Flower-class corvette

Class overview
HMCS Regina, circa 1942 - 1943
Operators:	During World War II (Allies): Royal Navy Royal Canadian Navy United States Navy Free French Naval Forces Belgian Marine Component Hellenic Navy Royal Indian Navy Royal Netherlands Navy Royal New Zealand Navy Royal Norwegian Navy South African Navy During World War II (Axis)—seized during construction: Kriegsmarine After World War II: Argentine Navy Chilean Navy Royal Danish Navy Dominican Navy Hellenic Navy Royal Indian Navy Israeli Navy Irish Naval Service South African Navy Bolivarian Armada of Venezuela People's Liberation Army Navy Royal Thai Navy
Completed:	225 (original), 69 (modified)
Cancelled:	5 (original), 6 (modified)
Lost:	33 World War II (22 to submarines)
Preserved:	HMCS Sackville
General characteristics Original Flower-class corvette
Type:	Corvette
Displacement:	925 long tons (940 t; 1,036 short tons)
Length:	205 ft (62.5 m) o/a
Beam:	33 ft (10.1 m)
Draught:	11.5 ft (3.51 m)
Propulsion:	1939-1940 programme single shaft 2 × fire tube Scotch boilers 1 × double acting triple-expansion reciprocating steam engine 2,750 ihp (2,050 kW) 1940-1941 programme single shaft 2 × water tube boilers 1 × double acting triple-expansion reciprocating steam engine 2,750 ihp (2,050 kW)
Speed:	16 knots (29.6 km/h)
Range:	3,500 nautical miles (6,482 km) at 12 knots (22.2 km/h)
Complement:	85
Sensors and processing systems:	1 × SW1C or 2C radar 1 × Type 123A or Type 127DV sonar
Armament:	1 × 4 inch BL Mk.IX single gun 2 × Vickers .50 machine guns (twin) 2 × .303 inch Lewis machine gun (twin) 2 × Mk.II depth charge throwers 2 × depth charge rails with 40 depth charges originally fitted with minesweeping gear, later removed

General characteristics Modified Flower-class corvette
Displacement:	1,015 long tons (1,031 t; 1,137 short tons)
Length:	208 ft (63.4 m)o/a
Beam:	33 ft (10.1 m)
Draught:	11 ft (3.35 m)
Propulsion:	single shaft 2 × water tube boilers 1 × 4-cylinder triple-expansion reciprocating steam engine 2,750 ihp (2,050 kW)
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:	1 × Type 271 SW2C radar 1 × Type 144 sonar
Armament:	1 × 4 inch BL Mk.IX single gun 1 × 2-pounder. Mk.VIII single "pom-pom" AA gun 2 × 20 mm Oerlikon single 1 × Hedgehog A/S mortar 4 × Mk.II depth charge throwers 2 depth charge rails with 70 depth charges

The Flower-class corvette (also referred to as the Gladiolus class after the lead ship) was a British 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. Royal Navy ships of this class were named after flowers, hence the name of the class.

The majority served during World War II with the Royal Navy (RN) and Royal Canadian Navy (RCN). Several ships built largely in Canada were transferred from the RN to the United States Navy (USN) under the lend-lease programme, seeing service in both navies. Some corvettes transferred to the USN were manned by the US Coast Guard. The vessels serving with the US Navy were known as Temptress and Action-class patrol gunboats. Other Flower-class corvettes served with 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.

After World War II many surplus Flower-class vessels saw worldwide use in other navies, 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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Wikipedia