View source for American Flower-class corvette

{{Short description|1942 American subclass of Flower-class corvettes}}
{{More footnotes needed|date=March 2011}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin |sclass=2}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=USS Intensity (PG-93).jpg
|Ship image size=300px
|Ship caption={{USS|Intensity|PG-93}}, ex-{{HMS|Milfoil|K288|6}}, in 1943
}}
{{Infobox ship class overview
|Name=Flower class
|Builders=
|Operators=*During [[World War II]] ([[Allies of World War II|Allies]]):
**{{navy|United Kingdom}}
**{{navy|United States|1912}}
*After World War II:
**{{navy|United Kingdom}}
**{{navy|United States|1912}}
**{{navy|Italy}}
|Class before=
|Class after=
|Subclasses=
|Cost=
|Built range=
|In service range=
|In commission range=
|Total ships building=
|Total ships planned=
|Total ships completed=10 (original), 15 (modified)
|Total ships cancelled=
|Total ships active=
|Total ships laid up=
|Total ships lost=none during World War II
|Total ships retired=
|Total ships preserved=
}}
|}
The '''American Flower-class corvettes''' were those ships of the [[Royal Navy]]'s {{sclass2|Flower|corvette|4}} built for, or operated by, the [[United States Navy]] during [[World War II]]. These were ten ships of the original Flower class, known as the '''''Temptress'' class''' in US service, and fifteen Modified Flowers, as the '''''Action'' class'''. In US service they were classified as Patrol Gunboats (PG).

==Construction history==
In December 1941, after the US entry into World War II, the USN had a large building programme for [[anti-submarine warfare]] (ASW) ships, but none nearing completion. To overcome this shortfall, the [[Royal Navy]] agreed to transfer a number of ASW ships to the USN, including ten {{sclass2|Flower|corvette}}s. These ships had already been in commission and had seen action during the [[Battle of the Atlantic]].<ref>Elliott p. 420</ref>

These ships were classified as Patrol Gunboats, and numbered PG 62 to 71, and were referred to as the ''Temptress'' class, after the first ship to be [[Ship commissioning|recommissioned]].

The USN also placed orders for 15 more Flowers from Canadian shipyards. This was met by transferring a number of vessels on order for the RN to USN. These ships were of the Modified Flower type, a design which consolidated the various modifications developed in the course of building the original Flowers.

In the event the USN only took charge of eight of these ships; the other seven were transferred back to the RN under [[Lend-Lease]] arrangements.

The US ships were numbered PG 86 to 100 and were referred to as the ''Action'' class.

The ''Temptress'' class were armed with a 4-inch gun forward, a [[3"/50 caliber gun|{{convert|3|in|mm|abbr=on}}]]/50 dual-purpose (DP) gun aft, two [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon|20 mm]] anti-aircraft guns, two [[depth charge]] racks, and four depth charge throwers. The ''Action'' class replaced the 4-inch gun with another 3-inch/50 cal. DP gun, and added a [[Hedgehog (weapon)|Hedgehog]] anti-submarine mortar.<ref name="Silverstone">Silverstone, Paul H.(1966): ''U.S. Warships of World War II''. Doubleday and Company, pg. 243-246</ref>

