Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 5:32:03-5:34:09

The Flower-class corvettes that served the US Navy

The US Navy did operate Flower-derived escorts, but classified them as gunboats under the Temptress and Action classes.

Action Class GunboatsCanadian ShipbuildingConvoy EscortFlower Class CorvettesReverse Lend LeaseTemptress Class GunboatsUS Navy
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Question

Why did the US Navy have no corvettes in the Second World War?

Short answer

It did: Flower-derived ships served as Temptress- and Action-class gunboats, obtained from British and Canadian production.

Notes

The US Navy operated Flower-derived ships under gunboat classifications. British-built examples were the Temptress class, while Canadian-built ships formed the Action class. Canadian yards named in the account include Collingwood, Kingston, and Midland. The ships answered an American shortage of escorts. Their transfer also illustrates assistance moving toward the United States within the wartime alliance. HMS Victorious's temporary service with the US carrier force provides a second example of that direction of support.