H.  M.  S.   O X L I P

 

“FLOWER” Class Corvette ordered on 12th December 1939 under the 1939 Build Programme from Inglis SB at

Pointhouse, Glasgow. The ship was laid down on 9th December 1940 as Job Number 1164 (Yard Number 1064)

and launched 28th August 1941 as the 1st RN warship to carry the name.. Build completion date was 28th December 1941. This ship was 'adopted' by the civil Community of Yiewsley in March 1942 following a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

 

ATLANTIC  1942 -45                        ARCTIC 1942-45

   SICILY 1943                                        NORMANDY 1944

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

 

The Admiralty Heraldic Crest Record does not include any details for this ship

This is not unusual for a smaller war time build. As there had been previous RN

warships carrying this name it is likely she did have a Ships' Badge.,

 

D e t a i l s   o f   W a r   S e r v i c e

 

1 9 4 1

 

December           Contractors trials

                28th    Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials.

                           (Note: This ship was fitted for but not with LL M/S

                                       For details see THE TORPEDOMEN by E N Poland.)

                           Nominated for convoy defence in Western Approaches.

 

1 9 4 2

 

January               On completion of trials and storing took passage to Tobermory

                            Took passage to Londonderry to join 4th Escort Group on completion of work-up.

                            (Note: Ships in Group included HM Corvettes ABELIA, ANEMONE, ASPHODEL,

                                        PENNYWORT and VERONICA.

                22nd.   Passage to Iceland for convoy defence and patrol,

 

February             Under repair after structural damage in extreme weather conditions

                            Nominated for WHITE patrol in Denmark Strait.

                  4th.    On completion of repair by HM Depot Ship HECLA sailed for WHITE patrol,

                            with HM Cruisers BERWICK, KENT and HM Corvette SNOWDROP.

                16th     Joined Close Escort for Russian Convoy PQ11

                            For details of all Russian convoys see CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by RA Ruegg

                            and ARCTIC CONVOYS by R Woodman.).

 

March

                  1st     Joined Close Escort for return Convoy QP8 with HM Corvette SWEETBRIAR.

                            (Note: Severe weather was experienced on this passage to Iceland.)

                            Passage to Londonderry for Boiler cleaning.

 

April                   Deployed with Close Escort for Russian Convoy PQ14 with HM Corvettes CAMPANULA,

                            SAXIFRAGE and SNOWFLAKE.

 

May                    Returned with return Convoy QP11.

.               30th    Deployed with escort for outward Convoy ON99 with ships of Group.

                           (Note: This passage was uneventful.)

 

June                    Deployed for Atlantic Convoy defence

                             Nominated for refit

 

July                      Under refit in commercial shipyard at Birkenhead.

                              (Note: New Bridge, Gyro Compass, 20mm Oerlikons guns for close range AA and anti submarine

                                         mortar (HEDGEHOG) fitted

                                         For details of development of new weapons see SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann

                                         and HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair.)

 

August                 Under refit

to                           Nominated for transfer to 23rd Escort Group on completion.

September             On completion of shipyard work carried out post refit trials.

 

October                 Joined 23rd Escort Group for Atlantic convoy defence.

 

November

               8th          Deployed for escort of military convoys to Gibraltar.

                                Joined escort for outward Convoy KX6.

                               (Note: Allied landings had been made in North Africa (Operation TORCH

             18th           Arrived at Gibraltar with convoy.

.            20th           Deployed for convoy escort based at Gibraltar

 

December

               4th.         Took passage UK to join Home Fleet for escort for Russian Convoy JW51A

              15th          Deployed with HM Corvette HONEYSUCKLE and HM Fleet Minesweeper SEAGULL

                               for Close escort of JW51A

              25th          Detached from JW51A on arrival in Kola Inlet.

1 9 4 3

 

.January                 Remained Russian waters to suit delayed convoy cycle because of Barents Sea action.

              29th          Deployed as Close Escort for return Convoy RA52 with HM Corvettes HONEYSUCKLE,

                               HYDERABAD (RIN) and RHODODENDRON.

 

February

                3rd         Assisted in rescue of survivors from ss GREYLOCK.

                6th         Detached from RA52 and took passage to Tobermory for work-up

                              Prepared for work-up

                7th         Commenced Work-up.

              20th         Deployed for escort of Polish submarine DZIK to Scillies and returned to Clyde

 

March                    Deployed with Canadian 1st Escort Group for escort of outward Convoy ONS2

                               with RCN Corvettes

 

April                      Atlantic convoy defence with Group  in continuation.

              20th          Part of escort for inward convoy 10 tankers.

                               (Note: Identity SC127 to be confirmed.)

 

May                      Nominated for service in Mediterranean.

                              Deployed with escort for outward joint Convoy KS10/OG90 with HM Indian Corvette

                              HYDERABAD and HM Frigate TEST.

              26th         Convoy under attack by U436.

                              (Note: HMIS HYDERABAD and HMS TEST carried out depth charge operations sinking

                                          U436 with no survivors.

 

June

                 4th        Joined ships of 44th Escort Group  for escort of outward convoy KMS16B to Gibraltar.

                              (Note: Other ships included HM Corvettes BERGAMOT, BRYONY, HONEYSUCKLE,

                                          HYDERABAD RIN)) and RHODODENDRON.

 

July                       Deployed in Mediterranean for convoy Escort and support of planned allied landings in Sicily

                              (Operation HUSKY – For details  see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C Barnett,

                              Naval Staff History and for information about all mercantiles and warships involved BRITISH

                              INVASION FLEETS by J de Winser.)

 

Augusr                  Deployed at Algiers

              8th           Assisted HM Destroyer ARROW which had been damaged during air attack.

                              (Note: Mercantile ss FORT LA MONTEE had blown up.).

