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Arabis-class sloop
Arabis-class sloop
Arabis-class sloop
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HMS Wistaria
Class overview
Operators
Preceded byAzalea class
Succeeded byAubrietia class
Built1915
In commission1915–1941
Completed44
Lost7
General characteristics
TypeMinesweeper
Displacement1,200 tons
Length
  • 255 ft 3 in (77.80 m) p/p
  • 267 ft 9 in (81.61 m) o/a
Beam33 ft 6 in (10.21 m)
Draught11 ft 9 in (3.58 m)
Propulsion
  • 1 × 4-cylinder triple expansion engine
  • 2 × cylindrical boilers
  • 1 screw
Speed17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph)
Range2,000 nmi (3,700 km; 2,300 mi) at 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph) with max. 260 tons of coal
Complement79
ArmamentTypically 2 × 4 or 4.7 in (120 mm) guns and 2 × 3-pounder (47 mm) AA with some lesser variants

The Arabis class was the third, and largest,[1] of the five sub-classes of minesweeping sloops completed under the Emergency War Programme for the Royal Navy in World War I. They were part of the larger "Flower class" shipbuilding project, which were also referred to as the "Cabbage class", or "Herbaceous Borders". The ships were also used outside their minesweeping duties as patrol vessels, tugs, and personnel and cargo transports.[2]

The design for the Arabis class was made at the end of 1914.[2] All 36 British vessels were ordered in July 1915, and were built in three batches, averaging 12 vessels. A further 8 vessels were later built in British shipyards for the French Navy. The design was highly appealing, as most shipyards were capable of building them, and construction could be completed in five months.

Like the preceding Acacia and Azalea-class sloops, these were single-screw Fleet Sweeping Vessels (Sloops) with triple hulls at the bows to give extra protection against loss when working. The strength of the hull was demonstrated when Valerian fought the 1926 Havana–Bermuda hurricane for five hours on 22 October, 1926, before being driven over by a squall and foundering off Bermuda. In his report to the Court Martial held at the Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda, her Captain, Commander W. A. Usher, wrote:

At Noon, the centre of the storm was reached and the clearing came. The seas were now mountainous and seemed to approach the ship from all sides, but more particularly from the South and East. As the ship balanced on the crest, or fell into the trough, it seemed as if she must break her back and it speaks very well of her construction that she withstood these stresses so well. So far no damage had been done to the hull or fittings.

Ships

[edit]
Artist's impression of the loss of HMS Valerian

Six vessels were ordered in January 1916, and another two in September 1916, all to this design from British shipyards for the French Navy, and all were delivered to France in 1916 or (the last pair) 1917:

  • Aldébaran, built by Barclay Curle, launched 19 May 1916,[8] and commissioned 3 July 1916. Served in Mediterranean in First World War and overseas post war. Stricken 13 October 1934 at Saigon and sold for scrap 15 January 1935.[9]
  • Algol, built by Barclay Curle, launched 17 June 1916,[8] and commissioned 1 August 1916. Served in Mediterranean in First World War, and operated off Syria in 1921 and in the Far East. Scrapped Saigon 1935.[10]
  • Altair, built by Hamilton, laid down 28 February 1916, launched 6 July 1916 and commissioned 14 September 1916. Served in Mediterranean in First World War, and in Black Sea 1919. Deployed in Far East from 1920, and served as Survey ship off French Indo-China from 193. Sold for Scrap at Saigon 1940.[11]
  • Antares, built by Hamilton, laid down 8 March 1916, launched 4 September 1916 and commissioned 30 October 1916. Served in Mediterranean in First World War, and overseas post war. Converted to Survey ship at Saigon 1935 but sold for scrap 1936.[12]
  • Bellatrix, built by Henderson, launched 29 May 1916. Deleted 1933.
  • Rigel, built by Henderson, launched 6 July 1916. Sunk by German submarine SM U-35 off Algiers 2 October 1916.
  • Cassiopée, built by Barclay Curle, launched 10 February 1917. Deleted 1933.
  • Regulus, built by Barclay Curle, launched 19 March 1917. Deleted 1935.

