Royal Navy labels described a vessel's intended role and construction standard. The Flowers lacked the full naval-standard construction associated with sloops but were more purpose-built and capable than mobilized trawlers. The old corvette and frigate categories had been absorbed into the cruiser category in 1877. Earlier labels based on gun decks had become misleading when an ironclad frigate could have the fighting power of a battleship. Reviving corvette gave the new merchant-standard escort a distinct identity. Larger successors with more shafts and screws and a mixture of mercantile and naval construction would help revive the frigate name as well. The United States Navy used the patrol-gunboat designation for its Flowers.
Notable Point · 58:49-1:04:31
Why the Royal Navy revived the name corvette
Merchant-standard construction placed Flowers between naval sloops and mobilized trawlers, prompting the revival of the corvette name.