 

September             Mediterranean deployment in continuation.

to                            Nominated for return to UK.

October

 

November

            23rd.          Relieved by HUNT Class destroyer

            24th           Part of escort for joint inward Convoy MKS31/SL140 with HM Corvettes BORAGE, DAHLIA

                               and MEADOWSWEET during passage to UK.

            27th            Convoy escorts under night attacks by T5 acoustic torpedoes from U262,n U764 and U207

                               Took part in anti-submarine operations with ships of 1st and 2nd Escort Groups

                               (Note: Sinking of three mercantiles was claimed but no ships of convoy were in fact lost.)

            28th            Detached from MKS31/SL140 on arrival.

 

December               Nominated for escort of Russian convoy with ships of 23rd Escort Group (Operation FV)

             22nd           Joined escort for Convoy JW55B.

             26th            Remained with JW55B as escort when Fleet destroyers detached to join Home Fleet units

                                for engagement with German battleship SCHARNHORST.

                                For details see Naval Staff History, CONVOYS TO RUSSIA, ARCTIC CONVOYS

                                by R Woodman and HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR.

             30th            Detached from JW55B on arrival in Kola Inlet.

             31st            Part of Close Escort for RA55B with HM Corvettes RHODODENDRON and HONEYSUCKLE.

 

1 9 4 4

 

January

               8th           Detached from RA55B on arrival at Loch Ewe and took passage to Greenock.

               9th.          Arrived at Greenock.

                               Nominated for further escort of Russian convoy.

              22nd         Joined escort for JW56B

              29th          Under attack by nine U-Boats. See above references.

 

February

                1st           Detailed from JW56B on arrival at Kola Inlet.

                3rd           Deployed with Close escort for returning RA56 with HM Corvettes DIANELLA, POPPY and

                                RHODODENDRON.

              11th           Detached from RA56 on arrival at Loch Ewe after uninterrupted passage.

                                Nominated for deployment in SW Approaches ,based at Plymouth.

                                (Note: U-Boats fitted with SCHNORKEL were making attacks on convoys in coastal waters.)

              24th                 Deployed for convoy defence in coastal waters.

 

March                     Nominated for refit.

                5th           Passage to Clyde.

                                Taken in hand for refit in commercial shipyard.

 

April                                Under refit.

                                         Nominated for convoy escort during planned allied landings in Normandy.

                                         Allocated for service in Force L (Operation NEPTUNE.)

                                         (For details of naval activities before and during landings  see OPERATION NEPTUNE by

                                         K Edwards, LANDINGS IN NORMANDY, June 1944 (HMSO) and for details of all

                                         mercantiles and warships involved D-DAY SHIPS by J de Winser.)

 

May                                 Arrived out harbour and see trials.

              24th                    On completion of post refit trials  took passage to Nore to join Force L

                                         Nominated for service in Force L for escort of Build-up Phase convoys to Beach Head

                                         as part of Escort Group 154.

 

June                                 Deployed in Nore Command

                4th                    Operation delayed 24 hours

                6th                    Part of escort for Build--up convoys during passage to Solent

                7th                    Deployed for convoy defence during passage to Beach Head

                8th                    Returned to Thames for escort of build-up Phase convoys

               27th                   Retained in Channel for convoy defence after termination of NEPTUNE.

 

July                                   Channel deployment in continuation.

to                                       Nominated for service with Home Fleet.

September

 

October

               20th                   Joined Close Escort for outward Convoy JW61 during passage to Kola Inlet

               28th                   Detached on arrival at Kola Inlet.

 

November

                 2nd                  Part of Close escort for return Convoy RA61 during passage to Loch Ewe.

                 9th                   Detached from RA61 on arrival at Loch Ewe.

                                         Nominated for escort of UR series convoys to Iceland and return UR series to UK/

 

December                        Deployed NW Approaches for convoy escort

 

1 9 4 5

 

January                            Iceland route deployment in continuation

to                                     (Note: During this period deployed with escort for outward Convoys UR144, UR149

February                                     and inward RU145.

                                                   HM Corvette HONEYSUCKLE was also deployed for this period.)

 

March                             Nominated for escort of Russian Convoys with Home Fleet.

                11th                 Part of Close escort for outward Convoy JW65 during passage to Kola Inlet

                                        For details see references.

                                        (HM Corvettes CAMELLIA and HONEYSUCKLE were also deployed.)

                21st                 Detached from JW65 on arrival at Kola Inlet

                23rd                Joined Close Escort for return Convoy RA65 during passage to Loch Ewe.

 

April

                  1st                 Detached from RA65 on arrival at Loch Loch Ewe.

                16th                Joined outward Convoy JW66 in Clyde as part of Close Escort during passage to

                                       Kola Inlet with HM Corvettes HONEYSUCKLE, LOTUS and RHODODENDRON.

                25th                Detached from JW66 on arrival at Kola Inlet without any incidents.

                29th                Joined Close escort for return passage of Convoy RA66 to Clyde.

 

May

                  8th                Detached from RA66 on arrival

                                       Nominated for reduction to Reserve status

                                       Paid-off.

 

June                               Nominated for service with Anti-submarine Training Flotilla based at Portland

                 14th              Re-commissioned and on completion of trials and storing took passage to Portland.

 

July                                Deployed for training duties at Portland.

to

August

 

P o s t   W a r   N o t e

 

HMS OXLIP remained at Portland until 1946 when she was again Paid-off and placed on the Disposal List. Sold to the

Irish Naval Service December 1946 the ship was renamed INS MAEV and remained in service until 1971 when placed

on the Sales List. On 23rd March 1972 she arrived in tow at Passage West, SE of Cobh, IFS for demolition by Haulbowline Industries.