Footnotes

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References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Arabis-class sloop

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from Grokipedia
The Arabis-class sloop was a class of 36 fleet minesweeping sloops constructed for the Royal Navy during the First World War as part of the Emergency War Programme, serving primarily in and escort roles. These vessels, the third subclass within the broader Flower-class of sloops, were designed with a hull form to facilitate rapid construction in civilian shipyards, incorporating early wartime lessons such as enhanced buoyancy through cork-filled bow and wing compartments totaling 50 tons. They measured 81.7 meters (268 feet) in overall length, with a beam of 10.2 meters (33 feet) and a draught of 3.4 meters (11 feet), displacing 1,250 tons standard and 1,400 tons at full load. came from a single triple-expansion rated at 2,000 indicated horsepower, driving one shaft to achieve a top speed of 16 knots, with a complement of 90 officers and ratings. Armament typically included two 4.7-inch (127 mm) naval guns for surface engagement and two 3-pounder (47 mm) anti-aircraft guns, though some units were later fitted with lighter 4-inch weapons. Ordered in three batches between 1915 and 1916, the class was named after flowers—Alyssum, Arabis, and so on—with an additional eight units built for the French Navy. During the war, they operated across theaters including the North Sea, Mediterranean, and Grand Fleet patrols, contributing to Allied efforts against U-boats; notable losses included HMS Arabis sunk by German torpedo boats off the Dogger Bank on 10 February 1916 and HMS Alyssum mined off the southwest coast of Ireland on 18 March 1917. Post-armistice, survivors supported minesweeping in the Baltic in 1919, where HMS Gentian was lost to a mine in the Gulf of Finland on 15 July 1919, and several remained in service into the interwar period or even the Second World War, such as HMS Cornflower and Rosemary. Most were sold for scrap or civilian use by the 1930s, with HMS Amaryllis sold for breaking up in 1923 and some vessels lasting until 1947.

Design and development

Background and origins

The Arabis-class sloops emerged as part of the Royal Navy's Emergency War Programme, initiated in December 1914 in response to escalating German U-boat threats that targeted Allied merchant shipping and posed severe risks to supply lines during World War I. With naval shipyards overwhelmed by destroyer and submarine construction, the programme prioritized simple, mass-producible vessels for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and minesweeping, leveraging civilian yards to build ships resembling merchant tramps for rapid deployment in convoy protection and Q-ship operations. The intensifying U-boat campaign underscored the urgent need for such escorts to counter unrestricted submarine warfare in the Atlantic and North Sea. The Arabis class represented the third and largest subclass within the broader "Flower-class" sloops—also derisively nicknamed the "Cabbage class" or "Herbaceous Borders" by sailors—evolving from the earlier and subclasses to address initial design shortcomings in speed, stability, and ASW capabilities. While the class (ordered January ) focused on basic fleet with triple hulls forward for mine resistance, and the class (ordered ) introduced heavier armament for roles, the Arabis design incorporated improved triple-expansion engines for better endurance and cork-filled compartments to enhance buoyancy and damage resistance. Designed in late 1914 amid growing submarine losses, with specifications finalized to balance escort duties with deception tactics drawing on lessons from early patrols, contracts for the first batch of 12 Arabis-class ships were placed in July , with the full programme expanding to 36 vessels for the Royal Navy, built across multiple civilian shipyards to accelerate production. The flower-themed naming convention—such as , , and Asphodel—was deliberately chosen to evoke innocuous British garden imagery, aiding the ships' disguise as harmless colliers or tramps to lure U-boats into surface attacks during engagements or while escorting . To bolster Allied operations, an additional eight ships were constructed to the same design for the , transferred in 1916–1917 to support Mediterranean and Atlantic ASW efforts amid France's limited domestic shipbuilding capacity. This total of 44 vessels underscored the class's role in the emergency expansion of escort forces, powered by reliable triple-expansion engines that prioritized operational simplicity over high speed.

Technical specifications

The Arabis-class sloops were designed as fleet minesweepers with a standard displacement of 1,250 tons, increasing to approximately 1,400 tons at full load. Their dimensions included a length of 255 feet between perpendiculars and 268 feet overall, a beam of 33 feet 6 inches, and a draught of 11 feet, enabling operations in shallow coastal waters. Propulsion was provided by a single four-cylinder triple-expansion steam engine rated at 2,000 indicated horsepower, driving one screw via steam from two cylindrical boilers. This arrangement delivered a top speed of 16 knots and a range of 2,000 nautical miles at 15 knots, supported by a coal capacity of 250 tons. The hull incorporated triple construction at the bows for enhanced protection against mines, along with cork-filled compartments in the bow and wings totaling 50 tons to improve buoyancy and survivability. The ships carried a complement of 90 officers and ratings. Equipment included standard World War I-era for communication and racks suited to their anti-submarine role, though primary emphasis was on capabilities.
SpecificationDetails
Displacement1,250 tons (standard); 1,400 tons (full load)
255 ft (pp); 268 ft (oa)
Beam33 ft 6 in
Draught11 ft
Propulsion1 × 4-cyl TE , 2,000 ihp, 1
Speed16 knots
Range2,000 nmi at 15 knots (250 tons coal)
Complement90

