nearly sister-ship Primrose 1917
| Name | No | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Comp | Fate |
| Azalea | Barclay Curle, Glasgow | 1915 | 10/9/1915 | 10/1915 | BU 2/1923 | |
| Begonia | Barclay Curle, Glasgow | 1915 | 26/8/1915 | 10/1915 | sunk 2/10/1917 | |
| Camellia | Bow McLachlan, Paisley | 1915 | 25/9/1915 | 11/1915 | BU 1/1923 | |
| Carnation | Greenock & Grangemouth | 1915 | 6/9/1915 | 10/1915 | BU 1/1922 | |
| Clematis | Greenock & Grangemouth | 1915 | 29/7/1915 | 9/1915 | BU 2/1931 | |
| Heliotrope | Lobnitz, Renfrew | 1915 | 10/9/1915 | 10/1915 | BU 1/1935 | |
| Jessamine | Swan Hunter, Wallsend | 1915 | 9/9/1915 | 10/1915 | BU 12/1922 | |
| Myrtle | Lobnitz, Renfrew | 1915 | 11/10/1915 | 11/1915 | sunk 16/7/1919 | |
| Narcissus | Napier & Miller, Govan | 1915 | 22/9/1915 | 11/1915 | BU 9/1922 | |
| Peony | McMillan, Dumbarton | 1915 | 27/10/1915 | 12/1915 | BU 8/1919 | |
| Snowdrop | McMillan, Dumbarton | 1915 | 7/10/1915 | 11/1915 | BU 1/1923 | |
| Zinnia | Lobnitz, Renfrew | 1915 | 12/8/1915 | 9/1915 | to Belgium 4/1920 (Zinnia) |
|
Displacement normal, t |
1210 |
|
Displacement full, t |
1275 |
|
Length, m |
76.2 pp 80.0 oa |
|
Breadth, m |
10.1 |
|
Draught, m |
3.40 |
|
No of shafts |
1 |
|
Machinery |
VTE, 2 cylindrical boilers |
|
Power, h. p. |
1800 |
|
Max speed, kn |
16.5 |
|
Fuel, t |
coal 130 |
|
Armament |
2 x 1 - 120/40 QF Mk I, 2 x 1 - 47/50 Vickers AA, sweeps some later ships: 2 x 1 - 102/40 QF Mk III, 2 x 1 - 47/50 Vickers AA, sweeps |
|
Complement |
90 |
Ship project history: The ships which have revived a class of sloops
in Royal Navy. They were designed in the end of 1914 for usage as a minesweeping
vessel, patrol ship, tug, personal and cargo transport. Because of congestion of
Admiralty and private yards having experience of military shipbuilding, they
were built on unspecialized yards. For this purpose a hull structure and a
propulsive plant have as much as possible simplified. Difficult in production
and maintenance turbines and water-tube boilers have refused in favour of more
habitual to reservists and recruits triple expansion stem engine and
fire-tube coal-burning boilers. At designing special measures on magazine
protection have been taken. It have moved astern and have protected by light
box-shaped armour. Early 1915 36 ships of 1st group are ordered. In the summer
of the same year the order for 36 ships of 2nd group with a little bit increased
engine power has followed.
Simplicity of a construction has allowed to put a number of the ships into the
service in five months after laying down. They were successful in many respects
and had only one serious lack: single-shaft machinery
and big enough slenderness of the hull has led to that
sloops differed by the big tactical diameter.
The new ships have received names of colours and plants, therefore the type
became known as "Flower". In a role of minesweepers they have appeared not so
successful (too a deep draught) and have become famous in other role: since 1917
they were attracted in escort service.
Modernizations: 1916 - 1917, all survived: + 2 DCT, 1 DCR
1916 - 1917, Begonia: was converted to decoy ship resembling a small coaster. Ship used names Dolcis, Jessop and Q10.
Naval service: Begonia collided with German submarine U151, Myrtle was stricken by Russian mine.
Primrose
© Ivan Gogin, 2008-10