torpedoed by Luftwaffe aircraft while escorting convoy KMF-8 off Cape Tenes in Mediterranean Sea at 36-15N, 00-15E. 59 crew killed, 50 rescued. |
| Regina | 8 Aug 1944 | Torpedoed and sunk by U-667 off Trevose Head at 50-42N, 05-03W. 30 crew were killed. |
| Shawinigan | 25 Nov 1944 | Torpedoed and sunk by U-1228 in the Cabot Strait at 47-34N, 59-11W. All hands were lost. |
| Spikenard | 11 Feb 1942 | Torpedoed and sunk by U-136 while escorting convoy SC-67 west of Malin Head at 56-10N, 21-07W. 8 crew survived. |
| Weyburn | 22 Feb 1943 | Mined on 22 Feb 1943 off Cape Espartel at 36-46N, 06-02W. 7 crew were killed. |
| Windflower | 7 Dec 1941 | Rammed and sunk while escorting convoy SC-58 after colliding with freighter Zypenberg in dense fog on the Grand Banks at 46-19N, 49-30W. 23 crew were lost. |
| Abelia | 9 Jan 1944 | Torpedoed and badly damaged by a U-boat. |
| Arbutus | 5 Feb 1942 | Torpedoed and sunk by U-136 west of Erris Head at 55-05N, 18-43W. |
| Asphodel | 10 Mar 1944 | Torpedoed and sunk by U-575 while escorting convoys SL-150 and MKS-41 at 45-24N, 18-09W. 92 crew were killed, 5 survivors rescued by Clover. |
| Auricula | 6 May 1942 | Mined in Courrier Bay, Madagascar at 12-12S, 49-19E. Foundered the following day while under tow. |
| Bluebell | 17 Feb 1945 | Torpedoed and sunk by U-711 off the Kola Inlet at 69-36N, 35-29E. |
| Bryony | 15 Apr 1941 | Bombed and sunk during sea trials by the Luftwaffe. Raised and repaired. Transferred to the Royal Norwegian Navy in 1947 as HNoMS Polarfront. |
| Erica | 9 Feb 1943 | Mined and sunk while escorting a convoy in the Mediterranean Sea off Derna at 32-48N, 21-10E. Entire crew rescued by HMS Southern Maid. |
| Fleur de Lys | 14 Oct 1941 | Torpedoed and sunk by U-206 west of Gibraltar at 36-00N, 06-30W. There were 3 survivors. |
| Gardenia | 9 Nov 1942 | Rammed and sunk off Oran at 35-49N, 01-05W in collision with HMS Fluellen. |
| Gladiolus | 17 Oct 1941 | Torpedoed and sunk by U-558 while escorting convoy SC-48 south of Iceland at 57-00N, 25-00W. All hands were lost. |
| Godetia | 6 Sep 1940 | Rammed and sunk 3 miles (4.8 km) off Altacarry Head at 55-18N, 05-57W in collision with mercantile Marsa. |
| Hollyhock | 9 Apr 1942 | Bombed and sunk by Japanese aircraft east of Ceylon at 07-21N, 81-57E. |
| Marigold | 9 Dec 1942 | Torpedoed and sunk by the Aviazione Ausiliara per la Marina while escorting convoy KMS.3Y off Algiers at 36-50N, 03-00E. 40 crew were killed. |
| Orchis | 21 Aug 1944 | Mined and heavily damaged off Courseulles-sur-Mer. Beached on Juno Beach and declared a total loss. |
| Picotee | 12 Aug 1941 | Torpedoed and sunk by U-568 while escorting convoy ONS-4 south of Iceland at 62-00N, 16-01W. All hands were lost. |
| Pink | 27 Jun 1944 | Torpedoed and heavily damaged by U-988 off Normandy at 49-48N, 00-49W. Declared a total loss and scrapped in 1947 at Llanelly. |
| Polyanthus | 21 Sep 1943 | Torpedoed and sunk by U-952 while escorting convoy ON-202 at 57-00N, 31-10W. 1 survivor rescued by Itchen but was killed when that ship was torpedoed and sunk by U-666 on 23 Sep 1943. |
| Salvia | 24 Dec 1941 | Torpedoed and sunk by U-568 west of Alexandria at 31-46N, 28-00E. All hands were lost. |
| Samphire | 30 Jan 1943 | Torpedoed and sunk by Italian submarine Platino while escorting convoy TE-14 off Béjaïa at 36-56N, 05-40E. |
| Snapdragon | 19 Dec 1942 | Bombed and sunk by the Luftwaffe northwest of Benghazi at 32-18N, 19-54E. |
| Vervain | 20 Feb 1945 | Torpedoed and sunk by U-1276 southeast of Dungarvan at 51-47N, 07-06W. |
| Zinnia | 23 Aug 1941 | Torpedoed and sunk by U-564 while escorting convoy OG-71 west of Portugal at 40-25N, 10-40W. |
| Montbretia | 18 Nov 1942 | Torpedoed and sunk by U-262 at 53-37N, 38-15W. 48 crew killed, 23 survivors were rescued by HNoMS Potentilla. |
| Trentonian | 22 Feb 1945 | Torpedoed and sunk on 22 Feb 1945 by U-1004 off Falmouth at 50-06N, 04-50W. 6 crew were killed. |
The relatively small Flowers were among the first warships to be declared surplus by Allied navies following the end of World War II. They had seen years of hard service in the North Atlantic and were made obsolete by the numerous large frigates, destroyers, and cruisers that entered service in the latter part of the war.
