On 28 March 1916, Zinnia sighted the German submarine U-44 off Fastnet Rock and opened fire. Both shells fell short, and U-44 escaped by diving. The next day, the submarine torpedoed the sloop Begonia, but Begonia remained afloat. Zinnia and Snowdrop were ordered to assist and towed the damaged vessel into Queenstown. Within two days, Zinnia had attempted to engage a submarine and helped save another Flower-class sloop, an example of the varied work assigned to these small ships.
Notable Point · 1:14-1:54
Zinnia, U-44, and the Begonia rescue
On 28 March 1916, Zinnia fired two shots at U-44 off Fastnet Rock. After the submarine torpedoed Begonia the next day, Zinnia and Snowdrop towed the damaged sloop to Queenstown.