French corvetteRoselys
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | HMSSundew |
| Ordered | 21 September 1939 |
| Builder | J. Lewis and Sons Ltd.,Aberdeen, Scotland |
| Laid down | 4 November 1940 |
| Launched | 28 May 1941 |
| Out of service | 17 September 1941 – transferred toFree France |
| Identification | Pennant number:K57 |
| Fate | Scrapped atTroonin 1948 |
  France | |
| Name | FFLRoselys |
| Acquired | 17 September 1941 |
| Commissioned | 19 September 1941 |
| Identification | K-57 |
| Fate | Returned toRoyal Navyin 1947 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Flower-classcorvette(original) |
| Displacement | 925long tons(940 t; 1,036 short tons) |
| Length | 205 ft (62.48 m)o/a |
| Beam | 33 ft (10.06 m) |
| Draught | 11.5 ft (3.51 m) |
| Propulsion |
|
| 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 |
|
| Armament |
|
Roselys(formerlyHMSSundew) was one of the nineFlower-classcorvetteslent by theRoyal Navyto theFree French Naval Forces.She served as a naval escort inWorld War II.
Construction[edit]
The vessel was ordered on 21 September 1939. She was constructed inAberdeenbyJ. Lewis and Sons Ltd.Her keel was laid on 4 November 1940. The ship was assigned dock number 155. She was launched on 28 May 1941. The vessel was finally commissioned on 19 September 1941.[1][2]
Other Flower-class ships in Free French service retained their original flower names translated into French. However, the French forsundew,rosée du matin(literally "morning dew" ), was considered unsuitable and the girl's nameRoselys( "Rose-Lilly" ) was used instead, perhaps with the intention of linking the EnglishTudor rosewith the Frenchfleur-de-lys.[3]
War service[edit]
On 30 January 1942,Roselysspotted aU-boatabout 400 yards from her. She turned towards the U-boat with the intention to ram it. The U-boat attempted to dive, but it was lightly rammed before it could submerge. As she passed over the U-boat, depth charges were dropped. The U-boat was probably only lightly damaged, and escaped back to port.[4][5]She was part ofConvoy QP 13,and rescued 179 survivors on 5 July 1942 when several ships ran into naval mines. On 10 March 1943, she picked up 81 survivors from the British merchantTucurina.[6]Roselyswas one of nine Free French escort vessels which supported theNormandy landingson and after 6 June 1944, protecting the movement of landing and supply ships across theEnglish Channel.[7]
Fate[edit]
She was returned to theRoyal Navyin 1947. She was sold on 23 October 1947, and scrapped atTroonin May 1948.[8]
References[edit]
- ^Friedman, Norman p. 341
- ^"Aberdeen Ships | SUNDEW".www.aberdeenships.com.Retrieved18 April2017.
- ^Flohic 1985, p. 26
- ^"André Bergeret, 1038 compagnons, Compagnons - Musée de l'Ordre de la Libération".www.ordredelaliberation.fr.Retrieved15 April2017.
- ^Showell, p. 54
- ^Helgason, Guðmundur."FFL Roselys (K 57)".uboat.net.Retrieved15 April2017.
- ^Auphan & Mordai 1959, p. 321
- ^Lenton, H. T. & Colledge, J. J. p. 209
Sources[edit]
- Auphan, Paul; Mordai, Jacques (1959).The French Navy in World War II.Annapolis MD: United States Naval Institute.ISBN978-1-59114-566-0.(2016 edition)
- Flohic,François (1985).Ni chagrin, ni pitie: Souvenirs d'un marin de la France libre(in French). Paris: Plon.ISBN2-259-01289-2.
- Friedman,Norman (2008).British Destroyers & Frigates - The Second World War and After.Barnsley, UK: Seaforth Publishing.ISBN978-1-84832-015-4.4
- Gardiner, Robert (1987).Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922-1946.London: Conway Maritime Press.ISBN0-85177-146-7.
- Lenton, H.T.;Colledge, J.J.(1963).Warships of World War II - Part 3 Sloops and Frigates.Ian Allan Ltd.
- Preston, Antony;Raven, Alan (1982).Flower Class Corvettes.London: Arms and Armour Press.ISBN0-85368-559-2.
- Showell, Jak (2013).Donitz, U-Boats, Convoys: The British Version of His Memoirs from the Admirality's Anti-Submarine Reports.Frontline Books.ISBN978-147383-086-8.
