The Flower Class Corvette in US Service
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Previous installments in the Flower story have focused on Royal Navy
and Royal Canadian Navy use. After them the third largest user was the
United States Navy. When the US entered the war they found themselves
woefully short of escort vessels, and to help fill the need, they accepted
the Commonwealth offer of some Flowers. Ten UK-built Flowers were transfered
direct from the RN, while eightunder construction in Canada were transfered
to the USN upon completion. A further seven of these latter Flowers were
earmarked for the USN, but went to the RN instead.
It is interesting to reflect that at this time the US was building the
Evarts and Buckley Classes for the RN, the Canadians were building corvettes
for the RN and USN, while the RN built frigates for Canada. At first this
might seem strange, but it allowed each country to make use of its available
shipyards in the best way possible, and the flow of ships to continue
while numerical committments to each other were fulfilled.
The first batch of US Flowers replaced the forward Mk.IX 4" gun
with a US 4" gun with no shield, and the 2pdr in the bandstand aft
was replaced by a 3"/50 in a new location at the extreme end of the
engine room casing. US SG radar eventually replaced the RN Type 271 radar.
The later ships carried 3"/50 guns both fore and aft.
USS Saucy - PG63
May 1942
Source: Lynch: Canada's Flowers
The former HMS Arabis, Saucy was transfered to the USN in April 1942,
and is seen here shortly after entering US service. At this time she is
still in her original appearance with British weapons and radar. Saucy
is wearing Ms16 camouflage which consists of white and Thayer blue.
USS Tenacity - PG71
June 1942
Source: USCG Flowers
The former HMS Candytuft, Tenacity was photographed while undergoing
refit in New York in June 1942. By this time she had replaced her British
pattern guns with a USN 4" in the forward position, and a 3"
on the engine room casing aft. Her wooden upper bridge has been rebuilt
of steel and a US style flag bag is in position at the rear of the bridge.
She is in a MS12 pattern of 5-N Navy Blue, 5-O Ocean Gray and 5-H Haze
Gray.
USS Tenacity - PG71
March 1944
Source: Elliott: Allied Escort Ships of WWII
By 1944 Tenacity was wearing an Ms16 pattern. Interestingly her vents
alongside the funnel were drastically extended in height. The focsle was
extended slightly, and there are single Oerlikon guns placed just aft
of the funnel at the focsle break. SG Radar is at the masthead
USS Intensity - PG93
September 1943
Source: Lenton: American Gunboats and Minesweepers
Intensity was one of the Canadian-built 'Modified' Flowers transfered
upon completion to the USN. The main differences between her and her Canadian
sisters is the 3"/50 guns placed both fore and aft. British Type
271 radar is in place. She is in Ms14, overall Ocean Gray.
References:
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Allied Escort Ships of WWII: Elliott, Peter; Naval Institute Press,
1977
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American Gunboats and Minesweepers: Lenton, H T; MacDonald &
Co. 1974
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Canada's Flowers: Lynch, Thomas; Nimbus, 1981
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For further information on the Flowers, check the Flower
Class Website
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