POLYANTHUS.                      Photo. Messrs. Lobnitz & Co. (Builders).

(ANCHUSA TYPE - 26 SHIPS)

• CONVOLVULUS (May, 1917), COREOPSIS (Sept.. 1917), DIANTHUS (Nov., 1917), EGLANTINE (June, 1917). GARDENIA (Dec.., 1917), GILIA (Feb., 1918), HAREBELL (May, 1918), all by Barclay. Curle.
• AURICULA (Oct., 1917), BRYONY (Oct., 1917), CEANOTHUS (June, 1917). CHRYSANTHEMUM (Nov., 1917), all by Armstrong, Whitworth.
• HIBISCUS (Nov., 1917), MARJORAM (Dec., 1917), MISTLETOE (Nov., 1917), all by Greenock & Grangemouth Co.
  
• LYCHNIS (Aug. 1917), PELARGONIUM (March, 1918), both by Hamilton.
• POLYANTHUS (Sept., 1917 ), SAXIFRAGE (Jan. 1918), both by Lobnitz.
• SILENE (March 1918), SPIRAEA (Nov., 1917), both by Simons.
• SWEETBRIAR (Oct.,1917), TUBEROSE (Nov., 1917), both by Swan Hunter.
• SYRINGA (Sept., 1917), WINDFLOWER (April, 1918), both by Workman, Clark.
• IVY (Blyth S.B. Co., Oct., 1917),
• MONTBRETIA (Irvine S.B. Co., Sept., 1917).

• All 1290 tons. Completed Aug. 1917 - June 1918.
• Dimensions: 250 (p.p.), 262.25 (o.a.) x 35 x 11.5 - 12 (mean), 12.5 - 13.66 (max.) feet draught.
• Designed to mount 2 - 12 pdr., 1 - 7.5 howitzer or 1 -200 lb. stick-bomb howitzer, 4 Depth Charge Throwers, but actually armed with 2 - 4 inch, 1 or 2 - 12 pdr. and D.C. Throwers.
• Machinery: 4-cylinder triple expansion. Boilers: 2 cylindrical. 1 screw. Designed H.P. 2:500 = 17 kts., but some only about 16 kts. on this power; about 2800 = 17 kts. actually. Coal : 260 tons.
• Complement, 93.
• Also see General Notes.

COREOPSIS

(AUBRIETIA TYPE - 4 SHIPS)

• All 1250 tons. Completed Aug.-Oct., 1916.
• Dimensions: 255.25 (p.p.), 267.75 (o.a.) x 33.5 x 11.5 (mean), 12.5 (max.) feet draught.
• Designed to mount 3 - 12 pdr., 2 - 3 pdr. AA., but have 2 - 4 inch, 1 - 3 pdr. AA. and D.C. throwers.
• Machinery, boilers, as " Anchusa Class," above. 1 screw. Designed H.P. 2500 = 17.5 kts., but actually can only make 15-16.5 kts. with this power. and require 3000 I.H.P. for 17.5 kts. Coal : 205 tons.
• Complement, 80.

General Notes to Anchusa and Aubrietia types.- All are Fleet Sweeping Vessels (sloops) of the " Flower Classes," modified in external build for service as Convoy Sloops. Disguised as mercantile vessels, these ships accompanied Convoys and acted as Submarine Decoy Vessels, or " Q-boats " hence their popular name of the " Q-boat Flowers." Each builder was allowed to adopt a form of mercantile disguise, with the result that, by appearance, these ships are divided into 15 - 20 types. All were built under Emergency War Programme.

War Losses: Owing to the nature of the service these ships were engaged on, war losses were heavy. Anchusa, Arbutus, Bergamot, Candytuft (all by Armstrong Whitworth), Cowslip (Barclay Carle). Gaillardia (Blyth S.B. Co.), Rhododendron, Salvia (both by Irvine S.B. Co.). Tulip (Richardson, Duck), were all lost during the War. In all 39 vessels of Anchusa and Aubrietia types were built. Although nominally rated as "Fleet Sweeping Vessels," they have no gallows at stern and it is doubtful if they carry sweeping gear, unless of "otter" types.

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