HMS Pennywort

HMS Pennywort was a Flower-class corvette that served with the Royal Navy during the Second World War. She served as an ocean escort in the Battle of the Atlantic.

History
United Kingdom
Name	HMS Pennywort
Ordered	12 December 1939
Builder	A & J Inglis Ltd.., Glasgow, Scotland
Laid down	11 March 1941
Launched	18 October 1941
Commissioned	5 March 1942
Out of service	1947 - sold
Identification	Pennant number: K111
Fate	Sold 1947; scrapped 1949
General characteristics
Class and type	Flower-class corvette (original)
Displacement	925 long tons (940 t; 1,036 short tons)
Length	205 ft (62.48 m)o/a
Beam	33 ft (10.06 m)
Draught	11.5 ft (3.51 m)
Propulsion	single shaft 2 × fire tube Scotch boilers 1 × 4-cycle triple-expansion reciprocating steam engine 2,750 ihp (2,050 kW)
Speed	16 knots (29.6 km/h)
Range	3,500 nautical miles (6,482 km) at 12 knots (22.2 km/h)
Complement	85
Sensors and processing systems	1 × SW1C or 2C radar 1 × Type 123A or Type 127DV sonar
Armament	1 × BL 4-inch (101.6 mm) Mk.IX single gun 2 x double Lewis machine gun 2 × twin Vickers machine gun 2 × Mk.II depth charge throwers 2 × Depth charge rails with 40 depth charges initially with minesweeper equipment, later removed

HMS Pennywort

Service history

On 17 March 1943, she picked up 70 survivors from James Oglethorp, an American merchant torpedoed by the German submarine U-758 and Elin K., a Norwegian merchant torpedoed and sunk by U-603. On 18 March 1943, she, along with HMS Anemone picked up 54 survivors from Canadian Star, a British merchant torpedoed and sunk by U-221. On 12 August 1944, she, along with HMT Damsay, picked up 59 survivors from Orminster, a British merchant sunk by U-480.

Sources

• Friedman, Norman (2008). British Destroyers & Frigates - The Second World War and After. Barnsley, UK: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84832-015-4.
• Gardiner, Robert (1987). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922-1946. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-146-7.
• Preston, Antony; Raven, Alan (1982). Flower Class Corvettes. London: Arms and Armour Press. ISBN 0-85368-559-2.