Construction and variants

Shipbuilding program

The Arabis-class sloop shipbuilding program formed a key component of the Royal Navy's 1915 Emergency War Programme, aimed at bolstering and escort forces amid escalating threats. A total of 36 vessels were ordered for the Royal Navy in July 1915, organized into three batches averaging 12 ships each, while an additional eight were commissioned for the to support Allied naval operations. Construction proceeded with remarkable speed under wartime pressures, with contracts awarded in July 1915 and the first keels laid down shortly thereafter; most ships achieved completion within approximately five months, enabling all 36 vessels to enter service by early 1916. This accelerated timeline reflected the program's emphasis on simplicity and standardization, drawing from lessons in prior Flower-class builds to facilitate across multiple yards. The vessels were distributed among a diverse array of British shipyards to maximize output and mitigate risks from potential disruptions, including Earle's Shipbuilding in Hull, D. & W. Henderson in , Lobnitz in , and others such as Barclay Curle in Whiteinch, Connell's in , Napier & Miller in , Greenock & Grangemouth Dockyard Company, Dunlop Bremner in , and Ropner & Sons in Stockton. dockyards like Devonport also contributed, ensuring broad industrial involvement in the effort. The French vessels followed a similar , being constructed by British yards such as Barclay Curle (, launched 19 May 1916; , 17 June 1916; Cassiope, 10 February 1917; , ordered September 1916) and Alexander Stephen and Sons in Linthouse (, , , , completed 1916–1917) before transfer. The first batch, comprising ships like and , saw keels laid down in August 1915, with subsequent batches following in quick succession to maintain momentum; despite challenges such as material shortages and labor strains typical of wartime , the program delivered high output to meet urgent operational demands. This phased approach allowed for iterative refinements in construction techniques, contributing to the class's overall efficiency. The eight ships destined for France—Aldébaran, Algol, Altair, Antares, Bellatrix, Cassiope, Regulus, and Rigel—were completed between 1916 and 1917 and transferred upon commissioning, where they served primarily as aviso-minesweepers in the . These vessels, built to the same specifications as their British counterparts, underscored the collaborative aspects of Allied during the conflict.

Armament and modifications

The Arabis-class sloops were initially armed with two 4.7-inch (120 mm) quick-firing guns in single mounts, positioned and aft for and duties. Some vessels received 4-inch (102 mm) guns in place of the larger caliber to suit production availability. Two 3-pounder (47 mm) anti-aircraft guns were also fitted to provide limited defense against aerial threats. As dedicated fleet minesweepers, the class incorporated paravanes and associated gear to deflect and sever mooring wires of contact mines, with reinforced triple hulls forward to withstand potential explosions. Anti-submarine capabilities were enhanced mid-war through the addition of depth charges along with throwers and racks for deployment during convoy escorts. Wartime modifications focused on adapting the design for evolving threats, accommodating additional stowage and handling equipment. A number of ships received fittings to tow kite balloons for aerial observation, improving detection ranges in anti-submarine operations. The eight vessels constructed for the followed a similar configuration and served primarily as aviso-minesweepers.

Operational history

World War I service

The Arabis-class sloops primarily served in minesweeping operations in the and , as well as conducting anti-submarine patrols and providing convoy escorts along the Atlantic approaches during . These vessels were integral to the Royal Navy's efforts to clear mined areas and protect vital shipping routes from German U-boat threats, often operating in flotillas that supported broader fleet maneuvers. Key operations included participation in the Dover Patrol for local defense and bombardment support, as well as assignments to the Force for patrols. For instance, HMS Arabis was torpedoed and sunk by German torpedo boats on 10 February 1916 in the near the while serving with the Tenth Flotilla. Other notable actions involved Mediterranean deployments, such as HMS Nasturtium's duties off before her loss on 27 April 1916. Of the 36 British-commissioned Arabis-class sloops, seven were sunk during the war or immediately afterward, underscoring their exposure to enemy action. Examples include , torpedoed by U-35 on 1 March 1916 south of in the , and HMS Alyssum, mined by UC-66 on 18 March 1917 off the southwest coast of . HMS Genista was also torpedoed by U-57 on 23 October 1916 west of Cape Clear, while HMS Mignonette fell to mines laid by UC-66 on 17 March 1917 in the same vicinity. The received eight Arabis-class equivalents as part of the Flower-class program, which were employed for in the Mediterranean and patrols in the Adriatic to support Allied offensives. Ships like conducted escort and patrol duties from bases such as and , with herself torpedoed and sunk by U-35 off on 2 October 1916. In terms of effectiveness, the class contributed to several U-boat detections and disruptions through their roles, playing a critical part in protection despite their modest capabilities. However, their high attrition rate—evidenced by the seven British losses—revealed vulnerabilities to torpedoes and mines, leading to adaptations for more localized defense duties by 1917.