==''Temptress'' class==
The ten ships of the ''Temptress'' class were originally built for the Royal Navy and saw service there before transfer to the USN.<ref>Elliott p. 421</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+ Construction data<ref name="USN ship index">{{cite web|url=http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000819035053/http://history.navy.mil/danfs/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 August 2000 |title=USN ship index |work=Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships |publisher=United States Navy |access-date=2012-12-19 }}</ref><ref name="NavSource ship index">{{cite web|url=http://www.uscg.mil/history/webcutters/CUTTERLIST.asp |title=NavSource ship index |work=Service Ship Photo Archive|publisher=NavSource Naval History|access-date=2012-12-12}}</ref> 
|-
! scope="col" | USN name
! scope="col" | Number
! scope="col" | RN name
! scope="col" | Pennant
! scope="col" | Builder
! scope="col" | Completed
! scope="col" | Transferred
! scope="col" | Fate
|-
! scope="row" | USS ''Temptress''
| PG-62
| {{HMS|Veronica|K37|6}}
| K37
| [[Smiths Dock Company|Smiths Dock Co.]], [[South Bank, Middlesbrough|South Bank-on-Tees]]
| 18 Feb 1941
| 16 Feb 1942
| Returned to RN 26 Aug 1945
|-
! scope="row" | USS ''Surprise''
| PG-63
| {{HMS|Heliotrope|K03|6}}
| K03
| [[John Crown & Sons Ltd]], [[City of Sunderland|Sunderland]]
| 12 Sept 1940
| 24 Mar 1942
| Returned to RN 26 Aug 1945
|-
! scope="row" | USS ''Spry''
| PG-64
| {{HMS|Hibiscus|K24|6}}
| K24
| [[Harland and Wolff|Harland & Wolff Ltd.]], [[Belfast]]
| 21 May 1940
| 2 May 1942
| Returned to RN 26 Aug 1945
|-
! scope="row" | USS ''Saucy''
| PG-65
| {{HMS|Arabis|K73|6}}
| K73
| [[Harland and Wolff|Harland & Wolff Ltd.]], [[Belfast]]
| 5 Apr 1940
| 30 Apr 1942
| Returned to RN 26 Aug 1945 and recommissioned as ''Snapdragon''
|-
! scope="row" | USS ''Restless''
| PG-66
| {{HMS|Periwinkle|K55|6}}
| K55
| [[Harland and Wolff|Harland & Wolff Ltd.]], [[Belfast]]
| 8 Apr 1940
| 15 Mar 1942
| Returned to RN 26 Aug 1945
|-
! scope="row" | USS ''Ready''
| PG-67
| {{HMS|Calendula|K28|6}}
| K28
| [[Harland and Wolff|Harland & Wolff Ltd.]], [[Belfast]]
| 6 May 1940
| 12 Mar 1942
| Returned to RN 23 Aug 1945
|-
! scope="row" | USS ''Impulse''
| PG-68
| {{HMS|Begonia|K66|6}}
| K66
| [[Cook, Welton & Gemmell]], [[Beverley]]
| 8 Mar 1941
| 10 Mar 1942
| Returned to RN 22 Aug 1945
|-
! scope="row" | USS ''Fury''
| PG-69
| {{HMS|Larkspur|K82|6}}
| K82
| [[Ferguson Shipbuilders|Fleming & Ferguson Ltd.]], [[Paisley, Renfrewshire|Paisley]]
| 4 Jan 1941
| 17 Mar 1942
| Returned to RN 22 Aug 1945
|-
! scope="row" | USS ''Courage''
| PG-70
| {{HMS|Heartsease|K15|6}}
| K15
| [[Harland and Wolff|Harland & Wolff Ltd.]], [[Belfast]]
| 4 Jun 1940
| 3 Apr 1942
| Returned to RN 23 Aug 1945
|-
! scope="row" | USS ''Tenacity''
| PG-71
| {{HMS|Candytuft|K09|6}}
| K09
| [[Grangemouth Dry Dock|Grangemouth Dry Dock Co.]], [[Grangemouth]]
| 16 Oct 1940
| 4 Mar 1942
| Returned to RN 26 Aug 1945
|}

==''Action'' class==
The fifteen ships of the ''Action'' class were originally ordered for the Royal Navy but transferred before completion to the United States Navy. On completion eight entered service with the USN while the other seven were transferred back to the RN under [[Lend-lease]].<ref>Elliott p. 422</ref>

===Served in USN===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+ ''Action''-class ships transferred to the US Navy<ref name="USN ship index"/><ref name="NavSource ship index"/>
|-
! scope="col" | USN name
! scope="col" | Number
! scope="col" | RN name
! scope="col" | Pennant
! scope="col" | Builder
! scope="col" | Completed
! scope="col" | To USN
! scope="col" | Fate
|-
! scope="row" | {{USS|Action|PG-86|6}}
| PG-86
| HMS ''Comfrey''
| K277
| [[Collingwood Shipyards|Collingwood Shipyards Ltd.]], [[Collingwood, Ontario|Collingwood]]
| 22 Nov 1942
| 22 Nov 1942
| Sold 6 Feb 1946
|-
! scope="row" | {{USS|Alacrity|PG-87|6}}
| PG-87
| HMS ''Cornel''
| K278
| [[Collingwood Shipyards|Collingwood Shipyards Ltd.]], [[Collingwood, Ontario|Collingwood]]
| 10 Dec 1942
| 10 Dec 1942
| Sold 22 Sept 1945
|-
! scope="row" | {{USS|Brisk|PG-89|6}}
| PG-89
| HMS ''Flax''
| K284
| [[Kingston Shipbuilding|Kingston Shipbuilding Co. Ltd.]], [[Kingston, Ontario|Kingston]]
| 6 Dec 1942
| 6 Dec 1942
| Sold 18 Oct 1946
|-
! scope="row" | {{USS|Haste|PG-92|6}}
| PG-92
| HMS ''Mandrake''
| K287
| [[Midland Shipyards|Midland Shipyards Ltd.]], [[Midland, Ontario|Midland]]
| 6 Apr 1943
| 6 Apr 1943
| Sold 1949
|-
! scope="row" | {{USS|Intensity|PG-93|6}}
| PG-93
| HMS ''Milfoil''
| K288
| [[Midland Shipyards|Midland Shipyards Ltd.]], [[Midland, Ontario|Midland]]
| 31 Mar 1943
| 31 Mar 1943
| Sold
|-
! scope="row" | {{USS|Might|PG-94|6}}
| PG-94
| HMS ''Musk''
| K289
| [[Midland Shipyards|Midland Shipyards Ltd.]], [[Midland, Ontario|Midland]]
| 22 Dec 1942
| 22 Dec 1942
| Sold
|-
! scope="row" | {{USS|Pert|PG-95|6}}
| PG-95
| HMS ''Nepeta''
| K290
| [[Midland Shipyards|Midland Shipyards Ltd.]], [[Midland, Ontario|Midland]]
| 22 Dec 1942
| 22 Dec 1942
| Sold 18 Oct 1946
|-
! scope="row" | {{USS|Prudent|PG-96|6}}
| PG-96
| HMS ''Privet''
| K291
| [[Midland Shipyards|Midland Shipyards Ltd.]], [[Midland, Ontario|Midland]]
| 16 Aug 1943
| 16 Aug 1943
| Sold 1949
|}

