The Flower class comprised five sub-classes

Ship class

A ship class is a group of ships of a similar design. This is distinct from a ship-type, which might reflect a similarity of tonnage or intended use. For example, the is a nuclear aircraft carrier of the Nimitz class....

 of sloops

Sloop-of-war

In the 18th and most of the 19th centuries, a sloop-of-war was a warship with a single gun deck that carried up to eighteen guns. As the rating system covered all vessels with 20 guns and above, this meant that the term sloop-of-war actually encompassed all the unrated combat vessels including the...

 built under the Emergency War Programme for the Royal Navy

Royal Navy

The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...

 during World War I

World War I

World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...

, all of which were named after various flowers. They were popularly known as the "herbaceous borders" or the "cabbage class"

The "Flowers" were designed to be built at merchant shipyards, to ease the pressure on yards specializing in warships, and as a result had a distinctive "merchant marine" appearance. Originally used as mine-sweeper

Minesweeper (ship)

A minesweeper is a small naval warship designed to counter the threat posed by naval mines. Minesweepers generally detect then neutralize mines in advance of other naval operations.-History:...

s, the "Flowers" were later employed as convoy

Convoy

A convoy is a group of vehicles, typically motor vehicles or ships, traveling together for mutual support and protection. Often, a convoy is organized with armed defensive support, though it may also be used in a non-military sense, for example when driving through remote areas.-Age of Sail:Naval...

 escorts. One group, the Anchusa’s, were employed specifically as decoy vessels (Q-ship

Q-ship

Q-ships, also known as Q-boats, Decoy Vessels, Special Service Ships, or Mystery Ships, were heavily armed merchant ships with concealed weaponry, designed to lure submarines into making surface attacks. This gave Q-ships the chance to open fire and sink them...

s).

Some 112 "Flowers" in total were built for the Royal Navy, and a further eight for the French Marine Militaire. Of these, 17 RN and one French "Flowers" were sunk.

The five sub-classes were:

• Acacia-class sloop
  Acacia class sloop
  The Acacia class was a class of twenty-four sloops that were ordered in January 1915 under the Emergency War Programme for the Royal Navy in World War I as part of the larger "Flower Class", which were also referred to as the "Cabbage Class", or "Herbaceous Borders"...
  
  : first group to be built, in 1915. 24 vessels built in two batches of 12. Two sunk during the war.
• Azalea-class sloop
  Azalea class sloop
  The Azalea class of twelve minesweeping sloops were built under the Emergency War Programme for the Royal Navy in World War I as part of the larger "Flower Class", which were also referred to as the "Cabbage Class", or "Herbaceous Borders"...
  
  : 12 vessels built in 1915. Slightly modified Acacia's; two sunk during the war.
• Arabis-class sloop
  Arabis class sloop
  The Arabis class was the third class of minesweeping sloops to be built under the Emergency War Programme for the Royal Navy in World War I as part of the larger "Flower Class", which were also referred to as the "Cabbage Class", or "Herbaceous Borders"...
  
  : 36 vessels built 1915, a further eight for French Navy. Five British, and one French vessel sunk.
• Aubretia-class sloop
  Aubretia class sloop
  The Aubretia class sloops were a class of twelve sloops built under the Emergency War Programme for the Royal Navy in World War I as part of the larger "Flower" class. They were also referred to as the "cabbage class", or "herbaceous borders"...
  
  : 12 vessels built 1916; two sunk.
• Anchusa-class sloop: 28 vessels built 1917. Saw service as Q ships; six sunk.

External links