Interwar and later service

Following the , approximately 29 British Arabis-class sloops survived losses and transitioned to peacetime duties. These vessels, now obsolete for frontline combat, were repurposed primarily as tenders, survey ships, and harbour tugs across various stations. Many served in the Mediterranean and fleets during the early 1920s, supporting operations and Allied intervention in the , before redeploying to the station by the mid-1920s for routine patrols and training. For instance, HMS Wallflower operated as a survey vessel in the Station until her disposal in 1931. Decommissioning accelerated throughout the as the Royal Navy rationalized its fleet amid budgetary constraints and arms limitation agreements, including the 1922 , which indirectly pressured the scrapping of older auxiliary warships to meet overall tonnage reductions. Most surviving British Arabis-class sloops were sold for breaking up or civilian conversion between 1920 and 1939, with examples including HMS Cyclamen in 1932 and HMS Verbena in 1933. A notable incident during this era involved HMS Valerian, which, while en route from hurricane relief duties in to , encountered the 1926 Havana–Bermuda hurricane on 22 October; after battling 100-knot winds and 50-foot waves for over five hours, she foundered approximately 18 miles offshore, resulting in the loss of 69 crew members. The eight French Arabis-type sloops, delivered from British yards during the , continued service into the primarily for colonial patrols in the Mediterranean and Indo-China, with vessels like La Malouine conducting survey work off until the early 1930s. These were gradually decommissioned and scrapped by the mid-1930s, with no records of reactivation during due to their advanced age and the French Navy's shift to modern avisos. By the outbreak of in 1939, only a handful of British Arabis-class sloops remained in limited reserve or auxiliary roles, their obsolescence precluding significant combat assignments. HMS Cornflower, stationed initially in before transferring to the Eastern Fleet, served as a gunnery and accommodation ship for the Naval until she was bombed and declared a by Japanese aircraft on 19 December 1941. Similarly, HMS Lupin provided minor support duties until her sale in 1946, marking the effective end of the class's operational life by 1941 for most vessels.

