Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Video

Flower Class Shorts no 4: HMS Polyanthus

Anti-Submarine WarfareAubrietia Class SloopsFlower Class SloopsHMS PolyanthusMinesweepersQ Ships

Study Flower Class Shorts no 4: HMS Polyanthus, a Dr. Alex Clarke video from 13 Oct 2020, with 7 time notes. Topics include Anti-Submarine Warfare, Aubrietia Class Sloops, Flower Class Sloops.

Watch on YouTubeView time notes
Date
Runtime3:03
Guide points7 time notes

Time notes

  1. 0:04
    HMS Polyanthus in Q-ship guise

    HMS Polyanthus appears as an Aubrietia-class Flower sloop in Q-ship disguise.

    Chapter
  2. 0:18
    A simple minesweeper built to survive a blast

    The Flower sloops combined a straightforward single-screw, triple-expansion layout with protection intended to limit mine damage.

    Notable Point
  3. 0:57
    From convoy sloop to disguised submarine trap

    Reclassified as convoy sloops, these Flower vessels could masquerade as small merchant ships and serve as successful Q-ships.

    Notable Point
  4. 1:17
    Saxifrage survives as HMS President

    Saxifrage's survival into RNVR service as HMS President traces the First World War sloop type into a much later training role.

    Notable Point
  5. 1:41
    Speed and the limits of coal endurance

    Strong construction and better-than-designed speed gave the sloops useful performance, while a 205-ton coal load constrained their range.

    Notable Point
  6. 2:07
    Guns and depth charges behind the disguise

    Flower sloops often carried two 4-inch Mark IV guns, 3-pounder guns, and depth charges behind their merchant-ship disguise.

    Notable Point
  7. 2:26
    Why a small merchant-ship silhouette mattered

    At 1,250 tons and dressed as a small merchant vessel, a Flower Q-ship could look like an unthreatening target to a submarine.

    Notable Point