===Transferred to RN ===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+ ''Action''-class ships of the US Navy returned to the Royal Navy<ref name="USN ship index"/><ref name="NavSource ship index"/>
|-
! scope="col" | USN name
! scope="col" | Number
! scope="col" | RN name
! scope="col" | Pennant
! scope="col" | Builder
! scope="col" | Completed
! scope="col" | To RN
! scope="col" | Fate
|-
! scope="row" | USS ''Beacon''
| PG-88
| {{HMS|Dittany|K279|6}}
| K279
| [[Collingwood Shipyards|Collingwood Shipyards Ltd.]], [[Collingwood, Ontario|Collingwood]]
| 31 May 1943
| same day
| Returned to USN 20 Jun 1946
|-
! scope="row" | USS ''Caprice''
| PG-90
| {{HMS|Honesty|K285|6}}
| K285
| [[Kingston Shipbuilding|Kingston Shipbuilding Co. Ltd.]], [[Kingston, Ontario|Kingston]]
| 28 Mar 1943
| 28 Mar 1943
| Returned to USN 20 Jun 1946
|-
! scope="row" | USS ''Clash''
| PG-91
| {{HMS|Linaria|K282|6}}
| K282
| [[Midland Shipyards|Midland Shipyards Ltd.]], [[Midland, Ontario|Midland]]
| 19 Jun 1943
| 19 Jun 1943
| Returned to USN 27 Jul 1946
|-
! scope="row" | USS ''Splendor''
| PG-97
| {{HMS|Rosebay|K286|6}}
| K286
| [[Collingwood Shipyards|Collingwood Shipyards Ltd.]], [[Collingwood, Ontario|Collingwood]]
| 
|
| Returned to USN 20 Mar 1946
|-
! scope="row" | USS ''Tact''
| PG-98
| {{HMS|Smilax|K280|6}}
| K280
| [[Collingwood Shipyards|Collingwood Shipyards Ltd.]], [[Collingwood, Ontario|Collingwood]]
| 21 Jun 1943
| 21 Jun 1943
| Returned to USN 5 Jan 1946
|-
! scope="row" | USS ''Vim''
| PG-99
| {{HMS|Statice|K281|6}}
| K281
| [[Collingwood Shipyards|Collingwood Shipyards Ltd.]], [[Collingwood, Ontario|Collingwood]]
| 20 Sep 1943
| 20 Sep 1943
| Returned to USN 21 Jun 1946
|-
! scope="row" | USS ''Vitality''
| PG-100
| {{HMS|Willowherb|K283|6}}
| K283
| [[Midland Shipyards|Midland Shipyards Ltd.]], [[Midland, Ontario|Midland]]
| 30 Aug 1943
| 30 Aug 1943
| Returned to USN 11 Jun 1946
|}

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
* {{cite book |editor-last=Chesneau |editor-first=Roger |year=1980 |title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946 |publisher=Conway Maritime Press |location=Greenwich, UK |isbn=0-85177-146-7 }}
* {{cite book |last=Elliott |first=Peter |title=Allied Escort Ships of World War II: A complete survey |year=1977 |publisher=Macdonald and Jane's|location=London |isbn=0-356-08401-9 }}

==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline|Temptress class gunboat}}
* {{Commons category-inline|Action class gunboat}}

[[Category:Flower-class corvettes]]
[[Category:Flower-class corvettes of the United States Navy| ]]
[[Category:Temptress-class gunboats| ]]
[[Category:Action-class gunboats| ]]
[[Category:United Kingdom–United States military relations]]