NAVYPEDIA

Photo

Primula 1916

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
Buttercup	T45, T14	534	Barclay Curle, Whiteinch	1915	24.10.1915	12.1915	sold 2.1920
Gladiolus	T50, T38	379	Connell, Scotstoun	1915	25.10.1915	1915	to Portugal 3.1920 (Republica)
Alyssum	T46		Earle, Hull	1915	5.11.1915	1916	sunk 18.3.1917
Arabis	T44	497	Henderson, Glasgow	1915	6.11.1915	1916	sunk 10.2.1916
Wallflower	T78, T89	575	Irvine, West Hartlepool	1915	8.11.1915	1916	sold 8.1931
Poppy	T47, T74	1004	Swan Hunter, Low Walker	1915	9.11.1915	12/1915	sold 4.1923
Verbena	T77, T86		Blyth SB, Cowpen Quay	1915	9.11.1915	1916	sold 10.1933
Rosemary	T58, T77	661	Richardson Duck, Thornaby	1915	22.11.1915	12.1915	sold 12.1947
Marguerite (1919- RAN)	T51, T60	291	Dunlop Bremner, Port Glasgow	7/1915	23.11.1915	1916	dismantled 9.1932
Primula	T55	1006	Swan Hunter, Low Walker	1915	6.12.1915	1.1916	sunk 1.3.1916
Wisteria	T79, T91	576	Irvine, West Hartlepool	1915	7.12.1915	1916	sold 1.1931
Amaryllis	T69, T02		Earle, Hull	1915	9.12.1915	1916	sold 1.1923
Nigella	T52, T68	314	Hamilton, Port Glasgow	1915	10.12.1915	1916	sold 11.1922
Asphodel	T70, T04	498	Henderson, Glasgow	1915	21.12.1915	2.1916	to Denmark 6.1920 (Fylla)
Nasturtium	T76	464	Archibald & McMillan, Dumbarton	1915	21.12.1915	1916	sunk 27.4.1916
Snapdragon	T71, T79	518	Ropner, Stockton	1915	21.12.1915	1916	sold 5.1934
Gentian	T49, T36	376	Greenock & Grangemouth	1915	23.12.1915	2.1916	sunk 16.7.1919
Geranium (1919- RAN)	T56, T37	377	Greenock & Grangemouth	8/1915	8.11.1915	3/1916	dismantled 6.1932
Delphinium	T54, T30	207	Napier & Miller, Old Kirkpatrick	1915	23.12.1915	1916	sold 10.1933
Crocus	T59, T25	807	Lobnitz, Renfrew	1915	24.12.1915	3/1916	sold 7.1930
Campanula	T48, T16	535	Barclay Curle, Whiteinch	1915	25.12.1915	1916	sold 9.1922
Godetia	T57, T39	380	Connell, Scotstoun	1915	8.1.1916	1916	handed over 2.1937
Mignonette	T75	292	Dunlop Bremner, Port Glasgow	1915	26.1.1916	1916	sunk 17.3.1917
Pansy	T61, T69	315	Hamilton, Port Glasgow	1915	1.2.1916	4.1916	sold 1.1920
Berberis	T60, T09	499	Henderson, Glasgow	1915	3.2.1916	1916	sold 1.1923
Pentstemon	T53, T70		Workman Clark, Belfast	1915	15.2.1916	4.1916	sold 4.1920
Celandine	T72, T20	536	Barclay Curle, Whiteinch	1915	19.2.1916	1916	sold 1.1923
Valerian	T67, T85	178	C. Rennoldson, South Shields	1915	21.2.1916	1916	foundered 22.10.1926
Cyclamen	T73, T26	808	Lobnitz, Renfrew	1915	22.2.1916	1916	sold 7.1932
Genista	T63	208	Napier & Miller, Old Kirkpatrick	1915	22.2.1916	4.1916	sunk 23.10.1916
Hydrangea	T62, T45	381	Connell, Scotstoun	1915	2.3.1916	5.1916	sold 4.1920
Lobelia (1920- Newfoundland Govt)	T74, T54	572	Simons, Renfrew	1915	7.3.1916	3/1916	hulk 1924
Cornflower	T64, T24	537	Barclay Curle, Whiteinch	1915	30.3.1916	1916	sunk 15.12.1941
Petunia	T66, T72		Workman Clark, Belfast	1915	3.4.1916	1916	sold 12.1922
Myosotis	T68, T64	322	Bow McLachlan, Paisley	1915	4.4.1916	1916	sold 1.1923
Lupin	T65, T55	573	Simons, Renfrew	1915	31.5.1916	6/1916	sold 3.1946

Technical data

Displacement normal, t	1250
Displacement full, t	1350
Length, m	81.7
Breadth, m	10.2
Draught, m	3.36
No of shafts	1
Machinery	1 VTE, 2 cylindrical boilers
Power, h. p.	2000
Max speed, kts	16
Fuel, t	coal 130
Endurance, nm(kts)	2000(15)
Armament	2 x 1 - 120/40 QF Mk I/II/III/IV, 2 x 1 - 47/40 3pdr Hotchkiss Mk I, mechanical minesweeping gear 6 ships: 2 x 1 - 102/44 BL Mk IX or 102/45 BL Mk X or 102/40 QF Mk IV, 2 x 1 - 47/40 3pdr Hotchkiss Mk I, mechanical minesweeping gear
Complement	104

Graphics

Project history

A slightly improved class ordered in three batches in July 1915 to follow the Azaleas, with slightly more powerful machinery, which, it was hoped, would give 0.5kt more speed. All the improvements suggested from experience with the first batch were incorporated during construction, including the packing of some bow and wing compartments with 50t of cork to improve flotation in case of heavy damage. Eight more built for French Navy 1915-16.

Modernizations

1916 - 1917, all survived: + 2 DCT, 1 DCR

mid-1930s, all survived: - 2 x 1 - 47/40; + 2 x 1 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk II

1930s, most survived: + type 121 sonar

1940, Rosemary: + 1 x 1 - 76/40 12pdr 12cwt QF Mk I/II/V, 1 x 4 - 12.7/62, 2 DCT, 1 DCR

1940-1941, Lupin: - 1 x 1 - 102/40; + 3 x 1 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII

1941, Rosemary: + 2 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV

1942-1944, Rosemary: + presumably type 286 or type 271 radar

1/1946, Rosemary: 2 x 1 - 120/40 P Mk IV, 1 x 1 - 76/40 HA/LA Mk IX, 2 x 1 - 20/70 Mk III, 4 DCT, 2 DCR, type 271 or type 286 radar, type 121 sonar

Naval service

Alyssum was mined 18.3.1917 SW of Ireland, Gentian was mined 16.7.1919 in the Gulf of Finland during operations against the Bolsheviks, Mignonette was mined 17.3.1917 off Galley Head, SW Ireland and Nasturtium was mined 27.4.1916 near Malta; Arabis was sunk 10.2.1916 in action with German TBs off Dogger bank and Genista was sunk 23.10.1916 by German submarine U57 in the Atlantic. Primula was torpedoed by German submarine U35 in the Mediterranean. Valerian foundered 22.10.1926 off Bermuda.

Lupin since 1940 was used as the target and sunk 22.3.1946; she was salvaged and sold for scrap. Rosemary since 1943 was used as target and laid up the same year. Foxglowe was badly damaged by aircraft 9.7.1940; she was converted to AA ship and to depot ship in 1943. Cornflower was sold mercantile and taken back into naval service and lost during the fall of Hong Kong 19.12.1941.

Many thanks to Wolfgang Stöhr for additional information on this page.