HMS Snapdragon

[Threewheeler]

Hi there,
I had an e mail address posted on this site for anyone who had relatives on the ill fated HMS Snapdragon which went down off Bengazi to contact me.I no longer use this address so if anyone has an interest in this ship or her crew please could you mail me at jachelads@yahoo.co.uk
Thankyou.
Moderator.
The old address was adrian@threewheeling.fsnet.co.uk. Perhaps you could remove this for me from the site. Thankyou.

[TheDigger]

Surely the RN was running out of names calling a ship the Snapdragon I will have to look up this one. Are there other ships also named after flowers?

[TheDigger]

Well I learnt something new today the ship was a flower class sloop hence the name there is no doubt you can gain an incedible ammount of information from these sites

[John Brown]

Nothing wrong with naming ships after flowers or plants Digger.

Take a look at a lot of the Japanese destroyers.

Regards...John

[The Sailor]

There are better experts on this subject on here than me but in WW1, a series of Flower class Sloops were built and in WW2, it was a series of Flower Class Corvettes.
Some of them carried out famous actions.

Flower class corvettes of the Royal Navy.
Here they all are.

Royal Navy HMS Abelia (K184) · HMS Acanthus (K01) · HMS Aconite (K58) · HMS Alisma (K185) · HMS Alyssum (K100) · HMS Amaranthus (K17) · HMS Anchusa (K186) · HMS Anemone (K48) · HMS Arabis (K73) · HMS Arbutus (K86) · HMS Armeria (K187) · HMS Arrowhead (K145) · HMS Asphodel (K56) · HMS Aster (K188) · HMS Aubretia (K96) · HMS Auricula (K12) · HMS Azalea (K25) · HMS Balsam (K72) · HMS Begonia (K66) · HMS Bellwort (K114) · HMS Bergamot (K189) · HMS Bittersweet (K182) · HMS Bluebell (K80) · HMS Borage (K120) · HMS Bryony (K192) · HMS Burdock (K126) · HMS Buttercup (K193) · HMS Calendula (K28) · HMS Camellia (K31) · HMS Campanula (K18) · HMS Campion (K108) · HMS Candytuft (K09) · HMS Carnation (K00) · HMS Celandine (K75) · HMS Chrysanthemum (K195) · HMS Clarkia (K88) · HMS Clematis (K36) · HMS Clover (K134) · HMS Coltsfoot (K140) · HMS Columbine (K94) · HMS Convolvulus (K45) · HMS Coreopsis (K32) · HMS Coriander (K183) · HMS Cowslip (K196) · HMS Crocus (K49) · HMS Cyclamen (K83) · HMS Dahlia (K59) · HMS Delphinium (K77) · HMS Dianella (K07) · HMS Dianthus (K95) · HMS Eglantine (K197) · HMS Erica (K50) · HMS Eyebright (K150) · HMS Fennel (K194) · HMS Fleur de Lys (K122) · HMS Freesia (K43) · HMS Fritillary (K199) · HMS Gardenia (K99) · HMS Genista (K200) · HMS Gentian (K90) · HMS Geranium (K16) · HMS Gladiolus (K34) · HMS Gloriosa (K201) · HMS Gloxinia (K22) · HMS Godetia (K72) · HMS Godetia (K226) · HMS Harebell (K202) · HMS Heartsease (K15) · HMS Heather (K69) · HMS Heliotrope (K03) · HMS Hemlock (K203) · HMS Hepatica (K159) · HMS Hibiscus (K24) · HMS Hollyhock (K64) · HMS Honeysuckle (K27) · HMS Hyacinth (K84) · HMS Hyderabad (K212) · HMS Hydrangea (K39) · HMS Ivy (K204) · HMS Jasmine (K23) · HMS Jonquil (K68) · HMS Kingcup (K33) · HMS La Malouine (K46) · HMS Larkspur (K82) · HMS Lavender (K60) · HMS Ling (K205) · HMS Lobelia (K05) · HMS Loosestrife (K105) · HMS Lotus (K93) · HMS Lotus (K130) · HMS Mallow (K81) · HMS Marguerite (K54) · HMS Marigold (K87) · HMS Marjoram (K206) · HMS Mayflower (K191) · HMS Meadowsweet (K144) · HMS Mignonette (K38) · HMS Mimosa (K11) · HMS Monkshood (K207) · HMS Montbretia (K208) · HMS Myosotis (K65) · HMS Narcissus (K74) · HMS Nasturtium (K107) · HMS Nigella (K19) · HMS Orchis (K76) · HMS Oxlip (K123) · HMS Pennywort (K111) · HMS Pentstemon (K61) · HMS Peony (K40) · HMS Periwinkle (K55) · HMS Petunia (K79) · HMS Picotee (K63) · HMS Pimpernel (K71) · HMS Pink (K137) · HMS Polyanthus (K47) · HMS Poppy (K213) · HMS Potentilla (K214) · HMS Primrose (K91) · HMS Primula (K14) · HMS Ranonculus (K117) · HMS Rhododendron (K78) · HMS Rockrose (K51) · HMS Rose (K102) · HMS Salvia (K97) · HMS Samphire (K128) · HMS Saxifrage (K04) · HMS Snapdragon (K10) · HMS Snowberry (K166) · HMS Snowdrop (K67) · HMS Snowflake (K211) · HMS Spikenard (K198) · HMS Spiraea (K08) · HMS Starwort (K20) · HMS Stonecrop (K142) · HMS Sundew (K57) · HMS Sunflower (K41) · HMS Sweetbriar (K209) · HMS Tamarisk (K216) · HMS Thyme (K210) · HMS Trillium (K172) · HMS Tulip (K29) · HMS Verbena (K85) · HMS Veronica (K37) · HMS Vervain (K190) · HMS Vetch (K132) · HMS Violet (K35) · HMS Wallflower (K44) · HMS Windflower (K155) · HMS Woodruff (K53) · HMS Zinnia

[BB60]

There are better experts on this subject on here than me but in WW1, a series of Flower class Sloops were built and in WW2, it was a series of Flower Class Corvettes.
Some of them carried out famous actions.