32 vessels from the RN, RCN, and USN were transferred to Argentina, Chile, the Dominican Republic, Greece, India, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, and Venezuela. These were typically operated according to their original design, as coastal patrol vessels, with many serving until the 1970s.
The Irish Navy bought three Flowers in 1946 (LE Macha, LE Cliona, and LE Maeve). The fledgling navy had intended to purchase an additional three corvettes, as well as a number of surplus minesweepers, but severe budget restrictions cancelled these plans, leaving the original three to serve alone through the 1960s and 1970s, despite antiquated armament, poor accommodation, and maintenance problems. Entry into the EEC in 1973 resulted in funding for replacement ships.
110 surplus Flowers were sold for commercial use. These saw various careers as mercantile freighters, smugglers, tugs, weather ships, and whalers. The remainder were scrapped. Of particular interest is the story of HMCS Sudbury. She was declared surplus by the RCN and sold as a towboat specializing in deep-sea salvage. In November 1955, she rescued the freighter Makedonia in the North Pacific, towing the vessel for over one month through severe weather, becoming one of the most famous salvage ships of all time.
The surplus RCN Flowers Norsyd and Beauharnois were sold as mercantile freighters but were subsequently acquired in 1946 by the Mossad LeAliyah Bet, a branch of the Jewish Defense Association (Haganah) in the British Mandate for Palestine. Mossad Le'aliyah Bet organized Jewish immigration from Europe into Palestine, in violation of unilateral British restrictions. The corvettes were intercepted in the Mediterranean Sea during the summer of 1946 by the destroyer Venus and interned in Palestine. After Israel became independent in 1948, these commercial ships were commissioned into the Israeli Navy as the warships Hashomer and Hagana respectively.
Allied navies disposed of their Flowers so quickly following the war, the RN could not supply a single vessel to play Compass Rose in the 1953 film production of Nicholas Monsarrat's novel The Cruel Sea. The Royal Hellenic Navy supplied Kriezis (formerly HMS Coreopsis) for the role prior to her scrapping.
The only survivor of the entire class is Sackville, owned by the Canadian Naval Memorial Trust. She was laid up in reserve in March 1946 and converted in 1952 to a research vessel for Canadian Department of Marine and Fisheries, a role she served in until the early 1980s when she was acquired by the trust.[28] She has been restored to her wartime appearance and serves the summer months as a museum ship on loan to the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in Halifax, Nova Scotia, while wintering securely in the naval dockyard at CFB Halifax under the care of Maritime Forces Atlantic, Maritime Command. Sackville's presence in Halifax is considered very appropriate, given the port was an important North American convoy assembly port during the war. Sackville makes her first appearance each spring when she is towed by a naval tug from HMC Dockyard to a location off Point Pleasant Park on the first Sunday in May to participate in the Commemoration of the Battle of the Atlantic ceremonies held at a memorial in the park overlooking the entrance to Halifax Harbour. Sackville typically hosts several dozen RCN veterans on this day and has also participated in several burials at sea for dispersing the ashes of RCN veterans of the Battle of the Atlantic at this location.
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