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Ship "Index"

17a). - WW11 Convoy Escort "Flower" and "Castle Class"

Corvettes.

This Complete section updated, and extra photo's added, Late April 2010.

New photo's are indicated by ( # ) - Earlier additions now unmarked.

To hopefully make it easier to search amongst the many different types of WW11 Convoy Escort ships that were produced and used during the war years, I have taken the opportunity to split "section 17" into two parts as I have now been given a large collection of these ships photo's to display by a donor who wishes to remain anonymous.

This sub-section contains the Escort classes known as "Corvettes", whilst the previous part of "section 17" contains the larger ships that have later been re-classified by the RN as "Frigates", as opposed to the more commonly used classification of "Destroyer - Escort".

It is down to these quite diminutive ships, and the A.S.W. trawlers, that often comprised the only "Escort" a trans-Atlantic convoy had during the first 3 years or so of WW11, that Gt. Britain was able to stand alone against the threat of the U-boat "Wolf Packs".

"Flower Class" Corvettes.

This class of ship was the result of the "Panicked Realization", in the late 1930's, by both the Admiralty and Government that, once again, they had allowed the situation to arise whereby we had insufficient resources to "Escort" convoys and to defend them against the expected threat from U-boats in the coming War. A small, simple, seaworthy and easily built ship was required and the design selected for the "Flower Class" was based on the "Southern Pride Whaling" ships.

1). Abelia. - photo.

2) Acanthus. - 1 photo.

3). Alisma. - 2 photo's.

4). Amaranthus. - 1 photo.

5). Arbutus. - 2 photo's.

6). Aubretia. - 1 photo.

7). Auricula. - 1 photo.

8). Azalea. - 1 photo.

9). Balsam. – 1 photo.

10). Betony. – 1 photo.

11). Bluebell. - 1 photo

12). Borage. – 1 photo.

13). Bryony. - 1 photo.

14). Campanula. - 2 photo's

15). Campion. - 1 photo.

16). Celandine. - 1 photo.

17). Charlock. - 2 photo's. #

18). Clarkia. – 2 photo's.

19). Clematis. – 2 photo's.

20). Clover. – 1 photo.

21). Columbine. - 1 photo.

22). Crocus ( painting ). - 1 photo.

23) Cyclamen. - 1 photo.

24) Dianthus. - 1 photo.

25) Dittany. - 1 photo.

26). Fennel. – 1 photo.

27). Freesia. - 1 photo.

28). Fritillary. - 1 photo.

29). Gladiolus. - 1 photo.

30). Hollyhock. - 1 photo.

31). Honeysuckle. - 1 photo.

32). Jonquil. - 1 photo.

33). Larkspur. - 1 photo.

34). Linaria. - 1 photo.

35). Loosestrife. - 1 photo.

36). Lotus. – 3 photo’s.

37). Mallow - 2 photo's.

38). Meadowsweet. - 1 photo.

39). Myosotis. - 1 photo.

40). Nasturtium. - 1 photo.

41). Orillia. – 1 photo.

42). Pennywort. - 1 photo.

43). Penstemon & Nasturtium. - 1 photo.

44). Pink. - 1 photo.

45). Potentilla. - 1 Photo.

46). Samphire. - 2 photo's.

47). Saxifrage. - 1 photo.

48). Spirea. - 1 photo.

49). Starwort. - 2 photo's.

50). Sunflower. - 1 photo.

51). Tamarisk. - 2 photo's.

52). Thyme. - 1 photo.

53). Verbena. - 1 photo.

54). Vetch. - 2 photo's.

55). Willowherb. - 1 photo.

56). Woodruff. – 1 photo.

"Castle Class" Corvettes.

These ships started to replace the much smaller "Flower Class" Corvettes from around 1943 onwards. They were quite larger and more seaworthy than them, and it was fortunate that most of the smaller shipbuilding yards were able to accommodate their 250ft length. Although slow, the "Castles" were more suited to Atlantic operations, and their bows were strong enough to be able to carry the "New" forward firing SQUID A.S.W. Mortar then just entering wartime service.

1). Allington Castle. - 1 photo.

2). Alnwick Castle. - 1 photo.

3). Amberley Castle. - 3 photo's.

4). Bamborough Castle. – 2 photo's.

5). Barnard Castle. - 1 photo.

6). Berkeley Castle. - 1 photo.

7). Caistor Castle. - 2 photo's.

8). Carisbrooke Castle. - 2 photo's.

9). Dumbarton Castle. - 2 photo's.

10). Farnham Castle. - 2 photo's

11). Flint Castle. - 2 photo's.

12). Guildford Castle. - 1 photo.