HMS Geranium (K16)

HMS Geranium seen during the Second World War
History
United Kingdom
NameGeranium
NamesakeGeranium
BuilderWilliam Simmons & Co., Renfrew, Scotland[1]
Laid down21 September 1939[1]
Launched23 April 1939[1]
Commissioned24 June 1939
IdentificationK16
FateTransferred to Denmark in 1945[1]
Denmark
NameThetis
NamesakeThetis
Acquired1945
Commissioned1 October 1945[1]
Decommissioned8 May 1963[1]
IdentificationF340
FateScrapped in 1963
General characteristics
Class & typeFlower-class corvette
Displacement1,150 long tons (1,168 t)[1]
Length62.65 m (205 ft 7 in)[1]
Beam10 m (32 ft 10 in)[1]
Draught3.5 m (11 ft 6 in)[1]
Speed16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)[1]
Range3,500 nmi (6,500 km; 4,000 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)[1]
Complement85
Armament


HMS Geranium (K16) was a Flower-class corvette that served in the Royal Navy during the Second World War.[2] She was later sold to Denmark and renamed HDMS Thetis.

Construction and career

Royal Navy

The ship was ordered 25 July 1939 and laid down 21 September 1939 at William Simmons & Co. in Renfrew, Scotland.[2][3] The ship was launched on 23 April 1940 and commissioned 24 June 1940.[2]

In August 1942, the ship participated in Operation Pedestal, a British convoy to supply Malta.[4][5] In the operation, she was assigned to Force R along with three other corvettes and a tug to protect the fleet oil tankers: RFA Brown Ranger and RFA Dingledale.[4] She was under the command of Alan Foxall, RNR.[4][6]

In 1943, the ship was operating in the Atlantic engaged in anti-submarine warfare.[7] On 31 October, together with HMS Whitehall she sunk German submarine U-306 with depth charges and hedgehog attacks.[7]

Danish Navy

The ship was sold to the Royal Danish Navy in 1945.[1][8] They renamed her HDMS Thetis (F340) and she entered service.[1] The ship was scrapped in 1963.[1][8]

Honours

The ship featured on a 2012 Maltese postal stamp.[9]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 "HDMS Thetis F 340 UK Flower class Frigate Corvette Royal Danish Navy Kongelige Danske Marine". Seaforces Online. 2014-07-07. Retrieved 2024-09-24.
  2. 1 2 3 "HMS Geranium (K 16) of the Royal Navy". uboat.net. 1939-07-25. Retrieved 2024-09-24.
  3. ↑ Preston, Antony; Raven, Alan; Roberts, John (1982). Flower Class Corvettes. ISBN 978-0-85368-559-3.
  4. 1 2 3 Henshaw, John (2024-02-16). Malta's Savior. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. p. 261. ISBN 978-1-4766-4853-8.
  5. ↑ Thomas, David A. (1998-12-17). Battles and Honours of the Royal Navy. Pen and Sword. ISBN 978-1-4738-1226-0.
  6. ↑ Rodgaard, John A (2024-06-30). A Hard Fought Ship. Seaforth Publishing. p. 252. ISBN 978-1-0361-1237-0.
  7. 1 2 Syrett, David (1994). The Defeat of the German U-boats. Columbia, S.C: Univ of South Carolina Press. p. 233. ISBN 978-0-87249-984-3.
  8. 1 2 "THETIS (1945-1963), Corvette". Danish Naval History (in Danish). 1951-04-01. Retrieved 2024-09-24.
  9. ↑ "HMS Geranium 2012". Stampmeister. 2012-03-07. Retrieved 2024-09-24.
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