CYCLAMEN
Shipbuildervessel built by
John Lewis & Sons
(Aberdeen, Scotland, 1907 - 1976)
Shipownervessel built for
Admiralty
Date1940
Object NameCORVETTE
MediumSTEEL
ClassificationsShip
Dimensionslength 190 3/6' x breadth 33 1/12' x depth 17 7/12'
Object numberABDSHIP000096
Keywords
Yard Number: 150
Subsequent Names: SOUTHERN BRIAR (1948).
Fate: Broke away from tow on way to Ghent breakers and ran aground at Thorsminde, Jutland, 18 December 1966.
Propulsion: Steam
Description: Flower class corvette with cruiser stern.
Owners:
1940: Royal Navy
1948: The South Georgia Co. Ltd/Christian Salvesen, Leith.
1949: Salvesen, Norway.
General History:
This was the only ship the yard launched in 1940.
30/11/1939: Laid down.
20/06/1939: Launched.
26/09/1940: Full power trial in Torry Dock.
30/09/1940: Commissioned.
02/06/1942 and 28/08/1942; 28/01/1944, 12/05/1944, and 23/06/1944:
In Feb. 1942, as a result of warship week, people of Chelmsford Rural District raised price of a corvette, £120,000. In consequence corvette CYCLAMEN was adopted by people of the district. Writing from sea on 17 June 1942 her commander, Lieut. R. S. Richards, RNVR, congratulated Chelmsford Rural District council on "your very fine effort for warship". He reported that "we left for foreign service shortly after you bought us...we have been rather busy lately getting around the oceans... we are sending you one of our white ensigns which we have carried some thousands of miles". Whist drives etc.were held in the district to finance parcels to be sent to the crew. In 1944 a gramophone and 100 records were sent.
(Chelmsford Chronicle)
04/01/1946:
Only after the war could details of a warship's service be published. P&J reported that flower class corvettes had been built to fight U-boats in the Battle of the Atlantic. Launched June 1940, CYCLAMEN was first of 6 corvettes built by John Lewis & Sons.
(Press and Journal)
05/01, 08/01/1949:
On 1st Jan. 1949 whaling ship SOUTHERN BRIAR, former corvette CYCLAMEN, sailed on her first trip to South Georgia and the Antarctic whaling area. She was converted by Grangemouth Dockyard Ltd., for her new owners, Christian Salveson of Leith. The whole forward part the ship was cut down, rebuilt on the lines of a whale catcher and fitted with heavy winch for hauling in the whales, harpoon gun and platform, capstan and crew accommodation. It was claimed trials showed that large power of engines and oil fire boilers and great manoeverability under helm made her one of the speediest and most manaevrable ships in the fleet.
(Scotsman, Falkirk Herald)
1949: Converted to a whaler at Grangemouth Dockyard Co. Ltd. Last season 1962/63. Laid up in Melsomvik. Sold 1966 to breakers in Belgium.
Note: Engine number 227, boiler by Kincaid, Greenock.
