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INSIDE THE FLOWER CLASS Flower-class corvette HMS Picotee, 1940-41
The 1940-built HMS Picotee serves as a snapshot illustration of a class of warship that changed and developed throughout World War II. The Flower-class corvettes started life known variously as Patrol Vessels, Whaler Type or Anti-Submarine Merchant (A/S-M) Patrol Vessels. One of their principal assets was the commercial basis of their design, allowing them to be built swiftly at merchant shipbuilding yards across the United Kingdom, and later - as the attractions of the design caught on - around the world. Designer William Reed, managing director of Smith's Dock Company, had previously designed World War I small patrol vessels and combined his military and merchant ship expertise to develop a warship based on the commercial whaler Southern Pride. These Flower-class ships filled in a need for a military vessel that offered particular strengths in endurance, anti-submarine detection, and acceleration balanced with speed, manoeuvrability and cost. Originally the Flower-class were envisaged for coastal escort and minesweeping work, but as war dragged on and the constant risk of submarine attack became apparent, the class had to be revised for an unplanned mid-ocean role.
Stalwarts of World War II, the Flower-class corvettes served in all theatres of war but won particular attention for their part in the Battle of the Atlantic. These little ships proved their worth in a number of roles, principally as anti-submarine ships and convoy escorts.
Superstructure and armament were altered over the life of these ships, with successive builds ringing new changes in the class, and refits seeing older ships brought up to the latest innovations. Everything from the forecastle deck and the flare of the bows to the finer details of crewmen's quarters and bunks were altered. An original estimate of 29 crew grew to 47 in October 1939, then, as the demands of armament and warfare equipment increased, so the ship's company boomed to around 80. Eventually the decision was taken to institute a new class, the 'modified Flowerclass' but as the original Flowers had evolved so much over their short lives in some cases the lines of distinction are blurred between the generations. Some 40 corvettes became dedicated minesweepers, fitted with Oropesa sweeps against moored mines or later LL sweeps to combat the magnetic version. The first 60 of the class were ordered by the British before the outbreak of war but over 260 corvettes served with the navies of Britain and other nations, particularly Canada. In the Royal Canadian Navy over 100 of the ships carried the names of towns in Canada. Indeed it is in Canada where the last Flower-class survives in good condition - HMCS Sackville in Halifax serves as a museum ship to World War II. HMS Gladiolus was the first of the class to be launched by the Royal Navy, but she was swiftly followed by her sister ships, at so rapid a rate that in 1941 6-8 ships were being completed each month. Over 140 of the class served with the Royal Navy, mostly but not all British-built. And as for Picotee, from her completion on September 5,1940, at Harland and Wolff after a 5 month and 15 day build, she did not survive a year - she was torpedoed by the German submarine U-568 off Iceland on August 12,1941. With thanks to: The Flower-class Corvette Association. For more information on the Association contact the secretary Mike Raymond on 01285 860224. 76
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Ensign staff Sternlight Stern depth charge runways Kedge anchor Aft mooring bollard, port (and starboard) Depth charge davit Store room Rudder Propeller Petty Officers' cabins Depth charge deck stowage Petty Officers' washroom and toilet Galley Portable derrick, port and starboard Lifebelt Galley coal store Engine room vent Lateral depth charge throwers, (port and) starboard Propeller shaft bearing Keelson Four-cylinder, triple expansion steam engine Steam box and recirculating piping
23. Engine room skylight 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41.
Aft gun platform Quadruple 0.5-inch machine guns Life raft, Carley float Deck locker Waste steam vent Funnel Whistle and siren Boiler room vents Stokehold entrance, (port and) starboard Boiler exhaust ducts Feed air ducting Aft boiler Forced draught fan, one per boiler Bilge keel, (port and) starboard Fuel oil bunkers, (port and) starboard Forward boiler Starboard boat davit Pyrotechnic stowage box
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42. 16-foot dinghy, port (and starboard) 43. Conning tower 44. W/T (wireless telegraphy) aerials and lead-in trunk 45. Air observation platform 46. Semaphore pole 47. Mast 48. Mast head light and lightning conductor 49. W/T (wireless telegraphy) aerial cable spar and halyards 50. Crows nest 51. Steaming light 52. Lewis gun 53. Port bridge wing and navigation light mounting 54. Signal lamp
Copyright Navy News 2003
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Compass platform Engine room telegraph Bridge Chart table and locker Commanding Officer's cabin Officers' cabins Ammunition magazine Lamp room and paint store Provision store Crew cabins Fresh water tanks ASDIC room Fold-up crew bunks
Crew mess Forward gun platform Platform ammunition stowage 4-inch gun Foredeck planking Anchor winch Forward mooring bollards, port and starboard 75. Crew deck vents 76. Hinged jackstaff 77. Main anchor, (port and) starboard
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