French corvette Alysse

Alysse (formerly HMS Alyssum) was one of the nine Flower-class corvettes lent by the Royal Navy to the Free French Naval Forces.

Alysse
Flower-class corvette in 1942 paint
History
France
Ordered: 12 December 1939
Laid down: 24 June 1940
Launched: 3 March 1941
Commissioned: 17 June 1941
Identification: Pennant number: K100
Fate: torpedoed and sunk on 9 February 1942 in the North Atlantic, in position 46º00'N, 44º00'W by the German submarine U-654 while escorting convoy ON-60[1]
General characteristics
Class and type: Flower-class corvette
Tonnage: 900
Displacement: 950 tonnes
Length: 62.7 metres (206 ft)
Beam: 10.9 metres (36 ft)
Draught: 2.7 metres (8 ft 10 in)
Propulsion:
Speed: 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Range:
  • 3,450 nautical miles at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
  • 2,630 nautical miles at 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)
  • Fuel capacity: 230 tonnes
Complement: 70
Sensors and
processing systems:
Type 271 surface radar
Armament:

Construction

Alysse was built by George Brown & Co.

War Service

Originally built as HMS Alyssum by the British Royal Navy, she was loaned to the Free French Navy upon completion on 17 June 1941.

Convoys escorted by Alysse
YearMonthName of convoy
1941Julyconvoy England-United States
1941AugustSC-40
1941SeptemberSC-44
1941SeptemberON-19
1941OctoberSC-50
1941November
1941December
1942JanuarySC-62
1942JanuaryON-60

Shortly after midnight on 9 February 1942 while escorting convoy ON-60, Alysse was torpedoed by the German submarine U-654.[3] The torpedo struck Alysse on the port side in the forward part of the ship causing her to settle by the bow. The surviving crew were rescued by HMCS Hepatica and HMCS Moose Jaw; 36 crew members were lost. Hepatica then attempted to tow Alysse but after 30 minutes the tow parted. A further attempt was made to tow her to port later that day but after 18 hours Alysse foundered and sank at 6°34N/44°10W. [4]

Alysse just prior to sinking, 9 FEB 1942.

References

  • Friedman, Norman (2008). British Destroyers and Frigates: The Second World War and After. Barnsley, UK: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84832-015-4.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.