HMS Triffid

[TomZ]

HMS Triffid



In World War II the British and Canadians used a total of almost 300 corvettes of the Flower class. These were 205ft long ships used for the protection of convoys across the Atlantic. This meant that they were sent into action to find and destroy enemy submarines. Very early in the war the allies recognized that aerial reconnaissance could greatly improve the efficiency of the anti-submarine warfare.



In 1942 one of the corvettes, HMS Triffid, was modified to carry an autogyro. This meant that the entire afterdeck was covered with a landing platform. It carried one Avro C-30 Rota autogyro. Initial trials were positive although the landing of the autogyro on the small deck in rough seas was very difficult. The corvettes were not very big and in heavy seas they moved around quite a bit.



This diminished the effectiveness of the concept quite a lot as the autogyro could only be used in very calm weather. Because of these difficulties the HMS Triffid remained a one-off. It did keep its landing deck however and a limited number of flights were made with the on-board autogyro.



In 1952 the HMS Triffid was used as a trial vessel for the Royal Navy to carry a real helicopter on a warship. A Westland Willet (license-built Bell HSL-1) was carried during a number of cruises. The handling of the Willet was better than that of the Rota and this led to the fitting of helicopter decks to numerous Royal Navy vessels.





Kit: Revell 1/144 Flower Class Corvette, helicopters by Anigrand

TomZ

[tigercat]

sounds intriguing

I always wondered  about the rotary kites the Uboats used and if the Allies could have used them

[PR19_Kit]

That's wonderful Tom, most impressive. 

But isn't it 1/72 scale?

For sure Revell do a 1/72 Flower Class, it was the old Matchbox kit, and I know Anigrand do an HSS-1 in 1/72 as I've got one, but I didn't think either was available in 1/144.

[TomZ]

Kit,

They also have a 1/144 version:



TomZ

[PR19_Kit]

Well I never knew that, thanks. 

It'd be HUGE in 1/72. 

[Rheged]

According to my late godfather (who served on a flower class corvette for a while) they would roll excessively on a damp tea towel.  It would be a very daring/brave/stupid aviator who tried to fly off HMS Triffid............ but this is Whiffworld, and that is a fascinating build!!

[Doug K]

Well I never knew that, thanks. 

It'd be HUGE in 1/72. 

Most of the 1/72 ones I've seen are radio controlled 🙂

[tigercat]

I'm sure I've seen a Flower Class CAM ship somewhere

which corvette did he serve on ?

[Old Wombat]

According to my late godfather (who served on a flower class corvette for a while) they would roll excessively on a damp tea towel.

This is the same impression I got when I read Nicholas Monsarrat's Three Corvettes.

[buzzbomb]

The concept is fascinating.

Be well worth seeing how it evolves

[Rheged]

I'm sure I've seen a Flower Class CAM ship somewhere

which corvette did he serve on ?

He was on the staff of Admiral Stephenson at Tobermorey in 1941 (HMS Western Isles) as his chief yeoman of signals, and spent time on several corvettes.   He was regular RN, having joined in 1937 and not a "hostilities only" seaman (or hostile ordinary seaman, as he called them)  As one of Stephenson's staff, I assume he spent time day-running on several vessels as a trainer/assessor.

Herewith the fruits of several seconds worth of research:-   http://www.secretscotland.org.uk/index.php/Secrets/HMSWesternIsles

[tigercat]

Monkey Stephenson the Terror of Tobermory

He must have had some interesting tales

I've got a book  somewhere about Sir Gilbert Stephenson

The Terror of Tobermory  by Richard Baker

[zenrat]

Brilliant.

I've long lusted after the 1/72 Flower Class.  Too rich for my blood though currently.

[NARSES2]

That's nice mate 

[nighthunter]

I've wanted a 1/144 Flower-class to turn into a museum ship for my dad's model railroad layout. They would have faired well in the Pacific in the ASW role. I'm surprised the USN didn't use them in the PTO. How much did the 1/144 version set you back, Tom?