The Royal Navy converted Southern Pride into an acceptable escort in about six weeks for £75,000, providing a direct test of the hull that inspired the Flowers. Reserve and volunteer-reserve lieutenants commanded her through wartime service, and she exercised with the Dutch submarine O 9 for anti-submarine training. During convoy WS 24 she escorted a detached transport into Freetown after the main convoy was rerouted toward Brazil to avoid traffic associated with Operation Torch. Convoy detachments, route changes, and local protection required adaptable small escorts alongside the main ocean screen.
Notable Point · 44:11-45:46
Southern Pride proves the whaler hull in convoy service
Southern Pride's six-week conversion and detached escort work show how the Flower's commercial ancestor handled practical convoy assignments.