Ships of the class

British vessels

The Royal Navy commissioned 36 Arabis-class sloops between late and mid-1916, all built as part of an emergency wartime program to bolster and escort capabilities. These vessels were constructed across multiple British shipyards in three batches averaging 12 ships each, with launches occurring primarily from 1915 to 1916 and completions following shortly thereafter. Most survived and continued in service through the , performing auxiliary roles such as surveys and training, before being sold for scrap or transferred to other navies in the and ; a few saw limited use into . Six of the sloops were lost to enemy action during : HMS Arabis (sunk 10 February 1916), HMS Primula (torpedoed 1 March 1916), HMS Nasturtium (mined 27 April 1916), (torpedoed 23 October 1916), (mined 18 March 1917), and HMS Mignonette (mined 17 March 1917). HMS Cornflower was the only one sunk during , bombed by Italian aircraft off on 19 December 1941 while supporting Allied forces in the Mediterranean. Other notable fates included post-war losses such as HMS Gentian (mined 16 July 1919) and HMS Valerian (foundered 22 October 1926), with survivors like HMS Rosemary remaining in service until 1947. Several were transferred abroad, including HMS Asphodel to the Danish Navy as HDMS Fylla in 1920, HMS Gladiolus to as República in 1920, and HMS Geranium and HMS Marguerite to the Royal Australian Navy in 1919–1920, where the latter two were used as gunnery targets and sunk in 1935. The following table lists all 36 British vessels alphabetically, with launch dates and fates:
Ship NameLaunch DateFate
HMS Alyssum5 November 1915Mined 18 March 1917
HMS Amaryllis9 December 1915Sold January 1923
HMS Arabis6 November 1915Sunk 10 February 1916
HMS Asphodel21 December 1915Transferred to Denmark 16 June 1920
HMS Berberis3 February 1916Sold January 1923
HMS Buttercup24 October 1915Sold February 1920
HMS Campanula25 December 1915Sold September 1922
HMS Celandine19 February 1916Sold January 1923
HMS Cornflower30 March 1916Bombed 19 December 1941
HMS Crocus24 December 1915Sold July 1930
HMS Cyclamen22 February 1916Sold July 1932
HMS Delphinium23 December 1915Sold October 1933
HMS Genista22 February 1916Torpedoed 23 October 1916
HMS Gentian23 December 1915Mined 16 July 1919
HMS Geranium8 November 1915Transferred to Australia 1920; sunk as target 24 April 1935
HMS Gladiolus25 October 1915Transferred to Portugal September 1920
HMS Godetia8 January 1916Sold February 1937
HMS Hydrangea2 March 1916Sold April 1920
HMS Lobelia7 March 1916Sold March 1920
HMS Lupin21 May 1916Sold March 1946
HMS Marguerite23 November 1915Transferred to Australia 1919; sunk as target 1 August 1935
HMS Mignonette26 January 1916Mined 17 March 1917
HMS Myosotis4 April 1916Sold January 1923
HMS Nasturtium21 December 1915Mined 27 April 1916
HMS Nigella10 December 1915Sold November 1922
HMS Pansy1 February 1916Sold January 1920
HMS Pentstemon15 February 1916Sold April 1920
HMS Petunia3 April 1916Sold December 1922
HMS Poppy9 November 1915Sold April 1923
HMS Primula6 December 1915Torpedoed 1 March 1916
HMS Rosemary22 November 1915Sold December 1947
HMS Snapdragon21 December 1915Sold May 1934
HMS Valerian21 February 1916Foundered 22 October 1926
HMS Verbena9 November 1915Sold October 1933
HMS Wallflower8 November 1915Sold August 1931
HMS Wisteria7 December 1915Sold January 1931

French vessels

Under the Anglo-French naval cooperation during World War I, eight Arabis-class sloops were constructed in British shipyards specifically for the French Navy, ordered in January and September 1916 and delivered between late 1916 and 1917. These vessels were renamed with astronomical themes, reflecting French naval naming conventions for avisos: Aldébaran, Algol, Altair, Antares, Bellatrix, Cassiopée, Regulus, and Rigel. Commissioned as avisos, they functioned as convoy escorts and minesweepers, enhancing the French Navy's capabilities in anti-submarine warfare amid the intensifying U-boat threat in 1917. The ships underwent minor adaptations to align with French standards, most notably the replacement of the original British 4.7-inch (120 mm) guns with two 5.5-inch (140 mm) single-mount guns forward and aft, along with retained depth charge and minesweeping equipment. This armament suited their role in coastal and open-sea operations, while the hull design remained true to the Arabis-class specifications for stability in rough waters.
Ship NameBuilderOrderedLaunchedFate
AldébaranBarclay CurleJan 1916May 1916Decommissioned and scrapped 1934
AlgolBarclay CurleJan 1916Jun 1916Decommissioned and scrapped 1935
AltairWilliam HamiltonJan 1916Jul 1916Stricken 1940
AntaresWilliam HamiltonJan 1916Aug 1916Decommissioned and scrapped 1936
BellatrixD. & W. HendersonJan 191629 May 1916Decommissioned and scrapped 1933
CassiopéeBarclay CurleSep 191610 February 1917Decommissioned and scrapped 1933
RegulusBarclay CurleSep 191619 March 1917Decommissioned and scrapped 1935
RigelD. & W. HendersonJan 1916Jul 1916Sunk by U-35 off , 2 October 1916
During , the sloops primarily conducted minesweeping and anti-submarine patrols in the and Atlantic approaches from 1917 onward, contributing to Allied convoy protection during the critical phase. was the sole loss, torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine SM U-35 in the Mediterranean, with significant damage to her hull and boiler room resulting in 13 fatalities. The remaining vessels operated without further combat losses, supporting French naval efforts in clearing minefields and escorting troop transports. In the , the surviving ships transitioned to colonial duties, including patrols in North African waters and the , such as Indochina, where they enforced French maritime interests until progressive decommissioning in the and . endured the longest, remaining in service until stricken in 1940 amid the fall of . All were ultimately scrapped, with no interwar combat incidents recorded beyond minor damages from operational wear. These vessels significantly augmented the French Navy's escort fleet during the war's decisive campaigns, providing essential support until obsolescence in the face of modern naval developments.
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