Flower class corvettes of the Royal Navy.
Here they all are.


I'll bet the crew on some of those ships (e.g. HMS Buttercup (K193) HMS Geranium (K16) HMS Harebell (K202) HMS Heartsease (K15) Petunia (K79)Snowflake (K211)) left harbor with bags over their heads.

[The Sailor]

If you mean the punch ups over the sissy names early in the war, they would have been uncountable.
But as the war wore on and these brave little ships faced German pocket battleships alone and other acts, the ragging at the pub faded.

[jbryce1437]

Any photos of the Flower Class Corvette HMS Snapdragon??

[The Sailor]

Yes mate, here's one taken in Beirut in 1942.

Graeme

[BB60]

If you mean the punch ups over the sissy names early in the war,

:DI wasn't going to be as indelicate about it, but the adjective you used does fit.:eek:

I would imagine that after a good write-up in the local rag about their exploits, the boys on the ships with less-than-warlike names would tend to strut around the pub a bit.

[Batstiger]

Here is the WW1 sloop Snapdragon.

[jbryce1437]

Graeme, Thanks for the post of the Snapdragon - any chance of a larger version?

Thanks
Jim Bryce

[The Sailor]

It is the only pic I can see on the net Jim. I have made it bigger with my software. Is that any better?
Graeme

[tomsam]

Hi Jim
Regarding the "Flower Class "Slooops.
They were in fact classed as Sweeping sloops and Convoy sloops.
They had five sub groups.
Sweeping sloops = Acacia class (24 ships),Azalea Class ( 12 ships )Arabis Class (36 ships including HMS Snapdragon )
Convoy sloops = Aubretia ( 12 ships ) Anchusa Class ( 28 ships ).
HMS Snapdragon was launched on 21/12/1915 and sold in May 1934.
I have a soft spot for these sloops,Two were sold to the Aussies who used them as target practice (Say no more ) 21 were sunk in anger and one (HMS Crysanthemum ) is reputedly moored on the Thames somewhere. Hope this adds to things for you.Also just looking at "Diggers post" I think he was referring to the Corvette of the same name and not the sloop
Regards
Tomsam

[The Sailor]

Two were sold to the Aussies who used them as target practice (Say no more )
Aussie bashing! Hahahaha!
We can take it.

[Stan.J]

For those of you who would like to learn more on the achievements of the Flower class Corvettes and their crews. Read "The Battle of the Atlantic" by Chris Howard Bailey.
This book is an oral history by crew members of various Flower Class Corvettes. (Including the Snapdragon). With photos of the crew at stations etc. Life on the lowerdeck during times of danger as well as times in base.
Cheers Stan.

[Batstiger]

Here is a typical Flower class corvette HMS Loosestrife and her crew.

[tonclass]

Tomsam, 'Chrysanthamum' has long since gone from the Thames, but her sister 'Saxifrage' is still there and goes by the name of HMS PRESIDENT.

[tomsam]

Hi "Tonclass". Thanks for the info and pic. do you know what she is used for now and what is the significance of her name.
Cheers
Tomsam

[John Brown]

Tomsam

HMS President is now a bar, restaurant and conference center. Have a look at this site for more info:

http://www.hmspresident.com/

HMS Crysanthemum was sold to a charity and then scrapped in 1995.

regards...John

[terry mccarthy]

Hi Jim
Regarding the "Flower Class "Slooops.
They were in fact classed as Sweeping sloops and Convoy sloops.
They had five sub groups.
Sweeping sloops = Acacia class (24 ships),Azalea Class ( 12 ships )Arabis Class (36 ships including HMS Snapdragon )
Convoy sloops = Aubretia ( 12 ships ) Anchusa Class ( 28 ships ).
HMS Snapdragon was launched on 21/12/1915 and sold in May 1934.
I have a soft spot for these sloops,Two were sold to the Aussies who used them as target practice (Say no more ) 21 were sunk in anger and one (HMS Crysanthemum ) is reputedly moored on the Thames somewhere. Hope this adds to things for you.Also just looking at "Diggers post" I think he was referring to the Corvette of the same name and not the sloop
Regards
Tomsam

Tomsam

My great uncle served on the Flower class sloop HMS Peony in WWI (there was a Flower class corvette of the same name in WWII). I know it was sold after the war and became the "Ardena". Would be pleased to hear of any further info on ship or crew in April 1918

Terry Mac

[herakles]

Welcome Terry Mac! Enjoy your time with us.

[estracyte]

Hi everyone,
I am a newbie here. No idea about naval ships or anything really. I have just joined to try an find out any info on the HMS Ivy. My great granddad was a crew member on her, 1917 til 20 I think. Any help or references you can give me would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks xx

[Macadian]

Not forgetting the 'Unwanted' (HMS Undaunted):)

[John Brown]

Hi everyone,
I am a newbie here. No idea about naval ships or anything really. I have just joined to try an find out any info on the HMS Ivy. My great granddad was a crew member on her, 1917 til 20 I think. Any help or references you can give me would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks xx

Welcome to the forum Estra.


Not much I'm afraid..... Hms Ivy was an Anchusa class sloop built by Blyth Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, Blyth. She was launched on 31st October 1917 and sold on 2nd June 1921, becoming the mercantile 'Sinaloa' (Clan Line).

I hope this helps.


Regards...John