HMS Oxlip (K123)

HMS Oxlip was a Flower-class corvette that served in the Royal Navy during World War II.

History
United Kingdom
NameHMS Oxlip
NamesakeOxlip
BuilderA & J Inglis, Glasgow
Yard numberJ1164
Laid down9 December 1940
Launched28 August 1941
Completed28 December 1941
Decommissioned1946
IdentificationPennant number: K123
FateTransferred to the Irish Naval Service
General characteristics [1][2]
Class and typeFlower-class corvette
Displacement925 long tons (940 t; 1,036 short tons)
Length205 ft (62.48 m)o/a
Beam33 ft (10.06 m)
Draught11.5 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)
Speed16 knots (29.6 km/h)
Range3,500 nautical miles (6,482 km) at 12 knots (22.2 km/h)
Complement85
Sensors and
processing systems
  • 1 × SW1C or 2C radar
  • 1 × Type 123A or Type 127DV ASDIC
Armament

Construction

Oxlip was ordered in July 1939 as part of the Royal Navy's 1939 War Emergency building programme. She was laid down by A & J Inglis of Glasgow on 9 December 1940, launched on 28 August 1941 and completed on 28 December the same year. After working up and trials she joined Western Approaches Command for anti-submarine warfare and convoy escort duties.

Service history

From February 1942 onwards Oxlip served with close escort groups on Arctic convoys taking war materiel from the Western Allies to the Soviet Union. In three years Oxlip sailed with 18 Arctic convoys (outbound and homebound), contributing to the safe and timely arrival of more than 300 merchant ships. With the end of hostilities Oxlip was decommissioned and in 1946 she was sold.

Post-war service

In 1946 Oxlip was sold to the Irish Naval Service where she was commissioned as LÉ Maev. She was stricken in March 1972.

Convoys escorted
Arctic convoys 1942-45[3]
Outbound Homebound
PQ 11 QP 8
PQ 14 QP 11
JW 51A RA 52
JW 55B RA 55B
JW 56B RA 56
JW 59 RA 59A
JW 61 RA 61
JW 65 RA 65
JW 66 RA 66

Notes
  1. Elliott p187
  2. Conway p62
  3. Ruegg, Hague p90

References
  • Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8.
  • Gardiner, Robert; Chesneau, Roger, eds. (1980). Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-146-7.
  • Elliott, Peter (1977). Allied Escort Ships of World War II: A complete survey. London: Macdonald and Jane's. ISBN 0-356-08401-9.
  • Kemp P : Convoy! Drama in Arctic Waters (1993) ISBN 1 85409 130 1
  • Ruegg, B, Hague A: Convoys to Russia 1941–1945 (1992) ISBN 0 905617 66 5
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